Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Queens: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

QUEENS — There is no shortage of things to do in Queens to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Tree and menorah lightings in Queens are:

Friday, Dec. 2

• Grand Chirstmas Tree Lighting In Jamaica (142-82 Rockaway Blvd)

Saturday, Dec. 3

• Holiday Tinker Festival Tree Lighting (34-41 137th Street)
• Glendale Tree Lighting Ceremony (8000 Cooper Ave, Glendale)
• Menorah Display and Lighting Ceremony at Queens Botanical Garden (43-50 Main Street)

Sunday, Dec. 4

• Central Astoria Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting Celebration (24-02 19th St)
• Bayside Village Holiday Celebration (41st Avenue LIRR)

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland, and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Parades in Queens may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades to catch here at home include:

• Parade on Rockaway on Friday, Dec. 4 (142-82 Rockaway Blvd)

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch in Queens are:

• Amaze Light Festival (Flushing, 41 Seaver Way)
• Illuminate The Farm at Queens County Farm Museum(Little Neck, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy)