This past holiday season, Haley got to experience The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes on opening day of the 2021 season, along with a bus full of excited passengers! Here are her key takeaways from the festive day trip.
As we boarded the bus, everyone was filled with excitement and holiday cheer, including our Program Director Lynn who was even wearing Santa’s hat. The ride to New York was easy and comfortable and we arrived to the Hard Rock Café for lunch with plenty of time to spare.
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Our trip was a lunch special, which meant lunch was included at the Hard Rock Café, located just blocks from Radio City. The Hard Rock Café and Radio City require that all eligible guests be fully vaccinated, so guests 12 years and older needed to show proof of vaccination before entering either establishment.
Our group was seated in our own special section of the Hard Rock Café where we were able to enjoy lunch with the people we were traveling with. Lunch was delicious and once we finished, we were ready to walk over to Radio City to make it to the 2:00 p.m. show.
When we arrived at Radio City, our vaccine cards were checked again and then we were cleared to head into the theater. The entire venue, from lobby to main theatre, was decorated immaculately. Wreaths, bows, Christmas Trees and ornaments all adorned the entire lobby and really made you feel that warm Christmas feeling.
Concessions had classic options like popcorn and pretzels along with soda, water and some alcoholic beverages too. The souvenir shops had all things Christmas Spectacular- t-shirts, pajamas, snow globes and more! On the lower level there was even a replica dressing room that the Rockettes get ready in that serve as the perfect photo opportunity for aspiring Rockettes and families alike.
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When we entered the theatre, we were given 3D glasses for the 3D portion of the show, and we quickly found our seats in the orchestra section. The theatre had projections of Christmas fun all the way up to the ceiling and the audience was buzzing for the show to start.
The show began promptly at 2:00 p.m. and kicked off with the pit orchestra rising from below the stage to play us a medley of holiday songs before the Rockettes hit the stage!
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The Rockettes dazzled the audience with dance numbers to some of our favorite holiday songs and filled us to the brim with Christmas cheer. Some of our favorite numbers included the 12 Days of Christmas, the New York Sightseeing Bus and of course the Toy Soldier dance. The dancers are truly incredible and we loved every second.
They weren’t the only ones there to impress either, Santa was following along throughout the entire show and kept the fun coming, we loved when everyone on stage turned into Santa!
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Towards the end of the show is a performance set to the Christmas song “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and it was jaw dropping. The singing was phenomenal, the scene the actors set was amazing and there were even live animals on stage to help set the Nativity scene- camels, sheep and a donkey.
After the show ended, the group traveled back to Bryant Park where the bus picked us up and we headed back to the Capital Region full of Christmas magic. The Radio City trip is such a fun tradition for families to start this holiday season and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.