New York City Celebrations-Festivals

The diversity of New York City offers annual events for a wide range of cultural and topical tastes. You will find parades, art festivals, music festivals, New Year's celebrations, many seasonal cultural events, races and more.

See our Guide to NYC Film Festivals.

Annual Cultural & Music Festivals

See our list of recurring celebrations and street fairs.

January Events

New York City Restaurant Week - Winter

New York Restaurant Week is an event held twice a year in which participating restaurants in New York City offer prix fixe(fixed price) lunches and dinners. At the finest restaurants, this can be a fraction of the usual prices.

The No Pants Subway Ride

The No Pants Subway Ride is an annual event staged by Improv Everywhere every January in New York City. The idea behind No Pants is simple: Random passengers board a subway car at separate stops in the middle of winter without pants. The participants do not behave as if they know each other, and they all wear winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. The only unusual thing is their lack of pants.

Winter Jazz Fest

What started as a one-night festival featuring 19 groups has grown into four-day festival that lights up 10 venues with 100+ acts. This marks another year of the annual NYC WINTER JAZZFEST, and the continued mission to showcase top quality jazz to industry professionals, avid jazz fans, and new audiences.

Under the Radar Festival

The Under the Radar Festival, presented by Public Theater, provides a high-visibility platform to support artists from diverse backgrounds who are redefining the act of making theater. Widely recognized as a premier launching pad for new and cutting-edge performance from the U.S. and abroad, UTR artists provide a snapshot of contemporary theater: richly distinct in terms of perspectives, aesthetics, and social practice, and pointing to the future of the art form.

New York Comedy Festival
Friday, January 22, 2016
Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY


The New York Comedy Festival is produced by Carolines on Broadway in association with COMEDY CENTRAL. The festival has featured the country's top comedians, including Aziz Ansari, Hannibal Buress, Louis C.K., Larry David, Ricky Gervais, Kevin Hart, Bill Maher, John Mulaney, Tig Notaro, Nick Offerman, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman, and Wanda Sykes, to name a few. In 2007, the festival launched the “Stand Up for Heroes” event to benefit The Bob Woodruff Foundation, which has featured performances by Ricky Gervais, John Mayer, John Oliver, Conan O'Brien, Jerry Seinfeld, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart, and Robin Williams, among others. To date, the “Stand Up for Heroes” events have raised over $33 million. For more information please visit the NYCF website, like the NYCF Facebook page, and follow the NYCF on Twitter, @NYComedyFest.

Dance on Camera Festival

The Dance Films Association is the catalyst for the production, presentation, and preservation of dance on camera. The Dance on Camera Festival is held in early February at Lincoln Center. Since 1971, this festival has connected dance film producers with users and distributors. It encourages dancers to preserve their work on film.

February Events

Chinese Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
2016 is the 17th Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival

Celebrated in the city with the largest Chinese population in the US, this annual event includes a parade and street performers.

Happy Chinese New Year: Fantastic Art China Festival
The Chinese New Year symbolizes reunion, prosperity and hope for the future. It has been loved and valued by compatriots both home and abroad. The 2016 Fantastic Art China will further explore the progression from traditional culture into contemporary art.

After last year's success, the "Fantastic Art China" festival will return to New York City from February 5-10, 2016 for a second year of even bigger and more exciting arts and cultural events across New York's top cultural venues and landmarks, including Lincoln Center, the Empire State Building, and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show

It is still the greatest collection of dogs assembled each year in the same place at the same time. From the opening moments when the 2,500-plus champions begin to compete in 173 different breed and varieties, to the final crowning of the Best In Show dog, it is the great sport of dogs at its very best.

Empire State Building Run Up Foot Race

Sponsored by the New York Road Runners Club, contenders race up this New York City landmark.

Fashion Week

A week-long series of runway shows where over 100 designers show off their collections for upcoming seasons. There are over 200 of parties and celebrations during New York Fashion Week, which occurs twice yearly, in February and again in September.

