Although snow may seem a million miles away for New Yorkers, the “most wonderful time of year,” aka Christmas season, is fast approaching.
With it comes holiday deals, spruce trees and, best of all — Christmas concerts and shows.
That means Mariah Carey, the Rockettes, Pentatonix and everything in between.
We’re here to give you the skinny on how to see all your old favorites, as well as a few new shows that might not be on your radar before ol’ Santa Claus pulls into town.
So, to get into the “12 days of Christmas” spirit, here are the 12 Christmas shows you have to see in 2022.
Mariah Carey
The reigning “Queen of Christmas” has four shows this year as part of her “Merry Christmas To All” Tour. Two of them are at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 13 and Friday, Dec. 16. If “All You Want For Christmas” is to see Mariah, you can this year.
The Rockettes
Radio City’s most famous show returns this year for their annual “Spectacular” from Nov. 18 all the way to Jan. 2. Tickets can be found for as low as $67 before fees on Vivid Seats. Word to the wise: Prices aren’t that much more expensive if you go right around Christmas time. You (or us) just have to research and find the right show.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Christmas’ favorite hard rockers are bringing their classic iconic pyrotechnic and light show to venues all over North America this year, including Newark’s Prudential Center on Dec. 27. Expect to hear all of your favorites like “Christmas Canon” and “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” on his year’s tour, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More!”
Andrea Bocelli
Carmela Soprano’s favorite tenor has concerts all Xmas season long. The 64-year-old singer just released the 13-song album “A Family Christmas” with his son Matteo and 10-year-old daughter Virginia which leads us to believe there might be a Yuletide-themed track or two at his Dec. 14 Madison Square Garden concert.
Martina McBride
Like your Christmas with a side of country? You’ve come to the right place. McBride’s “The Joy Of Christmas Tour” is hitting venues all over the U.S. from Nov. 26 through Dec. 18. The closest she’ll come to the Big Apple is New Brunswick’s State Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 4.
Pentatonix
Over the past decade, the a cappella group Pentatonix has become one of the biggest names in Christmas music. With their inventive spins on classics like “White Christmas” and “Deck The Halls,” the quintet is quietly ushering in the next generation of holiday music. You can see the five on their “A Christmas Spectacular Tour” in Hershey, PA, on Dec. 20 or Uncasville, CT, on Dec. 22.
Lindsey Stirling
“America’s Got Talent” and “Dancing With the Stars” alum Lindsey Stirling is headed out on her 27-concert “Snow Waltz Tour” all the way from Nov. 17 through Dec. 23. On the run, expect Stirling to debut tracks from her recently released “Snow Waltz” album and revisit classics from her many Christmas-themed records. She’ll be at Newark’s New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Dec. 7.
Darlene Love
One of the most delectable Christmas tracks of all time is Love’s — that would be “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” It’s so great you may recognize it from films like “Gremlins,” “Goodfellas,” and “Bad Santa.” However, Love has a whole catalogue of holiday hits under her belt that she’ll surely play at her concerts all over New York and New Jersey this winter. That includes a gig at Staten Island’s St. George Theatre on Dec. 15.
Postmodern Jukebox
Known for taking contemporary hits and reimagining them as big band or jazz standards has made Postmodern Jukebox a group in a category all of its own. They’re mixing things up this year on their “A Very Postmodern Christmas Tour.” You can catch them in the City at Town Hall on Dec. 16.
Suzanne Vega
You probably know Vega from her hypnotic ’90s hit “Tom’s Diner,” but were you aware she’s also got an entire stable of songs tailor-made for New Yorkers? If your interest has been piqued, we recommend checking out her “Home for the Holidays – Four Very Special New York Nights” residency at NYC’s City Winery on Dec. 22-23 and 26-27.
Kenny G
How does sax sound for Christmas? You’re in? Fantastic. Arguably, the world’s most recognizable saxophonist Kenny G is playing nine shows as part of his “The Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour” from Dec. 7-17. He’ll take his saxy tunes to Westbury’s NYCB Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 15.
“A Christmas Carol”
Technically, this isn’t a concert, but what holiday season is complete without the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge? The iconic story, now playing at NYC’s Nederlander Theatre, has a twist, though. Tony-winner Jefferson Mays (also from “Law and Order”) will play all 50 roles in the show. If seeing the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future all performed by the same person wasn’t on your bucket list, it should be. “A Christmas Carol” runs until Jan. 1.
Hanukkah shows
If Christmas concerts aren’t your scene, that’s no problem.
We recommend checking out indie outfit Yo La Tengo at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom from Dec. 18-25 for one of their eight shows celebrating the Festival of Lights.
They’ve been performing their annual Hanukkah residency at the Manhattan venue since 2017. Before that, they rocked Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey, from 2001 until 2012, when the space closed.
Plus, “Hanukkah Song” singer Adam Sandler is currently on tour. Midway through his run of shows, he’ll stop by New York’s 92nd Street Y on Nov. 29 to discuss his film “Hustle.” We can’t guarantee he’ll belt “David Lee Roth lights the menorah,” but we do know you won’t want to miss the iconic “SNL” cast member live.
New Year’s shows
For those already looking forward to 2023, you may want to ring in the New Year with Phish at Madison Square Garden when Trey Anastasio’s beloved jam band performs there from Dec. 28-31. Tickets for all four days can be secured here.
Other huge tours in 2023
You’ve made it this far, and now you’re probably curious about what’s on the horizon for next year.
Well, if you want to a) buy someone the perfect Christmas gift or b) just see who the biggest artists on tour in the next few months are, we’ve got you covered.
Here are just five of our favorite can’t-miss tours that just may be coming to a city near you soon.
• Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
• Adele