Dumbo will once again become one of New York City’s premier outdoor holiday destinations starting November 8, 2025, as Team Dumbo presents a neighborhood-wide lineup of festive, family-friendly experiences.

One of the season’s highlights is the return of gigantic animated video projections at six locations across Dumbo, including the BQE and Manhattan Bridge Anchorages, the Dumbo Archway, Susan Smith McKinney Steward Park, Front and Jay Street, and the Empire Stores courtyard. The projections, created by award-winning Augenblick Studios, feature whimsical elephants in winter attire, dancing, caroling, and exchanging gifts against the neighborhood’s iconic architecture. The animations will run daily from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. through December 31, 2025, in partnership with NYC DOT Art and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.

Returning for its third year, the Roebling Rink ice skating rink opens November 24 at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, offering skaters breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Dumbo’s holiday markets provide ample opportunities for seasonal shopping

• Brooklyn Flea in the Dumbo Archway operates Saturdays and Sundays from November 16 through December 21, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., featuring vendors from the Flea and neighborhood shops.
• FAD Market at Empire Stores runs daily from December 1–21, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Additional seasonal experiences

• Shop the Studios on Saturday, December 6, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., where more than 65 artists open their studios to the public, offering gift-ready art. Maps of participating studios will be available at the Brooklyn Flea.
• Annual Holiday Tree Lighting & Holiday Bar Crawl in the Dumbo Archway Plaza on Thursday, December 4, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The tree will be lit at 5:30 p.m. by Alexandria Sica, Team Dumbo President, accompanied by performances from Curtis J. Social and the Dumbo House Band, a photo-ready Santa, treats from local bakeries, and Dumbo’s signature construction cone tree—this will be its final year.
• A Santa mailbox by Creatively Wild Art Studio will be installed in the Dumbo Archway on November 26, offering select participants $100 Dumbo Dollars to spend locally.

“Dumbo is the ultimate local holiday daycation,” says Alexandria Sica. “Visitors can shop more than 90 indie boutiques, including new arrivals like Fish’s Eddy, skate under the Brooklyn Bridge, and capture festive photos. December 6 is a must-see, with over 40 art studios open alongside the holiday markets.”

From light installations to holiday shopping and ice skating, Dumbo offers a vibrant seasonal experience for families, locals, and visitors alike.

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