Fifth Ave celebrates 200th anniversary with car-free birthday bash
View of Fifth Avenue looking north from 45th Street, Dec. 1919. Photo courtesy of Fifth Avenue Association.
One of the world’s most famous streets turns 200 this year. In 1824, the first section of Fifth Avenue opened, marking the start of its transformation from a country road to an iconic thoroughfare known for its upscale retail and residences and cultural clout. In celebration of this milestone, the Fifth Avenue Association and the City of New York announced plans to throw the Avenue a 200th birthday party on December 8, kicking off a year-long series of anniversary programming.
For the birthday bash on Sunday, December 8, Fifth Avenue will be closed to cars from 48th Street to 55th Street for a street-wide event. The party, taking place from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., will include live music performances, art installations, walking tours, and shopping experiences and pop-ups from Fifth Ave retailers, including Aritizia, Canada Goose, Coach, MoMA, Nike, Tiffany & Co., Uniqlo, and more.
Juilliard Jazz Duke Ellington Ensemble, Sing Harlem, The Satin Dollz, Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra, Brass Queens, and the New York Belles will be performing.
Unlike in previous years when Fifth Avenue closed to cars for multiple Sundays in December as part of a holiday open streets, the thoroughfare will be pedestrian-only for just one day this year. But the same festive decorations, including trees with lights and the 30-foot snowflake with 16,500 crystals, will still be displayed.
Plus, New York Historical Tours is leading a holiday-themed tour of Fifth Avenue that examines the traditions, window displays, and “lesser-known lore of the holiday season.”
“This year, we’re celebrating more than just the holiday season—we’re honoring 200 years of Fifth Avenue by transforming it into a destination that reflects its rich history while offering unforgettable experiences for everyone to enjoy,” Madelyn Wils, Interim President of the Fifth Avenue Association, said.
“From our must-attend birthday celebration to our unique seasonal decor, we’re inviting New Yorkers and visitors from around the world to experience the charm and beauty that makes Fifth Avenue truly one-of-a-kind.”
Last month, Mayor Eric Adams revealed the proposed redesign of Fifth between Bryant Park and Central Park into a pedestrian-focused corridor by cutting the number of traffic lanes from five to three, nearly doubling the width of sidewalks, shortening crosswalks, and planting more than 200 trees. The plan is the first major redesign of the street since it opened.
According to the Fifth Avenue Association, each block of Fifth Avenue serves about 5,500 pedestrians an hour on an average day and up to 23,000 people an hour during the holidays.
“There’s no better way to celebrate the holidays and the 200th birthday of Fifth Avenue than pedestrian-packed streets,” Ya-Ting Liu, Chief Public Realm Officer, said. “As Fifth Avenue looks forward to its next 200 years, we will be continuing our work to redesign and rebalance the iconic street into a world-class, tree-lined, pedestrian boulevard.”
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