Holiday Markets

The holiday season has hit New York City in full force, and despite the convenience of online buying, the city's streets are bustling with shoppers scurrying to find unique gifts and goodies. Popping up to meet the winter frenzy is a triumphant trove of festive markets offering one-of-a-kind creations–and a chance to mingle, jingle, nibble, and nosh. Read on for our picks of the best holiday markets and pop-up shops, from the familiar holiday hubs at Union Square and Bryant Park to an upstate farm and flea affair in Hudson.
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Coney Island’s Luna Park will stay open this winter for the first time ever

Photo courtesy of Luna Park

November 1, 2023

Coney Island’s Luna Park will stay open this winter for the first time ever

Luna Park in Coney Island will stay open this winter for the first time in its 120-year history for an exciting holiday celebration. Starting on November 18, Luna Park will be home to Frost Fest, a winter festival that will let visitors ride some of the amusement park's iconic rides and attractions, glide across a brand-new ice skating rink, enjoy holiday shopping, eat festive food, and much more. Frost Fest runs through January 7.
learn more about frost fest

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Here are NYC’s best holiday markets and pop-up shops of 2022

Image courtesy of

November 16, 2022

Here are NYC’s best holiday markets and pop-up shops of 2022

FAD Holiday Market The holiday season has arrived in New York City, and with it comes the dozens of festive winter shops that offer unique gifts and locally-made goods for New Yorkers and their loved ones. Ahead, discover the city's best holiday markets and pop-up shops, from the long-revered markets at Union Square and Bryant Park to newcomers like the Brooklyn Borough Hall Holiday Market.
Find something for everyone on your list

Bryant Park’s Winter Village returns for 21st season next month

Photo courtesy of Colin Miller

September 28, 2022

Bryant Park’s Winter Village returns for 21st season next month

Bryant Park's famous Bank of America Winter Village is set to return for its 21st season, offering New Yorkers the city's only free admission ice-skating rink, a renowned open-air holiday market, and the cozy rinkside Lodge with its seasonal cocktails and food. The Winter Village will be open daily starting October 28 through March 5.
Find out more

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Urbanspace to bring an outdoor holiday market to Brooklyn this year

Criollas at Columbus Circle Holiday Market in 2021, all images courtesy of Jacob Williamson

August 30, 2022

Urbanspace to bring an outdoor holiday market to Brooklyn this year

Food hall operator Urbanspace, known for hosting annual holiday markets in Union Square and Columbus Circle, announced last week that it will be opening a new location in Downtown Brooklyn just in time for the holiday season. Located in Columbus Park in Downtown Brooklyn, the new Brooklyn Borough Hall market will open on November 28 and run through December 26. Applications are being accepted for vendors at the new market until September 1, which can be submitted here.
See more here

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Photo: FAD Holiday Market

November 18, 2021

The 15 best NYC holiday markets of 2021

Even a pandemic can't keep a New York City shopper down. The city's retail landscape may look different now, but that hasn't dimmed the sparkle of beautiful baubles, clever crafts, and the company of fellow shoppers. While most of the city's holiday markets went virtual last year, many of our favorites have returned in their fabulous original form. The big Manhattan markets at Union Square, Bryant Park, and Columbus Circle are still impressive, but smaller, more intimate neighborhood gems shine brightly on their own. They're all great places to find seasonal delights like ice skating, live music, drinks, food, and family fun designed to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where the goods are

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Bryant Park’s Winter Village is now open for the season

Photo: Angelito Jusay

October 29, 2021

Bryant Park’s Winter Village is now open for the season

Bryant Park has once again transformed into a winter wonderland. The Bank of America Winter Village opened for the season on Friday, offering New Yorkers the only free admission ice skating rink in the city, an open-air holiday market, and cocktails rinkside. The village, now in its 20th year, will be open daily from October 29 through March 6, 2022.
Get the details

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This year’s best in-person and virtual holiday markets in and around NYC

Winter Village at Bryant Park; Photo by Angela Cranford

November 18, 2020

This year’s best in-person and virtual holiday markets in and around NYC

Like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting, and the Times Square ball drop on New Year's Eve, many of the city's holiday markets will also be online-only this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. While nothing beats the magic of New York City during the holiday season and the traditions that come along with it, there are still ways to support local artists, businesses, and vendors this year. In addition to a few markets happening in-person this year, including the open-air shops at Bryant Park, a number have gone virtual, allowing you to shop safely from home, no matter where that is.
Full list ahead

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Union Square Holiday Market will not open this year

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

November 4, 2020

Union Square Holiday Market will not open this year

Another New York City tradition has been canceled this year because of the coronavirus. The Union Square Holiday Market, a city staple for more than 25 years, will not open this season. And the Columbus Circle Holiday Market will also be closed this year, according to Urbanspace, which operates both markets.
Get the details

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The top NYC holiday markets and pop-up shops of 2019

New York is a city of shoppers, and though the retail landscape may be undergoing a sea change, there’s still a lot to be said for perusing yards of beautiful baubles and quirky crafts you won't find online in the company of other shoppers and plenty of good cheer. There’s no shortage of holiday markets this season, with one in practically every corner of town; and each one is unique in its own way. The big Manhattan markets–at Union Square, Bryant Park, Grand Central Station, and Columbus Circle–get points for sheer volume, but some of the best finds can be had at smaller, more intimate neighborhood affairs. And they all sparkle with winter wonderland delights from ice skating and music to drinks, food, workshops, tarot readings, nail art, and family fun to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where to get the goods