March Events

Annual Whiskey Festival
Analogue, 19 W 8th Street, New York, NY 10011
phone: 212-432-0200, email: [email protected]

Taste some of the best whiskeys from all around the world while you enjoy live music, cocktail specials, complimentary passed bites, and more. #AWF2017

Greek Independence Day
Fifth Ave. from 49th to 59th St.

Dancing and food.

Asia Week New York

Asia Week New York, held in March, is an annual nine-day celebration of Asian art throughout metropolitan New York, with non-stop exhibitions, auctions and special events presented by leading international Asian art specialists, major auction houses, and world-renowned museums and cultural institutions.

The New York Chekhov Festival
Balcony Theater, 165 W86th Street, New York, NY 10024
phone: 718-457-1075, email: [email protected]

Coming in March to New York City, The Russian Arts Theater and Studio premieres the first annual New York Chekhov Festival--three weeks of performances and discussions celebrating the life and works of Anton Chekhov. Taking place at the quaint Balcony Theater, performances will alternate between Three Sisters and a Russian-speaking production of Swan Song, starring iconic Russian actor Ernst Zorin of the Vakhtangov Theater and award-winning actress Gala Orlovsky. Additionally, critically acclaimed Russian director Aleksey Burago will give a free seminar on the life of Anton Chekhov and the golden age of the Moscow Art Theater at New York University, Jordan Center.

April Events

Festival of Colors: Holi NYC
Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, 11237
phone: 347-888-4895, email: [email protected]

Festival of Colors: Holi NYC is a joyous celebration of the coming of spring. It is a day of revelry full of live bands, DJs, art installations, delicious food, and great people. It is a time when social barriers collapse, and all are united in joyful celebration. It is a time to throw vibrantly colored powder at your friends and strangers, and dance together as one huge colorful mass of beautiful people.

The Circus Walk

At midnight the animals from Ringling Brothers' Barnum & Bailey Circus parade to Madison Square Garden.

Egg Rolling Contest
Easter Sun

Children's festival including an egg-rolling contest in Central Park.

May Events

SummerStage
Runs from May through September

Free performances by international artists and big name benefit shows in Central Park and elsewhere. SummerStage, a program of City Parks Foundation, presents performances of outstanding artistic quality, free of charge, to serve the diverse communities of New York City.

The City Parks Foundation has announced its massive 2016 SummerStage lineup and it does not disappoint. For 2016, SummerStage will run from May 16 through Sept. 23 and promises more than 100 free music, dance and comedy events across 16 parks in New York City.

Bronx Book Fair
310 East Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10458
email: [email protected]

Launched in 2013, the Bronx Book Fair is dedicated to engaging and growing the community of poets and writers in the Bronx and to connecting those literary artists to readers and book lovers of all ages. Through readings, workshops, and presentations our goal is to engage the community with a variety of literature and programs that will broaden access to Bronx literary artists, increase library usage, and encourage a love of books and reading.

Long Island Orchid Festival
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

The Long Island Orchid Society holds the Long Island Orchid Festival at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. The festival will host numerous orchid vendors from around the world and include lectures from advanced orchid growers.
Admission to the Long Island Orchid Festival is FREE.

Red Bull Music Academy Festival

The month-long series of live performances, club nights, lectures, art installations and more, is set to kick off in May with a lineup of innovative artists, unique venues and signature show concepts that explore today's musical landscape while paying homage to its history. The diverse musical showcase, now an annual New York City festival, is a legacy to the critically acclaimed Red Bull Music Academy that took place in New York in 2013.

Ukrainian Festival
E 7th St between 2nd and 3rd Aves

With marvelous Ukrainian costumes, folk music and dance, plus authentic foods.

Great Googa Mooga
3-day music festival, held in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

At Great GoogaMooga you will eat and drink from New York’s top restaurants and
leading wineries and breweries. You’ll listen to top musical acts. You’ll dine, dance and drink with your friends at imaginatively themed parties and events. You’ll connect with a community that understands that the best things in life aren’t things at all—they’re experiences like this.

