Hi friends, welcome back! Today I’ve got the display with the highest electricity bill: Shine Bright at Hudson Yards. This high-end mall gets transformed every year with over two million lights (115 miles worth), 725 evergreen trees, and a 32-foot hot air balloon that changes color.
They keep the decorations the same each year, but I can appreciate that. I wonder how many people it takes to string all these lights! It’s a very tedious job and one of my least favorite parts of decorating for Christmas.
The hot air balloon changes colors, but for some reason my phone wasn’t picking it up. It’s my favorite part of their display and the colors range from shades of pink, blue, and white.
Throughout the season there are live performances, Santa is available weekdays from 5-8pm, and there are special shopping events.
Outside, the Vessel is lit and you can now visit but it’ll cost you $15! We went on it years ago for free and I don’t think it’s worth paying for. There are also a few other areas for photo ops.
These are from 2019 a few weeks after the Vessel opened.
On the way to the subway this park was all lit up. Jon and I used to live a few blocks north of Hudson Yards in 2018 and it’s amazing how much has changed in the area. There’s always something new to see in NYC!
What do you think of this light display?
Great “retro” photo of you and Jon there. I appreciate your earlier comment about all the effort that goes into putting up the Hudson Yards lights (and how you want no part of it). I’m also too practical to invest hours in decorations that will only be on display for a few weeks. Not that I don’t appreciate a good display. Those gold-ish lights adorning the walkways are really classy. 115 miles of them? Now there’s a nice bit of trivia!
I really had to go back in the archives for that one! I always say I’ll do the inside and front porch and Jon can do the outside lights one day! I didn’t see one bulb out either, very impressive!
I have seen the Christmas lights in Hudson Yards but gave the Vessel a wide berth – fear of heights! The display looks much better than I remember. It must be the quality of your photos Lyssy.
Thank you! The Vessel is not good for fear of heights! It is very trippy in there with those stairs.
My fears exactly
I adore the Hudson Yards Christmas displays especially with the hot air balloons. I agree with you about The Vessel. We were invited up on our last visit to NYC and I couldn’t really see what the fuss was about. It does look better lit up though!
The hot air balloon is fun! I don’t get the fuss either it’s not high enough to have good views like the Edge.
Just beautiful! I love all the lights.
They do a great job!
Makes my efforts look very feeble. Love the balloon xx
They really go out, I wouldn’t want the job of hanging that balloon!
I was also wondering how many people and how long it took to hang all those lights. It’s so many. But it’s so pretty!
That would be a long day of work! They make it look very pretty inside.
Hudson Yards has a very-distinctive architecture, to add to the already- overwhelming NYC skyline. All the same, it looks absolutely brilliant during the holidays, and I’m glad you and your family had a fun time!
Hudson Yards is a very interesting new neighborhood! It’s always fun to go back and see the lights every year.
Love all the twinkling lights and the hot air balloon.
They do a great job!
Talk about making spirits bright. So many lights Lyssy. The Vessel looks interesting, but you are right, paying for a better view that used to be free is just a cash grab. Thanks for showing us this area. Happy Tuesday. Allan
Another pun! It is amazing how many lights they have, they really go all in. Tickets also have a $2 processing fee. Definitely a money grab.
I’ve never actually heard of the place til now! It must be quite the job to put them all up – but imagine the tedium of stowing them away again after the holiday!!!
Lots of good shopping in there! Such a tedious job! I didn’t see any burnt out lights either.
Wow, I am completely dazzled by all the twinkling festive lights and hot air balloons – it’s so beautiful. As someone who’ into architecture, I’ve seen countless photos of the incredible Hudson Yards Vessel and Shed, but I have not seen it decorated for Christmas. It’s crazy to think that it is built over live train tracks using hundreds of deep caissons. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
It is such a beautiful display! Hudson Yards does have some interesting architecture and the High Line is so fascinating too. I haven’t been inside the Shed yet, maybe one day!
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I still don’t get the connection between hot air balloons and the season, but anyway, the decorations are impressive. I wonder how they could fit in any more lights.
Me neither, maybe it’s just whimsical. I wouldn’t want the job of hanging that big balloon!
It is a dazzling display, but I’m with you, I wouldn’t want to put them up, or worse take them down. And I wonder how they store them so the miles of lights don’t get tangled! 😊 Maggie
Taking them down would not be fun, it’s always so gloomy in January too. My guess is there’s a few main companies that do all the decorating around the city os they’ve probably got warehouses organized to store all the Christmas decorations nicely. My dream!
I LOVE all the lights 🙂
They are so fun!