As the topsy-turvy year of 2025 drew to a close, the return of several annual holiday happenings provided Chelsea citizens with a sense of stability–and, on more than one occasion, complmentary cookies! Just as sweet are the scenes you’re about to see, in this photo roundup. See something you like, but missed? Then we’ll look forward to seeing you there, in 2026!

HOLIDAY CAROLING | Backed by live musicians and a selection of seasonally appropriate songs, members of the 300 West 21st, 22nd, & 23rd Streets Block Association–and friends–strolled the streets of West Chelsea on the early evening of December 22. The group circled back to their starting point (360 W. 22nd St.) to put a fitting coda on the caroling, in the form of hot cocoa and cookies. The below photo, courtesy of the BA, shows the amiable assemblage at evening’s end..

Chelsea Community Church presened its 51st Annual Candlelight Carol Service on Sunday, December 14, at St. Peter’s Church Chelsea (346 W.  20th St. btw. 8th & 9th Aves.). The non-denominational Christian congregation that welcomes all, all year long, long ago established this Candlelight Service as one of Chelsea’s essential holiday destination events. Its centerpiece: A reading of A Visit from St. Nicholas. Attributed to Chelsea’s Clement Clarke Moore, the iconic 1822 poem’s reindeer, chimney, and stocking stuffing lore lives on in the Santa Claus we know to this day. This year, Broadway star and Chelsea resident Karen Mason (Mamma Mia, Sunset Boulevard) read the poem live, at the actual church Moore helped design and build. To visit CCC online, click here–and to view a recording of 2025’s Candlelight Service, click here. See below, several photos from the Service.

The West 400 Block Association’s Annual Menorah Lighting—a tradition founded, organized, and presided over by longtime local Allen Oster—had a successful, snowy 2025 iteration in Clement Clarke Moore Park (10th Ave. at W. 22nd St.). This year’s participatory guests included NY State Senator and Manhattan Borough President-Elect Brad Hoylman Sigal. Noted the BA in a December 26 Newsletter: Leonie Shore gave the blessings in Hebrew; Mary Schwartz shared some history of Hanukkah, and Debbie Seiter provided recorded music.

Below, see photos of December 14’s Menorah Lighting as well as another Clement Clarke Moore Park tradition: The Annual Tree Lighting and Recital of T’was the Night Before Christmas. At that December 7 event, complimentary candy canes and peppermint puffs were plentiful, as were the holiday tunes performed by talent from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. James Kellerhouse (assistant vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and executive director of operations and engagement for Vanderbilt University–NYC) secured a place in local lore by doing T’was the Night recitation duties. As for the below photos, due credit and thanks go out to Pablo and Allen…

Lights on the Cobbles / Along Ninth Ave. in the Meatpacking District through January 16 | Serving as a strong, Instagrammable rebuttal to the darkest of winter nights, Lights on the Cobbles is the Meatpacking District’s open-air collection of immersive, high-design installations featuring super-sized snowpeople, festive lighting, and seasonal seating. Now in its fifth year, this 2025 iteration is presented by Baccarat, to celebrate its newly opened flagship boutique at 33 Ninth Avenue. Baccarat’s own contribution is a 15-foot, 84-light, 3,000-crystal pendant chandelier that sparkles and shines at Ninth Avenue and 14th Street through January 16. See below, photos from 2025 “Cobbles” content.

—Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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