Brooklyn’s inaugural ‘Winter Village’ bashed for unworthy entry fee: ‘There’s just not enough to do’

This weekend marked the debut of Brooklyn’s first “winter village,” but it hardly lived up to the hype. Visitors paid a cover charge only to find a handful of bland stalls spread thin across the space.

The new “Williamsburg Winter Village” at the BK Backyard Bar tries to copy the buzz of the free holiday markets in Bryant Park and Union Square. Unfortunately, the outer‑borough version pulls in a price tag that can reach $12 just to enter and shows up with way fewer vendors.

An admission ticket—$10 with cash, $11.50 online or $12.39 by card—guarantees you three hours of shopping before the next group of shoppers comes in, according to the venue’s website.

The first Williamsburg Winter Village opened on Dec. 5. Gregory P. Mango

But customers complained that the pop‑up feels too sparse. The market hosts only 17 vendors, leaving shoppers feeling like they’re done in an hour.

“There’s just not enough to do. You try everything and you’re out in an hour,” one attendee, Gabe, 27, told The Post.

“I think fewer people will come to this because you have to pay. I don’t think it was worth the entry fee. It’s pretty small. You can’t spend a long time here. One benefit is it’s less crowds…which is kinda nice, but I can’t see this lasting,” his girlfriend, 25‑year‑old Ava from the East Village, added.

The couple each bought a $7 hot chocolate from a vendor shortly after squeezing into the Williamsburg Winter Village market—which is actually in Greenpoint, north of Williamsburg.

They said they would return only if the village was free or the entry cost dropped to $3–$5.

Other attendees echoed that sentiment.

“$10 feels a bit much for the size of the market,” said attendee Aparna Nagaraj, a 38‑year‑old software engineer and Williamsburg resident.

Another local, Trishiet Ray, added to The Post, “We can just take the L train to Union Square, and that one is free.”

Jeremy Seaman, the producer, noted that Saturday drew up to 3,000 visitors, up from roughly 600 on Friday. The space’s capacity is about 1,200, so tickets help keep overcrowding at bay.

“We really want to do crowd control. We don’t want there to be long lines and have it be shoulder to shoulder. We want to create a great environment for the attendees,” Seaman told The Post.

On Sunday afternoon, around 50 people lined up along half a block to get inside.

Seaman also explained that the entrance fee lets vendors offer lower prices than those at Manhattan’s markets.

“A hot chocolate here is $7. You go to Bryant Park or Union Square, it’s $15. You’re paying a small fee to get in the door, but then you end up saving money on all the items,” he said.

“It’s $10 at the end of the day. You end up saving money with all the items and everything you purchase here,” he added.

It costs up to $10 to enter the market, depending on how attendees choose to pay. Gregory P. Mango

Rachel Brotman, better known online as “The Carboholic,” is among the organizers. Gregory P. Mango

One visitor found the smaller size a welcome change from the crowded Manhattan holiday markets.

“I think it’s reasonable. It’s less crowded. I like a lot of the vendors,” Nagaraj’s pal Jess Torgovnik, a 27‑year‑old mental health counselor from Manhattan, told The Post. “It’s very charming, the decorations. It’s whimsical.”

“I think all the vendors are good. The vendor prices are reasonable,” Nagaraj added.

A picture with Santa Claus is included free of charge. Gregory P. Mango

The market also has backing from influencer agency Nue Mvmnt, travel site Bucket Listers, and food influencer “The Carboholic” – who faced some online backlash over the entry fee.

Corporate sponsors include Coca‑Cola and Kahlua x Dunkin’, while rotating vendors feature Breads Bakery, pastry chef Daniel Colonel, Gnoccheria, and City Bakery’s The Color of Chocolate by Maury Rubin.