Lincoln Square has officially kicked off the holidays in dazzling style! At last week’s Magical Lights Ceremony, the Lincoln Square BID was joined by hundreds of people to turn on the Magical Lights and celebrate with live music, festive performances, giveaways, and good vibes (see great photos here!).

As a crowd gathered in Dante Park for the start of the ceremony, people of all ages delighted in festive circus acts. It was a chilly evening, but the crowd was kept warm with free samples of Mexican hot chocolate and churros from Rosa Mexicano, cookies from Le Botaniste, and specially-branded Holidays in Lincoln Square knit hats from the Lincoln Square BID. The BID also gave out glowing necklaces to children to add to the fun.

Talented students from the Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School Chorus started the ceremony with a heartwarming a capella performance. LSBID President Monica Blum then introduced our speakers, including Dynishal Gross, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services; Tricia Shimamura, Manhattan Borough Parks Commissioner; and Inspector Candida Pun-Sullivan, Commanding Officer of the 20th Precinct. We were also pleased to be joined by New York City Council Member Gale Brewer; LSBID Board Member representing the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, Ashley Fischer; LSBID Treasurer, local resident, and EVP of Global Holdings Wendy Mosler; LSBID Board Member and Owner of Color Me Mine Claudia Martinez Azzara; and LSBID Board Members and local residents Suzanne Davis and Gerry Creamer.

Then came the moment we were all waiting for: With a final countdown led by Monica Blum and a blast of confetti, the BID turned on the Magical Lights! These colorful, twinkling lights react in sync to music and the sounds you make as they dangle from the trees in Dante and Richard Tucker Parks. The Saints of Swing, an energetic jazz band, carried us into an evening of live music, dancing, and fun.

While the Magical Lights Ceremony is over, Holidays in Lincoln Square is just beginning! The Magical Lights will illuminate Dante (Broadway and 64th Street) and Richard Tucker (Broadway and 65th Street) Parks throughout the season, with light and sound shows happening each night starting at 4:30pm. Don’t miss your chance to see how the lights respond to recordings from the Metropolitan Opera and Jazz at Lincoln Center in Dante Park. Holidays in Lincoln Square continues with caroling with the Fabulous Fezziwigs (December 10, 11, 15, 16, and 18) and the fourth annual WinteRamble procession (Wednesday, December 17). Be sure to sign up for the WinteRamble to be part of this fun, community-oriented tradition! You can also find out about holiday events from the neighborhood’s businesses and cultural organizations at HolidaysinLincolnSquare.nyc.

UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) — Officials in Lincoln Square unveiled their interactive holiday lights installation on Thursday evening.

Lincoln Square’s Dante Park Lighting Installation Ceremony & Celebration featured live performances and the turning on of the holiday lights for the season.

The Saints of Swing, Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School Chorus, holiday-inspired circus acts including stilt walkers and others performed.

The ceremony kicks off a series of free, festive events.

Magical Lights will illuminate nightly in Dante Park and Richard Tucker Park through the new year.

It will feature audio-reactive lighting that will move in sync to new recordings from the Metropolitan Opera, including newly added tracks from the Met’s annual holiday presentation of The Magic Flute.

Additionally, 34 trees wrapped entirely with lights will shine along the 10 Broadway Malls from West 60th to 70th streets.

Local businesses offered light refreshments, including Rosa Mexicana, which warmed up guests with hot chocolate, and Le Botaniste, which provided fresh cookies.

Throughout December, the Fabulous Fezziwigs will wear their festive Victorian costumes and bring joy to Lincoln Square with their spirited caroling of timeless classics and contemporary holiday favorites.

Link to Original Story

By Mike Mishkin, I Love the Upper West Side

Lincoln Square is getting ready for a full slate of holiday programming, with the Lincoln Square BID rolling out a series of events throughout December. The season officially begins with the Magical Lights Ceremony on Thursday, December 4, at 4:30 p.m. in Dante Park (Broadway and West 64th Street).

This year’s kickoff features circus performances — including Princess Schneeflocken, stilt walkers, and jugglers — along with music by students from Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School Chorus. The Saints of Swing, known for their classic and eclectic repertoire, will follow.

The ceremony also marks the return of the BID’s audio-reactive light and sound displays, which will illuminate Dante and Richard Tucker Parks. The installations respond to clapping, singing, and ambient city sound, and in Dante Park, the lights will sync with recordings from the Metropolitan Opera and Jazz at Lincoln Center. The nightly light-and-sound shows begin at 4:30 p.m. and will run throughout the season.

Additional lighting has also been added along the Broadway Malls from 60th to 70th Street, where trees will be wrapped from trunk to branch.

Beyond opening night, the BID’s Holidays in Lincoln Square lineup includes the return of the WinteRamble, an illuminated procession featuring Frost Giant puppets created by Processional Arts Workshop. That takes place on Wednesday, December 17, and advance sign-ups are available online.

Caroling will also pop up across the neighborhood, with the Fabulous Fezziwigs scheduled to perform at rotating locations from 5:30–7:00 p.m. on seven dates: December 5, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, and 18. Locations will be announced on the BID’s social channels.

