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Santa Claus Village & Arctic Circle line live video webcam directly from Rovaniemi, Finland

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Santa Claus Village - Rovaniemi Live cam

View of the santa claus village in rovaniemi, lapland.

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Meet Santa Claus now with this HD live cam in Rovaniemi (Finland), overlooking the Santa Claus Village!

Close to the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is a popular destination for tourists worldwide, even during the winter (despite its rigid temperatures). It's a lively city with many events such as open-air concerts and festivals, suitable for young people and backpackers. Famous for its Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi is also a brilliant academic center, overflowing with students from around the world that attend the city’s many universities. From here, the incredible Northern Lights can be admired!

Visit Santa Claus Village live with this webcam in Lapland ! Check the weather in Rovaniemi today and discover other live cams in Finland .

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Live & livestream event: ‘Santa Claus Is On His Way’ 23.12.2023

Sat 23.12. at 19.30 Santa Claus is on his way. Santa Claus Village, Arctic Circle. Livestream Show more

Santa Claus starts his long journey to the children of the world. Come and wish Santa a good trip together with elves and Christmassy music!

Santa Claus starts his annual journey around the world, from snowy Rovaniemi – the Official Hometown of Santa Claus. The Arctic Circle in Lapland Finland is a magical place and everyone in Santa Claus Village is getting ready for Christmas time. Before jumping on to his reindeer pulled sleigh, Santa Claus will take the time to say his greetings to everyone. The Christmas magic will make the reindeer fly at the Christmas eve, but before the magic happens, we can see Santa Claus and the real reindeer at the Arctic Circle ready for the journey. Santa Claus will visit every country in the world, bringing Christmas cheers and joy to all the people in the world.

Are you ready for the Christmas magic to see how Santa Claus will start his journey?

The event is free of charge.

Free non-stop bus connection.

Free non-stop bus connection

Getting to Santa Claus Village: Free bus connection between Rovaniemi city centre and Santa Claus Village at 17.30-21. There will be two buses driving non-stop during that time. Starting point in the city centre is next to Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus (Korkalonkatu 31).

You can get back to the Rovaniemi City Centre after the event with our free non-stop bus connection (Liikenne O. Niemelä), last bus leaves from the Santa Claus Village at 21:00.

How to recognize the free bus connection: Liikenne O. Niemelä buses will have a red sign with event text on the window.

Other bus connections

You can also get to the event with local bus number 8. (Route: Railway station – city centre – Santa Claus Village).

Departures from the city centre: 16.50, 17.35 and 18.20. One-way ticket: adult 3,60€, child (0-16v) 1,80€.

Another options is Santa Claus Bus .

The live broadcast from Santa Claus Village starts at 19:15 Finnish time (UTC +2). The duration of the event is about 30min, at 19:30–20:00 (local time, UTC +2). View the event live on Facebook . Watch the recorded version of the live event here.

Santa Claus Village live – Rovaniemi Arctic Circle

Santa Claus Village ‘s video webcam is a live transmission, where you can see the real Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle 24 hours a day. The live video stream is presented by Rovaniemi , official hometown of Santa Claus in Lapland, Finland.

Did you watch already?

Autumn Colours in Lapland and at Santa Claus Village

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Autumn of Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle in Lapland

View how Santa's spends his beautiful autumn days in Santa Claus Village and at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Lapland!

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See the best Santatelevision videos filmed in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland!

Christmas Opening in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Take part in the 2022 Christmas opening at Santa Claus village in this video.

Christmas Season Opening in Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle

Christmas season 2023 is now open! Watch the video about the Opening ceremony in Santa Claus Village which took place in very nice winter conditions on Sunday 12.11.

Christmas-time Blue Moment in Santa Claus Village

See how Santa Claus Village in Lapland looks during the magical "blue moment".

Cute Baby Reindeer of Santa Claus in Lapland

Meet the cute baby reindeer of Santa Claus, born in May in Santa Claus Reindeer Resort in Rovaniemi, Lapland.

End of winter in Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle

View the video about the last weeks of winter in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. This funny video was filmed at end of March at the Arctic Circle.

First snow & winter arrived at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland

View how the landscapes changed with the arrival of the first snow and winter at Santa Claus Village in Lapland 20.-22.11.2021!

First snow and winter arrive at Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, Lapland

The first snow and winter arrived 12-13. October 2023 at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland. 

First Snow at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland

See the first snow of winter arrive at Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Lapland.

First snow in Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, Finland

View the unique landscapes of Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle when the first snow and winter arrived in November 2022.