Ninth Avenue International Food Festival

Taking place in this annual event will be Ninth Avenue local merchants serving an array of ethnic foods which are representative of the different cultures in our neighborhood. Experience the delightful taste of various cuisines from different countries like Poland, Italy, Spain, Greece, Japan, Thailand and many others.
Games and fun activities for the children.

Fleet Week

Fleet Week New York is the city’s time-honored celebration of the sea services. It is an unparalleled opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services. The week-long celebration has been held nearly every year since 1984. It is anticipated that nearly 1,500 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will participate.

Vulture Festival
On May 21-22, 2016, Vulture + New York magazine host the 3rd annual Vulture Festival, a pop-culture extravaganza featuring the best of today’s television, music, film, and more. In true Vulture style, the Festival once again will bring the witty, in-depth, critical coverage found on the web to life with two jam-packed days of events, including live performances, screenings, animated conversations, comedy, and more.

World Science Festival: City of Science
Multiple locations around NYC
phone: 212-348-1400, email: [email protected]

Over six extraordinary days in New York City, from May 29 through June 3, 2018; the world’s leading scientists will explore the very edge of knowledge and share their insights with the public. Festivalgoers of all ages can experience vibrant discussions and debates, evocative performances and films, world-changing research updates, thought-provoking town hall gatherings and fireside chats, hands-on experiments and interactive outdoor explorations. It’s an action adventure for your mind!

This year will highlight some of the incredible achievements of Women in Science, celebrating and exploring their impact on the history and future of scientific discovery. Perennial favorites will also return in full force, including WSF main stage Big Ideas programs, the Flame Challenge, Cool Jobs, and FREE outdoor events.

June Events

The Art of the Score
Fort Greene Park Washington Park St. Brooklyn 11205
email: [email protected]

2018: 06/22/18 The Art of the Score is a live music & film event that will allow musicians an opportunity to score a movie in front of a live audience in a competitive setting. The event will highlight the convergence between music and the moving image.... an experience combining music and cinema in a way that has never been done before. A LIVE movie scoring competition where the theme is honoring Melvin Van Peeples, the first Black Superhero! 3 contestants will score a 6-minute clip of Sweet Sweetback's Baaadaaasss Song. The winner of the scoring competition will be offered the opportunity to open one of the NYC Parks summer outdoor movie events and will be offered a development package with Independent Ear and Universal Music.

World Science Festival 2016
email: [email protected]

The World Science Festival gathers great minds in science and the arts to produce live and digital content that allows a broad general audience to engage with scientific discoveries. Through discussions, debates, theatrical works, interactive explorations, musical performances, intimate salons, and major outdoor experiences, the Festival takes science out of the laboratory and into the streets, parks, museums, galleries and premier performing arts venues of New York City and beyond.

NYC Dance Week

New York City Dance Week features Over 100 Free Dance, Fitness and Wellness Classes and over 30 Participating Studios throughout the NYC area. NYC Dance Week offers free dance classes throughout the city and invites every community in New York to join together in celebration of movement through dance. phone: 917-773-8409

Flower Festival/ Festival de las Flores
Flushing Meadows Corona Park

A huge food and music festival featuring many local and international acts. The Festival will have well-known DJ’s, dance groups, comedians and singers of many different genres. Come by and enjoy a day filled with family fun! email: [email protected]

FarmBorough
Randall's Island

FarmBorough, the Big Apple’s first-ever country music fest, will take place at Randall’s Island. With Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and Brad Paisley set to headline the main stage and Caanan Smith opening the ‘Next From Nashville’ stage, the all-weekend event is set to feature over 30 artists including Wade Bowen, Brandy Clark, Maddie & Tae, Kip Moore and the Cadillac Three, with a few special guests.

Governors Ball Music Festival

What began as a one-day, 12-act event on Governors Island in 2011 has blossomed into a three-day extravaganza with 70 acts and four stages. It attracted about 45,000 visitors per day, selling out three-day passes and single-day tickets weeks ahead of time. Attendees came from all over the country as well as from overseas.

