26 Oct Bryant Park’s Winter Village Opens This Week

October 30th will see the opening of ​the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park – Manhattan’s winter wonderland. The Winter Village will be open through March 7, 2021.

Enjoy New York City’s only free admission ice skating rink, the Holiday Shops, and rinkside eats and drinks at The Lodge Deck by Urbanspace. Please note: skate time reservations will open end of October!

Per New York State safety guidelines*, things have changed in order to keep all visitors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health and Safety
New this Year: Ice skating at Winter Village is now a fully outdoor experience, and the Holiday Shops have a reconfigured layout with fewer shops to allow for more spacious walkways. At The Rink they are also implementing:

• Enhanced cleaning protocol: high contact surfaces will be sanitized throughout the day.
• Contactless payment: advance online booking is now required for all rink reservations.
• Skate sessions: to reduce capacity on The Rink and give more visitors a chance to skate, skate time will be booked per timed session.
• Masks: all visitors must wear face coverings over their noses and mouths for the duration of their visit to The Rink.

The summer has been spent working hard to plan for the safe execution of Winter Village during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Holiday Shops
The European inspired open-air market hosts artisans from New York City and around the world. Located along Bryant Park’s allées, plazas, and terraces, the Holiday Shops are housed in custom-designed kiosks.This year, to prioritize shopper and shop staff safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve changed the Holiday Shops in a few key ways:

Smaller, safer: The number of kiosks has been reduced and reconfigured the layout to avoid congestion and allow for more spacious walkways. Staff will wear face coverings, make hand sanitizer available, and conduct contactless payments.

Park safety: Handwashing stations are available throughout the park. Visitors must wear a face covering at the Holiday Shops and maintain social distance while circulating through the park. Be safe, be kind, and please heed all park and Holiday Shops’ directives.

Holiday Shop Openings
October 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021
Monday – Friday: 11am-8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am-8pm
Many Shops are open on holidays and keep later hours after Thanksgiving

The Lodge Deck
Winter Village’s rinkside outdoor, après skate-escape where visitors can cozy up with a festive cocktail, enjoy delicious food, and watch the ice skaters or admire the Christmas Tree. The Lodge Deck by Urbanspace is a cozy winter destination with a festive cocktail bar and food options to fulfill the cravings of New Yorkers and visitors alike.

The Lodge Deck Openings
October 30, 2020 – March 7, 2021
Daily, 8am-10pm

Holiday Hours
8am-10:30pm (except New Year’s Eve)

*Bryant Park Corporation must adhere to all New York State guidelines to open and operate Winter Village this upcoming season

Image & Content Credit: Bryant Park