Commuters and holiday shoppers alike can look forward to an added dose of festivity at Grand Central Terminal as the annual Holiday Fair launches this week. In the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Vanderbilt Hall will be temporarily home to an assorted mix of local businesses and merchants. This year’s fair features 36 vendors and is a testament to New York City’s vibrant community spirit and entrepreneurial flair. The market opened its doors on Monday and will operate all the way through December 24, according to an announcement made during a press conference attended by officials.
The opportunity to shop and then directly hop onto a train is a unique advantage for New York City dwellers or visitors in this bustling transit hub. The fair promises to be open from Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. to conveniently catch both the early bird and the night owl shoppers. A feature to surely brighten the holiday hustle is free gift wrapping being offered in paper that’s inspired to reflect the famous celestial ceiling of Grand Central, as reported by
Patch
. Equally compelling, if to only swiftly pass through and revel in the holiday spirit, is that the market’s doors will be open on Christmas Eve for those last-minute gifts.
Marking another yearly tradition, the New York Transit Museum is set to unveil the 20th edition of its holiday model train show. Starting Thursday, visitors will be transported through a miniature New York complete with model Metro-North and New York City subway trains. The detail extends to a depiction of Grand Central Terminal itself, visible among the 34 feet of “O” gauge electric train track which the miniatures navigate. This display will remain in place until February, allowing ample opportunity to take in the nostalgia and craftsmanship beyond the holiday season as mentioned in a recent
NY Daily News
article.
Adding to the allure of the fair is the 20th-anniversary edition of the holiday model train show, proudly presented by the New York Transit Museum’s Grand Central annex. This detailed setup features model trains, including Metro-North, vintage subway cars, and the Polar Express, traveling through iconic cityscapes and journeying toward the North Pole. The expanded diorama will be on display starting Thursday through February 2025. Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi described the event, stating, “The holiday fair is a wonderful addition to the year-round grandeur of this beautiful terminal,” ensuring enjoyment for visitors long after the holiday crowds have dissipated, as quoted by the
NY Daily News
.
For more information on the Grand Central Holiday Fair and the holiday model train show, details are available through the vendors and the
Transit Museum Store
. This initiative not only celebrates the season but also supports local businesses and artists, showcasing the diversity and the creative pulse that make New York City’s marketplace so distinctively special.
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