After taking last year off due to COVID, the Lincoln Square holiday tree lighting returned to Dante Park on Monday, December 6 with a small celebration that started at 5pm. It had previously been announced that a tree lighting ceremony was not going to take place, but a smaller ceremony was then planned shortly before the 6th so as not to attract large crowds.

 

The tree is a 30-foot Concolor Fir from upstate New York. It is decorated with over 200 stars made by community residents at Color Me Mine at 177 Amsterdam Ave on the corner of 68th Street. Dance slippers from the NYC ballet were hung as well. Festival holiday music featuring Frank London and the Klezmer Brass Allstars was played live. Locals and tourists who were out and about stopped to see what was happening, as camera crews set up to film the outdoor performance.

 

Manhattan Borough Commissioner of NYC Parks and Recreation, William Castro, addressed the gathering. He said, “It’s great to see everyone out here tonight. I want to thank everyone for coming to our little, sort of, town square here at Lincoln Square. What gives us strength in this crazy time period is to be with other people. When you’re with other people, you feel you’re not alone, you’re together and this is the time of year, of course, when we all want to come together and count our blessings.” Mr. Castro closed by saying, “it’s a tough time but we’re going to get through it. We’ve gotten through it, we’re going to keep on keeping on.” After, Monica Blum, President of Lincoln Square BID, led the countdown to the tree lighting.

The Lincoln Square BID has announced that a selection of free popup performances will be taking place at the tree on Wednesdays from December 8 – 29.

 

Schedule:

Wednesday 12/8

- 11:30 am - 1:30 pm: Frank London and the Klezmer Brass Allstars

- 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Mariachi Nuevo Mexico

Wednesday 12/15

- 11:30 am - 1:30 pm: Michela Marino Lerman (Tap Artist)

- 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Alice Farley Dance Theatre

Wednesday 12/22

- 11:30 am - 1:30 pm: Special Music School High School Choir from Kaufman Music Center

- 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: New York Choy Lay Fut Lion Dance Team

Wednesday 12/29

- 11:30 am - 1:30 pm: VocalSoul

- 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: The Fabulous Fezziwigs

 

Rain dates for all performances will take place the next day (Thursdays), except for the Kaufman Music Center High School Choice, which will not be rescheduled. Learn more at lincolnsquarebid.org/holidays