Lincoln Square Winters Eve

I love this event. I tried to go every year. It takes place the first Monday in December or rare occasion the Monday after Thanksgiving if the first Monday in December is late. For example in 2015, the event took place November 30. There are some things that stay consistent every year such as the ice sculpture, free giveaways, live performances, and free hot chocolate/​apple cider and cookies.
Every year, there is a lived ice sculpturing, different sculpture each year. I noticed the banks always give out freebies. In 2013, I got a 1GB usb from CitiBank and in 2015, TB bank was giving out elf hat. There are so much activities for kids to partake. The live performances are always great. From Christmas carols to live dance music. Once thing for sure is that you must visit the Time Warner Building. Some of the stores give out complimentary items or discount on purchases. And there’s always the beautiful LED star-​shaped decoration.
I always look for to this event every year. It never disappoint.

Amazing amazing annual festival upper west side in the Lincoln center area ! This is one of our annual traditions to attend this incredible upper west side festival which is usually held on the first Monday in December– to kick off the holiday season.
I cannot believe how many people who have lived in NYC so many years aren’t aware of this festival that starts with a tree lighting and has so many great food sampling stations, musicians, entertainers walking the streets on stilts, giant puppeteers strolling … One or two ice sculptures being sculpted live, Mini Performances put on by Barnum and baileys circus artists and Broadway show performers… Centers set up with crafts, performances, face painting, balloon twisting and activities for kids…
There are so many small bands and entertainers set up along the streets and inside different buildings, stores holding promotions, 2 – 3 Santas in different locations
Highly recommend ! Amazing for families and kids but would also be a fantastic experience with friends or a date!

I always enjoy going to this holiday festival. And each time, I’m always amazed by the amount of effort put in and hospitality shown by the people who organize this festival, year after year. Winter’s Eve is produced by the Lincoln Square BID (the businesses around the Lincoln Center area) and is one the best free outdoor events our city has to offer. The fun begins with the annual tree lighting ceremony in Dante Park at 5:30pm. And then starting at 6pm the stages come alive with all sorts of musicians, singers, and dancers at various locations along Broadway from Columbus Circle to 68^th Street. And there are roving musical bands and costumed characters on stilts that only add to the fun.
However, the draw that brings back hundreds of people to this event each year is the food. Many of the well-​known neighborhood restaurants offer tastings of their food dishes for a nominal fee of three or four dollars. Rows of tents are set up along Broadway and all the popular eating spots like Landmarc in the Time Warner building, Boulud Sud across from Lincoln Center, and Tavern on the Green provide small sampling plates. Now at thirty five, each year the list of restaurants, cafes and bakeries continues to grow.
And just in case after all the food and entertainment you get a whim to go shopping some of the retail stores offer shopping discounts, gift bags, complimentary wine and cheese, apple cider, hot cocoa and more. I should also mention that a portion of the proceeds from the food tastings go to New York Cares and that there are drop off sites for New York Cares’ Winter Coat Drive.

Weather was great last night, not so cold. The food was fabulous with lots of selection. Music performers takes over almost each and every block, free gifts, hot chocolate, cookies from TD. It seemed everyone had a good time! Happy holidays!

Great Weather
Great Crowd
Great Tree Lighting and Entertainment (from 58^th to 68^th on Broadway)
Great Vendors this year with most items $ 2-​$ 4 and even a few freebies along the Festival Route.
Some of the stores even had some little festivities with tastings and other givaways.
and we can’t forget Santa who managed to be in 3 places tonight… holy moly that Fat bubbly guy gets around!
me and a friend made our rounds with five kids and the smiles and love seen on thier faces was all worth the trip and time.
ice sculpture of the Nutcracker in front of Time warner building was a big HIT!!!

I went for the first time tonight with friends. It instantly made my day and put me in the fun holiday spirits! It spreads from Columbus Circle all the way to Lincoln Square. When I arrived at Lincoln Square, I didn’t realize it was more than that, so I spent all my money in that little park right outside of the subways! But the festival is long. It consists of tons of different food stands for things $ 2 — $ 4 each, bands, dance performances, freebies (shout out to Disney for that air freshener), a Menorah and Christmas tree to take a picture with, and more. And fyi, it is the white tents, and not the red striped ones.
Great evening to enjoy with friends or family.
Just walk up and down the avenue and enjoy :)

What’s not to like – food tents from of the area restaurants with samples for about $ 2-​$ 4, live music every couple of blocks in various genres, ice sculpture carving to watch, decorations, and a big tree. Music and walking around are free, food costs whatever you’re willing to pay, and there were some good foods out – it’s basically a «taste of» event for the Lincoln Square area.

This was an amazing event. If you are in the need to get i n to the holiday spirit, this is the event to attend. The food was plentiful and there was such great music. The streets were filled with both. I must give a special shout out to this group that was out there called BATALA. NYC. This Afro-​Brazilian Samba reggae all female drumming troupe were an amazing. I couldn’t see all of the performances, but if they were all as good as this group, then I know everyone was pleased. Kudos to the organizers of this event.

Fun event! We were here late. Event started at 5pm, we came at around 7-​ish. Great music! Great band! You can sample food from different restaurant too!

This was a one night event that as fun! I arrived late because I had classes so I missed the christmas tree lighting ceremony. There was so much happening when i arrived. there were tents of food vendors which was great, some were redic priced while others were more affordable $ 1-​$ 5. The prices seems cheap but some places it was just a small sample or just one of the items so if you got a little here and there it added up fast. I had pasta with my friends which was great! Some of the lines were crazy, they were winding all over the place. The best part was all the music that was happening around you and all the performances. They also had ice sculptures that were awesome, but were melting because of the warm weather.

A one night event and what drew us in were all the famous restaurants serving up the goods. The more popular ones had some crazy lines but everything moved pretty quickly. Crowds were kind of ridiculous at times but nothing to totally off put the night. Some good food to be had ranging from $ 1.00−5.00. I thought too many restaurants went the easy route and did soup, boooo to that. Lots of strollers going around and plenty of activities that were more family oriented. A good time for the foodies as well.

If you want to get into your Christmas Spirit you just need to go to the Lincoln Center Winters Eve event and see the lighting of the tree, sample some of the tasty foods and listen to some of the bands playing.
Located right outside my bfs parents place this is a very convenient event. Even though the place is packed and you walk about 1 mile an hour it is a great atmosphere where city folk become country folk just for a few hours. People who you do not know will approach you and engage in a conversation all because of the Christmas spirit being spread around and the yummy foods being served all the way from 66^th street to Columbus Circle.
These are one of the many events that makes me love New York and makes it my home.