Annual Events
New York City is the place to see and do everything, including taking part in some of the world’s most famous events. There’s always something going on—plan ahead to make your next trip one to remember.
The list below will help you find what’s happening during your stay—or give you some inspiration for when you might to time your visit—along with details on what each major event is all about. Within each month, events are listed in the rough chronological order in which they occur (though the dates for certain events vary from year to year). We suggest checking both the event website and directly with the venue ahead of time if you are looking to attend.
January
Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge
On the first day of each new year, members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club (and anyone else bold enough) venture into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the name of bravery as well as charity. Participation is free, but those who plunge are encouraged to donate to community organizations.
This annual offering of discounted hotel rates runs for more than a month and overlaps with other winter programs (see below). Plan ahead—booking begins late the previous year, hotels maintain different policies (though the same discount across the board) and openings can fill up fast.
Three Kings Day Parade. Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
El Museo del Barrio’s Three Kings Day Parade is a tradition that dates back more than four decades. The celebration always features a variety of family-friendly performances.
Winter Jazzfest. Photo: Anna Yatskevitch
Winter Jazzfest features a dazzling array of musical talent and is both a forum of discovery and a guaranteed blast. More than 100 sets take place at venues including the Town Hall, Le Poisson Rouge and Brooklyn Steel. Dee Dee Bridgewater, Colin Stetson and Abraham Reunion are among past performers.
Courtesy, New York Jewish Film Festival
This film festival—a collaborative effort between the Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center—aims to record, investigate and celebrate the Jewish experience with two weeks of cinematic offerings, including shorts, documentaries and feature-length narratives. Previous NYJFFs have spotlighted films that went on to great national acclaim, like Nowhere in Africa, Beaufort, Ajami and Empty Nest.
Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Brooklyn Academy of Music hosts the City’s biggest public commemoration of Dr. King’s legacy, which includes a keynote speaker, music and other performances. The event can be livestreamed or attended in person (queue up early that day for your free tickets—they’re first-come first-served).
Broadway Marquees. Lucía Vázquez
In January and September, NYC Broadway Week provides audiences with the chance to purchase 2-for-1 tickets to exciting Broadway shows. The hugely popular program includes both new productions and long-running hits, such as The Lion King and Wicked.
New York City Ballet. Photo: Paul Kolnik
New York City Ballet Winter Repertory Season
The New York City Ballet usually offers a six-week winter repertory season that includes world premieres, classics like The Sleeping Beauty and special tributes to legendary choreographers like George Balanchine—all taking place at David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center.
Beauty and Essex. Photo: Evan Angelastro
The celebrated dining program, which takes place each winter and summer, affords the opportunity to dine on two- or three-course prix-fixe lunches and dinners at hundreds of New York City’s world-class restaurants. Diners can enjoy a range of fare by some of the City’s top chefs.
Central Park. Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
Must-See Week offers 2-for-1 admission to attractions, museums, tours and performing arts venues across all five boroughs. In previous years, experiences have included iconic NYC attractions, skyline views, historical sites and world-class institutions.
The Winter Show. Courtesy, The Winter Show
Each winter, the most prestigious antiques show in America comes to the Park Avenue Armory. Formerly known as the Winter Antiques Show, it features a selection of pieces from ancient times through the art deco movement and beyond, and also serves as a benefit for the East Side House Settlement.
New York Boat Show. Courtesy, NYBS
Don’t miss the boat. Yachts, fishing boats, kayaks—you’ll find them all at the New York Boat Show, a city institution for more than a century. Each year, thousands of attendees come to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center to check out the latest in boats and fishing equipment. Visitors can also attend daily seminars with a full slate of fishing and boating pros.
New York Fashion Week. Photo: Molly Flores
February
New York Fashion Week (Fall/Winter)
Fashion Week promises a week of star-studded soirees showcasing the newest styles for the upcoming fall season. The world’s top designers debut their collections on the runway, as style-conscious celebrities and industry insiders look on. Land on a guest list, and you can be right there with them.
