A New York is still missing two days at Halloween, but Bryant Park has already started the Christmas season. Yesterday, Wednesday 28 October reopened the Bank of America Winter Village, the winter village that every year transforms the Midtown Manhattan park into a large space dedicated to skating, shopping and gastronomy. The ice rink has returned to the center of the park, surrounded by over 180 small shops and kiosks that will sell handicraft products, gifts and food specialties until the beginning of January.
Early opening compared to Christmas is a tradition for Bryant Park, which is located between 40th and 42nd Street, a short walk from the New York Public Library. The village is set up when the trees of the park still have autumn leaves and will remain in operation for four months. The various activities, however, will not close all at the same time: the Holiday Shops will be open until 3 January 2027, while the skating rink and the restaurant area The Lodge will continue to welcome visitors until 28 February.
The main attraction is The Rink, an outdoor track of about 1.580 square meters, one of the largest in the city. The peculiarity is that the entrance is free for those who already own the skates. Unlike other very popular tracks in Manhattan, you do not need to buy a ticket to access the ice. However, free admission only applies to ordinary admission: those who have to rent skates pay a variable rate based on the date and time chosen.
According to the official list published by Bryant Park, the rental costs from $18.72 to $64.48, depending on the timeline and the question. The prices indicated include administrative expenditure but not taxes. On weekends and Christmas holidays rates can be higher. There are also more expensive formulas available to skip the row or prolong the stay on the ice, but they are not necessary to use the track.
Ordinary sessions generally last 50 minutes and require a reservation. Those who wear their skates can skate without paying the entrance, as long as you find an available time slot. The helmets are provided free of charge, while the stock is paid. The regulation prohibits carrying bags on the ice and recommends arriving with few personal items, to avoid additional charges.
The track is open every day, including holidays, from 8 to 22. From 19 November to 3 January the time will be extended until midnight, to allow to skate even in late evening. The activity normally continues with light rain, but can be suspended in case of intense rainfall or dangerous weather conditions. For those who want to avoid the crowd, organizers recommend the first hours of weekdays and periods away from holidays.
The Holiday Shops, the market curated by Urbanspace, are also back on the track. The more than 180 exhibitors occupy small transparent pavilions, distributed along the avenues and terraces of the park. The selection includes jewelry, household items, clothing, handicraft products, Christmas decorations and gastronomic specialities. New York activities and sellers from other locations, with a significant presence of small businesses and independent manufacturers.
The market is open from Monday to Friday from 11 to 20, while on Saturday and Sunday the time is from 10 to 20. During the holidays some shops can observe different times. The official website also provides a directory of exhibitors of 2026, useful to identify in advance the products and kiosks you want to visit. Access to the shopping area is free and requires no reservations.
For those who do not want to skate, one of the main alternatives is The Lodge, the covered space overlooking the track, where there are bars, refreshments and tables to stop to eat or drink something. It is open every day from 10 to 22, with possible extensions on days of greater affluence, and will remain in operation until the end of February. From its interior you can observe skaters without having to enter the track.
The Winter Village arrived at its 25th season. Bryant Park’s first market dates back to 2002 and had about 80 sellers, less than half of those present today. Over the years, the project has become one of Manhattan’s leading winter attractions, frequented by both residents and tourists.
Another event already announced is the ignition of the park’s Christmas tree, scheduled for Tuesday 1st December at 17:30. The ceremony will be free and will include musical performances and performances on the ice. The organizers will later communicate the complete program and the names of the artists involved. For those who visit New York in the coming weeks, it will be one of the main moments of the season, although the track and shops are already accessible from October.
Reaching Bryant Park is simple with the subway. Lines B, D, F and M stop at station 42 St–Bryant Park, while line 7 arrives at Fifth Avenue. The park is also a few minutes walk from Times Square and Grand Central Terminal. Those who intend to skate can consult the official website of the Winter Village to check availability, updated prices and weather conditions before the visit.
With the reopening of the Winter Village, Midtown enters the Christmas season while the rest of the city is still preparing for Halloween parties: a great classic, in the city that never sleeps and that always travels a thousand per hour.
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