Light Show Brightens Grand Central Terminal

The holiday season in New York is full of familiar images: snowfall in Central Park, Fifth Avenue window displays, and lights and decorations in landmark buildings. For many visitors this experience begins as they step off the train and into the quintessential urban space and meeting place that is Grand Central Terminal.

This year a visual feast celebrates the season and the place with architectural light projections shown across the terminal's monumental walls and pillars, all synchronized to classical music.

The MTA Holiday Light Show at Grand Central Terminal transforms everyday images — taken from subway and train travel and New York City life — into stunning designs that float and flicker across the Main Concourse in rich color. The technique — which creates giant kaleidoscope images — brings to life the magic of train travel, where anticipation and discovery are the essence of the experience.

At its heart, the light show tells a story: after a train ride to the city, you enter Grand Central Terminal and delight in the famous architecture. The kiosk, viewed from above, begins to resemble a spiral from an old Busby Berkeley musical. Leaving, you meet a taxi and are whisked through the dazzling lights of Times Square. Returning, you pass the Chrysler Building, and its classic Art Deco architecture becomes a splendid series of magical forms. Finally, the iconic Mercury statue in front of the terminal appears again, morphing into rich, brilliant floral wreaths to close the show.

The Kaleidoscope celebrates the excitement of travel, the elegance of Grand Central, and the magic of the holidays in New York all at once. The show runs through New Year's Day and is begins every half hour from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

About the artists
Fredrich Foerster and Sabine Weissinger, of Casa Magica, have worked as scenic designers for major European opera and ballet companies, and created light projections at the Pyramids in Egypt, throughout Europe, and in major cities across the U.S.