NYC Holiday Events: Christmas Tree Lightings, Santas And More

NEW YORK CITY — If New York City is your home for the holidays, there's no shortage of things to do.

From giant Christmas tree lightings to giant menorah lightings, the city has innumerable appropriately larger-than-life events this season.

Patch has compiled another by-no-means comprehensive guide to all the fun.

Rockefeller Center Tree

Midtown's biggest holiday tradition kicks off Wednesday at 8 p.m.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting likely will gather an enormous crowd, so those who can't make it can watch it live on NBC.

After that, holiday fun seekers can view the 14-ton, 82-foot-tall Norway spruce in the middle of Rockefeller Plaza into January.

Following Wednesday's lighting, the tree will remain lit daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., then 24 hours on Christmas Day and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year's Day.

And to ease holiday crowds, city officials this month will eliminate car traffic from 11 Midtown blocks, including streets surrounding Rockefeller Center starting Wednesday.

Santa Land Community Parade

Looking for some Santa-related fun in Brooklyn?

The third annual Santa Land Community Parade will hit the streets Saturday starting at 11 a.m. and going until 3 p.m.

The route goes from Crown Heights, at Washington and Atlantic avenues, to Atlantic Terminal Mall.

This year, the parade features marching bands, Crown Heights' Imperial Biker motorcycle club, JJ the Clown & Friends, old-school classic cars, FDNY, NYPD and many more.

SantaCon NYC

Love it or love to hate it, there's no denying that SantaCon is a New York City holiday fixture.

This year's SantaCon is Dec. 10, but as is tradition, the bars and route have yet to be announced.

Keep checking here to figure out where all the drunken Santas will be.

Giant Menorah Lightings

Three giant menorahs — one in Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza and two on the Upper West Side — will be lit this Chanukah season.

A menorah at West 86th Street and Broadway will be lit Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.

The lighting ceremony for a menorah in Richard Tucker Square, at Columbus Avenue and 66th Street, is currently "TBD," so check here for updates.

The Brooklyn menorah will be lit during a ceremony on the first night of Chanukah, Dec. 18, at 4 p.m.

New York State Yo-Yo Contest

For those looking for fun that's not so ho-ho, there's a yo-yo contest in Coney Island.

Yo-yo masters will descend upon Coney Island's Sideshows by the Seashore at 1208 Surf Ave. on Dec. 10 to show off their tricks and skills with the yo-yo.

People who want to register for the contest can check out the New York State Yo-Yo Contest page by clicking here.