Is there a better place to be than in New York City during the holidays? The festive atmosphere of Times Square floods you with positive energy and you can’t help but feel the thrill and the spirit of the city. The Ride Holiday Edition, an interactive bus ride that is a combination of tour and unique entertainment experience aims to do just that. With two charismatic hosts, live street performances and a bus that has surround sound music and videos – this is a complete entertainment package you don’t want to miss! We highly recommend The Ride Holiday Edition – where you’ll get to soak up the sights and the sounds of NYC during the holidays!
I recently went on The Ride Holiday Edition. It has been over two years since I was in New York and I almost forgot the energy of Times Square, especially around the holidays. The Ride was the perfect place to kick off the holiday season; I entered the bus and settled into plush seating – the bus has stadium seating and every person has a view through giant glass windows. The fireplace video playing on the screens added to the cozy atmosphere.
Once the bus filled up we were ready to go. The two hosts chatted with everyone and did a little improv comedy. The focus was on fun, high-energy and laughter.
The hosts pointed out famous landmarks in midtown, such as Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall, and shared with the audience tidbits and trivia about the history of New York and famous attractions such as the giant tree at Rockefeller Center, the Rockettes and the Thanksgiving Parade, along with other tidbits about the subway system, apartment living in NY and food carts.
I loved that the bus also had screens that showed footage of the attractions – it added another aspect which deepened the experience. The high-energy music and LED lights also added to the fun and I loved that the entire ride was interactive: the hosts interacted with the audience and asked trivia questions. (They did a hysterical little dance before asking each trivia question).
The best part of the tour was seeing random people on the street who suddenly started performing just for us: a rapper, a breakdancer, a ballet dancer, a streetsweeper-turned-dancer and a saxophonist who, in the middle of the song, was joined by a singer who belted out a gorgeous version on Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas. This was the highlight of the entire ride and made it even more special.
The Ride Holiday Edition is 75 minutes long and recommended for ages six and up. Two other attractions – The original version of The Ride and The Tour – will be back in January.
Where: The bus departs from the NE corner of 42nd and 8th Avenue, in front of Five Guys Restaurant.
When: Through January 2nd, 2022
Price: $79-$99
To purchase Tickets click here
Covid Guidelines: All ticket holders must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask for the entire duration of the ride.
Don’t miss The Ride Holiday Edition and you’ll soak up the sights and sounds of NYC during the holidays!
I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets.
Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a PR consultant and freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for over twenty years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids, ages 14, 12 and 9.
Seems like a really nice evening. Glad you took pictures.