Lunar New Year Parade & Festival in Chinatown. Photo: Walter Wlodarczyk
Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
This beloved cultural celebration takes place in Manhattan’s Chinatown, as well as in Flushing, Queens, and Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Dazzling dragon troupes wend their way through the streets, drawing crowds of hundreds of thousands, who also come to see elaborate floats, marching bands, martial artists, musicians, magicians, acrobats and processions by local organizations. Other celebrations for the New Year include the Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival (firecrackers are detonated to ward off evil spirits), the Lantern Festival and assorted family events in cultural institutions.
Gazillion Bubble Show. Photo: Nathan Johnson
The popular biannual program, which takes place in winter (usually February) and fall (September or early October), offers 2-for-1 tickets to compelling Off-Broadway productions. In years past, the event has featured popular shows including Blue Man Group and The Play That Goes Wrong.
The Orchid Show. Photo: Brittany Petronella
Orchid Show (through April)
Each year, the New York Botanical Garden displays a themed exhibition of thousands of brilliantly colored orchids in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Marvel at the beauty of these flowers while surrounded by lush settings depicting the natural habitat from which they came.
Photo: Shahar Azran
Amateur Night (through November)
Since 1934, Amateur Night at the Apollo has served as the golden ticket to a big break for many performers. Each season of Amateur Night features a slate of new musicians, comedians and artists from all backgrounds looking to win over the capricious Apollo crowd on Wednesday nights. Ella Fitzgerald, Lauryn Hill and Stevie Wonder are among the many who’ve launched their careers here.
March
The Outsider Art Fair, begun in 1993, was one of the first events to give a voice to artists outside the mainstream. It continues to highlight those whose work is “visionary, intuitive, primitive and self-taught in nature.” Each year the fair grows in size, with many of its original dealers still going strong.
New York International Children’s Film Festival
Helping to redefine the kids’ movie genre, the New York International Children’s Film Festival shines a light on some of the most unique, engaging and thought-provoking youth-oriented films made outside the Hollywood system. From obscure animated shorts to full-length, live-action dramas, the NYICFF covers nearly every style, age group and cultural background, making it an ideal event for the whole family.
New York City Football Club and New York Red Bulls Season Openers
Soccer fans can head out to Yankee Stadium and Red Bull Arena, respectively, to catch the on-turf action for both winning major-league teams. The NYCFC scored the MLS Cup in 2021, and the Red Bulls have captured the Supporters’ Shield (best regular-season record) three times.
Courtesy, Big East Conference
The Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament has called Madison Square Garden home for more than 30 years. Eleven schools compete for a title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament later in March.
Asia Week New York. Courtesy, Bachmann Eckenstein
For just over a week, Asian art and culture take over New York City. Galleries and cultural institutions like the Rubin Museum of Art, The Met Fifth Avenue and China Institute showcase works from the continent and host a full schedule of films, lectures, symposia, curator talks, tours and auctions.
St. Patrick's Day Parade. Photo: Joe Buglewicz
You don’t have to be Irish to get a kiss at New York City’s famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade, which was first held in 1762, is the City’s oldest and largest. Officiated by rotating Grand Marshals, the parade celebrates Irish culture and the Catholic faith. The parade steps off at 11am, led by members of the National Guard’s 69th Infantry Regiment, known as the “Fighting 69th”; it runs along Fifth Avenue between 44th and 79th Streets.
Macys Flower Show. Photo: Kent Miller
Macy’s Annual Flower Show is one of the largest in the City. The show features blooms from around the world—the rare, the exotic and the simply beautiful. Also enjoy specially created garden environments and guided tours.
New York International Auto Show. Photo: Jen Davis
New York International Auto Show
See tomorrow’s hottest cars before they hit the streets at the New York International Auto Show, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. This high-octane event is North America’s oldest auto show and features the most innovative automotive technology, the trendiest exotics and the latest in green initiatives.
Yankee Stadium. Courtesy, New York Yankees
April
Mets and Yankees Season Openers (sometimes late March)
Take a trip to Queens or the Bronx (or both!) to watch these two teams kick off their seasons. Enjoy the outdoors and delicious stadium snacks while taking in America’s favorite pastime. Both ballparks are easily accessible by subway, making an outing all the more appealing. The season goes through September—or into October, if a team makes the playoffs.
Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival. Photo: Elizabeth Bick
Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival
Every Easter (which falls anywhere from late March to late April), festive New Yorkers showcase their best bonnets while marching along Fifth Avenue. The parade travels north on the thoroughfare, starting at 49th Street, but the best place to watch the procession is from the area around St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Cherry blossoms, Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
Each spring, more than 200 cherry trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden are in full bloom. To celebrate, the garden usually hosts the weekend-long Cherry Blossom Festival, known by its Japanese name Sakura Matsuri. During the festival, visitors enjoy scores of events celebrating Japanese culture including J-pop concerts, traditional Japanese music and dance, taiko drumming, martial arts, bonsai-pruning workshops, tea ceremonies and manga art.
Celebrate the greenest time of the year in New York City by attending one of the many events that go on all week. Encouraging locals and visitors to be Earth friendly in every part of their lives, the City hosts art exhibitions, educational forums, entertainment and outdoor events in the parks.
The Met Roof Garden Commission
Each spring, the Met Fifth Avenue commissions a new artist to fill its Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Rooftop Garden with site-specific works. The installations remain open for approximately six months and have showcased works from artists such as Lauren Halsey, Alicja Kwade and Pierre Huyghe.
The National Dance Company of Ghana for DanceAfrica. Photo: Nir Arieli
May
The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s longest-running program (since 1977), DanceAfrica is an celebration of African and African American dance, music and culture—and Brooklyn’s unofficial kickoff to summer. Each year, DanceAfrica pairs up with a new visiting company from Africa or its diaspora for several days of performances over Memorial Day weekend. Expect an outdoor bazaar, traditional dance and music, classes, workshops, films and parties.
Created in 1985 by the Off-Broadway League, the Lucille Lortel Awards celebrate the contribution of Off-Broadway artists to the NYC theater community. In addition to awards for best play, musical, revival, director and actor accolades, the show doles out honorary awards including a Playwrights Sidewalk Inductee.
In a city of islands, the Bronx stands out as NYC’s emissary to the mainland. Perhaps that attachment to the rest of the continent gives the Bronx its distinctive flavor and quiet charisma. No matter the origins of the borough’s charms, the City comes together every year—a tradition that dates back to the 1970s—to celebrate the borough with a parade, festivals, live music, a unique trolley tour and, of course, the induction of the latest additions to the Bronx Walk of Fame.
TD Five Boro Bike Tour. Photo: Jacob Slaton
The Five Boro Bike Tour is an annual tradition that attracts 32,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities. The terrain along the 40-mile ride is mostly flat (and totally carless), so you don’t have to be an expert cyclist to join. Take your time pedaling over five interborough bridges—including the Ed Koch Queensboro and the Verrazzano-Narrows—and enjoy breathtaking views of the City from every angle.
Westminster Dog Show. Photo: Jen Davis
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Dog fans can flock to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to find out which pooch will be dubbed Best in Show by the Westminster Kennel Club, America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs. Crowd and judge favorites, including terriers, retrievers, dachshunds and the ever-stylish poodle, will vie for top-dog honors throughout the competition.
Courtesy, Frieze. Photo: Alex Staniloff
Launched in 2012, Frieze New York is an art fair held at The Shed in Hudson Yards. Art buyers and viewers gather to see the latest contemporary works and attend talks by artists and curators.
Photo: Jenna Bascom. Courtesy, NYCxDESIGN
Though New York City celebrates design year-round, creativity reigns during the annual NYCxDESIGN, the City’s official appreciation of global design. The multifaceted programming comprises exhibitions, installations, talks, trade shows and open studios. Among the shows and festivals are BKLYN Designs, Collective Design, Frieze New York, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and Wanted Design.
Ninth Avenue International Food Festival. Photo: Joe Orecchio
Ninth Avenue International Food Festival
This Hell's Kitchen culinary celebration held on Ninth Avenue between 42nd and 57th Streets brings together restaurants and vendors for a weekend of feasting and fun.
New York Liberty Season Opener
Head on over to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to watch New York’s very own women’s basketball team compete. The team has qualified for the WNBA playoffs 18 times (including making the finals in 2023) and scored three conference championships.
Summer on the Hudson. Courtesy, Hudson River Park
Summer on the Hudson (through September)
This free Parks Department festival takes place up and down Riverside Park. The celebration includes concerts, dance performances, wellness activities, movies and kids’ shows. Karaoke nights, a kite-flying festival, and life-size chess tournaments are among the special events.
