8 Magical Holiday Window Displays in NYC
New York City during the holidays is a magical sight to see. Between the whimsical Christmas tree at Rockefeller and the bright skyline, there’s nothing short of magic when you visit the city that never sleeps. When families come to visit NYC during the holiday season, holiday window displays are a must-see. These displays are beautifully designed every year to add a little magic to your family’s day, specifically curated by each store.
The displays may be a little different this holiday season, Sak’s on Fifth Avenue recently announced that they will not be doing their annual light show this year. The years-long tradition was a fan favorite in the city — thousands of lights lit up the facade of the building, and with the store positioned right behind Rockefeller’s Christmas tree, it made for the ultimate holiday magic.
But fear not! The tradition of holiday windows is still rich in the city, from the iconic Macy’s at Herald Square to the prestige and posh Cartier. We’ve rounded up the best holiday window displays that will have your hearts (and eyes) glistening this year!
Psst…Check out The Best Holiday Family Experiences Around New York 2024
Cartier – Midtown
653 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
We all know that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but Cartier comes in pretty close. Window shop for their bracelets and watches through their windows adorned with hundreds of twinkling lights.
Nordstrom – Midtown
225 W 57th St, New York, NY
Enjoy Nordstrom’s Holiday Blizz with colorful window displays and bright lights to illuminate the building’s facade. Store windows are decorated with friendly snowmen and inflatable characters including Dimmy & Quaser and the humble traffic cones for an enriching and entertaining experience.
FAO Schwarz – Midtown
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Feel like a child again with magical and whimsical light window displays at the world’s most iconic toy store. Every year FAO Schwartz windows are decorated with life-sized stuffed animals and quirky poses of your favorite cartoons and characters.
American Girl – Diamond District
75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Experience the magic that is American Girl. Each year, the storefront puts on a whimsical display of life-size and mini American Girl dolls. Dressed to the nines in holiday attire and surrounded by snow and lights, it’s like a scene right out of a toy book.
Macy’s at Herald Square– Midtown
151 W 34th St, New York, NY
Macy’s has been creating beautiful window displays for years and the display is always different. While you’re there, be sure to head inside and check out what Macy’s Santaland has to offer, entering a magical world of reindeer, elves, snow, the rainbow bridge, and, of course, Santa himself.
Bloomingdale’s– Lenox Hill
1000 3rd Ave. at 59th Street, New York, NY
Have the “Best Holiday Ever” when you stop by Bloomingdale’s display this year! Inspired by the magical world of Willy Wonka, the window display will bring the wonder of the holidays to life with bright colors, lots of sparkle and oversized candies and chocolates inspired by Wonka’s factory.
Bergdorf Goodman– Midtown
754 5th Avenue, New York, NY
If you are looking to see a display that is sure to wow you this year, make sure you stop by Bergdorf Goodman’s. This luxury store is known for its beautifully extravagant displays. Each of the seven windows included in the display shares its own story that aligns with the theme.
Raising Cane’s – Midtown
1501 Broadway, New York, NY
There’s a new holiday display in town! Raising Cane’s new flagship location opened in Times Square last year and it brought more than just delicious chicken fingers– it also brought a seasonal holiday display this year.
This year’s Christmas window displays little (puppy) Cane in Santa’s workshop. Decorated with candy canes, snow, presents and a puppy nutcracker, the visual is fun-filled and family-oriented.
Psst…Check out 7 Great Secondhand Marketplaces to Shop This Holiday Season
Here at New York Family, we could not love the holidays more and that’s why we’ve created A Very Merry New York Family Holiday Guide! We’ve got everything you need to make 2024 your family’s best holiday ever: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa events, tree lightings, holiday light shows, gift guide, holiday shopping ideas, books, movies, elf ideas and so much more!
