Photos by Colin Miller on behalf of Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Holiday festivities have returned to Midtown as Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park celebrates its 25th season. The annual destination officially opened on Wednesday, bringing the city’s only free-admission ice skating rink, a rinkside food hall and bar, and an open-air holiday market with more than 180 vendors to the heart of Manhattan. The Winter Village is open through March 1, 2027.
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., the rink is the centerpiece of Bryant Park’s holiday celebrations, offering 17,000 square feet of space to glide. Admission is free, and visitors can rent skates, watch free skating shows, take lessons, and enjoy a variety of special events.
At the rink’s northeast corner, the cozy Lodge serves festive cocktails and bites at two full-service bars, with views of skaters gliding by. The space also offers indoor and outdoor seating and TVs for watching sports.
On November 5, private rental igloos will return, giving groups an intimate space to enjoy food and drinks or warm up after skating. Each 90-minute session includes a selection of seasonal food and beverages and accommodates up to eight guests.
Other upcoming programming includes Club Santa and Santa’s Corner, giving guests opportunities to meet Santa and make holiday memories. Club Santa includes premium skating perks, such as skate rentals, concierge service, and extra time on the ice, along with one-on-one time with Santa, holiday treats, and festive crafts in the heated Polar Lounge.
Santa’s Corner offers an outdoor photo opportunity with Santa from December 14 through 18, complete with seasonal props. The experience is free, and no tickets are required. Photos are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The village’s cherished holiday shops, hosted by Urbanspace, are open daily through January 3, 2027. The European-style open-air market features more than 180 vendors selling artisan gifts, home decor, jewelry, gourmet treats, and more.
Bank of America’s Small Business Spotlight program will return this season, highlighting four NYC-based entrepreneurs who will sell their products rent-free at the Holiday Shops. Each business will operate a booth for more than two weeks, with Bank of America covering rent and build-out costs.
In 2025, the more than 180 Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, including the four Small Business Spotlight vendors, generated approximately $64 million in sales during the season, according to a press release.
This year’s featured businesses are Queens’ Rolly Poly Studios (October 28 through November 13), Brooklyn’s Pan De Arwah (November 13 through 30), Queens’ SouveDeer (December 1 through 17), and Manhattan’s Lewis Cho (December 18 through January 3).
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