Kilvo Elf Visits Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland

Let Kilvo the little elf take you on a tour of Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland.

Mrs. Santa Claus Christmas Cottage in Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi

Santatelevision visits the unique House of Mrs. Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi.

Santa Claus and football / soccer in Lapland’s summer

View Santa and the elves playing football in summer in Lapland and meet FC Santa Claus, Santa's soccer team in Rovaniemi, Finland.

Santa Claus picking magical blueberries in summer in Lapland

View video about Santa Claus picking magical blueberries in summer in the nature of Lapland.

Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle in summer

Visit Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi in summer: cross the Arctic Circle, visit House of Santa Claus and meet the reindeer of Father Christmas.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi by air in early winter

See how Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle in Finland looks in early winter.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi just before Christmas

View the nice new video about Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Lapland just before Christmas 2023!

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi just before Christmas 2020

See how Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland looked just before this exceptional Christmas.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland just before Christmas

Come and have a look at Santa Claus Village just before the most magical time of the year, Christmas!

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland by air

Discover beautiful Santa Claus Village, located on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, by air!

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland just before Christmas 2022

Watch the new video about Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland just before Christmas 2022! Meet Santa's reindeer, visit Santa's Post Office and cross the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus’s Reindeer on the Roads of Lapland in autumn

See our the video about Santa Claus's funny reindeer on the road again in Lapland in autumn!

Santa’s Hometown Rovaniemi, Lapland by Air in Summer

See how Rovaniemi, Santa's hometown on the Arctic Circle in Lapland, looks by air in summertime.

Summer message from Santa Claus in Lapland

After Christmas, Lapland's summer is favourite season of Santa Claus. View the Santa's summer greetings from the Arctic Circle!

Winter Arrives in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland Finland

Watch the coming of winter to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland.

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Rovaniemi Webcam

Discover the wonder of apukka resort in rovaniemi, finland, with our live aurora cam, what does it look like in apukka resort right now.

Do you want to experience a preview of the breathtaking scenery and ambiance that await you at Apukka Resort? Our webcam provides you with a glimpse of life in Rovaniemi, showcasing the premier aurora resort of the region. The live camera offers a fantastic view of the Arctic sky, allowing you to admire the changing colors throughout the day and the stars at night. Keep your eyes open, and you might even catch a glimpse of the mysterious Northern Lights!

Where is Apukka Resort located?

Apukka Resort is a bucket list destination located north of the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi , Lapland. Situated just a short drive from the airport and the enchanting Santa Claus Village, Apukka provides an idyllic escape from the urban hustle and bustle. Renowned for its distinctive glass igloo accommodations and a variety of nature-based activities , Apukka’s private trails ensure an exclusive experience. From reindeer sleigh rides to the excitement of husky sledding and captivating aurora tours , Apukka encapsulates the very essence of Lapland’s finest offerings. It is a haven for all of those travelers who wish to journey into the heart of the Arctic wonders.

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Visiting Rovaniemi in winter: A snowy trip to Finnish Lapland

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Discover the best things to do in Rovaniemi in winter with this guide to Finnish Lapland’s winter wonderland, where you’ll find the Northern Lights, reindeer, huskies, Santa Claus and plenty of snow.

* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

A winter wonderland of pink skies, husky sled rides, frosty fir trees, steaming hot chocolate and twinkling lights – Finnish Lapland is where all your snow-filled fantasies come to life. And right at the heart of it is Rovaniemi, perched on the edge of the Arctic Circle and the official home of Santa Claus (and he’s got to know the best place to live).

From the Northern Lights to reindeer sleigh rides, winter in the far north is full of magic, and Rovaniemi makes for a great Arctic adventure. So here’s our pick of things to do in Rovaniemi in winter, plus how to get there, where to stay and what to pack.

What’s the Rovaniemi winter weather like?

The two big questions I had about visiting Rovaniemi in winter were: How cold is it going to be? And will it be dark all the time? The winter season in Lapland runs from December until March. When you get to the shortest day on 21 December, the sun rises around 11am and sets at 1.20pm, giving you less than two-and-a-half hours of full daylight.

But that doesn’t mean it’s pitch black the rest of the day. It’s twilight between 9.30am and 3.30pm so you can still see to get around, and there are beautiful long sunrises and sunsets. The days get longer quickly too, with nine hours of daylight by the end of February.

January and February are the coldest months, with average temperatures ranging from daytime highs of -7°C (19°F) to night-time lows of -14°C (7°F). These are also the best months for seeing snow, with an average of 32cm of snowfall each month.