Museum Mile Festival

Each year, on one day in June, ten of the NYC's finest museums are open for free from 6pm-9pm. They celebrate with a block party and art exhibits. All are on 5th Ave from 82nd St to 105th St.

SummerStage
Runs from May through September

Free performances by international artists and big name benefit shows in Central Park and elsewhere. SummerStage, a program of City Parks Foundation, presents performances of outstanding artistic quality, free of charge, to serve the diverse communities of New York City.

The City Parks Foundation has announced its massive 2016 SummerStage lineup and it does not disappoint. For 2016, SummerStage will run from May 16 through Sept. 23 and promises more than 100 free music, dance and comedy events across 16 parks in New York City.

NYC Pride Week | Pride Month

Discover the City's spirit at these LGBT events all over town.

Taste of Times Square

Over 50 of Times Square's best restaurants offer their finest tastes from around the globe at Taste of Times Square – the annual outdoor food and music festival. The festival is held on 46th Street between Broadway and 9th Avenue (including historic Restaurant Row) and on Broadway from 45th to 47th Streets. Festival admission is free. There is also an abundance of street fair entertainment to be enjoyed.

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party

The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party is a celebration of the craftsmanship of ‘cue, represented by the most talented pitmasters in the country. Each one brings a signature approach to the tradition of ‘cue to New Yorkers the second weekend in June in Madison Square Park. At the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, you’ll have the opportunity to sample barbecue from the nation’s top, award-winning pitmasters hailing from ‘cue capitals like Texas, the Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee and more.

Drums Along the Hudson

Inwood Hill Park, 218th Street and Indian Road, NY, NY 10034
phone: 212-627-1076 ext. 10, email: [email protected]

DRUMS ALONG THE HUDSON features Manhattan's only open air pow wow, which is a celebratory gathering of Native American people that will be led by Louis Mofsie and the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers with Host Drums Heyna Second Sons and Silver Cloud. This multicultural family-oriented festival combines Native American heritage with the diversity of New York City with performances of world dance and drumming traditions.

July Events

Independence Day - July 4

The fireworks from Macy's, South Street Seaport and the display over the East River best place to view them Battery Park.

SummerStage
Runs from May through September

Free performances by international artists and big name benefit shows in Central Park and elsewhere. SummerStage, a program of City Parks Foundation, presents performances of outstanding artistic quality, free of charge, to serve the diverse communities of New York City.

The City Parks Foundation has announced its massive 2016 SummerStage lineup and it does not disappoint. For 2016, SummerStage will run from May 16 through Sept. 23 and promises more than 100 free music, dance and comedy events across 16 parks in New York City.

New York City Restaurant Week - Summer

New York Restaurant Week is an event held twice a year in which participating restaurants in New York City offer prix fixe(fixed price) lunches and dinners. At the finest restaurants, this can be a fraction of the usual prices.

Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center

Summer in New York is synonymous with many marvels, adding to those pleasures is the Mostly Mozart Festival. Inspired by the genius and brilliance of Mozart, it presents an expansive and rich calendar of concerts, opera performances, and late-night recitals, as well as many world premieres.

Lincoln Center Festival

The Lincoln Center Festival presents wthe best theater, opera, chamber music, dance and more from around the world. This event is held each summer in July and August. Tickets are expensive and go fast. They are sold for each event separately, or check the website for package deals.

Harlem Week

Although titled "Harlem Week", this festival covers actually several weeks in July and August. Harlem Week promotes and celebrates what Harlem was, is and will be. It is a series of events throughout the summer, that bring together all age groups and cultures to celebrate the unique and diverse essence of Harlem. This celebration offers over 100 events, including concerts, film festivals, sporting events, youth programs and activities, fashion shows and so much more. This event attracts approximately 2 million attendees from all over New York and the world.

Lincoln Center Out of Doors

Enjoy longstanding favorites and discover something new when Out of Doors brings three jam-packed weeks of world-class music, dance, and spoken word to the plazas of Lincoln Center. And it’s absolutely free. Events are held on Lincoln Center's outdoor plazas.

