Dumbo Holiday SeasonSeasonal Experiences Include Ice Skating Beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, Neighborhood-wide Video Projections, Two Festive Markets, Dazzling Light Displays, a Construction Cone Tree and More

Brooklyn, NY (October 29, 2025) – Team Dumbo (the Dumbo Business Improvement District) once again transforms into one of New York City’s prime outdoor holiday destinations starting on November 8, 2025, serving as the neighborhood-wide site of festive, family-friendly activities. 

Making their return are gigantic animated video art projections that will take over the BQE and Manhattan Bridge Anchorages – among other sites – viewable beginning November 8 from 4:00pm through 11:00pm daily through December 31, 2025 in six locations throughout Dumbo: Manhattan Bridge Anchorage on both the Pearl Street and Adams Street sides, inside the Dumbo Archway, BQE via Susan Smith McKinney Steward Park, on a building at the intersection of Front and Jay Street, and in the courtyard of Empire Stores. Team Dumbo has commissioned holiday animations for this annual projections series from Augenblick Studios, an award-winning, independent animation studio based in Dumbo that has created content for Netflix and PBS Kids. The holiday projections are presented in partnership with NYC DOT Art and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.

Whimsical elephants are taking over the neighborhood this year for a dreamy, festive holiday celebration! Set against the backdrop of Dumbo's iconic architecture, this year’s animations feature elephants dressed in winter attire — dancing, caroling, exchanging gifts, and spreading joy. Experience a winter wonderland like no other, where elephants take center stage in a whimsical parade through the streets of Dumbo.

Visitors can slip on their skates at Roebling Rink, the ice skating rink located at the Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, beginning November 24. The ice rink – returning this winter for the third time as part of Dumbo’s available holiday programming – showcases spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and is positioned alongside the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.

DUMBO is also the site of festive holiday markets this season:

-Brooklyn Flea in the Dumbo Archway, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am to 5:00pm from November 16 through December 21, 2025. The return of this market serves as a beloved centerpiece for neighborhood holiday activities, with vendors from the Flea and shop owners of Dumbo joining forces as a one-stop holiday shopping destination with gifts for all.

-FAD Market at Empire Stores on December 1 to 21, 2025 daily from 11:00am - 6:00pm.

Additional exciting holiday events include:

-Shop the Studios on Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 1:00pm - 6:00pm, where 65+ artists will open up their studios to the public with gift-ready art. Holiday shoppers can pick up a map of participating artists at the Brooklyn Flea (operating in the Dumbo Archway, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm).

-The Annual Holiday Tree Lighting & Holiday Bar Crawl in the Dumbo Archway Plaza on Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. The tree is lit at 5:30 pm sharp with a countdown led by Alexandria Sica, Team Dumbo President. Enjoy Santa in a photo booth, Dumbo’s cheeky construction cone tree – this is the last year to catch this creation! – holiday covers by Curtis J. Social and the Dumbo House Band, and treats from Dumbo bakeries.

-A mailbox for Santa, decked out by Creatively Wild Art Studio, will be stationed by the tree in the Dumbo Archway beginning on November 26. Those who have a wishlist that can be sourced in Dumbo may be the recipient of $100 of Dumbo Dollars, courtesy of the Dumbo Business Improvement District, to spend in the neighborhood as an early holiday gift. 

"Dumbo is the ultimate local holiday daycation,” says Alexandria Sica, Team Dumbo President. “Shop more than 90 indie boutiques – including our new Fish’s Eddy. Ice skate under the Brooklyn Bridge, and of course, get a few photos for those holiday cards. Pro tip: December 6 is the best day because more than 40 art studios will be open for shop; the studios and the Brooklyn flea holiday market will be going strong.”

For those looking to shop small this holiday season, Team Dumbo publishes a comprehensive Gift Guide for the neighborhood, which is available online here.

About Team Dumbo / The Dumbo Business Improvement District
Team Dumbo, a Business Improvement District founded in 2006, is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing and promoting DUMBO, Brooklyn — a bustling enclave on the waterfront where quintessential old New York charm meets creative Brooklyn at its very best. Team Dumbo showcases Dumbo as a world-class destination, advocating on behalf of Dumbo's businesses, property owners, and residents, and amplifying its creative and innovative vibe through Dumbo Archway programming, public art, video art projections on Dumbo’s iconic infrastructure, free WiFi, public space maintenance & beautification, and the #DUMBOVIP card, among other initiatives. @dumbo_brooklyn

About Augenblick Studios
Augenblick Studios is an independent animation studio based in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Opened in 1999 by Aaron Augenblick, the company has created a wide variety of content for film, television, and the internet. Notable productions include City Island (PBS KIDS), Teenage Euthanasia (Adult Swim), Headspace (Netflix), Losers (Netflix), The Jellies (Adult Swim), Ugly Americans (Comedy Central), Superjail! (Adult Swim), and Wonder Showzen (MTV). Augenblick Studios' independent cartoons have been seen in film festivals throughout the world. Their short film Golden Age was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival and won the grand prize for best film at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Augenblick Studios is one of the leading independent animation companies in the world, renowned for their unique brand of cartoon comedy. Augenblick Studios’ children’s television arm Future Brain Media is responsible for hit show City Island (PBS), season 2 is currently airing now!

About Brooklyn Flea
Founded in April 2008 by Jonathan Butler and Eric Demby, Brooklyn Flea has grown into one of New York City’s top attractions, operating flea markets every weekend of the year that feature dozens of top vendors of furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles and antiques, as well as a tightly curated selection of jewelry, art, and crafts by local artisans and designers, plus delicious fresh food. Travel + Leisure, Country Living, Budget Travel, and Fodor’s have ranked the Flea one of the best markets in the U.S. and the world; and The New York Times called the Flea “One of the great urban experiences in New York.”

Image at top of release by Julienne Schaer 

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