This is Staten Island's village tree lighting, held among restored 18th- and 19th-century buildings rather than in front of an office tower — local groups perform, Santa greets the crowd, and the tree goes on at six. It is free, needs no ticket, and takes an hour, making it the low-friction way to see Richmondtown. If you are coming for the holiday weekend, warm up here first.
What to expect
An hour-long outdoor gathering in the village centre with performances by local groups, a Santa greeting for children, and hot beverages and sweets for sale from stands. The tree is lit at the end of the hour, and the whole thing is open to walk-ups with no ticket.
Good to know
- Take the Staten Island Ferry, then the S74 bus along Richmond Road to the village.
- Free with no ticket needed, so you can simply turn up.
- It is entirely outdoors after dark in December — hats and gloves, not just a coat.
- The programme is roughly an hour, which suits small children better than a long evening event.
- Bring cash or a card for the hot drink and sweets stands.
- Free on-site parking makes this easy if you are driving rather than taking the ferry.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
Do I need a ticket?
No. The tree lighting is free and open to all with no ticket purchase necessary, unlike the village's ticketed holiday weekend and candlelight tours.
Is food available?
Hot beverages and festive sweets are sold on site, though it is a stand rather than a full meal, so eat beforehand if you are making a night of it.
How long does it last?
About an hour, with performances and a Santa greeting first and the tree itself lit at the end of the hour.
More this weekend
