Harlem Holiday Lights Parade Hosted by 125th St. BID on 11/18 with The Apollo and Malik Yoba as Grand Marshals
125th Street Business Improvement District Presents NYC’s Only Parade of Lights, Harlem Holiday Lights Celebration
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SAVE THE DATE – 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, Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM, All Are Welcome
Harlem Holiday Lights theme is Culture, Community, Connections, honoring generations of community, culture and the connections 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
HARLEM – The holiday season kicks off in Harlem with the 125th Street Business Improvement District (125th St. BID), which has been reenergizing Harlem’s cultural scene by promoting the arts, entertainment, dining, and business community for over 30 years, hosting New York City’s only parade of holiday lights, Harlem Holiday Lights, a free public event on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 (rain date Tuesday, November 25, 2025) that kicks off at 6 p.m. at 125th Street and Broadway.
This year’s Harlem Holiday Lights theme will celebrate “Culture, Community, Connections,” and how the 125th St. BID has continued to grow as a place to work, live, visit and learn, and encompassing Harlem’s evolution across generations, bridging Harlem’s past, present and future through 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 to 125th St. Yoba, who starred in New York Undercover, has close ties to the community and is the connection between The Apollo where he recently performed a one-man stage play Harlem to Hollywood. Beyond his many acting achievements, Yoba has been a champion for community empowerment. He is the founder and CEO of the Yoba Development Foundation Corporation, the non-profit arm of Yoba Development Firm, which is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through education, community engagement, and sustainable development, to build a better future. He has authored several books and continues to use the arts as a catalyst for social transformation.
The legendary Apollo Theater has played a vital role in cultivating emerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding, The Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world. This past summer, the theater broke ground on a historic renovation and modernization project that will provide upgraded amenities while honoring the theater’s cultural legacy, in line with the theme of Harlem Holiday Lights in celebrating culture, community, connections. Apollo programs continue at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria and at partner locations while the Historic Theater undergoes its largest renovation and restoration in history, which began on July 1. The Apollo’s Fall/Winter 2025 season features performances, exhibitions, and community programs, including commissions, presentations, and collaborations with cultural partners across New York City and beyond.
The parade, which has evolved from simple street decorations to a moving illuminated showcase that ‘brightens’ the whole neighborhood, is the biggest and best parade yet. Harlem Holiday Lights, which will integrate local businesses, cultural staples and community members, welcoming New Yorkers, and visitors from all over the globe to experience the vibrancy, culture and sounds of Harlem. The parade will also celebrate new cultural institution openings and developments, community milestones and more. Highlights of this year’s parade include:
- Two Grand Marshals that represent the parade theme of Culture, Community, Connections.
- Approximately 20 magically lit up floats along with two firetrucks and a Department of Sanitation vehicle, assembling at 125th Street and Broadway, traveling throughout the neighborhood. The parade route and map can be viewed here — Harlem Holiday Lighting.
- Dozens of watch areas provide holiday fun for generations of families.
- Dozens of community activations, including four toy giveaway areas along the route for local youth, a canned food drive to serve those in need, live musical entertainment and dance performances featuring local groups, Seniors on the Boulevard, health services and more. Additional activations and participants will be announced as they are confirmed.
The parade will also celebrate its Legacy Award recipient Michael A. Walrond, Jr., the Senior Pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) in Harlem, who also serves on the board of the Food Bank for New York City.
Community partners and sponsors of the parade of lights and activation festivities include Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, CB9, CB10, Apollo Theater, Columbia University, Settepani Restaurant, Verizon, Metro Plus Health, Toys of Hope, Ryan Health, A. Philip Randolph Senior Center, Hope Center, Mushtari, Living Redemption Harlem-Dowling West Side Center, Harlem Community Development Corporation, Central Harlem Senior Citizen’s Centers, Inc, W. 135th St. Apartments Tenant Association, Inc., WABC-TV, Harlem Advocates for Seniors, Fata Realty, United House of Prayer, FDNY, NYPD, and others.
“For more than 30 years, Harlem Holiday Lights has evolved into a community-wide holiday celebration representing the historical and cultural flavors of our neighborhood and draws thousands of visitors from all over the region,” said Barbara Askins, President and CEO of the 125th St. BID. “The parade and our activations are an opportunity to further shine a spotlight on 125th St. and the iconic neighborhood as a growing arts, culture and entertainment destination while also encouraging locals and visitors to support the economic fabric of the corridor, our small businesses. We look forward to such a warm and uplifting start to the holiday season to celebrate the cultural bridges that connects generations of Harlem residents through the parade theme of culture, community, connections.”
“As somebody who grew up in Harlem, worked my paper route in Harlem as a kid, performed at The Apollo Theater, shot movies and TV shows in Harlem, who proudly walks the streets 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 and be 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. BID brings out families, community groups and businesses to officially welcome the holiday season. I’ve seen pictures and videos from the past and can’t wait to be a part of the present celebration in real time.”
“The Apollo is honored to serve as the only institution to be recognized as Grand Marshal at the 2025 Harlem Holiday Lights Parade. This renowned ceremonial distinction reaffirms The Apollo’s role as a vital hub for Black creativity, history, and innovation in the Harlem community and beyond. We salute and celebrate the 125th Street Business Improvement District’s commitment to the culture, community and connections that make Harlem the cultural heartbeat of America. We are eternally grateful for 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 of activations, please visit https://www.harlemlightitup.org/ and follow on Instagram at HarlemHolidayLights. For more on the 125th St. BID, visit www.harlembid.com and following on Instagram 125thstreetbid, as well as Facebook at 125thBID.
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About the 125th Street Business Improvement District (125th St. BID)
Established in 1993, the 125th St. BID is a not-for-profit comprised of property and business owners, community and government leaders, residents, and staff, who work closely and collaboratively together to improve the experience of those who live, work, visit and invest in the Harlem community. The 125th St. BID is also committed to creating a high-quality urban environment that represents the cultural identity of Harlem, along with increasing visitation to the neighborhood, enhancing the public realm, and showcasing the corridor as a premier arts, culture, and entertainment destination. For more information on the 125th St. BID, visit www.harlembid.com.