City of Lights

If you want to avoid the masses at this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony (Dec. 3), you can watch it on NBC and Peacock starting at 8 p.m. Or you can attend other such celebrations throughout the boroughs, like at the Dumbo Archway in Brooklyn (Dec. 4); at Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island (Dec. 5); and at Ciccarone Park in the Little Italy section of the Bronx and at Sohncke Square in Woodside, Queens (both on Dec. 6).

Adventurous souls in search of immersive light shows can head to Long Island, where you can wander about Fantasy Winter Fairyland at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow (through Jan. 1) or drive around Magic of Lights at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh (through Jan. 3).

Get Your Kicks

Celebrating 100 years, the Rockettes have become one of New York City’s signature holiday traditions with their “Christmas Spectacular” at Radio City Music Hall (through Jan. 5). But did you know that Staten Island has its own variation? “The Christmas Show” at the St. George Theater (Dec. 12-14) features musical numbers, the dancing Richmondettes and a living Nativity performed by over 100 volunteers.

ImageJimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, center, in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which will be showing the United Palace Theater on Dec. 14.Credit...Paramount Home Entertainment, via Associated Press

Stage and Screen Classics

Michael Cerveris has played a who’s-who of villains onstage, from Sweeney Todd to John Wilkes Booth. This month he tackles a less bloodthirsty curmudgeon, Scrooge, in the Old Vic production of “A Christmas Carol” at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in Lower Manhattan (through Jan. 4).

I bawl like a baby every time I watch “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Frank Capra’s heartwarming 1946 movie about family, community and a kindly guardian angel named Clarence. On Dec. 14, the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights hosts a screening with pre-film caroling and an introduction by Mary Owen, whose mother, Donna Reed, portrayed the movie’s other angel: Mary, wife of George Bailey, played by the delightful Jimmy Stewart.

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