Rovaniemi did hit an icy -24°C/-11°F at one point during our visit in January. And although that sounds scarily chilly, it’s a crisp, icy cold that doesn’t penetrate in quite the same way as damp does. So if you’re covered up in a good set of winter clothing (see below for a guide to what to pack) and head inside to warm up every now and then, it’s bearable.

Things to do in Rovaniemi in winter

See the Northern Lights (or at least try to)

The Northern Lights – or Aurora Borealis – are one of the big reasons that people come to Lapland. But it’s also the one thing you can’t guarantee you’re going to see. The Northern Lights season in Lapland lasts from mid-August until early April, and you’re most likely to see them at the beginning or end of the season rather than in midwinter.

You need the right atmospheric conditions for the Northern Lights to be visible, which happens around every other night or 150 days a year on average in Rovaniemi – but unfortunately not while we were there (I guess it gives me a reason to go back!).

If you want to try aurora hunting, there are a variety of Northern Lights tours * available from Rovaniemi which take you out to more remote areas where you have a better chance of seeing them. Some tours also include a campfire BBQ * where you can try Lappish specialities, a ride on a snowmobile * or a trip on a sleigh pulled by huskies .*

You can also download an app like Aurora Alert or Northern Lights Alert which alert you if there’s a good chance of seeing the aurora to save you from waiting in the cold.

Visit Santa Claus Village

Located 8km outside of the city centre, Santa Claus Village is the epicentre of all things festive in Rovaniemi, whether it’s Christmas or not. The park is super busy in the run up to Christmas, but calms down after the New Year – making it a good time to visit.

You can visit Santa Claus in his office and have your photo taken with him, send letters with a special Arctic Circle postmark from the village Post Office, or visit the Christmas exhibition. The line of the Arctic Circle also runs right through the middle of the village – you can see it marked with a row of lanterns and strip of blue lights.

They’ve gone all out with the Christmas theme but it’s not tackily done, with a range of different accommodation and eating options, including an ice bar and Lappish teepee which sells tasty baked salmon. There are also tons of wintery activities available all in one place – including husky sledding, reindeer sleigh rides and snowmobiling.

Go husky sledding

Speeding through a forest of snowy pine trees behind a team of Siberian Huskies topped my Lapland wishlist, and it didn’t disappoint. There are lots of husky sledding tours available in and around Rovaniemi, depending on how long and how much you want to spend.

At the Husky Park next to Santa Claus Village you can meet and stroke the huskies, and get a taster of what it’s like on a husky sled. They do circuits of 500 metres, 2km or 5km which don’t need to be booked in advance. The dogs can really move, so hold on to your hats (literally) and the cold wind can be brutal at top speed so wrap up warm.

If you want to take a longer husky sled ride, you can head outside the city to Apukka Resort. They offer a tour * which include a 5km to 10km route through the trees where you can have a go at ‘mushing’ the pack yourself as well as spending time with the dogs.

Take a reindeer sleigh ride

If you want time to soak up the scenery, a reindeer sleigh ride is a lot more sedate and relaxed, as well as being a chance to get up close to these amazing creatures. Finnish Lapland has a population of over 200,000 reindeer – more than there are people.

Similar to the huskies, you can take a short reindeer sleigh ride at Santa Claus Reindeer in Santa Claus village. There are 400-metre, 1km and 3km routes. Sleighs can hold up to two adults and you’re wrapped up in reindeer hides so you stay nice and warm.

Or for a more authentic experience, you can visit one of the reindeer farms * just outside Rovaniemi. You can find out about the reindeer’s important in Lappish culture, learn how they’re looked after and feed them, as well as taking a short sleigh ride.

Try snowmobiling

If you fancy a bit more adrenaline-fuelled way to explore, you can speed across the Arctic landscapes on a snowmobile .* You cover a lot more ground than you can in a sled so it’s a chance to get out to some of the remote forests and lakes around Rovaniemi.

You need to have a valid driving licence if you want to drive a snowmobile yourself, but kids or non-drivers can ride in a sledge that’s towed behind the guide’s snowmobile.

Get out in the snow

The snowy landscapes are what makes a winter trip to Lapland so magical, with that powdery white snow draped over every surface. So we stayed out in the snow for as long as we could manage – walking through the forests, making snow angels, sledging down the hills or having snowball fights until we had to go and warm up with a hot cup of glögi .