June
The most prestigious honor for Broadway, the Tony Awards celebrate NYC theater in all its glory. Awards are given for live Broadway performances and productions, along with “special” awards like the Regional Theatre Tony Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award. The star-studded event presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing takes place in Manhattan and is aired live on network television.
Midsummer Night Swing. Courtesy, Lincoln Center
Throughout the summer, Lincoln Center presents a number of annually recurring programs, each with a bit of a different theme. First up is Social Dance, which allows you to take dance lessons and try out your moves to live music under the stars. Outdoor Cinema and the BAAND Together Festival include film, dance, spoken-word events, family shows and specially commissioned works—all for free. And, finally, Mostly Mozart comprises performances of works by the acclaimed composer.
Summer Stage. Photo: Emily Goncalves
SummerStage (through October)
Since 1986, SummerStage in Central Park has been a sure bet for great live music in a picturesque alfresco setting—for free. Though it started (and still takes place) in the park’s Rumsey Playfield, happenings now occur across the five boroughs in 12 parks from June through October, presenting almost 100 performances. The offerings of the annual outdoor performing arts festival series span all genres and brings renowned artists and rising stars from around the world to local neighborhood parks, presenting distinctly New York genres—salsa, jazz, and hip-hop—alongside indie, reggae, Afrobeat, soul, modern dance and much more.
Shakespeare in the Park. Photo: Joseph Moran
Shakespeare in the Park (through August)
Shakespeare in the Park is a consummate New York City institution, one that has drawn more than 5 million people since it was first staged in Central Park’s Delacorte Theater in 1962. Theater lovers can see free outdoor productions of the Bard’s plays, usually starring well-known actors. Note: the 2024 summer production of Shakespeare in the Park will not take place at the Delacorte Theatre, as the venue undergoes renovations; instead, there will be Festival of Free Shakespeare, with performances and screenings at a handful of parks citywide.
Celebrate Brooklyn. Photo: Joe Buglewicz
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! (through August)
Celebrate Brooklyn! has provided free music, dance, theater, film and specially commissioned projects for four decades. One of the City’s longest-running outdoor arts festivals, it has featured such acts as They Might Be Giants and Maceo Parker.
Tribeca Festival. Photo: Brian Willette
Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Festival is a leading player on the entertainment scene. Founded in the wake of 9/11 to help revitalize Lower Manhattan, the annual fest celebrates film, music and culture, and transforms the downtown neighborhood into a hub for glamorous red carpets and gala affairs. The festival screens more than 100 films from around the world and even offers free outdoor “drive-in” screenings—no car necessary.
National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Photo: David Dee Delgado
National Puerto Rican Day Parade
In celebration of their community, country and culture, more than 80,000 Puerto Ricans march on Fifth Avenue from 44th to 79th Streets in Manhattan as part of the annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade. “Lively” doesn’t even begin to describe this event, which welcomes around 1.5 million spectators every year, plus energetic musical performances, floats and a host of Puerto Rican celebrities.
Museum Mile. Photo: Joe Buglewicz
Some of the City’s finest museums offer free admission during this car-free Upper East Side block party, which features live music, street performers and activities for kids. Along Fifth Avenue, between the Metropolitan Museum of Art and El Museo del Barrio, you’ll have the chance for a bargain crash course in New York City culture—rain or shine.
River to River Festival. Photo: Stephanie Berger
Head downtown for the River to River arts fest, which offers dance performances, concerts and events for free. Highlights from years past have included Night at the Museums, site-specific pieces by Twyla Tharp, Trisha Brown Dance Company and Eiko Otake, as well as shows by the Bang on a Can All-Stars and Superchunk.
NY Philharmonic, Central Park. Photo: Chris Lee
NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks
The New York Philharmonic’s annual weeklong tour of the City’s parks brings free classical music to all five boroughs, with performances at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, the Great Lawn in Central Park, Cunningham Park in Queens and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. An indoor concert at Staten Island’s Music Hall at Snug Harbor ends the celebration.
Photo: Laylah Amatullah Barrayn
To mark the historic day in 1865 when slavery was officially declared to be over, the East New York and Brownsville communities in Brooklyn gather thousands of participants for a three-day-long fest. Events include a virtual summit, an awards ceremony for influential Black leaders, a community day featuring more than 60 vendors and activities for the whole family, and a grand finale that comprises a concert, parade, food trucks and a fashion show.
