Saks Fifth Avenue has presented an annual holiday light show since 2004, even during the pandemic. On what would have been their 20th anniversary this year, they officially announced the end of the holiday light show.
The annual event was categorized as a “New York Christmas Classic” alongside the Rockefeller Center tree, located just across from it. The light show had consistently drawn large crowds of both New Yorkers and tourists.
The store did not disclose plans to bring back the annual light show in the future or if the cancellation is permanent.
The cancellation seems recent, as they had teased the light show in October in collaboration with MasterCard called “Gifts of Delight.” They have since stated that the show was not canceled due to any conflicts with the company.
“Further, we acknowledged that it has been a challenging year for luxury, and, like others, we are carefully managing our business to ensure the company is best-positioned for the future,” a spokesperson told CBS News.
Over the years, the light show had evolved with technological advancements, starting with the very first show in 2004, which featured a multitude of snowflakes made up of 70,000 LED light bulbs flickering to the beat of a quickened rendition of “Carol of the Bells.”
In 2010, they switched to projection technology, which allowed for more creativity in storytelling. By 2015, they began using a mix of both traditional lighting techniques and modern visual tools to merge the old and new, referencing the tradition’s history.
“For some time we have contemplated changing our approach,” a Saks Fifth Avenue representative said. “It has been a challenging year for luxury.” Local media have been reporting similar budget-cutting reasons.
Throughout the years, the light show unveiling was accompanied by celebrity appearances.
In 2022, the store partnered with the Elton John AIDS Foundation and donated one million dollars to the foundation due to the partnership. Elton John appeared on the first night, performing “Your Song.”
Last year, the light show was done in partnership with Christian Dior and featured an enormous zodiac clock. Dior’s Ambassador and Academy Award Winner Jennifer Lawrence were present for the unveiling.
“In our 100th year, which also marks the anniversary of the flagship, we are celebrating the season by honoring the architectural significance of this iconic building, elegantly illuminating the facade and framing the holiday windows, as well as highlighting the fashion for which Saks Fifth Avenue is known,” a representative told the TODAY show on Nov. 12.
The “Gifts of Delight” campaign will continue as usual inside the store with lights accompanied by music, as well as through the window displays with “colorful snowflake garments, dichroic vinyl, and silver harlequin flooring.”
