A holiday highlight for millions of New Yorkers, Bryant Park’s 2022 Winter Village by Bank of America officially opens on October 28th, 2022 and will remain open every day until March 5th, 2023. The large holiday market and ice-skating rink are wintertime staples for people across the tri-state area. And since they’re open for over four months, they sure make things a whole lot warmer and brighter throughout the coldest time of the year.
Grab those Ice Skates and Head to Bryant Park
Without a doubt, the village’s biggest yearly draw is its 17,000 sq. ft. outdoor skating rink. And unlike most that you’ll find across the city, this one is completely free if you bring your own skates. Skate rentals are between $15 and $45, and storage options and bag check services are available for a stress-free session. They even offer individual and small group lessons for all skating levels, great for when you either want to try something new or perfect your techniques. And, as an added bonus, you get a 10% discount on skates if you have a Bank of America card. It does get very crowded, however, so online reservations are highly recommended.
And when you’re finally done skating, you have your pick of where you can rest up. There’s the Lodge — sponsored by Amazon Video — with its fair share of bars and small eateries. Or you can book any one of their cozy igloos and enjoy some extra wintertime magic while you upwind. And we can’t forget about the Curling Cafe, where you can try your hand at iceless curling in any weather.
Even better, you can skate while enjoying the sight of Bryant Park’s stunning Christmas Tree, located at the west end of the rink. This year, they’ve chosen a 90-year-old, 55-foot-tall Norway Spruce from the small town of Lloyd, NY. It will arrive in New York City on November 19th, 2022 and be decorated from top to bottom with colorful lights and ornaments. The Elf Squad can’t wait for the annual tree-lighting sing-along, taking place on December 5th, 2022 at 6pm. Celebrity guests and performers have not yet been announced.
Shop and Eat to Your Heart’s Content
Of course, it wouldn’t be a market without a wide variety of shops and eateries to choose from. Its European-inspired set-up comes courtesy of Urbanspace, which also organizes the markets in Union Square and Columbus Circle. And this year, we’ll have over 170 holiday kiosks, both new and returning, to look forward to. All of them are New York-based artisans and small businesses that sell anything you could think of. Whether you’re looking for clothes, jewelry, decor, collectables, or even skin and body care, you can find it here. It’s the perfect opportunity to buy all the gifts you need for your loved ones or treat yourself to something special.
And if you get hungry, there’s lots of amazing food and drinks for you to choose from. You’ll have your pick of everything from hot chocolate and cider to desserts and all kinds of fried foods. There’s also plenty of international delights on-hand including Japanese, Indian, Mexican, and Caribbean. We especially love Casa Toscana’s Italian doughnuts and Baked Cheese Haus’ incredible raclettes.
The Season of Giving in NYC
In keeping with the true meaning of Christmas, the Winter Village is also bringing back its Small Business Spotlight. The initiative gives four NYC-Based, minority-owned small businesses — each earning $1 million or less annually — the chance to showcase and sell their products for free in a booth at the holiday market.
Bryant Park’s Winter Village is open Monday through Friday from 11am to 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 8pm. As for the rink, you can come by anytime between 8am and 10pm except for select weekends and holidays.
The Elf Squad looks forward to this market every single year, and we’ll definitely be back again this year to visit some old favorites and see what’s new.