There are also other snowy activities you can try out. Like an ice-fishing trip * where you get to drill a hole in the ice to catch a fish which is later cooked over a BBQ. Or a shoe-shoe hike * across the Arctic Circle (which is a lot harder work than it looks).

Visit the Arktikum museum

If you fancy doing something a bit warmer, don’t miss a visit to the Arktikum museum and science centre in central Rovaniemi. It’s housed inside a spectacular modern building overlooking the river which uses local materials like granite and pine.

The museum is split into two sections and focuses on the people and landscapes of the Arctic Circle. On one side are natural history exhibits about geology, wildlife and climate change. And on the other are cultural history exhibits covering Lappish history, society, architecture and lifestyle. It’s a beautiful setting to spend a few hours in.

Relax in a sauna

The art of sauna is an integral part of Finnish culture – and a great way to warm up after a day in the snow. Many Finns have their own saunas at home and you can find them in a lot of hotels and apartment rentals. Or you can join a sauna excursion, with a mix of options from a log cabin* in the woods to a sauna and jacuzzi at the Snow Hotel. *

For the full experience you should combine your sauna with a plunge into the snow afterwards. Or if you’re feeling really brave (a lot braver than me) and want to get the endorphins flowing, you can jump into the ice-cold water of a semi-frozen lake.

The details

How to get to rovaniemi.

Rovaniemi has an international airport with direct winter flights from various European destinations, including London, Bristol, Manchester, Paris and Dublin. There are also domestic flights from Helsinki where you can connect to flights all over the world.

Rovaniemi airport is around 8km northeast of the city centre. You can travel between the two using the airport express shuttle (€8 per person) or a taxi (around €20).

You can also travel to Rovaniemi by train from Helsinki, with trains running year-round – however snowy it gets. Daytime trains take 8–9 hours. Or you can take the overnight Santa Claus Express sleeper train to Rovaniemi. This takes 12 hours, with double-decker carriages and a choice of seats or sleeper compartments for one or two people.

Getting around Rovaniemi

You can hire a car at Rovaniemi airport, but if you don’t fancy driving in the snow (the main roads are kept fairly clear but other drivers do drive pretty fast) you can easily get around the city using a combination of buses and taxis (around €2.50 per kilometre).

The no 8 and Santa Claus Bus both connect the city centre and railway station with Santa Claus village. The regular buses cost €3.60 one way and the Santa Claus bus €4 (or €1.80/€2 for children under 16) and you can buy tickets on board the bus.

Where to stay in Rovaniemi

Most visitors to Rovaniemi stay in one of two main areas. First is the city centre, which has a good selection of hotels and apartment rentals, including some budget options. The bonus is you have easy access to the shops, restaurants and transport, but you’re in the middle of a city so it’s not quite the full idyllic Rovaniemi winter wonderland experience.

Good accommodation options in the city centre include the HAAWE Boutique Apart Hotel *, a stylish modern space decorated in tones of grey, whose apartment-style rooms come with their own kitchen. Or the good-value Hostel Café Koti * which has private rooms as well as dorms, along with a communal kitchen, lounge and sauna for guests.

Or you can head outside the city where you’ll find the beautiful snowy forest scenery, and less light pollution so you’re more likely to see the Northern Lights. We rented a five-bedroom house a 10-minute walk from Santa Claus village so we didn’t need to hire a car, which came with underfloor heating, a fire, sauna and a BBQ hut in the garden.

Santa Claus village itself is one of the biggest accommodation providers outside the city. There’s a mix of different places to stay, from standard wooden cottages * to hotel rooms.

If you’re looking to splash out, there are some amazing places to stay near Rovaniemi too, including the Treehouse Hotel * and Northern Lights Glass Igloo Getaway .*

What to pack for Rovaniemi in winter

Getting kitted up for cold weather is all about layering. Start with a base layer of thermals, with a long-sleeved top and leggings/long johns – Uniqlo and Icebreaker are some of my favourites. Then add a fleece or woolly jumper, pair of waterproof ski trousers and warm coat (I’ve invested in a Rab coat * but any ski jacket or thick down coat would work).

Hands and feet are usually the parts of the body which feel the cold first. Merino wool ski socks are warm but breathable, topped with snow boots or other warm waterproof boots to keep your feet dry. Finally add gloves – I used two pairs, with a thin wool pair underneath and waterproof ski mittens on top – plus a scarf and woolly hat.

Hand warmers * are a good idea – tuck a pair inside your gloves so they stay warm if you have to take them off, and if it’s really cold you can put them inside your boots. Keep your phone and camera close to your body as the cold drains the battery. And take tissues (your nose will run from the cold), lip balm and a good moisturiser * as the air’s very dry.

