A Holiday Visit to Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center Christmas Attractions, Events & Activities
Rockefeller Center is one of the top destinations during the Christmas season. Bring your
holiday spirit and enjoy the lights and decorations, see the famous Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, do some shopping,
take a spin on ice at the Ice Rink, visit Santa and have a memorable meal. When you
need a break, stop at Starbucks for a Peppermint Mocha or Christmas Blend coffee.
There is so much to see and do in New York during the holiday season, and Rockefeller Center is at
the center of it all.
Listed below are the most popular Rockefeller Center holiday traditions.
See the Related Links below the listings for access to maps and more
information. Don't miss the excellent
Rockefeller
Center Map.
Have a Happy Holiday Season!
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Lighting: 11/28/12
Viewing: 11/28/12 through 01/07/13
The
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is the city’s seasonal centerpiece. Each year, a tree is
selected (typically a Norway spruce), erected on the Plaza at 30 Rock and decorated with 30,000 LED
lights. On a date in late November, crowds gather to witness the first illumination of the season,
while many more watch from their homes on TV. There are live performances from top stars, as well as
taped segments, to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. The tree is lit each night through
early January.
TIP: Plan to get there early to claim your space on the Plaza. People will start arriving early
afternoon.
Rockefeller Center Ice Skating
Skating Season: 10/13/12 through mid-April, 2013
Another annual holiday tradition in New York is ice skating at the
Rockefeller
Center Ice Rink. Beginning in mid-October and continuing through April, novices and experts
alike hit the ice for a bit of winter fun. A 90-minute session runs about $20-25 for adults and
$12-15 for kids and seniors (higher rates are for peak season); skate rentals are $10. You can even
take a lesson (call 212-332-7655 to schedule) or host a private event for 15 or more people
(212-332-7614). If your preference is to watch the ice skating rather than participate, you can get
a great view from the Rock Center Café.
TIP: You may be surprised that the Ice Rink is relatively small, just 122-feet by 59-feet. During
peak season, you may have to wait in line a bit.
Breakfast with Santa
Dates: Saturdays & Sundays 11/24/12 - 12/24/12
Plus Friday, 12/21 and Monday 12/24
If you’re visiting Rockefeller Center with children, you may want to consider making a reservation
to have Breakfast with
Santa. You will enjoy a breakfast buffet with a visit from Santa and a holiday gift for the
kids. You can choose between two restaurants. At the Rock Center Café, you’ll be treated to French
toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potato hash, assorted breads, seasonal fruit, gingerbread
people and more. Prices for Rock Center Café are $65 for adults and $55 for children. Your second
choice is The Sea Grill, which has a bit more extensive menu, adding a crepe station, omelet station
and chocolate fountain with fruit. Prices for The Sea Grill are $75 for adults and $65 for children.
Note that the Breakfast with Santa includes a pass for a session on the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink,
which may be used any date during the skating season.
TIP: Make your reservation NOW! Reservation availability is already limited!
Radio City Music Hall
Performance Dates: 11/09/12 through 12/30/12
Another holiday tradition, dating back to 1933, is the
Radio City Christmas
Spectacular, featuring the Rockettes and many other talented performers, stunning costumes,
exhilarating music and even Santa. This 90-minute performance astonishes audiences with elaborate
production sets and special effects. Radio City Music Hall itself becomes even more striking with
its holiday decorations. This show will be enjoyed by the entire family.
TIP: If you are unable to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular while visiting New York, the
National Tour will
be visiting Nashville, St. Louis, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Chicago.
Shopping and Dining
Of course you’ll want to do some
holiday shopping while
visiting Rockefeller Center. The Center boasts over 100 stores for apparel, gifts, books, art, and
more. Top names include Banana Republic, Anthropologie, Ann Taylor, Brookstone, Kenneth Cole and J.
Crew. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, you’ll find holiday cards, ornaments, Advent
calendars, tree toppers and more.
Rockefeller Center also offers a number of
restaurant choices,
from fine dining to fast food. Steaks, seafood, French cuisine and sushi are just a few of your
higher end choices. For a quick bite, there’s Au Bon Pain, Chipotle, Just Salads and so much more.
Chocolate shops, a bakery, gourmet food stores and food & wine gift shops round out the food
options.
More Family Fun - Tours & Games
All the gamers in the family will enjoy
Nintendo World, where they have 10,000 square feet of interactive play with new Nintendo and Wii
games. There is also a Nintendo shop. The
Lego Store
offers both playtime and shopping for that special holiday gift. At
FDNY Fire Zone, families can learn about
fire safety, meet a firefighter and climb aboard a fire truck, and explore a variety of hands-on
exhibits. You can purchase FDNY apparel and gifts as well. You and your family may want to take a
Rockefeller Center Tour to experience its history and artistry with the guidance of an expert
historian. To get a panoramic view of Rockefeller Center and beyond, check out the
Top of the Rock Observation Deck on
the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rock.
Related Links
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