Inside the Continental Towers parking garage, located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, you’ll find a large menorah, a sparkling Winter village, and a cozy fireplace displayed at the front of the car complex.
Every year during the holiday season, the typically muted space is transformed into a festive spot by the garage’s manager, Javier Sanchez. The annual tradition began in 2011 when Javier first had the idea to run a toy train through the garage during the holiday season. Soon, this small decoration evolved into Frosty’s Village, a multi-level diorama featuring hundreds of figurines and props, including carnival rides, buildings, handmade natural scenery, a running waterfall, and more.
Sanchez endeavors to grow and intricately design the village each year. This year, he shared with the NY Post that the village boasts around 4,000 lights, each meticulously glued to the diorama by hand. The scene also includes five miniature trains, a functional ski lift, and animated figures engaging in activities like making snow angels, ice skating, riding a merry-go-round, and playing holiday music.
Sanchez begins working on the village in April, carefully placing every item onto the scene and finishing it with a sprinkling of snow.
In another section of the garage, visitors can enjoy a red brick fireplace with Santa climbing down from the chimney and Nutcrackers placed in front to complete the scene. Additionally, there is a light display of blue and white, along with ornaments for Chanukah.
The Winter village and decorations attract both locals and tourists each year. There’s even a prize for anyone who can find the secret yeti hidden in Frosty’s Village. Just be mindful of passing cars as you take in the Winter wonderland!
