This Year's Most Beautiful Holiday Windows in New York City

Every holiday season, the largest department stores in Manhattan unveil lavish holiday window displays. Viewing these department stores’ holiday windows has become essential to the New York City holiday experience, whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Christmas. Some displays are going virtual this year, but nonetheless the excitement and magic of the displays will still be delighting families all over New York. Here's what the biggest holiday displays in NYC are doing this year. 

Bergdorf Goodman

The presentation, titled “Bergdorf Goodness,” is inspired by all of the selfless acts we've witnessed in the face of 2020 hardships. Bergdorf Goodman wanted to celebrate unity, kindness, and community this holiday season using its iconic windows. It is partnering with City Harvest and the National CARES Mentoring Movement to work to fight gainst food insecurity and inequities around social and educational infrastructures for young Black people. The store is also donating three percent of every Monday's sales (up to $100,000) to the "Goodness Giving Fund." All concepts were conceived by David Hoey, Senior Director of Visual Presentation and longtime window dresser at Bergdorf's. Bergdorf Goodman is located at 754 Fifth Ave. in Midtown.

Macy’s

Macy's is always a destination for the holidays, whether you're in town for the Thanksgiving Day Parade or in line to meet Santa in Santaland (which are both virtual this year!). This year, the store's holiday windows represent the theme "Give, Love, Believe," which is a tribute to the city's essential workers, first responders, marchers for equality, and New Yorkers who showed grit, hopeful spirit, and good humor this year. You can't go wrong experiencing the magic of the holiday at Macy's. Macy’s is located at 151 W. 34th St. in Herald Square.

2020 Macy's windows display. Image courtesy Macy's

Saks Fifth Avenue

This year, Saks will be presenting its iconic holiday windows in an abridged format. There will be 20 smaller-than-usual lighting ceremonies that will be lived-streamed on a platform made especially for Saks Fifth Avenue in partnership with Mastercard. From Nov. 23 through Dec. 23, the button that brings the lights to life will be pressed by a celebrity host for viewers to enjoy via livestream. The theme for 2020 is "This is How We Celebrate."  Saks Fifth Avenue is located at 611 Fifth Ave., Midtown.

2019 Saks Fifth Avenue window display. Image courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue.

Bloomingdale’s

This year's Bloomingdales display will go online, with singer Andra Day and dancer Misty Copeland of American Ballet Theatre performing. The livestream on Nov. 23 will require a donation of any amount and all proceeds will go to Child Mind Institute.  Bloomingdale’s is located at 1000 Third Ave., 59th Street and Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side.