Bryant Park turns into a winter wonderland every year around 30 October. The transformation is underwritten by the Bank of America and is therefore named: The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. In spite of the corporate participation, it is a festive and free event. The skating rink is one half of the attraction at 17k square feet. It is the only free ice-skating rink in the City. 300k pairs of skates are rented each year. The rink is available for skating this year until approximately the 3rd of March 2016. There is a beautiful tree at the end – just like Rockefeller Center, with 3000 LED Christmas tree lights. The other half of the attraction: the 128 vendors and eateries. They are all housed in small glass houses [never seen anyone throwing stones] the lighting through the panes of glass, sides and top add a festive light ambiance that the other rinks don’t have. The vendors wares include finely wrought gift items, jewelry and other and well-considered merchandise. The idea is to resemble the German Christmas markets. It does a nice job of it.
facts courtesy of TimeOut