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Sunday 3rd of November 2019

Read your blog...excellent and valuable. Heading to Lapland on 6-9 Dec 2019 from Dublin, got flights onwards to Rovaniemi. €1600 in total for 2 adults and 4 kids...and got Airbnb for the moment. What do you suggest for snowmobiling and husky rides....book in advance of check what's available at Santa Village. Thanks again.

Monday 11th of November 2019

Hi Willie, the shorter sled outings you can't book in advance so you have to do them on the day. You should probably be fine to book longer trips on arrival as it's not full peak season then too. Hope you have a great trip.

Saturday 2nd of February 2019

We happened to be in Lapland just a few days before you travelling with Tui for a 3 day visit. We stayed about 1.5 hours north of Rovaniemi. We managed to take a reindeer ride, snowmobiling and trying out husky rides. A simply stunning place. Would love to head even further north and try and chase the Northern Lights.

Sunday 3rd of February 2019

It is a brilliant place! Fingers crossed we'll both get to see the Northern Lights next time.

Tilly Horseman

Friday 25th of January 2019

Looks absolutely amazing! Would love to go some day. Love the sounds of long sunrises and sunsets... they’re over too quickly elsewhere!

Tuesday 29th of January 2019

I love sunrises but never normally manage to get up for them but this made it a lot easier!

Suzanne Jones

Thursday 24th of January 2019

This is something I'd love to do and you've given me all the information I need to plan a trip. It looks magical - especially the reindeer and husky do rides...

It really was magical – I'm definitely a convert to winter trips.

Chomeuse with a Chou

That sounds so magical! I'll have to save it up as a holiday to go on when my little boy is old enough to appreciate and remember it! Thanks for all the tips

You're welcome – it would be a brilliant one to do with kids, so many magical experiences!

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Met Gala 2024: Everything you need to know

The Party of the Year. The Oscars of the East. Fashion's Biggest Night.

The Met Gala has a lot of names, and even more lore. The annual event reliably draws the biggest stars, showcases the most daring looks and spurs the internet's most iconic memes .

Here is everything you need to know about this year's Met Gala.

What is the Met Gala?

The Met Gala, officially known as the Costume Institute Benefit, is an annual fundraiser held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

The event is traditionally held on the first Monday in May and is considered to be the highest-profile fashion event of the year. This year, the Met Gala will be held May 6.

The Costume Institute is now called the Anna Wintour Costume Center, honoring the editor-in-chief of Vogue who has helmed the event for nearly three decades.

What time does the Met Gala start?

The red carpet arrivals typically begin around 5 p.m. ET and end around 8 p.m. ET. Most red carpet livestreams, including Vogue's , will begin at 6 p.m.

But some of the most well-known guests tend to show up on the later side: Last year, Rihanna made her red carpet appearance at about 10 p.m.

What is this year's Met Gala theme?

Monday's inevitable social media discourse will not only evaluate celebrities' looks in isolation, but their adherence to the ever-elusive "theme."

The theme is simply the title of the Costume Institute’s new exhibition, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion." In addition to the theme, which describes the overall concept of the event, the Met Gala also has a "dress code." This year's dress code is "The Garden of Time."

The dress code is derived from a 1962 short story of the same name, written by J.G. Ballard. Vogue has suggested the dress code might evoke many floral and botanical looks on this year's carpet.

The exhibit will feature around 250 rare items from the Costume Institute’s collection, including designs by Schiaparelli, Dior and more. It will comprise three main “zones” — Land, Sea and Sky — to represent natural resources and sustainable design.

While the theme is, of course, open to interpretation, expect to see plenty of vintage and archival revivals on the red carpet.

Who are the Met Gala chairs?

This year's Met Gala hosts are Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth and, of course, Wintour.

Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Loewe, and Shou Chew, CEO of TikTok, serve as honorary chairs.

Zendaya, who is fresh off the media tour for her movie "Challengers," will likely be wearing one of the most highly anticipated looks of the night.

The 27-year-old actor has attended five times, frequently collaborating with celebrity stylist Law Roach. Zendaya's Joan of Arc-inspired look from 2018 and her light-up Cinderella ballgown from 2019 are among the Gala's most iconic fashion moments.

Who is on the guest list?

Technically, the Met Gala guest list is a secret.

We won't know for certain who will be in attendance until the evening before the event. However, a few of the Gala's regulars have given some indication of whether they plan to attend.

