Herald Square Lights Up Hearts This Holiday Season

Welcome back to NTD. New York knows how to celebrate good good things, especially at this time of the year. >> And nowhere is that clearer than Herald Square, just a few short steps from NTD's office here. And NTD's Stephania Cox took a jaunt over there to explore it. Let's join her. >> The Macy's Holiday Windows, an invitation to rediscover wonder, hope, and childlike joy. For more than a century, Macy's has transformed its Broadway facade into a moving story book. Each window a scene of celebration. What began in 1874 as one of the first major store window displays has evolved into a beloved art form of motion, music, and imagination. All of these displays are in chronological order celebrating various aspects of things that Macy's has started as Christmas traditions throughout the years. And here we have the Thanksgiving Day parade which actually started as a Christmas parade and it began with just the employees of Macy's. It's absolutely beautiful. Stunning. It's really great. What's your favorite one? Um, I think I like the parade one the best so far. >> It's a classic, right? >> Yeah, it really is. >> What I really enjoy is the creativity, the colors, and the movements. You know, there's like the black and white work, and then there's so many colors, and it's so festive and bright. >> I'm loving it. I'm loving it. I'm loving it. It's great. >> Are you here for this? >> Yeah, I'm here for this. Yeah, just for this. Yeah, that's what I came here for. This year's theme brought to life by a team of artists, carpenters, and designers took nearly a year to create. The mechanical figure is tiny cityscapes and shimmering snow make each window a world of its own. Just a few floors up, Macy's Santa continues another cherished story. The chance to meet the man in red himself. Since 1948, generations of New Yorkers have made the journey to tell Santa their wishes amid snowcapped trees, toy trains, and endless smiles. >> Merry Christmas. >> More than a quarter of a million visitors pass through Santa Land each season, keeping alive a bit of holiday magic that never seems to fade. Just outside, the holiday market hums with its own spirit. Warm lights and the scent of cinnamon drift through the air as vendors share their crafts, treats, and traditions. I'm here at Bell Fries, which has some very intriguing recipes on display. I see fries with caviar, and that's your um central piece, it looks like. Tell me about some of the other things you got going on. >> Yeah, so this is our full menu. Our main item is our Belgian fries and our name is Bell Fries because fries originated in Belgium and not France. So, we're renaming French fries to Bell Fries. >> Did you start this business? >> Yes, I did. >> And what's the mission behind it? >> To serve the best fries to everyone in America. They're thicker cut, twice fried, paired with artal sauces, traditionally served in paper cones the way we serve them here. Um, both super delicious. We make them all in-house every day. Our own recipes. Um, so yeah. Go ahead. Let's begin. Can't wait. Oh my gosh. >> Which one? >> Which one? Okay. Honey mustard. >> Nice. Oh, good. So good. Wow. It's really getting packed here. Okay. Chocolate colored straw covered strawberries. Pretty good. Something for everybody. Really quite a long line, I've got to say, for a cold night. >> It's an hour long wait for the cookies, but it's a whole bucket for $45 or 40 something like that. And it's delicious. I've had it already and this is my second time. >> Yeah. >> So, what makes them unique? >> They're very soft and I don't know, they're just like delicious. I'm not usually a chocolate chip cookie fan, but I love these. So, I really recommend it. Have you seen anything else in the market so far? >> Um, yes. I've loved the hot chocolate. There's a bunch of flavors and the lobster roll fries are really delicious, too. >> And just a few paces from Macy's is New York City's first ever double decker carousel featuring a few unusual animals. Ostriches, dragons, hummingbirds to name a few. Moments like these, simple and bright, bring warmth to chilly nights and stitch the season's magic into lasting memories. Did you notice the carousel over there? >> Yes, we're headed. >> We are trying to force our parents, but they say the line is too long. >> The line is so long. >> In the city that never sleeps, Christmas never really ends. It just glows brighter each year. Whether through the sparkle of Macy's windows, a ride on a carousel, or a wish whispered to Santa, New York reminds us that joy still lives right here in the heart of winter. From Harold Square to homes everywhere, merry Christmas from New York.