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At roughly 75 feet tall, the dreamy, picturesque Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is truly ascendant — and we know a thing or two about ascendant experiences. If you’re visiting the tree for its annual lighting ceremony at 8 p.m. on December 4th, this is the year to combine them both.
From a stop by The Travel Agency’s Fifth Avenue dispensary to the Rockefeller spectacle itself, here’s how to make an evening out of the biggest, most beautiful Christmas tree lighting in NYC.
Frequent travelers know to make a day — or at least an afternoon — out of a main event in the evening. We recommend casually walking around Midtown East, then making time for dinner and more holiday spectacles before visiting the big tree. Here’s the rundown.
Rockefeller Center is between FIfth and Sixth Avenues and West 49th and 50th Streets, so Fifth Avenue is ideal for pre-event strolling. Make The Travel Agency — Midtown East, on Fifth Avenue between 48th and 49th Streets, your launching pad. Explore our premium cannabis products with help from our knowledgeable staff in an environment as luxe as the diamonds down the street. Take your products with you for an elevated Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
After visiting The Travel Agency, go for a casual walk along and near Fifth Avenue to encounter seasonal installations galore. The 30-foot Christmas tree outside the Lotte New York Palace Hotel is always a delight, and in the lobby, you’ll find a lovely gingerbread house rendering of the hotel. If it gives you the munchies, fret not — a resplendent local dinner is part of your Rockefeller Christmas tree itinerary.
As you traverse Fifth Avenue’s stunning holiday sights, explore the street’s signature landmarks and high-end shopping. The iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the legendary ATLAS art deco sculpture — perhaps best known from the 30 Rock opening sequence — are directly across from each other on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets. Over on Sixth Avenue at the corner of West 50th Street, you’ll find the one and only Radio City Music Hall, which is as breathtaking in person as in all the photos.
Or, stick to Fifth Avenue for some of Manhattan’s most high-end shopping. (If shopping small and local is more up your alley, we recommend shopping in Downtown Brooklyn, near The Travel Agency’s Brooklyn location, on a different day instead.)
The flagship Saks Fifth Avenue in the heart of the Diamond District, to name one famous example, is on its namesake avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. On the next block south on Fifth Avenue, you’ll find newer trendy brands like Aritzia, Free People, and Anthropologie. A block or two in another direction, and you’ll come across the iconic Cartier jewelry shop. Whether you’re window shopping or really splurging, there’s something to enjoy on your afternoon stroll.
Midtown East’s best cuisine comes from restaurants you just won’t find elsewhere. Give these spots a try:
The family-owned Dawson Irish Bar and Restaurant promises a great time on West 45th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Get there between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. for happy hour.
The Reading Room, a well-hidden New American eatery, is tucked into the back of the esteemed Gotham Hotel on East 46th Street just off Fifth Avenue.
The beloved Kellari Taverna Green restaurant on West 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues is known for live music and dancing on Christmas Eve — and holiday cheer all season long.
Wrap up dinner around 7 p.m. so you can peruse the Bryant Park Winter Village on West 40th Street and 6th Avenue. Consider it a warm-up for the extravagance of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting.
Swing by the Christmas trees and cozy igloos to get in the mood for the Rockefeller festivities. Stroll the open-air holiday markets, then people-watch from the edge of the famed ice skating rink. Rest your legs at the Curling Café bar in the northeast corner of the park — you’re about to do a good amount of standing.
Since the main event starts at 8 p.m., 7:45 p.m. (7:30 p.m. for the early birds) is an ideal time to depart Bryant Park for Rockefeller Center. Stand in awe as the Rockefeller Christmas tree’s lights come on and an iconic New York spectacle truly comes to life.
If taking an edible as you depart The Travel Agency is all you need for an elevated evening, then go for it. But if you need more to reach Rockefeller tree-level heights, consider vapes and pre-rolls as part of a cannabis pairing.
The term “cannabis pairing” most frequently means coupling your product of choice with food or drink. It goes best when you know what terpenes are in your cannabis. You can pair a specific strain with a flavor — a juniper-flavored drink and a piney strain like OG Kush come to mind. MFNY’s OG Kush x Rainbow Belts resin-infused pre-roll makes a great after-dinner treat if gin flavors are on your dinner menu.
