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Macy’s Herald Square Santaland And Windows Preview
Photograph: Eugene Gologursky, courtesy of Macy’s

Stunning Christmas window displays in NYC to see this year

New York’s spectacular Christmas window displays make holiday shopping in the city extra fun and festive.

Shaye Weaver
Written by
Shaye Weaver
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One of the best holiday attractions in NYC is its Christmas and holiday window displays at its department stores. Tourists aren’t the only ones who can enjoy these festive showcases in Herald Square and Fifth Avenue—even for locals, they hold a dreamy nostalgia that only comes once a year. These ornate holiday windows decked out with hundreds of Christmas lights and more winter wonderland decor are so impressive, they can be reason enough to stroll through midtown.

Time Out tip: Just wait until after the majority of tourists have gone to bed to you can see up-close for yourself.

For all the information you need to know about this year’s Christmas windows, read on below. And if you want to remain in the holiday spirit, we have recommendations on where to go ice skating in NYC, and then Christmas-themed bars (like Rolf’s) where you can go to warm up afterward. 

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in New York

Christmas window displays in New York

  • Shopping
  • Department stores
  • Midtown West
  • price 4 of 4

Bergdorf Goodman’s incredible windows have returned with particularly shiny elements this year, based on the theme, “Isn’t it Brilliant.” The windows glow with light, mirrors, chrome, ice, dazzling surfaces and bright neon. Each of the seven windows is a separate take on the theme and tells a story. The window, “First Light,’’ depicts a collection of domestic animals covered in mirror mosaic with monumental roosters beckoning the sunrise. On the other end of Fifth Avenue is “The Best and Brightest,” a celebration of knowledge and learning with vintage-inspired signs, flashing lights and a neon light bulb illuminating the big idea. On 58th Street, “Tripping the Light Fantastic,” is a “high-drama display” with disco ball-like Pegasi with wings outlined in neon lights in a Venetian-mirrored salon. The windows feature fashion by Thom Browne, C. D. Greene, Balmain, Rodarte, Alexander McQueen, Naeem Khan, Simone Rocha, Jil Sander, Christopher John Rogers and Paco Rabanne, among others.

  • Things to do
  • City Life

Saks Fifth Avenue worked with Dior to create a magical Carousel of Dreams with Dior codes such as the star and the clover as well as the signs of the Zodiac, “evoking the founding couturier’s unique legacy and his lucky charms.” It is embellished with “a profusion of flowers,” that lights up every night in a “dazzling” light show. Saks’ windows followed suit, with Dior styles and symbols installed in a “dreamlike” display, and inside, Dior Parfums have a dedicated pop-up space on Saks’ beauty floor featuring Dior makeup, fragrance and skincare holiday offerings available exclusively at Saks. 

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  • Shopping
  • Department stores
  • Midtown West
  • price 4 of 4

Macy’s is bringing back its jolly woodland character Tiptoe, a reindeer who was too shy to fly until she learned to believe in herself. Last year, Tiptoe celebrated “togetherness” and “festive nostalgia” when she visited her woodland friends to spread holiday magic and cheer. This year, Tiptoe is pictured enjoying holiday activities with her woodland friends, Polar Bear and Penguin. Each window uses whimsical materials and interactive elements, including a special sing-a-long karaoke display, that call back to Macy’s holiday theme of “Give Love.”

  • Shopping
  • Department stores
  • Upper East Side

Bloomingdale’s is all about Wonka this holiday season. Its windows are decked out to look like you’ve stepped into Willy Wonka’s candy factory and have a sugar rush. The theme celebrates what Bloomingdale’s is calling the “Best Holiday Ever” with colorful, bright windows full of sparkle and oversized candies and chocolates, inspired by the film.

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Raising Cane’s
Photograph: courtesy of Raising Cane’s

5. Raising Cane’s

NYC newcomer Raising Cane’s is bringing it this holiday season with super cute windows in Times Square. It’s the chicken chain’s first-ever mega window display and it features its Golden Retriever mascot, Cane, in a series of “playful window vignettes.” Across the windows, Cane passes a dazzling light show in a holiday parade; takes a taxi ride with Santa through the city; shops for toys in the Bryant Park Holiday Market; and rings in the New Year in Times Square. The windows showcase iconic NYC locations, including Fifth Ave, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Paramount Building, Bryant Park Holiday Market, Radio City Music Hall, Central Park Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center and Times Square across 1,400 square feet. There are 30 Canes, two marching bands, three snowmen, six nutcrackers, five Santa’s, 100 ornaments, 100 fries, 17 NYC buildings, four hidden elves, a mini Texas Toast couch, plus over 3,000 lights and over 100 custom graphics. Wow!

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