How to Find Free Holiday Window Displays to Visit
Walk a free 1.5-mile New York route past Saks, Bergdorf and Bloomingdale's after dark in December.
Head to public sidewalks along Fifth Avenue and Herald Square in New York to find free holiday window displays. Walk the route after dark from mid-November through early January and you can see them without a ticket. Holiday window displays are large decorated store windows made for passersby.
They stay lit after closing and face the sidewalk, so anyone walking by can stop and look.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 05, 2026.
Where is the free walk?
The core walk runs about 1.5 miles in one line. It starts at Macy's at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, moves north up Fifth Avenue past Saks at 50th Street and Cartier at 52nd, reaches Bergdorf Goodman at 58th, then adds Bloomingdale's east at Lexington and 59th, according to the 17John Hotel guide in its walk-through of the window route. You can walk it in either direction and skip stops.
Sidewalks are public, crossings are frequent, and stores sit close together. Bring a map on your phone and follow Fifth Avenue north to stay on track.
What will you see at each stop?
Saks Fifth Avenue paired its facade light show with six center Fifth Avenue windows showing New York winter scenes, including a snowy Central Park boat scene and decorated holiday tree. The pairing gives you lights above and small scenes at eye level in one stop. Bloomingdale's showed its 2025 "Happy Together" Lexington Avenue windows at the 59th Street flagship with Burberry, including knight-themed scenes and an illuminated Burberry-check scarf across the facade.
Bergdorf Goodman unveiled nine "Bergdorf Soirée" windows on November 20, 2025 at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street, built by about 100 artisans over nine months, as reported by V Magazine in its report on the Bergdorf unveiling.
Do you need tickets or money?
Viewing Fifth Avenue and Herald Square sidewalk windows costs nothing and needs no ticket or reservation, according to the 17John Hotel guide in its guide to free viewing. That makes the walk workable for families and budget travelers. No purchase is needed to stand on the sidewalk and look.
Food, transit, and souvenirs still cost money, so set a spending limit before you go. Keep bags close because crowds gather in front of popular windows.
When should you go?
Windows generally appear mid-to-late November through late December or early January. Saks returned its flagship holiday light show on November 24, 2025 under the "Holiday Your Way" campaign with Mastercard presenting for the 16th year, as reported by Chain Store Age in its account of Saks' holiday plans. Go on a weekday after dark for clearer views with smaller crowds.
Hudson Yards also offered free options nearby, with its 6th annual "Shine Bright" light display from November 17 through January 7 plus free Santa photo opportunities. Confirm each store's current unveiling and closing dates before a special trip, since dates shift each year.