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The holiday season kicks off in Harlem with the 125th Street Business Improvement District (125th St. BID), which has been reenergizing Harlem’s cultural scene by promoting the arts, entertainment, dining, and business community for over 30 years, hosting New York City’s only parade of holiday lights, Harlem Holiday Lights, a free public event on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 (rain date Tuesday, November 25, 2025) at 6 p.m. at 125th Street and Broadway.
This year’s Harlem Holiday Lights theme will celebrate “Culture, Community, Connections,” and how the 125th St. BID has continued to grow as a place to work, live, visit and learn, and encompassing Harlem’s evolution across generations, bridging Harlem’s past, present and future through this year’s Grand Marshals.
Grand Marshals include Actor and Philanthropist Malik Yoba, born in the Bronx and raised in Harlem, along with the Apollo Theater which is celebrating nine decades of bringing world class arts and culture to 125th St.
Yoba, who starred in New York Undercover, has close ties to the community and is the connection between The Apollo where he recently performed a one-man stage play Harlem to Hollywood. Beyond his many acting achievements, Yoba has been a champion for community empowerment. He is the founder and CEO of the Yoba Development Foundation Corporation, the non-profit arm of Yoba Development Firm, which is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through education, community engagement, and sustainable development, to build a better future.
The legendary Apollo Theater has played a vital role in cultivating emerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding, The Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world. This past summer, the theater broke ground on a historic renovation and modernization project that will provide upgraded amenities while honoring the theater’s cultural legacy, in line with the theme of Harlem Holiday Lights in celebrating culture, community, connections. Apollo programs continue at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria and at partner locations while the Historic Theater undergoes its largest renovation and restoration in history, which began on July 1.
Highlights and updated activations for this year’s Harlem Holiday Lights parade include:
Two Grand Marshals that represent the parade theme of Culture, Community, Connections.
More than 20 magically lit up floats along with two fire trucks and a Department of Sanitation vehicle, assembling at 125th Street and Broadway, traveling throughout the neighborhood.
Dozens of watch areas provide holiday fun for generations of families.
Nearly 50 community activations, including four toy giveaway areas along the route for local youth, a canned food drive to serve those in need, live musical entertainment and dance performances featuring local groups including the Thurgood Marshall Academy Steppers and a children’s choir, Seniors on the Boulevard, health services, food and beverage samplings from local neighborhood staples and more.
The parade will also celebrate its Legacy Award recipient Michael A. Walrond, Jr., the Senior Pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) in Harlem.
Community partners and sponsors of the parade of lights and activation festivities include Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, CB9, CB10, Apollo Theater, Columbia University, Settepani Restaurant, Metro Plus Health, Toys of Hope, Ryan Health, A. Philip Randolph Senior Center, Hope Center, Mushtari, Living Redemption Harlem-Dowling West Side Center, Harlem Community Development Corporation, Central Harlem Senior Citizen’s Centers, Inc, W. 135th St. Apartments Tenant Association, Inc., Harlem Advocates for Seniors, Fata Realty, United House of Prayer, FDNY, NYPD, and others.
For more information on the holiday festivities including a full list of activations, please visit https://www.harlemlightitup.org/ and follow on Instagram at HarlemHolidayLights.