Photo: Jonah Rosenberg
A Coney Island staple since 1983, the brilliantly costumed, weird and wonderful Mermaid Parade harks back to Mardi Gras celebrations of yore and unofficially heralds the start of summer in the City. Highlights include floats, marching bands, dance groups, the crowning of King Neptune and Queen Mermaid and, after the official end, a foray into the ocean.
Pride Parade. Photo: Walter Wlodarczyk
New York City is home to one of the world’s most vibrant, thriving gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. The City embraces its incredible diversity as a source of strength, and that’s never clearer than during Pride, when the five boroughs celebrate the progress made in NYC and beyond since the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Events typically take place throughout the month, with most of the big happenings on the last week in June—culminating with the famous march down Fifth Avenue on the last Sunday of the month.
Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks. Photo: Julienne Schaer
July
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks
Celebrate America’s independence with the nation’s most dazzling pyrotechnics display. Fireworks light up the skyline with musical accompaniment, and you can take it all in from any number of prime waterfront viewing locations around the City.
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest
With a combination of steely grit and highly expandable stomachs, competitors in the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest take on the NYC dogs to the delight of throngs of screaming fans. A select group of skilled eaters convenes at high noon, eating Nathan’s dogs for 10 minutes straight, stopping for nothing—not ketchup, not mustard, not even a french fry.
MoMA PS1 Warm Up. Photo: Molly Flores
MoMA PS1 Warm Up (through September)
MoMA PS1’s Warm Up is an immersive multimedia experience: a rollicking outdoor concert housed in an installation created by the winner of PS1 and MoMA’s Young Architects Program. In addition to enjoying live music, DJs and dancing, guests are encouraged to explore everything PS1 has to offer—admission to Warm Up includes access to all exhibitions.
French Louie. Photo: Amy Lombard
The celebrated dining program, which takes place each winter and summer, affords the opportunity to dine on two- or three-course prix-fixe lunches and dinners at hundreds of New York City’s world-class restaurants. Diners can enjoy a range of fare by some of the City’s top chefs.
Harlem Week. Photo: Michelle Rick
August
Don’t let the name fool you—Harlem Week lasts for almost twice that length. It makes sense, as seven days is hardly enough time to capture all the history and culture of this vibrant neighborhood. The annual celebration features performances, vendors and tributes at assorted venues. Making it even more of a must-do: most of the festivities are free.
Broadway in Bryant Park. Courtesy, BPC
Pack your lunch and head to Bryant Park for these midday, hour-long concerts, performed by cast members from Broadway’s most popular musicals. You can nab one of the chairs set up on the lawn or bring your own blanket to enjoy the tunes on the grass.
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
In celebration of the fifth month of the lunar calendar (which actually occurs well before this event), 200 dragon boat teams converge on Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park to compete in one of America’s largest dragon boat festivals. Take in the spectacle on the water, and enjoy a wide array of international music, martial arts, crafts, dance and cuisine.
Summer Streets. Photo: Alexander Thompson
Between 7am and 1pm on select Saturdays in late summer, large sections of Park Avenue and connecting streets will be closed to traffic and open to the public for anything from biking to strolling to dancing. Haven’t you always wanted to walk (or slide or zip line) right down the middle of Park Avenue, free from honking horns and shoulder-bumping sidewalks?
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. Photo: Jack Vartoogian
In the early 1950s, Charlie Parker made his home in Alphabet City; though Bird has been gone a long time now, the neighborhood hasn’t forgotten him. The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival made its 1993 debut in Tompkins Square Park, across the street from the block he called home. Events are still held there, but some performances take place uptown, in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park.
US Open. Photo: Getty Images
US Open Tennis (through September)
It’s the final Grand Slam tournament of the year—the one that makes or breaks seasons, and sometimes careers. The US Open is an iconic event in American sports, rivaled only by the Masters, the World Series and the Super Bowl. No matter how the tournament nets out, it’s always fun to watch it unfold in person. The matches take place in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Richmond County Fair. Courtesy, Staten Island Historical Society
September
There’s fun for the whole family at the Richmond County Fair, an old-time Staten Island tradition that was revived in 1979. Kids can enjoy circus performers, a petting zoo and even a visit from cartoon characters, while their parents groove to live music and other performances on two stages. Rides, food and county fair standbys like a pie-eating contest round out the weekend.
