Sunday, December 14, 2025

Scenes from tonight’s 34th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The 34th annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park took place tonight, continuing one of the East Village's enduring December traditions. 

This year's event, held from 4–5 p.m., was once again sponsored by C&B Cafe and featured the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City, who filled the park with seasonal favorites. Veselka provided refreshments, helping keep things warm as neighbors gathered around the tree. 

An enduring staple of December in the neighborhood — and a reminder that some East Village traditions are still going strong...
... And some more scenes...
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3 comments:

  1. JKDecember 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM

    All of the lights came on! When the countdown was over! This is the second year in a row...that's called a winning streak. Thanks Ali and C&B.

    This brought up a question we were discussing yesterday...is this the first TSP tree lighting in the snow? For sure we've had some cold ones, and rainy ones, but I can't remember one with snow on the tree.

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    Replies
    1. David LeslieDecember 15, 2025 at 7:44 PM

      Good question re snow !!
      There was one year, maybe 3 or 4 years ago when, as if on cue, the carolers were in their first verse of I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas & suddenly an ( unpredicted ) snow began to fall !!! Magical ‼️

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    2. David LeslieDecember 15, 2025 at 7:48 PM

      We’re all well aware that yesterday’s was definitely the largest attendance in all the years of TSP Holiday Tree Lighting…..we’re wondering if someone with a knack for counting crowds might take a guess as to how many were in the park yesterday? 🤷🏻❓

      Delete

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