This post is about Radio City Christmas Spectacular, how to get tickets, available discounts, and other tips.
This classic holiday show will be returning to the Radio City Music Hall for the 2023 Christmas season.
- How Much Are Tickets?
- Discounts
- Is the Show Worth Seeing?
- Radio City Music Hall Tours
- Other Holiday Shows
- Christmas in NYC
- Things to Do in NYC
Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
HOW MUCH ARE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR TICKETS?
In 2023, the show runs from November 17 to January 1.
Normally, tickets on sale through StubHub will run you anywhere from $100 midweek for mezzanine (and some orchestra) seating to nearly $200 for premium seating for most of the month of November.
After Thanksgiving, a Saturday 1:30 pm show will cost between $100 - $599.
The price you pay depends on the day of the week, the time of the performance, and of course, seat location.
If you can buy tickets several weeks in advance, you may find better prices.
Keep in mind that weekend midday shows are the most desirable tickets.
If your schedule is flexible, the more likely you are to find cheaper tickets.
After Christmas, prices drop. The show usually runs through the 1st weekend of January.
So, if you can wait to see the show until after December 25th, you may find less expensive tickets.
Given the prices, you may do much better looking for discounted tickets.
Before you purchase tickets for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, shop around.
8 DISCOUNTS ON TICKETS
This section will cover the best ways to save money on tickets to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
We also include details about common discounts that may not currently be available.
Many of the discounts are only available until early December or have limited availability thereafter.
1. Check Discount Sites
Look at these sites periodically for deals and promo codes:
2. Consider Using StubHub
Tickets on sale through StubHub may be less expensive than purchasing tickets directly from Radio City Music Hall.
You can find tickets as low as $100 for tickets. The earlier you buy, the better the savings.
3. Look for Deals on Goldstar
Check out prices on Goldstar which offers tickets at a special rate.
You can save up to 30% off tickets for select performances. Sometimes they will have tickets as low as $40.
4. Use a Chase Credit Card
If you pay with a Chase credit card, you may have access to discounts or reserved seats for preferred showtimes.
Other credit cards and even debit cards may also provide similar deals.
5. TKTS Discounts
Unfortunately, TKTS, the well-known discount Broadway ticket booth, does not sell tickets for the Christmas Spectacular.
This might change in the future, but for now, this is not an option.
But why not check out what other shows TKTS is selling?
6. Coupon Codes
In years past, there have been several different coupon codes for this show.
7. Group Sales
Groups of 10 or more are eligible for special benefits, preferred group pricing, and help planning their visit.
If you're planning to come to see the show with a bunch of other people, this is a great way to make sure everyone has a fantastic time.
8. Choose the Right Time
Tickets are much more affordable on weekdays and early on in the season.
If you go to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in November or on a weekday, chances are you'll pay much less for a ticket.
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL STAGE DOOR TOUR
Radio City Music Hall is much more than just a theater.
It is a New York landmark that opened in 1932 and has a long, fabled history.
It is also known for its exquisite Art Deco interior. Radio City is so gorgeous that tours are offered.
Find out more about the Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour, including ticket costs, times, and available discounts on tickets.
There are several ways you can save on the cost of the Stage Door Tour.
For example, with a tourist attraction discount pass, you can save between 15% and 50% off of the ticket price of the tour.
Be sure to read our full post on how tourist attraction discount passes work and can save you money.
TIP: If you are looking to learn just a little bit about Radio City Music Hall, consider joining our pay-what-you-wish Midtown Manhattan Tour which includes a stop at this iconic venue.
If you can't make our tour or prefer to explore on your own, check out our audio tour of Midtown Manhattan.
We also have a seasonal pay-what-you-wish Rockefeller Center Tour that includes Radio City Music Hall.
IS THE SHOW WORTH IT?
The short answer is, it depends. The longer answer is probably yes.
But don't take our word for it. Read what some of the 225k members of our popular NYC Travel Tips Facebook group have to say.
There is a range of opinions on the show.
Our group consists of locals, like us tour guides, expats, regular visitors to NYC, as well as newbies.
There's no need to be a member of the group to search for and read the posts, comments, and recommendations.
ABOUT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
Radio City Music Hall (RCMH) is located in Midtown Manhattan on the corner of 6th Avenue and 50th Street and is part of the Rockefeller Center complex of buildings.
Directions
You can use this Google link to get exact directions from your departure location to RCMH.
By subway
- B, D, F, and M trains to 47-50 St/ Rockefeller Center Station
- 1 train to the 50th St./Broadway Station
- E and M trains to 5th Ave./53rd St. Station
If you are new to the NYC subway, check out our posts on mastering the NYC subway and our tips on which MetroCard is best for you.
By bus
M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M50, M57, M104
TIP: If you are considering a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket, keep in mind that most tour buses stop very close to Radio City Music Hall.
HISTORY
Radio City Music Hall was the first of the Rockefeller Center buildings to open, in 1932. The first Christmas Spectacular was held on December 21, 1933.
At the time, the Rockettes and other live performers were somewhat of a warm-up act that was presented before the latest Hollywood films.
The first show included the Rockettes doing “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and the “Living Nativity.”
Both of these components are still used in the Radio City show to this day.
The films that were presented that first year were “Flying Down To Rio, “The Night Before Christmas,” and Walt Disney’s “Silly Symphony.”
The show ran for two weeks that first year. Today it runs for almost two months, so you have plenty of chances to check it out!
FUN FACTS
- The show evolved from a 30-minute performance to a 90-minute stand-alone show in 1979, which was the year that Radio City stopped showing films.
- As technology has advanced, the show has been brought up to date. It now even includes a 3-D film!
- The current version of the show includes 14 musical numbers, which feature a huge cast of characters, including the Rockettes and Santa Claus himself.
- Even though the Rockettes are largely associated with Radio City and the Christmas show, in particular, the precision dance troupe was actually founded in St. Louis in 1925 as the Missouri Rockets.
- There are 36 Rockettes. All of them are between 5’6” and 5’10 ½ “. The illusion that they are all the same height is created by putting the tallest in the middle and then a gradual slope down to the shortest on both ends. Each dancer kicks “eye-high”, to give the illusion that all of the kicks are exactly the same height.
- Over 1300 costumes are used in the show.
- Approximately two million people see the show each year, between the New York show and the tours.
- Radio City Music Hall seats 5,933 people.
- A Rockette does about 300 kicks per show.
- The Living Nativity includes a cast of real animals. These animals live at Radio City Music Hall for the run of the show. Throughout the run, they consume 450 bottles of water, 340 bales of hay, and 560 loaves of 7-grain bread. Their handlers take them out for exercise late at night or early in the morning. If you are around the theatre at those times, you may see them out strolling.
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