Holiday Tree
Lighting S+17
Festive photo opps. Live music. Hot toddies and gingerbread. These are just some of the ingredients for a very merry night out at the Seaport. Bundle up and join us for one of our favorite nights of the year — the Holiday Tree Lighting celebration on Tuesday, November 28, from 6pm – 7pm. Look for the big tree at the corner of Water and Fulton Streets, and get ready to mingle with neighbors and welcome the holiday season ahead.
The night will feature live performances, holiday shopping and cozy adult beverages from Garden Bar. Kids are invited to join a Seaport Kids x Gingerbread cookie-decorating session at Gingerbread City, and will also have the opportunity to give their holiday wish lists to Santa. For anyone tackling their shopping list, Hester Street Fair vendors will have unique gifts for sale, and the South Street Seaport Museum’s introduction galleries are open for extended hours, from 5pm – 8pm, with the chance to craft your own holiday “Baggywrinkle,” or maritime-inspired decorations made from brightly colored yarn.
RSVP below to the Seaport Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony from 6-7pm.
Free with RSVPEvent Info
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
From 6pm
Various activities and live performances throughout the Seaport
LIVE by the Tree S+28
6-7pm | Fulton & Water Streets
Enjoy live music performances from Top 40 star Chelsea Cutler, the headliner for the night, along with Brooklyn United Drum Line and local teen band Mod Rock. ESPN basketball analyst & host Monica McNutt is bringing it all together as the host of the evening’s festivities.
CHELSEA CUTLER
Since 2017, intimate candor has defined Chelsea Cutler’s artistry. The Platinum singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer chooses her words very carefully and, ultimately, sings with a novelist’s attention-to-detail. Generating over 3 billion streams and selling out worldwide tours, she has also been named Forbes 30 Under 30 and has received acclaim from Billboard, Variety, Wall Street Journal, NPR, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and many more. In addition to performing at major festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and more, she has also performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and the Times Square New Year’s Eve Special. With the release of her new album “Stellaria”, led by the hit single “Your Bones”, she will embark on The Beauty Is Everywhere Tour in 2024 with stops at Radio City Music Hall and more.
Discover More S+4
Disney’s Ultimate Toy Drive supporting Toys for Tots
6pm – 7pm | Fulton & Front Streets
Nothing beats the magic of opening a new toy. Since 1991, Marine Toys for Tots has been organizing local toy drives for the country’s less fortunate children. This holiday season, you can be a part of the magic, bringing joy to a child in need. To donate to Disney’s Ultimate Toy Drive supporting Toys for Tots, please bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Holiday Tree Lighting. The first 200 people to donate a toy will receive a free cup of hot chocolate from Paris Cafe.
Learn MoreSeaport Kids x Gingerbread City Holiday Workshop
Multiple time slots | 25 Fulton Street | Free
Holiday cookies. Festive fun. Kick off the evening of our Seaport Holiday Tree Lighting celebration with a cookie decorating session at The Gingerbread City workshop space. This Seaport Kids activity, presented by NewYork-Presbyterian, combines the awe of The Gingerbread City experience with a hands-on way to create treats and get into the spirit of the season. A gingerbread cookie will be offered for each child aged 3+ with a ticket.
Learn MoreDisney’s The Santa Clauses’ Winter Wonderland
November 28, 11am-11pm | The Rooftop at Pier 17 | 89 South Street | Free
Rooftop skating. Hot chocolate. Skyline views, Santa and coziness. It’s all on tap during the free community day on November 28 from 11am – 11pm at the Disney’s The Santa Clauses’ Winter Wonderland, presented by Bucket Listers.
Please note that the FREE general admission tickets are currently at capacity, and in order to ensure entry, you will need to purchase a VIP ticket.
Learn MoreHoliday Pop-Up Market
5-9:30pm | Hester Street Fair | 18 Fulton Street
Indulge in a festive experience as you step into a classic Hester Street Fair Holiday Pop-Up made of specially curated vendors, each offering seasonal treasures that exude personality and uniqueness. These handcrafted gems are not just gifts; they’re expressions of artistry and individuality.
Join us at 18 Fulton Street, where the holiday spirit comes alive both indoors and outdoors. It’s a one-stop destination for exclusive finds and memorable moments, all happening between 5 pm and 9:30 pm.
Holiday Baggywrinkle Activity
5-8pm | Seaport Museum | 12 Fulton Street | Free
Witness the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on the cobblestones, and pop into the Seaport Museum’s introduction galleries for some seasonal delight. Families and visitors of all ages are encouraged to join in the creative fun by crafting your own baggywrinkle, charming maritime-inspired decorations perfect for the holidays, using vibrant yarn.
Learn MoreCider & Hot Toddies
4:30-8:30pm | Garden Bar | 19 Fulton Street
Hot chocolate. Spiked hot chocolate. Mulled wine and more. Toast the kickoff to the festive season with a special Holiday Tree Lighting cocktail or beverage to keep cozy. Garden Bar will be open from 4:30-8:30pm and serving warm drinks.
Learn MoreSilent Night Afterparty
7-10pm | Pearl Alley | 89 South Street
Waterfront views. DJ grooves. Keep the good times going after the Tree Lighting with the Silent Night Afterparty at Pearl Alley, from 7–10pm. DJ Riz will be on deck, and all attendees can receive a 30% bounceback offer for their next visit to Pearl Alley.
Giving Back
The Seaport is proud to partner with city-wide charities year-round, but especially during the holiday season. This year, The Howard Hughes Corporation is donating $5,000 worth of toys to the Toys for Tots annual drive, $10,000 to Manhattan Youth, which provides childcare and after-school programs, and $10,000 to University Settlement, which assists New Yorkers on the Lower East Side and in Brooklyn and helps fight poverty and inequality.