‘Tis the Season: Winter Village Holiday Shops Return

The Winter Village at Bryant Park is back for another season. Sponsored by Bank of America, it debuted in 2002 and every year turns one of New York’s famous landmarks into a winter wonderland. The Village offers ice skating with free admission, shops to get unique trinkets, a beautiful lighted tree, and a cafe and bar where visitors can play curling, a sport where players slide stones on a sheet of ice toward a target area. 

The shops are the main attraction for many. Families, friends, and couples walk through the park looking at the shops and skaters. “We can’t afford anything … but we look in and peak around the shops,” said Luca who visited the park with friends.

Shop owners must apply almost a year in advance to get a booth. First-timer Maria Rodrigues owns El Palmbazo in a section called The Lodge where alcoholic drinks, food and sweets are sold. She is having a blast with the crowd, which is, “a mixture of families earlier in the day and couples on dates in the evening. It’s a lot of fun, especially in The Lodge.”

Inside Peaceful Stone Lights at booth 35, Sarah, also known as Red, was filled with energy. This is her fourth year participating in the Winter Village. Peaceful Stone Lights features stone pillars and other decorative accessories filled with candles or LED lights. Red likes to imagine the stones reflect the energy of the people who buy them. “When the time comes and they are ready to separate from the stone, it can be passed down to a daughter, son, or relative,” she said.

However, park security could be better. Red and other business owners in the park sometimes worry about theft, but Winter Village insurance helps relieve some of their concerns. “We did have an incident, where we got broken into,” said Audrae, shop owner of Earth Energy Gems which sells gems from all around the world. “But they were able to recuperate everything that was stolen. They took care of it immediately, gave us new walls. So I think if anything happens, they are definitely on top of taking care of it.”

Because of COVID, this year you must reserve ice skating time and skate rentals before you get to the park, but the pandemic isn’t stopping people from visiting. Donna Farkas, the owner of Donna C. Jewelry, has run her booth for thirteen seasons. “Business is up to par. It is busy,” she said. “Everyone is just happy to get out from COVID. They are just happy to get out, buy and support the local businesses.” 

The Village will stay open in Bryant Park until March 6, 2022.