Wicked. Photo: Joan Marcus
In January and September, NYC Broadway Week provides audiences with the chance to purchase 2-for-1 tickets to exciting Broadway shows. The hugely popular program includes both new productions and long-running hits, such as The Lion King and Wicked.
The Armory Show. Photo: Christopher Postlewaite
The world’s leading contemporary art fair has been a destination for art enthusiasts, collectors and gallerists since its inception as the Gramercy International Art Fair in 1994. It was renamed and moved (to the westside piers) in 1999—and in 2021, it found another new location, this time at the Javits Center.
New York Fashion Week. Photo: Marley White
New York Fashion Week (Spring/Summer)
Fashion Week promises a week of star-studded soirees showcasing the newest styles for the upcoming spring season. The world’s top designers debut their collections on the runway, as style-conscious celebrities and industry insiders look on. Land on a guest list, and you can be right there with them.
National September 11 Memorial. Photo: Brittany Petronella
Each September, New York City remembers and honors the victims of the World Trade Center attacks at a variety of memorial events. Churches, temples and synagogues throughout the City host special events for those affected by the tragedy, and memorial concerts and fundraisers continue throughout the month. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center serves as a yearlong tribute to those who lost their lives on both September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993, featuring a public plaza with two large memorial pools, along with a museum that presents the story of 9/11 as well as educational resources and artifacts.
Feast of San Gennaro. Photo: Elizabeth Bick
Manhattan’s Little Italy is bustling all year round—and the excitement hits its peak at this annual salute to the patron saint of Naples. Banners and lights adorn the streets, and crowds pack every block. Join the revelers for over a week of parades, entertainment, Italian food and a cannoli-eating contest.
New York City Ballet Fall Repertory Season
The New York City Ballet’s fall season typically includes favorites from the likes of Balanchine, Robbins and Tchaikovsky, all performed at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater. The season kicks off with the Fall Gala and culminates with performances of The Nutcracker, a Christmastime highlight.
Courtesy, The Theater Center
The popular biannual program, which typically takes place in winter (usually February) and fall (September or early October), offers 2-for-1 tickets to compelling Off-Broadway productions. In years past, the event has featured popular shows including Blue Man Group and The Play That Goes Wrong.
Met Opera House. Photo: Kate Glicksberg
The Metropolitan Opera Fall/Spring Season (through the following May)
The Metropolitan Opera always promises a sensational lineup, with company premieres, new productions and exciting revivals. Notable performances have included Georges Bizet's Carmen, Julie Taymor’s production of The Magic Flute, John Adams’ Nixon in China and Gioachino Rossini’s rarely staged French opera Le Comte Ory, under the direction of Bartlett Sher.
New York Film Festival (through October)
This festival has been bringing some of the world’s most inventive cinema to New York City since 1962. This is the place to see cutting-edge films before they hit it big—in the past, the festival has showcased creations by the likes of Jean-Luc Godard, Pedro Almodóvar and Martin Scorsese.
Courtesy, Queens County Farm Museum
Fall at Queens County Farm Museum
Each fall, the Queens County Farm Museum runs a series of family-friendly, harvest-themed events, including the annual Queens County Fair, with blue-ribbon competitions in livestock, produce and arts and crafts, not to mention pie-eating contests, hayrides and live music. On weekends through October, enjoy the Amazing Maize Maze, pick pumpkins and sample New York apples. The series finishes with the Children’s Fall Festival, featuring kids’ games, bounce houses, pig races and a petting zoo.
The oldest and largest street festival in Brooklyn, Atlantic Antic spans 10 blocks along Atlantic Avenue, crossing through the Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill neighborhoods. The one-day fete features music, entertainment (including kid-friendly activities) and vendors selling clothing, jewelry, gifts, food and drinks. In short, there’s something for everyone.
