Park Avenue Tree Lighting Set For Sunday: What To Know

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The holiday season can't truly begin on the Upper East Side before the Park Avenue tree lighting, and the annual event will return to the neighborhood on Sunday.

As usual, it will be hosted by the Brick Presbyterian Church on East 92nd Street, where thousands of people will gather on the street starting at 6:30 p.m. to watch as trees along the avenue are illuminated.

A printable program for the event includes lyrics to carols that will be sung during the ceremony, led by the Brick Church's minister and musicians.

This year's Park Avenue lighting will be the 77th iteration of the event, which began in 1945 as a memorial to those who died in World War II. Initially funded by the philanthropist Susan Vanderpoel Clark, it is now sponsored by the Fund for Park Avenue, which sets up trees between 54th and 97th streets thanks to contributions from the community.

For those further downtown, the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association is hosting its own tree-lighting ceremony starting 5:45 p.m. Sunday, in front of Church of Our Saviour at 38th Street and Park Avenue.