All is merry and bright this holiday season as The Belmont Business Improvement District (BID) invites everyone to celebrate this festive time of year in one of New York City’s oldest Italian neighborhoods.
From essential holiday shopping to the return of beloved annual traditions that bring the community together, there is no better time to experience the historic Bronx Little Italy.
“The holidays are always a special time of year in the Bronx, and there are so many ways to experience the magic of the season in our historic Arthur Avenue neighborhood. Whether holiday food shopping for handmade mozzarella, panettone, or gearing up for the Feast of the Seven Fishes, sitting down for a warm plate of linguine after visiting the Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights or New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show, or joining one of our cherished community celebrations including our annual tree lighting ceremony at Ciccarone Park, we welcome everyone to make Bronx Little Italy a part of their holiday traditions this season,” said Peter Madonia, Chairman of the Belmont Business Improvement District.
Highlights from November to December 2025 include:
- Prepare for a Thanksgiving Feast (Thursday, November 27) – With countless butchers, bakers, delicatessens, pastry shops, and more, Bronx Little Italy offers all of the ingredients for a perfect Turkey Day dinner. Customers also have the option to purchase a complete Thanksgiving spread at select businesses including Tino’s Deli.
- Support Small Business Saturday (Saturday, November 29) – Consider shopping locally this holiday season and supporting one of the many independently owned businesses in Bronx Little Italy. The neighborhood is known for its small mom-and-pop shops, many of which are still owned and operated by the same families that founded them over a century ago. For the full list of merchants, see here.
- Join Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ciccarone Park (Saturday, December 6 from 4-6 PM) – Join the Belmont BID in kicking off the holiday season with their annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Ciccarone Park, at the intersection of East 188th Street and Arthur Avenue, from 4-6pm. Attendees can embrace the spirit of the season by meeting Santa and his elf, singing along to holiday carols, and enjoying Italian cookies and hot chocolate from local small businesses. The BID will also host a toy giveaway for local children on a first come, first served basis.
- Witness Live Nativity & Holiday Services at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (Saturday, December 20 to Thursday, January 1)
- Live Nativity Scene (Saturday December 20 & Tuesday December 23) – The Church once again invites the community to experience the story of Christ’s birth through their live nativity scene, featuring a manger with real people and farm animals. The live nativity will be on display in front of the Church on December 20 from 10am-6pm and December 23 from 10am-4pm.
- Lessons & Carols (Saturday, December 20) – All are invited to join in a service of song and Scripture from 7-9pm.
- Christmas Day Services (Thursday, December 25) – The Church will host a Midnight Mass at 12am. Christmas Day masses will be offered at 9:30am and 1:30pm in Spanish, 11am in Italian, and 12:15pm in English.
- New Year’s Day Services (Thursday, January 1) – Ring in the new year with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church! Masses will be offered at 9:30am and 1:30pm in Spanish, 11am in Italian, and 12:15pm in English.
- Get into the Holiday Spirit with Caroling and Santa Sightings in the Neighborhood (Select December Dates) – For those shopping and dining on Arthur Avenue this festive season, or those looking to round out their trip to the Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights or New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show®, the caroling group The Jolly Holidays will be in the neighborhood performing classic Christmas tunes on Fridays through Sundays in December, from 6:30-8:30pm, leading up to Christmas. Families can also expect special visits from Santa and his elf on December 12, 13, 19, 20, 23 and 24 in the afternoon. Dates and times are subject to change. For the latest schedule updates, visit bronxlittleitaly.com/events.
- Prepare for the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24) – On Christmas Eve, many will celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a popular Italian American tradition featuring a savory spread of seafood dishes. Those in need of a fresh catch for their upcoming holiday meal can find a variety of traditional fishes from Cosenza’s Fish Market and Randazzo’s Seafood, including baccala, shrimp, branzino, octopus, calamari, mussels, eels, clams, and more.
For those in need of delicious holiday gifts for their loved ones, Bronx Little Italy merchants offer a variety of Italian delicacies, gift baskets, and gourmet goods that can be hard to find elsewhere. As a gift idea for those who enjoy cooking, Little Italy in the Bronx has its own pasta sauce and products, available nationally and on Amazon.com. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Belmont BID to help preserve the neighborhood and traditions for generations to come. Arthur Avenue is also a great destination for holiday celebrations and gatherings. Guests can enjoy a warm meal and cozy atmosphere at one of the neighborhood’s many eateries, some of which have been operating for nearly 100 years or longer. For the full list of restaurants in Bronx Little Italy, see here.
