Bronx Little Italy's Arthur Avenue Lights Its Christmas Tree Dec. 5 in NYC

Arthur Avenue, the heart of Bronx Little Italy in the Belmont neighborhood, spends the holiday season with a run of community events. The anchor is the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, hosted by the Belmont Business Improvement District.

This year it takes place on Saturday, December 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Ciccarone Park, at Arthur Avenue and East 188th Street. According to the BID, all are welcome to meet Santa, sing Christmas carols, and enjoy Italian cookies and hot chocolate provided by local small businesses.

The event poster adds a toy giveaway in partnership with Children's Cancer Society of America. The child must be present, and toys go first come, first served. The poster also credits supporting neighborhood bakeries and pastry shops, including Addeo Bakers, Cerini Coffee & Gifts, De Lillo Pasticceria, Gino's Pastry Shop, Morrone Pastry Shop & Cafe, Artuso Pastry, Egidio Pastry Shop, Madonia Bakery and Terranova Bakery.

Beyond the tree lighting, the BID's Christmas Festivities 2026 page invites visitors to dine at neighborhood restaurants, shop for Italian delicacies and gifts, and take in the holiday light displays along the avenue. It also mentions special visits throughout December.

The same poster points to two other Bronx holiday draws: the Bronx Zoo's Holiday Lights, running November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027, and the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show, running November 14, 2026 through January 10, 2027.

For Japanese readers, this is a chance to see a working Italian-American shopping street, with its bakeries, pastry shops and delis, dressed up for the holidays. Questions can go to the BID at (718) BX-ITALY, or see bronxlittleitaly.com.