Enjoy a festive family sleepover in FAO Schwarz

Airbnb is giving one lucky family the chance to spend the night at FAO Schwarz in New York City. This Christmas, the doors to the world's most famous toy store will open especially for them, where they will enjoy a festive sleepover like no other, and Airbnb will foot the bill for an FAO Schwarz shopping spree.

Ever since Tom Hanks danced across the illuminated keyboard in the movie Big, and Macaulay Culkin rocked up to the doors in a limousine in Home Alone 2, children around the world have been captivated by FAO Schwarz, the iconic toy wonderland and top New York City attraction that almost doubles as a film set. Now one lucky family will get the chance to spend the night in FAO Schwarz with Airbnb during the holidays.

A teddy-bear shaped sleigh bed in FAO Schwarz — A living room, dining room and bedroom will be set up in FAO Schwarz for the overnight guests ©Kate Glicksberg/Airbnb

The festive family experience includes a guided tour of the store from an FAO Schwarz toy soldier, where games, puzzles and toys will be available for guests to play with for the night. Children will have the opportunity to build a plush toy or customize their own racer car in the 'pit crew' area (and then race it down the halls). What's more, guests will feel like kids in a candy store when they're treated to a festive shopping spree inside FAO Schwarz that will be funded by Airbnb.

FAO Schwarz dining room with a festive table display — Guests will enjoy an FAO Schwarz shopping spree ©Kate Glicksberg/Airbnb

Later, the entire family will be be put to the test with an immersive science experiment, courtesy of FAO Schwarz's in-house professor. Then they can follow in Tom Hanks' footsteps and dance on the "Big piano" and warm up by the fireplace in the festive living room, where they'll enjoy some of the best views in Manhattan of Rockefeller Christmas tree right outside their window. They'll enjoy a Christmas meal in the dining room, and at night they'll bunker down in the cosy bedroom where here are bunkbeds with slides for the kids, and a sleigh bed for the adults.

FAO Schwarz bedroom with bunkbeds and a fake festive fireplace — FAO Schwarz toys, games and puzzles will be available to play with for the night ©Kate Glicksberg/Airbnb

The FAO Schwarz experience is open to New Yorkers (due to COVID-19 travel restrictions). Bookings open on December 15 at 12noon EST . The cost of the experience is $25. The sleepover date will be announced soon.