New York Holiday Markets

Some New York City attractions are seasonal – like the Holiday Markets.

Union Square Holiday Market

Holiday time is a magical time in the City, with all of the lights, colorful decorations, special happenings and store windows.  There are the “must sees” like Rockefeller Center’s Christmas Tree, Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, the world’s largest Menorah at 5th Avenue and 59th Street, Sak’s Fifth Avenue’s store windows and Santa Land on the 8th Floor of Macy’s (call for hours, it opens as early as 6am during the Holidays – a great time to go!).

Other special places at Holiday time in New York include Grand Central Station, with its laser light show projected off the walls and ceiling; the UNICEF crystal snowflake, dangling high above the intersection of 5th Avenue and 57th Street (the largest outdoor crystal chandelier in the world, over 20 feet in diameter with 16,000 crystal prisms); and South Street Seaport’s gigantic Christmas tree with human carolers serving as ornaments.  Even the New York Stock Exchange (-514.45/-5.69%)  is beautifully decorated at Christmas.

One of my favorite things to do at Holiday time in New York is to visit the Holiday Markets.  Holiday Markets are made up of small booths, average size of 5′ X 10′, where vendors sell all sorts of Holiday related items, foods, decorations and gifts.  In some cases, the vendors are crafts people and artisans who worked on their goods all year long, just to sell at the Holiday Market.  It is fun to get a hot chocolate or hot apple cider and wander in and out of the rows of booths, if not to buy, just to look.  It is sure to put you in the Holiday mood.

My favorite Holiday Market (insider tip) is the one at Union Square.  It is by far the largest.  It is also pretty much off the beaten tourist path.

We bring people from all over the world to the Holiday Markets on our special New York Tours at Holiday time, and everyone loves them.  You will, too!