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Saturday, November 30, 2019

The best holiday displays in NYC, mapped

From the towering tree in Rockefeller Center to outer-borough homes smothered in Christmas lights, New York City is a festive feast for the eyes during the holiday season.
If you’re willing to brave the tourist-clogged streets of Midtown, department stores like Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman will have their usual extravagant window displays. But for something different, consider heading outside of Manhattan—you’ll find a holiday train show, a lantern festival, and plenty of homes decked out in elaborate decorations that take months to install (and a small fortune to power).
Below, find 16 spots across the five boroughs where you can revel in the holiday season.

1. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

45 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10111
(212) 588-8601
Few festive displays compare to Rockefeller Center’s Christmas Tree. This year’s towering timber journeyed from Florida, New York and it’s a showstopper: 77 feet tall, 46 feet wide, and weighing in at a whopping 12 tons. The Norway spruce will light up for the first time on December 4 with a televised fête at Rockefeller Plaza. As a bonus, you can also slap on a pair of skates at The Rink At Rockefeller Center; if you’d rather not partake, we suggest people watching with a hot chocolate.
Getty Images/iStockphoto

2. Bergdorf Goodman

754 5th Ave
New York, NY 10019
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This year, Bergdorf Goodman is ushering in the season with the theme “Bergdorf GoodTimes.” Each of its windows depicts a scene of revelry with nostalgic games and whimsical parties. A production team worked for nearly a year to bring the playful display to life using mediums, including neon, Italian mosaic tile, and needlecraft.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images

3. Bloomingdale’s

Bloomingdale’s
New York, NY 10022
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Bloomingdale’s is looking to the stars for its holiday windows this year. Inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing, the store pays tribute to space travel with “An Out of This World Holiday Windows.” The first diorama begins the journey with a silver flying saucer beaming up beings dressed in futuristic fashions followed by a series of extraterrestrial holiday scenes.
Joe Schildhorn/BFA.com

4. Saks Fifth Avenue

611 5th Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 753-4000
Saks Fifth Avenue and Disney have collaborated to create a winter wonderland with windows inspired by Frozen 2. Its six center windows bring scenes from the movie to life, depicting Elsa and Anna’s adventures. Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven also makes appearances throughout the vignettes.
Saks Fifth Avenue

5. Macy’s Herald Square

151 W 34th St, New York
NY 10001, United States
(212) 695-4400
Head to Herald Square, where this year, the department store’s six holiday windows are centered around the theme of “Believe in the Wonder” and follow the journey of “Santa Girl” as she travels through dazzling display.
Nyki Elle courtesy of Macy’s

6. Bryant Park

(212) 768-4242
This seasonal destination has it all: a massive, decked-out tree; a skating rink; and a winter village packed with shops and eateries. Sip hot cider while you browse the holiday market, try your hand at bumper cars on ice, or simply enjoy a stroll through the park taking in the festive sights and sounds. There’s also a slew of seasonal programming.
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7. “World’s Largest Menorah”

Grand Army Plaza
New York, NY 10019
(212) 310-6600
Each year, the lighting of this 32-foot-high, 4,000-pound steel holiday icon, which resides on the street across from The Plaza Hotel, kicks off the Jewish Festival of Lights. The menorah will be lit beginning December 22.
Getty Images

8. New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show

2900 Southern Blvd
The Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 817-8700
The magical feat that is the New York Botanic Garden’s holiday train show is back for its 28th year. The display boasts 175 replicas of some of the city’s most famed landmarks, from the Empire State Building to the Brooklyn Bridge. New to the display this year are iconic Central Park structures, including Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Terrace, and the Bow Bridge. Model trains whizz past the landmarks on tracks that snake through dense flora and cross over bridges.
Getty Ima

9. The Christmas House Of The Garabedian Family

1605 Pelham Pkwy N
The Bronx, NY 10469
Since 1973, the Garabedian Christmas House on Pelham Parkway North in Baychester has served as a Bronx holiday tradition, with visitors from across the tri-state area trekking to bask in its jovial glow. This massive display regularly boasts nearly 200 mannequins, some 50 cherubs, and an array of animals.
Getty Images

10. “Santa’s Corner”

166-04 23rd Ave
Flushing, NY 11357
Located at the intersection of 166th Street and 23rd Avenue in Queens, Kevin Lynch’s house is locally known as “Santa’s Corner.” It takes Lynch a full three months to put up the display, which includes wrapping his home in thousands of lights, along with several lawn figurines. The light show began some two decades ago as a friendly competition with his neighbor. It’s safe to say he won.

11. “Little North Pole”

144-03 Neponsit Ave
Far Rockaway, NY 11694
The real North Pole may be far from the sandy shores of the Rockaways, but Queens’ “Little North Pole” is close to the beach. Joe Mure has been decorating his home at Beach 143rd Street and Neponsit Avenue on the Rockaway peninsula, for more than 20 years—and each year, the celebration gets more extravagant.

12. Dyker Heights Lights

Dyker Heights
Brooklyn, NY 11228
New Yorkers and tourists alike flock to Dyker Heights each winter for truly over-the-top lights displays. We’re talking 10-foot nutcrackers, animatronic Santas, and enough lights for a cringeworthy electric bill. The area best known for its lights is generally bounded by 11th to 13th avenues from 83rd to 86th streets.
Corbis via Getty Images

13. MetroTech Commons

Visit Website
On December 4, Brooklyn will light up its tallest Christmas tree. The annual tree lighting is celebrated with musical performances, live ice carving, and a visit by Santa.

14. NYC Winter Lantern Festival

2 Snug Harbor Rd
Staten Island, NY 10301
Visit Website
More than 1,000 LED displays make up the seasonal show at Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island. Visitors can meander through eight acres of elaborate lantern sculptures, including dragons and jellyfish. New Yorkers have until January 12 to enjoy the festivities.
Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

15. Historic Richmond Town

441 Clarke Ave
Staten Island, NY 10306
(718) 351-1611
If you’re looking for a classic holiday experience, look no further than Historic Richmond Town, which preserves 300 years of Staten Island history and culture. The main village boasts 30 historic structures, and come December, holiday dressings make it feel like you’ve stepped into a time machine. Old-fashioned carriage rides, an annual tree lighting, a classic bell choir and more can be enjoyed at Richmond Town this season.
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