Are you looking for great ways to enjoy the holiday season in New York City? Here is a look at just a few examples of holiday fun you can experience in the area.
Department Store Window Displays
Many department stores throughout the city offer festive holiday window displays. Some of these include:
- Barneys: With a theme of “Love, Peace and Joy,” the windows at Barneys feature creative interpretations of peace, love and joy.
- Bergdorf Goodman: Featuring 5 unique displays, the windows at Bergdorf Goodman offer remakes of the classic dioramas that are seen in natural history museums.
- Bloomingdale’s: In partnership with visual artists, Bloomingdale’s offers 8 windows of chandeliers that are auctioned off for charity at the end of the season.
- Henri Bendel: Henri Bendel offers an artistic four-story display inspired by James Goldcrown’s Love Wall.
- Lord & Taylor: With its 79th display, Lord & Taylor’s theme of “Enchanted Forest” features 34 hand-sculpted animals and 350-square-feet of LED walls.
- Macy’s: Titled “Believe,” the Herald Square Macy’s salutes the store’s nine-year commitment to a writing campaign that raises money for the Make-A-Wish foundation.
- Saks Fifth Avenue: With a theme of “Land of 1000 Delights,” this display features colorful candy as well as an animated center called “The Nutrcracker Sweet” along Fifth Avenue.
- Tiffany & Co.: With a display called “Make the World Sparkle,” Tiffany & Co offers a dazzling holiday vision.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights attract more than 100,000 people every year to Brooklyn. This over-the-top display features Christmas lights as well as huge inflatable Santas and snowmen along with houses blasting Christmas carols from loudspeakers. Many houses in the area also participate with impressive decorations. Generally speaking, the best time to see the lights is from mid-December through New Year’s Eve. Lights can be seen from 11th to 13th Avenues from 83rd to 86th Street.
Rolf’s Restaurant
A visit to Rolf’s is like traveling to the inside of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Featuring crystal icicles, twinkling lights and hundreds of ornaments inside a German restaurant, the restaurant offers a festive atmosphere along with great traditional German food and beer items.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Kicking off the holiday season in New York City every year since 1933, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular features tap dancers, a flying Santa and the world-famous Rockettes. The show will continue from now through January 2.
Holiday Train Show
The New York Botanical Garden offers a special display consisting of old model trains winding through nearly a half-mile of track in 150 miniature landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and Rockefeller Center.
Winter Wonderland Blunderland Variety Show
The Winter Wonderland Blunderland Variety Show is a themed holiday celebration featuring circus, burlesque and cabaret performers with a psychedelic twist on traditional holiday favorites.
Festive MTA
The MTA is spreading holiday cheer by rolling out its vintage fleet for a festive trip back in time. With the swipe of a MetroCard swipe, you can enjoy a “Shoppers Special” subway train ride on cars that ran on the lettered lines from the 1930s up through the 1970s.