Would you rather just get right into it? Pick up a hot tea and add your desired amount of Ayrloom’s Beverage Enhancer to enhance your journey. Sip from your hot tea as your evening progresses.
How you time your cannabis consumption meaningfully shapes your elevated tree lighting experience.
Edibles. Some people may experience the effects of edibles in as little as 30 minutes (or just 20 minutes with fast-acting edibles), whereas some may need one to two hours. Liftoff always happens faster on an empty stomach, so use your timing wisely. For an 8 p.m. lighting, you’ll want to time your edible anywhere between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Flower and pre-rolls. Dried, cured cannabis flower takes effect quickly and lasts for a shorter time. You can expect to feel its effects around 15 minutes after you inhale, and you can continue to inhale as you go. Flower might sustain you for two to four hours, though occasionally longer. Just make sure you’re not in a no-smoking area before lighting up.
Vapes. Whereas smoking flower is the classic way to consume cannabis, vapes are more discreet — and they’re also much stronger. They’re also super easy to stash in your coat pocket, and you don’t need a lighter. A vape might elevate you for one to three hours, and it can take effect within a few minutes of inhaling. This is a good one to save for 15 to 30 minutes before the lighting begins.
Concentrates. Only consider these if you’re very experienced with cannabis and your tolerance is sky-high. Dabbing exceptionally strong THC products might be a bit much for this event, but if your tolerance is used to this, adding crumble to your pre-roll, or buying an infused joint, can get you where you’re going. This is another product you’ll want to time for around 15 to 30 minutes before the tree lighting.
Within each of the categories above, a couple of products are the very best one-way tickets to an elevated Christmas tree lighting in NYC.
Edibles. For low-tolerance explorers, Camino’s Bliss Watermelon Lemonade gummies are low-dose and energizing, and you can split them in half or into quarters for microdosing. Higher-tolerance adventurers may enjoy Lost Farm’s Citrus Spritz x Napa live resin infused gummies for a front-seat view into the Christmas excitement.
Flower and pre-rolls. Hepworth’s pre-ground Mango Grape Mimosa flower is perfect for your bowl or one-hitter, and it’s relatively low in THC, leading to a mild yet energizing experience. On the other end of things, Florist Farms’ Candy Jack live resin infused pre-rolls are quite high in THC, and since they’re infused, the horizons you can reach are exceptional.
Vapes. The euphoric Mfused Maui Pineapple all-in-one vape fits in just about any pocket. Looking for a vape cart instead? Jaunty’s Sour Diesel cart is packed with terpenes that open up a world of pairing possibilities.
Concentrates. Hudson Cannabis’ hash makes for a balanced addition to flower. Choose New Moon for a slightly lower-THC concentrate with tart, floral, and peppery flavors. Go with Half Moon for a bit more THC and notes of citrus, spice, and earthiness.
Cannabis is only one element of an unforgettable Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting ceremony. It’s also smart to:
Dress for the occasion. Walking in a winter wonderland means layering up — a coat, a mid-layer, and an inner layer alongside gloves, a beanie, and a scarf. Choose layers that are easy to remove in warm dinner spots or shopping sites.
Write out your itinerary. Nothing turns an ascent into a rapid descent like being late to the Rockefeller ceremony and missing the tree lighting. Jot down an itinerary with clear start and end times for every part so you don’t miss the spectacle.
Bring a battery pack and charging cable for your phone. You might be out and about for a while, and as you reference your itinerary or look at maps, you’ll drain your phone’s battery. Keeping a battery pack and charging cable on hand ensures you can take photos at the tree and navigate home afterward. While you’re at it, bring an extra vape battery with you if you tend to forget to charge it.
Go with a friend. Frequent flyers might be fine traveling solo, but if you’re less confident about public cannabis adventures, bring someone with you. They’ll be there if you need anything — and best of all, you’ll have someone there to share in all the memories.
Visiting Rockefeller Center on December 4 when the Christmas tree gets lit is an experience you’ll carry forever. That’s even truer if you ascend ahead of the ceremony, so browse The Travel Agency’s menu before venturing into Midtown East. Place an order for pickup at our Midtown East location, or shop in-person for help from our experienced budtenders. The festivities begin at The Travel Agency — and they peak at the tree.
HAPPY
ENERGETIC
CALM
RELAXED
FOCUSED
SLEEP
CLEAR MIND
UPLIFTED
CREATIVE
INSPIRED