Hunters Point. Courtesy, Center for Architecture
October
To New York City’s architects and building buffs, October is Archtober, or Architecture and Design Month. For 31 days, the City’s design community opens its doors for more than 100 tours, lectures, films and celebrations, offering behind-the-scenes peeks at the buildings that characterize this metropolis. Participants include big-name institutions like the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, Central Park Conservancy and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
BAM Next Wave Festival. Photo: Jack Vartoogian
BAM Next Wave Festival (through December/January)
Consistently on the vanguard, Brooklyn Academy of Music hosts this showcase of creative dance, theater, film and literature from around the world. Past offerings have included the Philip Glass opera Kepler (of planetary motion fame), Isabelle Huppert starring in Phaedra(s) and Ivo van Hove’s staging of The Fountainhead.
The New Yorker Festival brings together premier talents and top minds from politics, the arts, journalism, television and everything in between. Past panels and special guests have included Ta-Nehisi Coates, Sleater-Kinney, Mindy Kaling, Elmore Leonard, Matt Groening, Sherman Alexie and Zaha Hadid. The festival’s lineup and schedule, a mix of in-person and virtual events, is unveiled in September.
Photo: Cinthya Santos Briones
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration
Hop across the Harlem or East River to Randall’s Island and enjoy music, dance and spoken performances that honor Native peoples from all over the globe.
Rangers Opener
Fans of the Blueshirts, as the Rangers are affectionately known, pack Madison Square Garden even when the team is having a down year and lend the arena one of the more intense atmospheres in New York City sports. To see the stands particularly charged, come to a game when the Rangers host their local rivals, the Islanders. The season usually begins in October and runs through the spring.
New York Comic Con. Photo: Christopher Postlewaite
With geek culture having established an undeniable influence over mainstream entertainment, Comic Con is gaining more and more ground. At Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, expect to see lots of cosplayers, who will provide plenty to gawk at, even if you don’t hit the fest’s many booths, panels and screenings.
Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival
NYCWFF includes a few food-and-beverage-filled days, featuring Food Network personalities like Rachael Ray and Ted Allen as well as a deep squad of local all-star chefs, restaurateurs and purveyors. Past events have included the competitive Blue Moon Burger Bash, a trivia-oriented Food Fight with Guy Fieri, Bagel Making with Black Seed Bagels and Dinner with Alain Ducasse—just some of the hundred or so happenings at venues all around the City.
Courtesy, Brooklyn Nets
The Knicks, Manhattan’s NBA team, boast a rich history that includes a pair of titles, stretches of futility and plenty of rekindled hope. The rabid fan base always makes a game at Madison Square Garden feel like an event, with celebrities frequently seated courtside. The Brooklyn Nets had their debut season at Barclays Center in 2012 and are a team on the rise. Their black-and-white gear has become a staple on the borough’s streets. The season begins in October and runs through the spring.
New York’s towering skyscrapers and charming brownstones provide much of the City’s character. A celebration of that architecture and design, Open House New York (OHNY) weekend includes free tours of buildings and sites—many of which are normally closed to the public.
Ice-Skating at Bryant Park. Photo: Brittany Petronella
Outdoor Ice-Skating Rinks Open
New York City’s many ice-skating rinks are synonymous with winter and the first glimpse of the holiday season. If you prefer your skating experience to come with a killer view, go enjoy the spectacular surroundings of the seasonal Rink at Rockefeller Center (in December, the famous tree will be there, too). The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, which is typically open from late October to early March, is another fine option with stunning architecture nearby.
Village Halloween Parade. Photo: Joe Buglewicz
The Village Halloween Parade had humble beginnings back in 1974, as neighborhood children in the West Village walked from house to house with their friends. Over the years, it’s become a massive party with wildly costumed characters, puppets, bands, dancers and plenty of excited spectators.
November
The Art Show (sometimes late October)
The Art Dealers Association of America’s (ADAA) annual show presents carefully curated exhibitions at the Park Avenue Armory; see group shows and solo projects from the late 19th century through today. Special events take place each year, including panel discussions and a preview gala to benefit the Henry Street Settlement—a Lower East Side social services, arts and health care organization.
New York City Marathon. Photo: Julienne Schaer
This is the big one—a sporting event that often proves to be as much a life-changing experience as a physical challenge. Like all marathons, the New York City race covers 26.2 miles from start to finish—but no other city offers competitors the sights, sounds and sheer excitement of the NYC Marathon’s traditional five-borough course, which extends from Staten Island to Central Park.
Radio City Rockettes. Courtesy, MSG
Radio City Christmas Spectacular (through early January)
New York City’s most famous holiday production, which originated back in 1933, has adapted over time to include original scenes and Rockettes numbers, along with show stopping special effects that include fireworks, flying snowflakes and animated projections. The traditional parts of the show—such as “The Living Nativity” and “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers”—remain crowd favorites in Radio City Music Hall’s annual showcase.
Nearly every big name in comedy tends to grace a New York City stage during the NYCF. Past participants have included Bridget Everett, Ricky Gervais, Hannibal Buress, Judd Apatow and Iliza Shlesinger. Serious, professionally minded panels share the schedule with over-the-top improv nights at small venues along with large-scale shows at venues like Madison Square Garden and Town Hall.
NYBG Holiday Train Show. Photo: Christopher Postlewaite
Holiday Train Show (through January)
A family favorite, the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden features toy trains chugging alongside some 190 replicas of City landmarks made from bark, seed and other plant materials. Highlights include renderings of Yankee Stadium, assorted Midtown skyscrapers, famous Coney Island rides and a George Washington Bridge that spans the exhibition’s entrance, as well as a sound-and-light show.
Origami Holiday Tree (through early January)
Holiday decor gets a historical makeover with the American Museum of Natural History’s Origami Holiday Tree. The museum draws inspiration from its own collection for the roughly 1,000 folded-paper works, constructed by volunteers throughout the year. Explore the permanent-exhibition halls, current shows and expansive collections to see which pieces made their way onto the 13-foot tree.
Courtesy, Macy’s, Inc.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Marching bands, celebrity guests and notable performers bring excitement to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but they take a back seat to the real stars of the show—the balloons. SpongeBob, Snoopy, Hello Kitty and other giant helium-filled characters float along what is typically a 2.5-mile route, from the Upper West Side down to Macy's Herald Square.
The Nutcracker. Courtesy, American Ballet Theatre
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
For more than 50 years, the New York City Ballet has brought visions of the Sugarplum Fairy, marching toy soldiers and the Mouse King to life with its Lincoln Center production of The Nutcracker. The performance is distinguished by old-fashioned costumes, the spectacle of an onstage snowstorm, magical sets including a one-ton Christmas tree and, of course, Tchaikovsky’s timeless music.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Courtesy, Diane Bondareff/Invision for Tishman Speyer/AP Images
Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting
The Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center, which takes place the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving, heralds the holiday season in New York City. Brave the cold in the weeks afterward to see the giant tree adorned with tens of thousands of multicolored lights. The tree remains lit through the first week of the New Year.
Union Square Holiday Market. Photo: Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet
December
Satisfy your shopping list and get into the holiday spirit by visiting one of the many outdoor holiday shops that pop up all around the City. In Union Square, Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park and Columbus Circle—as well as at Brooklyn Flea, Chelsea Flea and the Upper West Side’s Grand Holiday Bazaar, among others—hundreds of merchants set up shop offering clothing, trinkets, food and many other gift items. In addition to helping local merchants, perhaps you’ll find a little something for yourself.
Grand Army Plaza. Photo: Billy Hickey
Lighting of the World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorahs
Celebrate Hanukkah with the lighting of the world’s largest menorahs. One is in Manhattan, at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street (right in front of the Plaza Hotel). This 32-foot-high, gold-colored, 4,000-pound steel holiday icon is a sight to behold. A similar menorah sits across the river, in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza (at the head of Prospect Park). A candle will be lit on each menorah every evening of the holiday.
Kwanzaa Celebrations
This celebration of African American heritage takes place December 26 to January 1 each year, and culminates in a feast and gift-giving ritual. The City’s largest Kwanzaa celebrations usually take place at the American Museum of Natural History—which hosts a one-day fete featuring African dance, live musical performances and traditional crafts—and Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where you’ll find dance, music and various family-friendly activities.
New Year's Eve Ball Drop. Photo: Julienne Schaer
It wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without the crystal ball drop in Times Square. Throngs gather in the surrounding streets to watch the celebrity commentators and performances before counting down to midnight.
New York Road Runners Midnight Run
This annual race through Central Park serves as an active alternative to the Times Square New Year’s Eve ritual.