giant lit up toy chest on Fifth AvenuePhotograph by Liz Ligon

From elaborately lit homes in Brooklyn to artfully crafted window displays at Manhattan’s finest stores, there are plenty of places to visit to soak up some holiday cheer this year. After the tough year we’ve all been through, the festive light displays of the holidays are a welcome and comforting tradition and one that can be taken part in safely if spectators adhere to social distancing and wear a mask. We’ve rounded up the most spectacular holiday decorations in NYC that you can see for yourself!

1. Make it Bright Along Fifth Avenue

Holiday decorations in NYC at the Pulitzer FountainPhotograph by Liz Ligon

Giant glowing toys are scattered along Fifth Avenue from 50th to 55th streets in Manhattan. A classic red truck hauling a Christmas tree, an overflowing toy chest, an airplane piloted by a snowman, and a yellow cab with a trunk full of presents are some of the nostalgic pieces you will find. Every sculpture is accompanied by a QR code that, when scanned with a smartphone, reveals a magical story about the toy.

The Make it Bright light sculpture installation is one of a handful of new holiday decorations in NYC this year. The installation was created by the Fifth Avenue Association with help from the innovative lighting specialists at Blachere Illumination, a global company that has lit up cities all over the world. You can visit the sculptures now through January 8th, 2021, and see them light up between 4:00PM and 10:00PM. The procession of toys leads up to a grand display of oversized Christmas ornaments and glowing spheres at the Pulitzer Fountain on 59th Street.