Christmas in New York

In recent years, New York has become the ultimate destination for celebrating Santa Claus. This year, seven million visitors are expected. And they won’t be disappointed, as the city that never sleeps is by far the most spectacular place in the world during the holiday season. Lights, music, shows, attractions… The spectacle is everywhere, nonstop, and absolutely breathtaking!

In Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighbourhood, a usually reserved community of residents, engage each year in a fierce competition to claim the envied title of the “most beautiful and decorated house” of the year. Nothing is too extravagant, nothing too expensive. This little neighbourhood competition started a few years ago to delight the local children. It quickly escalated into complete madness. Many homeowners now hire professional set designers to stage their decorations. Music, lights, animated statues… Some spend over $25,000 to wow the crowd. In recent years, more than 100,000 visitors have come to admire these displays.

Manhattan shines brightly at Christmas too. The crown jewel of the season is the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree – arguably the most famous in the world. Decorated with a garland of 50,000 lights and over 8 kilometres of wiring, it is topped with a Swarovski star, which weighs 40 kilograms alone.

Times Square goes crazy as well. Ten days before Christmas, nearly 30,000 people dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as elves, Christmas trees, or reindeer gather for SantaCon NYC – the world’s largest gathering of Santas! The goal: dress up, hit the bars, and raise money for charity. And in the middle of winter, the famous “Naked Cowboy” of Times Square continues to perform in his underwear, much to the delight of tourists. He shared his tips for surviving freezing temperatures while making tens of thousands of dollars during the holiday season.

For those looking for a more original and intimate way to celebrate Christmas, a holiday cruise is organised on a boat where you can enjoy the festivities from a hot tub. Never seen anywhere else – except in New York! Warm in the bubbling water while the temperatures outside are freezing, the city’s lights pass as night falls: the skyline, the One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty. All of this while sipping a cocktail to the sound of Christmas music. The price for this extravagant experience? Between $150 and $250.