More details about this year’s programs — along with event listings and promotions from Lincoln Square businesses — can be found at HolidaysinLincolnSquare.nyc. Information is also available at the BID’s three information carts at Dante Park, Richard Tucker Park, and Columbus Circle.

Holidays in Lincoln Square, the Lincoln Square BID’s series of fun, festive events for the holiday season, kicks off with live music, exciting performances, and interactive elements for everyone to enjoy!

Join the Lincoln Square BID and WABC-TV for the Magical Lights Ceremony as we turn on the lights and celebrate the holiday season on Thursday, December 4, at 4:30pm at Dante Park (Broadway and West 64th Street). The fun begins with a showcase of classic circus acts with the enchanting Princess Schneeflocken and a pair of stilt walkers and jugglers. There will also be live music by talented students from Kaufman Music Center‘s Special Music School Chorus, followed by the Saints of Swing, an extraordinary collective of musicians specializing in eclectic selections of foot-tapping swing classics.

The Magical Lights Ceremony will be your first chance to see the return of the BID’s dazzling, audio-reactive light and sound displays. The Magical Lights respond to clapping, singing, and the noises of the city as they dangle from the trees in Dante and Richard Tucker Parks. The lights in Dante Park will also twinkle in sync with recordings from the Metropolitan Opera and Jazz at Lincoln Center. You will be able to hear this music nightly, beginning at 4:30pm, at our light and sound shows all season long. The lights don’t end there—in the Broadway Malls from 60th to 70th Street, there will be enhanced lights wrapped from their trunks all the way into their branches.

Our Holidays in Lincoln Square programming also includes the WinteRamble—an illuminated neighborhood procession with Frost Giant puppets from Processional Arts Workshop—on Wednesday, December 17. You can read all about the WinteRamble here and sign up using the form at this link. Caroling with the Fabulous Fezziwigs will take place at strategic locations across Lincoln Square from 5:30pm to 7:00pm on seven dates: Friday, December 5; Tuesday, December 9; Wednesday, December 10; Thursday, December 11; Monday, December 15; Tuesday, December 16; and Thursday, December 18. To find out the location of the performances, follow us @LincolnSquareNY.

Visit HolidaysinLincolnSquare.nyc for details about our events and links to events and promotions from businesses across Lincoln Square. Information can also be found at our three Information Carts at Dante Park (Broadway and West 64th Street), Richard Tucker Park (Broadway and West 66th Street), and Columbus Circle (Broadway and West 59th Street). Contact us at 212.581.3774 or info@lincolnsquarebid.org if you have any questions or to receive copies of the rack card to display at your business or property.

Photo Credit: Filip Wolak

On Wednesday, December 17, celebrate the upcoming winter solstice with the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District at the fourth annual WinteRamble—an illuminated neighborhood procession featuring the iconic Frost Giant puppets and icicle lanterns from Processional Arts Workshop. Make a mini-lantern at our free workshop, carry an icicle lantern, or walk with us on the sidewalks and be a part of our neighborhood’s festive holiday tradition.

The joyful procession starts at 5:00pm in front of 1886 Broadway (between 62nd Street and 63rd Street) and meanders through the Lincoln Square neighborhood to the ethereal sounds of J.C. King’s Kalimbascope (a rolling ensemble of acoustically-enhanced thumb pianos) until 6:00pm. Residents, neighbors, and visitors can join the procession from anywhere along the route. Before the procession starts, make your own mini-lantern at our free workshop between 3:00pm and 5:00pm at TD Bank (1873 Broadway at West 62nd Street). Teaching artists from Processional Arts Workshop will be on hand to help. Sign up via this form to participate in the workshop, carry an icicle lantern, join the Kalimbascope, or walk along with the group. Everyone is welcome to take part in this family-friendly event!

The WinteRamble is free, but we are encouraging everyone to join us in supporting our longtime local partners, the Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center and Goddard Riverside. Together, we can help our neighbors access the resources and services they need. Donations can be made at this link.

For more information about our holiday programming, including nightly light and sound shows and caroling with the Fabulous Fezziwigs, visit HolidaysinLincolnSquare.nyc. Rack cards about these events can be found at our three Information Carts at Dante Park (Broadway and West 64th Street), Richard Tucker Park (Broadway and West 66th Street), and Columbus Circle (Broadway and West 59th Street). Contact us at 212.581.3774 or info@lincolnsquarebid.org if you have any questions or to receive copies of the rack card to display at your business or property.

Photo Credit: Carlos Alayo

It’s time to mark your calendars for Holidays in Lincoln Square!

Our Magical Lights at Dante and Richard Tucker Parks are coming back! The kick-off event will take place on Thursday, December 4, at Dante Park when we will light up Lincoln Square. Also save Wednesday, December 17, for our 4th Annual WinteRamble—an illuminated community procession with the Frost Giant puppets (pictured) from Processional Arts Workshop. The BID will also turn on the enhanced holiday lights in our ten Broadway Malls from West 60th to 70th Street and will be organizing other festive activities for the holiday season. 

If you’re interested in volunteering at any of these events, please contact us at info@lincolnsquarebid.org. Stay tuned for more exciting updates, but save the dates now!