It's on 1 of my list. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- SubwayA, B, C, D, E, F, M to W 4 St-Wash Sq, 4 min
- AddressWashington Square, New York, NY
- From my guide, updated September 2026.
If you’d like to participate in a New York City Christmas performance (rather than standing on the sidelines), this one’s for you. A cheeky play on the 200-year carol, Unsilent Night is an unusual annual event where a crowd of participants synthesizes four tracks by composer Phil Kline to comprise Unsilent Night.
The four different tracks play simultaneously while Kline leads the chorus of boomboxes one mile from the West Village to Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, serenading the town with the most unique holiday performance in New York City.
Celebrating more than 30 years, the event draws thousands of spectators and has spread to 146 cities and five continents since its inauguration in 1992. Want to join the fun? It couldn’t be easier! Simply bring a Bluetooth speaker and make your way to the arch Washington Park.