New York City has always been one of the world’s most popular Christmas destinations. Thanks to the iconic Rockefeller Tree, skating rinks galore, early sales, store front decorations and the Home Alone effect, it’s hard not to feel the holiday spirit in the big Apple. Plus, there’s always a good chance you may see some snowfall; and it’s hard to beat the glistening beauty of Central Park covered in snow.
However, one big draw sending people across the pond has always been Europe’s sensory overload, otherwise known as the adorable Christmas Markets. From Sweden to Germany, people travel all over Europe in search of the perfect mulled wine, and cute artisan gifts from one of these iconic traditions.
If you’re planning to be in New York this December, rather than Europe though, you’re now in luck, because you can have it all. One of Europe’s oldest and most famous Christmas Markets is making its way from France to New York, stalls, smelly cheese and all!
The Strasbourg Christmas Market (Marché de Nöel de Strasbourg-Alsace) is the oldest in France dating back to 1570, and will be making a rare overseas trip to New York this winter from December 6th to 22nd. When we say market, we really mean it. The whole thing is coming.
Of course, you can always start your NYC holiday festivities by attending the tree lighting ceremony on December 5th from 5-8pm too. The Marche De Noel Strasbourg Market manages to beautifully combine both French and German culture and quintessential European goodies and will be set up in Bowling Green Park in the Financial District of lower Manhattan, around Broadway and Whitehall.
Between French wine and cheese, German watches and everything else likely to be on offer, there should be some delightful treats…
Impressively, thirty wooden stalls are being shipped from Alsace and will be delicately and festively decorated with lights and decorations to make you feel just like you’ve landed in a quintessential Alsatian Christmas village, albeit in the middle of Manhattan.
Be sure to take your wallets and festive cheeriness as you can expect plenty of unique delicious treats and gift ideas straight from Europe. It’s not like good cheese is cheap in New York anyway, so you might as well at least pay for the genuine article…
Think hand painted ornaments, French and German inspired holiday food specialties, Christmas cookies, French Christmas Carols, children’s workshops and so much more. It will be impossible to leave empty handed, and hopefully they’ll take card, so you can earn some points too.
As if you didn’t already have an arsenal of excuses to check out New York in the holiday season, the addition of a European Christmas Market should be all the festive push you need to make it happen. Coincidentally, the weeks from December 7th – 18th are some of the best dates to fly for the lowest fares!
VERY nice article – and nice to see that it was written by Laura – I hope to see and read more posts from her in the future! Wasn’t planning on a trip to NYC in December – but after reading this, I think I might have to spend my birthday there – and stroll downtown to the market – especially since Barbuto is now unfortunately closed! 🙂
Is there an entrance fee? Reservations/tickets required? No detailed information on this NYC event?