Business Wire

NY-EMPIRE-STATE-REALTY

Share
Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Empire State Building Announces Fan-Favorite Holiday Programs to Include 20th Anniversary Elf Activations, Classic Holiday Décor, Festive Pop-Ups, Special Lightings and More

The Empire State Building (ESB) today announced the details of its annual holiday festivities. Celebrations through the end of the year will include seasonal holiday décor, visits from Santa Claus, pop ups, and special tower lightings.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231121955174/en/

To view this piece of content from mms.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Empire State Building Announces Fan-Favorite Holiday Programs to Include 20th Anniversary Elf Activations, Classic Holiday Décor, Festive Pop-Ups, Special Lightings and More (Photo: Business Wire)

“The holiday season is upon us, and we are excited to provide our guests with one-of-a-kind, holiday-themed experiences here at the Empire State Building,” said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. “This year’s visitors are in for lots of treats -- from photos with Santa to elaborate holiday decorative displays and dedications to the Empire State Building’s co-star, ‘Elf,’ to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary.”

Deck the Halls
Ornaments, wreaths, tinsel, and bows with silver and gold accents adorn the entire Observatory Experience with a large, bright menorah in front of the two-story building model. Inspired by Santa’s workshop, guests can take their holiday photos on the Empire State Building’s 80th Floor in a snowy corner display with Christmas trees, wrapped presents, a cozy fireplace backdrop, and Santa’s oversized chair.

The building’s landmark Fifth Avenue Lobby, that can be visited after conclusion of guests’ visits to the Observatory, is adorned with hanging holiday lights, wreaths, and an embellished Christmas tree. The iconic Fifth Avenue windows depict snowy scenes of Buddy the Elf and his friends as he travels from the North Pole to the “World’s Most Famous Building.” From Nov. 27 through Dec. 29, tenants and visitors who pass through the Fifth Avenue Lobby from Monday through Friday will hear festive holiday tunes performed by professional pianists.

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
On Dec. 2, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, and 22, Santa Claus himself will collect wish lists, spread holiday cheer, and pose for photos with Observatory guests in his own decorated corner on the 80th Floor. For more information on times, please visit esbnyc.com.

ESB Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of ‘Elf’
The beloved Christmas comedy features Buddy the Elf, who in the famous 2003 film travels to meet his father at his office in the Empire State Building. To celebrate the Christmas classic and the Empire State Building’s lead role in the film, ‘Elf’ will take over the Observatory with themed décor in the building’s Fifth Avenue windows and on the 86th Floor Observatory.

Fans can purchase a special ticket to view ‘Elf’ at one of four screenings on the Observatory’s 80th Floor on Sunday, Dec. 3, 10, 13 and 17. Tickets will include holiday-themed drinks and snacks, and full access to ESB’s second floor museum and 86th Floor Observatory. Tickets can be purchased here.

Baby It’s Cold Outside!
Nov. 23 through Jan. 7 from 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., S’mores N’more will pop up to sell their famed hot chocolate with oversized marshmallows to guests who purchase tickets to the 86th Floor Observation deck. Special flavors will include:

  • “The Buddy” -- inspired by ‘Elf’, a classic hot chocolate with whipped cream, a pop tart marshmallow, M&Ms, chocolate, and a maple syrup drizzle
  • “The King” -- inspired by “Kong” himself, a classic hot chocolate with whipped cream, a banana chocolate chip marshmallow, chocolate and banana poke sticks, and cocoa dust
  • “Christmas in the Clouds,” a peppermint hot chocolate with whipped cream, a peppermint marshmallow, a York peppermint patty, and Christmas sprinkles

The Empire State Building’s world-famous outdoor Observatory is also equipped with heaters on the 86th Floor Observation Deck during the chillier months to provide guests with a comfortable viewing experience.

Holiday Lightings
The Empire State Building’s world-famous tower lights will shine throughout the holiday season with dedicated lightings for Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. The Empire State Building will also debut its annual holiday music-to-light show.

The Empire State Building’s world-famous Observatory Experience recently underwent a $165 million reimagination that features an interactive museum with nine galleries, brand-new host uniforms, and iconic Observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors. The Observatory Experience was recently named #1 attraction in the U.S. for the second consecutive year by TripAdvisor travelers. Text CONNECT to 274-16 to receive information about each Empire State Building tower lighting. More information about the Empire State Building can be found online.

About the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, the #1 attraction in the US for the second year in a row in Tripadvisor’s 2023 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List.

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.

Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
Category: Observatory

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231121955174/en/

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com
DK

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

Doha Debates Hosts “In The Room: The Negotiators Podcast” Live at Doha Forum9.12.2025 18:09:00 CET | Press release

As the podcast enters its fifth season, global diplomacy and high-stakes negotiation take center stage. Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates spotlighted the practice of high-stakes negotiation with a special live episode of its award-winning podcast with Foreign Policy, The Negotiators, at Doha Forum, following the launch of the podcast series’ fifth season on December 1. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209171106/en/ Doha Debates spotlighted the practice of high-stakes negotiation with a special live episode of its award-winning podcast with Foreign Policy, The Negotiators, at Doha Forum, following the launch of the podcast series’ fifth season on December 1. (Photo: AETOSWire) Held in collaboration with The Negotiators’ special partner for this season, the International Peace Institute (IPI), and Doha Debates’ longstanding production partner, Foreign Policy, the episode featured a compelling conversation betwee

CoMotion GLOBAL 2025 Concludes in Riyadh with Landmark Deals and Global Mobility Breakthroughs9.12.2025 18:07:00 CET | Press release

Three-day summit unveils major AI research, city-led climate initiatives, and transformative partnerships in autonomous and electric air mobility, cementing Saudi Arabia’s role as a global hub for next-generation transport CoMotion GLOBAL 2025 concluded today after three transformative days that brought together global decision-makers, industry leaders, city executives, innovators, and investors to chart the future of mobility in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. Hosted for the first time in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, the event showcased the Kingdom’s accelerating role as a global hub for next-generation transportation, sustainability leadership, and urban innovation. With more than 100 sessions spanning three days, CoMotion GLOBAL showcased forward-looking mobility strategies, multimodal transport breakthroughs, urban digital transformation, AI applications, and the dramatic rethinking of the movement of people and goods across global cities. Key moments from the e

HTEC Momentum Recognized as a Clutch Global Honoree and Champion for Fall 20259.12.2025 17:09:00 CET | Press release

HTEC Momentum (formerly Momentum Design Lab), HTEC’s research, product design, management and innovation arm, has earned two of Clutch’s highest distinctions—Global Award honoree and Clutch Champion—reaffirming its ninth straight year as the platform’s top-rated UX agency worldwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209358771/en/ HTEC Momentum Recognized as a Clutch Global Honoree and Champion for Fall 2025 The Clutch Global Awards honorees are selected based on demonstrated industry expertise and exceptional delivery—evaluated through thousands of verified client reviews published on Clutch. Clutch’s rigorous, case-study-driven review process includes extensive verification to ensure the authenticity and depth of each submission. These distinctions further underscore HTEC Momentum’s position as a top-rated leader in UX strategy, design, and user research, reflecting the consistent satisfaction of our clients

Onego Bio Launches “The Power of Trichoderma reesei” Series to Showcase Innovation, Scale, and Real-World Applications9.12.2025 17:00:00 CET | Press release

Onego Bio, a food ingredient company producing non-animal egg protein with precision fermentation*, today announced the launch of a new expert series titled “The Power of Trichoderma reesei: Building the Future with Fungi.” This multi-part initiative reveals the full potential of Trichoderma reesei, the microbial platform behind Onego’s Bioalbumen®, by spotlighting its scientific strengths, industrial scale, and practical performance across food manufacturing. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209632524/en/ Headshot of Dr. Sharief Barends The first session, “Why Trichoderma reesei is Precision Fermentation’s Quiet Workhorse,” will be held on December 18, 2025, featuring Dr. Sharief Barends, Head of Research Leiden (Netherlands) and Head of Fungal Genetics at IFF, and Dr. Christopher Landowski, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Onego Bio. Together, they will explore the research legacy, strengths, and

Guinea Emerges as West Africa's New Digital Transformation Powerhouse9.12.2025 16:53:00 CET | Press release

The Republic of Guinea has reached a decisive turning point as a regional digital power. By hosting the Transform Africa Summit 2025, becoming the first francophone nation to receive this major continental event since its creation in 2013, Guinea confirmed the emergence of Conakry as a new digital innovation hub in West Africa. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209780892/en/ Rose Pola Pricemou, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy of the Republic of Guinea (Photo: AETOSWire) The numbers break all records: over 7,000 participants from 79 countries, including 47 ministers, 1,552 government representatives, 584 business leaders, over 590 start-ups, and 14 MoUs signed. Never before in the history of the Transform Africa Summit has such mobilisation been accomplished. This unprecedented turnout demonstrates international confidence in Guinea's ability to lead Africa's digital transformation ch

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye