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The best holiday displays in NYC, mapped

Where to find festive displays in all five boroughs

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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.

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Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

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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 weighs in at a whopping 12 tons. 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

Bergdorf Goodman

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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 display to life neon, Italian mosaic tile, and needlecraft. 

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Bloomingdale's

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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” display. 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

Saks Fifth Avenue

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Saks Fifth Avenue and Disney have collaborated to create a winter wonderland with windows inspired by Frozen 2. Its six main windows showcase scenes from the movie, depicting Elsa and Anna’s adventures. Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven also makes appearances throughout the vignettes.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Macy's Herald Square

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Head to Herald Square, where this year, the department store’s six holiday windows focus on the theme of “Believe in the Wonder” and follow the journey of “Santa Girl” as she experiences the holidays.

Nyki Elle courtesy of Macy’s

Bryant Park

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The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park has it all: a massive decked-out tree; a skating rink; and plenty of 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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“World’s Largest Menorah”

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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.

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New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show

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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.

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The Christmas House Of The Garabedian Family

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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 plastic animals.

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“Santa’s Corner”

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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.

“Little North Pole”

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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 decorated 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.

Dyker Heights Lights

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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

MetroTech Commons

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Each year, Brooklyn lights up its tallest Christmas tree in MetroTech Commons. Day or night the tree sparkles with festive decor to put you in the holiday spirit.

NYC Winter Lantern Festival

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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, mammoths, and jellyfish. Visitors until January 12 to enjoy the festivities.

Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

Historic Richmond Town

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If you’re looking for a classic holiday experience, look no further than Historic Richmond Town. The main village, which preserves 300 years of Staten Island history and culture, boasts 30 historic structures, and 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.

“Lights For Life” at 107 Sharrotts Road

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Joe DiMartino and his family annually transform their Rossville home into a winter wonderland in honor of DiMartino’s wife, Debra Ann, who died on 9/11. Visiting the house is free, though Joe accepts donations that benefit the Staten Island University Hospital Pediatric Cancer Unit in memory of his wife.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

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 weighs in at a whopping 12 tons. 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

Bergdorf Goodman

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 display to life neon, Italian mosaic tile, and needlecraft. 

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Bloomingdale's

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” display. 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

Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue and Disney have collaborated to create a winter wonderland with windows inspired by Frozen 2. Its six main windows showcase scenes from the movie, depicting Elsa and Anna’s adventures. Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven also makes appearances throughout the vignettes.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Macy's Herald Square

Head to Herald Square, where this year, the department store’s six holiday windows focus on the theme of “Believe in the Wonder” and follow the journey of “Santa Girl” as she experiences the holidays.

Nyki Elle courtesy of Macy’s

Bryant Park

The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park has it all: a massive decked-out tree; a skating rink; and plenty of 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.

Getty Images

“World’s Largest Menorah”

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

New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show

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.

Getty Ima

The Christmas House Of The Garabedian Family

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 plastic animals.

Getty Images

“Santa’s Corner”

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.

“Little North Pole”

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 decorated 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.

Dyker Heights Lights

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

MetroTech Commons

Each year, Brooklyn lights up its tallest Christmas tree in MetroTech Commons. Day or night the tree sparkles with festive decor to put you in the holiday spirit.

NYC Winter Lantern Festival

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, mammoths, and jellyfish. Visitors until January 12 to enjoy the festivities.

Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

Historic Richmond Town

If you’re looking for a classic holiday experience, look no further than Historic Richmond Town. The main village, which preserves 300 years of Staten Island history and culture, boasts 30 historic structures, and 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.

“Lights For Life” at 107 Sharrotts Road

Joe DiMartino and his family annually transform their Rossville home into a winter wonderland in honor of DiMartino’s wife, Debra Ann, who died on 9/11. Visiting the house is free, though Joe accepts donations that benefit the Staten Island University Hospital Pediatric Cancer Unit in memory of his wife.