Current Events - Empire State Building Annual Events

The Empire State Building Valentine's Day Weddings Event

For the 18th edition of the Empire State Building Valentine's Day Wedding Event, ESB partnered with ColinCowieWeddings.com, a revolutionary new planning site for the stylish online couple, to create four private, personalized, lavish wedding ceremonies designed by celebrity event planner, Colin Cowie, at ESB on Valentine's Day, the only time when couples are able to marry at the building.

Couples from across the country submitted videos describing their love stories and why they should be chosen to marry or renew their vows at ESB. After 16 semi-finalists were selected by a panel of experts from CCW, ESB, Estée Lauder, Kleinfeld and Christian Oth Studio, the public voted for their favorite couples at www.Facebook.com/ColinCowieWeddings and four lucky couples said “I do” on the most romantic day of the year at the most romantic building in the world.

Couples looking to marry or renew their vows in 2013 should check the website periodically for contest announcements. Applicants will be asked to submit their personal love stories, photos and why they would like to have their ceremony at ESB. Winners are selected based on the originality and creativity of their submissions, as well as their emotional connections to one of the world's most famous buildings.

The Empire State Building Annual Run-Up

The 36th Annual Empire State Building Run-Up is on February 6, 2013. Athletes from around the globe will race up a total of 1,576 steps to the Empire State Building's world-famous 86th floor Observatory. For the third year in a row, the Run-Up is powered by the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) whose involvement helps raise money to fight multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer.

In 2012, Thomas Dold of Germany and Melissa Moon of New Zealand sped past the competition to win the Men's and Women's Invitational titles with times of 10:28 and 12:39, respectively. This was Melissa's second win and a record seventh win for Thomas. Best of luck to this year’s runners!