Winter Wonderland in the Heart of NYC: The Empire State Building Celebrates the Holiday Season with Extravagant Holiday Décor, Festive Movie Screenings, Special Lightings, and More

The Empire State Building (ESB) today announced details for its fan-favorite holiday festivities with over-the-top decorations, festive pop-ups, classic movie screenings, and special tower lightings.  

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Winter Wonderland in the Heart of NYC: The Empire State Building Celebrates the Holiday Season with Extravagant Holiday Décor, Festive Movie Screenings, Special Lightings, and More (Photo: Business Wire)

“There is no place quite like New York to spend the holidays, and the Empire State Building tops the list of things to do in NYC,” said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. “From photos with Santa to classic film screenings, guests will make holiday memories to last a lifetime with the best views in New York City.”  

Topped with Tinsel  

Every corner of the Empire State Building Observatory will be adorned in festive holiday decorations with shining wreaths, lights, tinsel, bows, and a giant menorah at the two-story building model. As they make their way through the Observatory Experience’s immersive exhibits, guests can pose for holiday photos in a dedicated corner of the 80^th Floor with Christmas trees, snowflakes, presents, and a cozy fireplace backdrop inspired by Santa’s workshop.  

Once they reach the iconic 86^th Floor Observatory, guests can pose in a dedicated Ghirardelli corner decorated with a candy cane arch, holiday greenery, twinkle lights, and Ghirardelli’s fan-favorite peppermint bark squares.  

Guests will conclude their Observatory visit in the building’s famed Fifth Avenue Lobby – featured in the holiday classic, “Elf” – that is decorated with classic holiday decorations like hanging twinkle lights, wreaths, and an oversized Christmas tree. The iconic Fifth Avenue Windows depict scenes of sleighs full of elaborately wrapped gifts, teddy bears, and holiday ice cream sundaes by Ghirardelli Chocolate.  

Tenants and visitors who pass through the Fifth Avenue Lobby from Monday through Friday in the month of December will hear holiday tunes performed by professional pianists.  

The Man with the Bag  

On Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, and 20, Santa Claus himself will spread holiday cheer and pose for photos with Observatory guests in his dedicated corner on the building’s 80^th Floor. More information on Santa visits can be found at esbholiday.com.  

Baby, It’s Cold Outside  

From Nov. 13 throughout the holiday season, Ghirardelli Chocolate will reside on the Empire State Building’s 86^th Floor Observatory every day from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. The beloved chocolatier will offer their classic hot cocoa and peppermint hot cocoa to guests as they take in New York City’s best views from the comfort of the heated open-air Observatory.  

Starbucks Reserve^®Winter Wonderland  

Holiday magic comes alive in the iconic Starbucks Reserve^® Empire State Building store with the new, limited-time Winter Wonderland pop-up experience. Located at the Coffee & Cocktail Lounge on the second level of the store, Starbucks Reserve^® Winter Wonderland highlights the coffee journey, from bean to cup. Exclusive to the experience is the new Empire State Cocoa Cocktail that features dark chocolate and steamed milk infused with Hennessy VS Cognac, topped with whipped cream, and served with a side of Royal Combier liqueur and dark chocolate bites.  

Holiday Classics  

Fans can purchase tickets to view classic holiday films on the Observatory’s 80^th Floor which include:  

• “Elf” on Dec. 2, 8, 10, 15, and 17
• “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” on Dec. 5 and 11
• And “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Dec. 13.

Tickets to these special holiday screenings will each include themed drinks and snacks, and full access to ESB’s second floor museum and the 86^th and 102^nd Floor Observatories.  

Special Lightings  

The Empire State Building’s iconic tower lights will shine throughout the holiday season with dedicated lightings for Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. The building will also debut its annual holiday music-to-light show. Text CONNECT to 274-16 to receive real-time information about each Empire State Building tower lighting.  

The Empire State Building’s world-famous Observatory Experience underwent a $165 million reimagination that added a new interactive museum with nine galleries, bespoke host uniforms, and a new 102^nd Floor Observatory with unmatched views from the heart of New York City. The iconic Observatory Experience was recently voted the number one attraction in the world – and number one in the U.S. for the third consecutive year – in the 2024 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do.  

Hi-res imagery can be downloaded here.
More information about the Empire State Building can be found online.  

About the Empire State Building 
The Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience created an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102^nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86^th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared the #1 Attraction in the World – and #1 Attraction in the U.S. for the third consecutive year – in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do, "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List.  

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.  

Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. 
Category: Observatory  

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