Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to watch the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular while visiting New York City! Seeing as how tickets are already on sale for a new season, I thought I would post a review along with some tips for attending the show. Also, I thought it made for a great little Christmas in July post!

Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
I’ve grown up seeing the Rockettes on tv since I was a little girl. However, I never thought that I would actually get to see them perform live. Back in early January, my husband and I took a quick 48 hour trip to New York City so that I could finally experience NYC at Christmas. While there, I had to see the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular! It was a wonderful evening that I won’t soon forget.
Buying Tickets
Tickets are nonrefundable. So, I waited until we were sure we were going to purchase tickets. I bought two tickets for the 8 PM show on January 2nd in November. I was able to use a discount code from QVC to save some money. Based off of my own research, I decided to go with seats in the first mezzanine in order to be able to appreciate the whole show. While we may not have seen every little detail, it was great for watching the drones and seeing various effects. I really enjoyed our view and have no regrets about my choice.
Arriving at the Show
We stayed at a hotel right beside Radio City, so we simply walked over for the show. I couldn’t imagine trying to find parking in that area. We arrived about 1 hour and 15 minutes ahead of time since they won’t allow late entry to interrupt the show. After going through some security, we had plenty of time to admire the building and find our seats.
The Experience
I had only seen the girls perform on television while advertising for the show, so I had no real idea what to expect. I was surprised by the length of the show and the scale of it. I really enjoyed the holiday tunes and wonderful choreography. The drones and other effects were really neat too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this show. There’s a reason it’s a classic must-do when in NYC at Christmastime. I think my husband may have even enjoyed the show.
Tips
- Buy tickets in advance – The earlier you book, the better the selection of seats.
- Look out for discounts – Last year, QVC put out a nice discount code that I was able to use on our tickets to save a good bit.
- Give some thought to where you want to sit – If you want to see the little details on costumes, then maybe sit in the orchestra section in front of the stage. If you want more of an overall view, then a mezzanine seat is perfect!
- Arrive early – They won’t allow you to interrupt the show if you are late. So, arrive early to appreciate the historic building you are in and to find your seats.
- Eat before the show – They don’t allow outside food or beverages in the venue. So, eat a nice dinner before the show.
- Put the phone away – They have a strict no photography/videography policy for the show. I took a few photos of the building and then put my phone away. Besides, I don’t know that a phone would do a good job of capturing the show anyways.
Should you attend the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular?
If you are someone who grew up watching these ladies perform on tv, then I think it’s a must-do. If you are someone who wants to do the classic NYC Christmas experiences, then it’s definitely a must-do. If you don’t appreciate shows, art, or Christmas, then maybe you can skip it. I’m not sure if I will make the effort to see the show again. However, it did make me want to take a tour of the venue just to see how that stage works.
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