Celebrating a Growing Cultural Destination and Generations of Community as 125th Street Business Improvement District Presents NYC’s Only Parade of Lights, Harlem Holiday Lights Celebration
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Harlem Holiday Lights theme is Culture,Community, Connections, honoring generations of community, culture and theconnections that bridge the past, present and future.
Parade Grand Marshals include Harlem-raised Actor and Philanthropist Malik Yoba for his commitment to community, and The Apollo, which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary and is the only institution to be recognized as a parade Grand Marshal
The holiday seasonkicks off in Harlem with the 125th Street BusinessImprovement District (125th St. BID), which has been reenergizingHarlem's cultural scene by promoting the arts, entertainment, dining, andbusiness community for over 30 years, hosting New York City’s only parade ofholiday lights, Harlem HolidayLights, a free public event on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 (rain dateTuesday, November 25, 2025) that kicks off at 6 p.m. at 125th Streetand Broadway.
This year’s HarlemHoliday Lights theme will celebrate “Culture,Community, Connections,” and how the 125th St. BID has continuedto grow as a place to work, live, visit and learn, and encompassing Harlem’sevolution across generations, bridging Harlem’s past, present and futurethrough this year’s Grand Marshals.
Those 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 to125th St.
Yoba, who starredin New York Undercover, has close ties to the community and is the connectionbetween The Apollo where he recently performed a one-man stage play Harlem to Hollywood. Beyond his many acting achievements, Yoba has been a championfor community empowerment. He is the founder and CEO of the Yoba DevelopmentFoundation Corporation, the non-profit arm of Yoba Development Firm, which isdedicated to empowering individuals and communities through education,community engagement, and sustainable development, to build a better future. Hehas authored several books and continues to use the arts as a catalyst forsocial transformation.
The legendary Apollo Theater has played a vital role in cultivatingemerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding, The Apollo hasserved as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the cityof New York, and the world. This past summer, the theater broke ground on ahistoric renovation and modernization project that will provide upgradedamenities while honoring the theater’s cultural legacy, in line with the themeof Harlem Holiday Lights in celebrating culture, community, connections. Apolloprograms continue at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria and at partner locationswhile the Historic Theater undergoes its largest renovation and restoration inhistory, which began on July 1. TheApollo’s Fall/Winter 2025 season features performances, exhibitions, andcommunity programs, including commissions, presentations, and collaborationswith cultural partners across New York City and beyond.
The parade, which has evolved from simple street decorations to a movingilluminated showcase that ‘brightens’ the whole neighborhood, is the biggestand best parade yet. Harlem Holiday Lights, which will integrate localbusinesses, cultural staples and community members, welcoming New Yorkers, andvisitors from all over the globe to experience the vibrancy, culture and soundsof Harlem. The parade will also celebrate new cultural institution openings anddevelopments, community milestones and more. Highlights of this year’s parade include:
● Two GrandMarshals that represent the parade theme of Culture, Community, Connections.
● Approximately 20 magically lit upfloats along with two firetrucks and a Department of Sanitation vehicle,assembling at 125th Street and Broadway, traveling throughout theneighborhood. The parade route and map can be viewed here -- Harlem Holiday Lighting.
● Dozens of watch areas provideholiday fun for generations of families.
● Dozens of community activations,including four toy giveaway areas along the route for local youth, a cannedfood drive to serve those in need, live musical entertainment and danceperformances featuring local groups, Seniors on the Boulevard, health servicesand more. Additional activations and participants will be announced as they areconfirmed.
The parade willalso celebrate its Legacy Award recipient Michael A. Walrond, Jr.,the Senior Pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) inHarlem, who also serves on the board of the Food Bank for New York City.
Community partners and sponsors of the parade of lights and activationfestivities include Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, CB9, CB10,Apollo Theater, Columbia University, Settepani Restaurant, Verizon, Metro PlusHealth, Toys of Hope, Ryan Health, A. Philip Randolph Senior Center, HopeCenter, Mushtari, Living Redemption Harlem-Dowling West Side Center, HarlemCommunity Development Corporation, Central Harlem Senior Citizen’s Centers,Inc, W. 135th St. Apartments Tenant Association, Inc., WABC-TV, HarlemAdvocates for Seniors, Fata Realty, United House of Prayer, FDNY, NYPD, andothers.
“For more than 30years, Harlem Holiday Lights has evolved into a community-wide holidaycelebration representing the historical and cultural flavors of ourneighborhood and draws thousands of visitors from all over the region,” said Barbara Askins, President and CEO ofthe 125th St. BID. “The parade and our activations are anopportunity to further shine a spotlight on 125th St. and the iconicneighborhood as a growing arts, culture and entertainment destination whilealso encouraging locals and visitors to support the economic fabric of thecorridor, our small businesses. We look forward to such a warm and upliftingstart to the holiday season to celebrate the cultural bridges that connectsgenerations of Harlem residents through the parade theme of culture, community, connections.”
“As somebody whogrew up in Harlem, worked my paper route in Harlem as a kid, performed at TheApollo Theater, shot movies and TV shows in Harlem, who proudly walks thestreets as a native son and receives love like no other place on the planet,it’s an honor to be asked to be the Grand Marshal for Harlem Holiday Lights andbe a part of bringing joy and holiday cheer to our community,” said Malik Yoba.“I’m proud to know that for the last 30+ years, the 125th St. BIDbrings out families, community groups and businesses to officially welcome theholiday season. I’ve seen pictures and videos from the past and can’t wait tobe a part of the present celebration in real time.”
“The Apollo is honored to serve as the onlyinstitution to be recognized as Grand Marshal at the 2025 Harlem Holiday LightsParade. This renowned ceremonial distinction reaffirms The Apollo’s role as avital hub for Black creativity, history, and innovation in the Harlem communityand beyond. We salute and celebrate the 125th Street BusinessImprovement District’s commitment to the culture, community and connectionsthat make Harlem the cultural heartbeat of America. We are eternally gratefulfor the BID’s influence, service, and partnership with Harlem and The Apollo,”said Michelle Ebanks, President and CEO of The Apollo.
For more information on the holiday festivities including a full list ofactivations, please visit https://www.harlemlightitup.org/ and follow on Instagram at HarlemHolidayLights. For more on the 125th St. BID,visit www.harlembid.comand following on Instagram 125thstreetbid,as well as Facebook at 125thBID.
About The Apollo
The Apollo is an American cultural treasure. It is a vibrant non-profit organization rooted in the Harlem community that engages people from around New York, the nation, and the world. Since 1934, The Apollo has celebrated, created, and presented work that centers Black artists and voices from across the African Diaspora. It has also been a catalyst for social and civic advocacy. Today, The Apollo is the largest performing arts institution committed to Black culture and creativity.
The Apollo is a commissioner and presenter; catalyst for new artists, audiences, and creative workforce; and partner in the projection of the African American narrative and its role in the development of American and global culture.
The Apollo envisions a new American canon centered on contributions to the performing arts by artists of the African diaspora, in America and beyond.
