DALLAS, Jun 6, 2005/ FW/ --- Last Thanksgiving, New Yorkers were treated by Saks Fifth Avenue and Philips Lighting with their ‘Snowflake Spectacle’ featuring 50 gargantuan illuminated snowflakes ‘dancing’ to holiday classic ‘Carol of the Bells,’ as the national retailer unveiled its 2004 Christmas displays.

Coinciding with the uncovering of Saks Fifth Avenue’s Christmas windows, the sound and light show on the façade of Saks' flagship store featured 72,000 Philips LED lights.

The snowflakes range in size from eight to 20 feet and take on the effect of snow falling across the building's façade. The festivities culminated with real snow falling on Fifth Avenue and a fireworks display.

Put end-to-end, the lights measure to more than 24,000 feet - enough to stretch from Manhattan's northern-most tip to its southern-most tip!

The production and installation of the snowflakes required 8,500 total hours - equivalent to one man working nonstop for 365 days, 24 hours a day.

The LED lights for the Snowflake Spectacular were created by Philips, which lights some of the world's preeminent landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, and Big Ben.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue