Macy's Herald Square Santaland, Midtown NYC, Returns Nov. 27 With a North Star Express Ride

Macy's Herald Square is opening a fully reimagined Santaland on its eighth floor on Friday, Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving. It runs daily through Thursday, Dec. 24, which is also Santa's last day.

The centerpiece this year is the North Star Express. Guests board it for a journey to the North Pole, with immersive storytelling, new visuals and small surprises along the way, ending in a visit with Santa, a tradition the store has kept for generations. Coverage also mentions new photo opportunities and holiday décor.

Admission is free, but a timed online reservation is required, and infants and toddlers need to be included in the booking. Reservations open Nov. 20 through Macy's official Santaland page. You can take your own photos with Santa at no charge, or buy a professional photo package. Opening hours are listed as 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The store is at 151 W. 34th St., between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. The closest subway stop is 34 St-Herald Sq, served by the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R and W trains, and Penn Station is a short walk away.

The new Santaland is part of a wider holiday overhaul at the flagship. WWD reports that Macy's is reworking tens of thousands of square feet of selling space, with new shops from Coach, Kendra Scott, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and others, plus food and beverage additions. On the lower level, the Holiday Square market returned Oct. 31 for its third year. It now covers more than 50,000 square feet with over 35 vendors, including Eataly, Levain and Pearl River Mart.

For visitors, the Santaland route is one more reason to stop at the Herald Square store this season, alongside the shopping and food on offer elsewhere in the building.

(Details are drawn from points that agree across reports by Average Socialite, My Christmas in New York, New York City Feelings, WWD.)