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Winter festivities come early to NYC, with ice rinks and holiday markets opening this month

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

October 4, 2019

Winter festivities come early to NYC, with ice rinks and holiday markets opening this month

Before it's even truly felt like fall, winter is coming to New York City. Ice skating rinks and holiday markets will open this month, giving an early taste of cold-weather activities. The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, which includes holiday vendors and 17,000-square-foot ice rink, officially opens on Oct. 31, letting you trade trick-or-treating for shopping and skating. The iconic skating rink at Rockefeller Center will open on Oct. 12 for the fall and winter season and Lasker Rink in Central Park will open sometime later this month.
Who's ready?

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Support refugees, immigrants, and local public schools at these NYC holiday markets

Via Choose Love

December 3, 2018

Support refugees, immigrants, and local public schools at these NYC holiday markets

This holiday season, instead of buying more stuff you don't need, gift items that make a true difference in someone's life. In Soho, Choose Love sells gifts that go directly to refugees, like tents and diapers. The "Give Back" holiday market in Gowanus is back this year, offering a percentage of all proceeds to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES). And Upper West Side standby and the biggest of its kind in NYC, the Grand Bazaar Holiday Market will donate 100 percent of its profits to four local public schools.
Learn ways to give here

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November 19, 2018

NYC’s best alternative holiday markets and coolest pop-up shops of 2018

No matter how hard we try to resist the urge to do last-minute shopping, that unexpected invitation, secret Santa or gift that needs reciprocation sends us scrambling for the perfect present. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of holiday markets and pop-up shops offering a bounty of just-right goodies and crafty gifts. The big NYC markets at Union Square, Bryant Park, Grand Central Station, and Columbus Circle are the front-runners for sheer volume, but some of the best finds are waiting to be discovered at smaller, cooler neighborhood affairs. In addition to locally-made jewelry, crafts, vintage items, artfully curated fashions, home items, gourmet goodies and other things we didn't know we needed, these hip retail outposts sparkle with drinks, food, workshops, tarot readings, nail art, music, and family fun to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where to get the goods

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Month-long ‘winterfest’ and holiday market coming to the Brooklyn Museum

Photo via WinterFest at Brooklyn Museum

October 25, 2018

Month-long ‘winterfest’ and holiday market coming to the Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn is getting a new winter festival and market this holiday season full of family-fun events, shopping, wine and beer tastings, and more. Dubbed WinterFest, the pop-up will take over 40,000 square feet of outdoor space at the Brooklyn Museum from Nov. 23 to Dec. 31 and feature more than 50 holiday-decorated wooden chalets with local crafts and handmade gifts inside.
Find out more

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November 22, 2017

15 alternative holiday markets and indie pop-up shops in NYC

’Tis the season for shopping; even if we’re determined to resist the call to consume (or do all our shopping online, from bed), there’s always that unexpected invitation, last-minute secret Santa, or someone special that sends us scrambling for the perfect present. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of gift markets and pop-up shops offering a bounty of goodies and crafty gifts. The big mainstream NYC markets at Union Square, Bryant Park Grand Central Station and Columbus Circle are the front-runners for sheer volume, but some of the best finds—and the most fun—can be found at smaller, cooler neighborhood affairs. In addition to locally-made jewelry, crafts, vintage finds, artfully curated fashions, home items, gourmet goodies and other things we didn't know we needed, these hip retail outposts sparkle with drinks, food, workshops, tarot readings, nail art, music, and family fun to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where to get the goods

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November 30, 2016

The 15 best NYC holiday markets and indie pop-up shops

December's first days bring a dazzling parade of holiday gift markets all vying for the opportunity to find new homes for a bounty of goodies and crafty gifts. We're all familiar with the big NYC markets at Bryant Park and Union Square, but some of the best finds—and the most fun—can be found at smaller, cooler pop-ups and neighborhood markets. Some are only around for a weekend, others for the whole month or longer. In addition to locally-made jewelry and crafts, vintage finds, artfully curated fashions, home items and other things we didn't know we needed, these hip retail outposts sparkle with drinks, food, workshops, tarot readings, nail art, music, and family fun to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where to get the goods

December 3, 2015

15 Hip Holiday Markets and Indie Pop-Up Shops in NYC

December's first days bring dozens of holiday gift markets whose aim is to find new homes for a wealth of shiny goodies and crafty gifts. We're all familiar with the big NYC markets, but some of the best scores–and the most fun–can be found at smaller, cooler pop-ups and local markets throughout the city. Some are only around for a weekend, others for the whole month or longer. In addition to locally-made jewelry and crafts, vintage finds, artfully curated fashions, home items and other things we didn't know we needed, these hip retail outposts offer up DJs, drinks, food, tarot readings, nail art, music, and family fun to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where to get the goods, this way

14 Hip Holiday Markets and Indie Pop-Up Shops in NYC

Capsule Market Square.

December 5, 2014

14 Hip Holiday Markets and Indie Pop-Up Shops in NYC