The event always brings together A-listers across industries, from Oscar winners to Grand Slam champions. For the rich but not famous, tickets can be purchased for $75,000. Final approval of the guest list and the seating chart must go through Wintour.

Taylor Swift, who will embark on the European leg of her Eras Tour on Thursday in Paris, is reportedly not expected to attend . Rihanna, Gisele Bundchen and Kendall Jenner are likely to grace the Met steps on Monday, according to Page Six .

How do you watch the Met Gala? What channel is the Met Gala on?

Vogue will livestream the red carpet arrivals on its website. Content creator Emma Chamberlain is slated to return as the magazine's special correspondent. Actor Gwendoline Christie, producer and actor La La Anthony and model Ashley Graham are serving as carpet hosts for the publication's official stream.

The event will also be broadcast on “Live From E!” on the E! network.

Social media platforms like X, TikTok and Instagram are typically bastions of memes, hot takes and outfit reviews on Met Monday.

We will be live blogging the festivities here at NBC News.

Watch CBS News

Karen Read murder trial jury visits Canton crime scene, hears from first responders on Day 4 of testimony

By Neal Riley , Matt Schooley

Updated on: May 3, 2024 / 6:14 PM EDT / CBS Boston

DEDHAM – Karen Read's high-profile murder trial  resumed Friday morning in Dedham, Massachusetts with witness testimony from first responders and a jury visit. Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die outside a Canton home.

Canton firefighter-paramedic Katie McLaughlin continued her testimony when proceedings got back underway Friday morning. She took the stand  on Thursday before the judge ended court for the day.

After McLaughlin's testimony, jurors were bused to the Canton home where O'Keefe's body was found. Jurors got a close up look at Read's Lexus SUV.

Prosecutor Adam Lally told jurors, "I'm going to ask you to take note of sort of the center console and the front driver's compartment of that vehicle."

Part of the interior and the back right taillight have been removed from the SUV. 

The judge did not allow Read to accompany the jurors to the Canton scene, citing security concerns. As she left court Friday morning, Read gave a brief comment to reporters about what the jury will see. "They'll get a very good perspective," she said.  

They returned to court for more testimony in the afternoon from Canton firefighter and paramedic Gregory Woodbury.

Firefighters testify to Read's "up and down" emotional state

Woodbury testified that Read kept repeating "is he dead?" and "seemed very concerned about that."

"She was very up and down ... her emotional state was all over the place," he said. 

Canton firefighter and paramedic Daniel Whitley said Read referred to O'Keefe as her husband. 

"She made threats against her life, saying I don't want to live anymore if my husband dies, I don't want to be alive anymore," he recalled. 

Canton firefighter Jason Becker testified that Read told him she and O'Keefe had been fighting. "She had said that they had gotten into an argument," Becker said. "She was sad because that was the last thing she had said to him."

"We know the truth," said Karen's father, William Read outside court. "My daughter was factually innocent and it's tough for me to hear some of this."

First responder's relationship with Alberts questioned

McLaughlin had testified Thursday that she heard Read repeatedly say "I hit him" outside Brian Albert's home where O'Keefe's body was found. The defense on Friday zeroed in on McLaughlin's relationship with Albert's daughter, Caitlin. 

McLaughlin acknowledged she went to high school with Caitlin Albert. Read attorney Alan Jackson asked if they were friends and showed McLaughlin pictures that he said showed her and Albert together on group beach trips.

 "I would consider myself more of an acquaintance. We have mutual friends. I wouldn't consider her a close friend," she said.

Who is Karen Read?

Read is a 45-year-old Massachusetts woman who was dating O'Keefe at the time of his death in 2022. She is accused of hitting O'Keefe with her SUV during a snowstorm. 

Prosecutors have charged Read with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.

Read has pleaded not guilty in the case. Her attorneys argue that she is being framed.

What has happened so far in the Karen Read murder case?

This has been the first week of testimony. Witnesses began to take the stand after opening statements were presented on Monday.

So far, the prosecution has called two members of O'Keefe's family and several of the first responders who were on scene when O'Keefe's body was found in the snow.

Much of the first responder testimony has focused on what the witnesses heard Read saying at the scene. 

Several witnesses, including McLaughlin, testified that they heard Read say "I hit him." Read's defense attorneys have attempted to show during cross-examination that some of the first responders have given inconsistent statements about the morning O'Keefe's body was found.

Neal J. Riley is a digital producer for CBS Boston. He has been with WBZ-TV since 2014. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. Neal is a graduate of Boston University.

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