Christmas time in NYC is fantastic and after spending nearly 7 years here, it’s no surprise that NYC has some one-of-a-kind holiday traditions that can’t be beaten elsewhere. One tradition is watching the long-legged, hyper spirited and talented dance troupe, The Rockettes, showcased in Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular. The show has been kicking off the holiday season since 1933 and consistently delivers enthusiastic performances and heart-warming, though admittedly slightly cheesy (but hey, it’s Christmas!,) scenes about believing in Santa and the North Pole, gift giving and the spirit of Christmas.
The show is packed with unwavering holiday cheer and includes iconic performances such as the precise tap routine to “The 12 Days of Christmas,” a stuffed animal ballet Nutcracker scene- which includes the classic giant teddy bears and also my beloved pandas, and my favorite scene called “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.” This scene displays insane synchronization and ends with all the soldiers in line, only to slowly tip backward individually, resulting in them all falling flat on to each other like dominos.
There are tons of Santa scenes and even a fun 3-D animation scene where he takes us on a wild ride in his sleigh giving us a thrilling view of NYC during Christmas time. One of my other favorite scenes is “The Living Nativity.” With live animals, including camels and sheep, gorgeous costumes and the Star of Bethlehem looming at the top of the scene, it’s a beautiful performance and reminds us of what Christmas is really about- the birth of Jesus Christ.
With all the glitter, singing and dancing, this is definitely the ultimate Christmas extravaganza to see this holiday season!
Chelsea is a San Francisco-based journalist whose passion revolves around exploring the world, immersing herself in foreign cultures, and of course, eating and drinking everything delicious.
Her work can be found in TravelPulse, Forbes, INSIDER, SF Gate and more. She covers all things food, drink and travel and is always up for an adventure, whether that means an adrenaline-pumping excursion or trying a new cuisine.
