Famed Tower Decks Its Halls

The Empire State Building (ESB) in New York has unveiled its holiday look for this year, including decorations, pop-ups, movie screenings and custom tower lightings.

“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.”

Photo: Courtesy of the Empire State Building

Every corner of the Empire State Building observatory bears 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 photos in a dedicated corner of the 80th floor with Christmas trees, snowflakes, presents and a fireplace backdrop inspired by Santa’s workshop.

Once they reach the 86th floor observatory, guests can pose in a Ghirardelli corner decorated with a candy cane arch, holiday greenery, twinkle lights and the brand’s peppermint bark chocolate squares. (Earlier this year, the chocolatier opened a store on the ground floor of the 102-story tower.)

Guests conclude their observatory visit in the building’s famed Fifth Avenue lobby – featured in the movie “Elf” – that is home to hanging twinkle lights, wreaths and an oversized Christmas tree. The skyscraper’s Fifth Avenue Windows depict scenes of sleighs full of gifts, teddy bears and holiday ice cream sundaes by Ghirardelli.

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The tower is owned by Empire State Realty Trust Inc. and soars 1454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The observatory experience has undergone a $165 million reimagination that includes a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries and a redesigned 102nd floor observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. (The 86th floor observatory offers 360-degree, open-air views of New York and beyond.)