Coachella's Panorama Music & Arts Festival | More web info

The producers of Coachella have announced details of a new festival, Panorama, with the first edition (2016) taking place this July at Randall's Island Park in New York City.

Coachella's NYC event has been in the works for some time. Firm details have now emerged, with Goldenvoice, the company that runs Coachella, promising "three days of music, art, technology and local food offerings" at the inaugural event, which will run from July 22nd through 24th.

August Events

World Science Festival: City of Science (Queens)
York College, Health & Phys Ed Complex, 160-02 Liberty Avenue, Jamaica, New York
phone: 212-348-1400, email: [email protected]

Enter City of Science, a buzzing metropolis of science, technology, engineering, and mathematical possibilities. Featuring awe-inspiring, interactive demonstrations and larger than life activities, this FREE indoor exhibition unleashes everyone’s inner scientist. Experience how creativity and discovery go hand-in-hand, right here in Queens.

This ALL AGES event is FREE and open to the public.

South Asian International Performing Arts Festival
Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, New York, NY 10001,
email: [email protected]


South Asian International Performing Arts Festival (SAIPAF) is the annual celebration of the diverse perspectives, ideas, and imaginations of artists from the South Asian subcontinent and/or who belong to the South Asian diaspora.


SummerStage
Runs from May through September

Free performances by international artists and big name benefit shows in Central Park and elsewhere. SummerStage, a program of City Parks Foundation, presents performances of outstanding artistic quality, free of charge, to serve the diverse communities of New York City.

The City Parks Foundation has announced its massive 2016 SummerStage lineup and it does not disappoint. For 2016, SummerStage will run from May 16 through Sept. 23 and promises more than 100 free music, dance and comedy events across 16 parks in New York City.

Celebrate Brooklyn

Running from June to early August, Celebrate Brooklyn! holds its 38th Season at the Prospect Park Bandshell in 2016. It is still free! The line-up covers dozens of creative canvases and cultures—it’s as diverse and dynamic as Brooklyn itself.

US Open Tennis Tournament
Runs end of August through early September

One of the four majors in the world of professional tennis, it attracts all the best men and women players to participate at the Bill Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows New York.

Electric Zoo

New York's Electronic Music Festival held on Randall's Island. Held on 5 stages with 2 main stages..

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival
Runs 3 days at various locations

The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival annually assembles some of the finest musicians in the world who reflect Parker’s musical individuality and genius, to promote appreciation for this highly influential and world-renowned artist.

New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC)

The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) is the largest multi-arts festival in North America, with more than 200 companies from all over the world performing for 16 days in more than 20 venues with 1200 incredible performances.

AfroPunk Fest
at Commodore Barry Park, Brooklyn

The free annual festival, which has in the past featured the likes of Erykah Badu, Gym Class Heroes, Spank Rock, Reggie Watts, Janelle Monae and Das Racist, returns each year.

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is an annual sporting and multicultural event held in August on Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens to celebrate the fifth moon (or the fifth month) of the lunar calendar. In addition to providing audiences with traditional Chinese foods and performances, the festival hosts over 120 dragon boat teams from across North America, making it one of the largest dragon boat festivals in the United States. Depending on the competitive division, teams compete for cash prizes, trophies and other prizes. There are events for the whole family, and admission is free!

The Brazilian Music Festival 8/25 - 8/27, 2016

The Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street, NYC 10014
phone: 212-989-9319, email: [email protected]

Now that the Olympics are over the Cornelia Street Café is keeping the spirit of Brazil going with a 3-day Brazilian Musical Festival featuring some of Brazil’s most talented cultural ambassadors and some American musicians who happen to love Brazilian music.

September Events

World Science Festival -City of Science: Staten Island 9/23/18
College of Staten Island (CSI) CUNY 2800 Victory Blvd Staten Island, NY 10314
phone: 212-348-1400, email: [email protected]

WALK ON WATER. DEFY GRAVITY. POWER A MOTOR WITH MIND CONTROL. Don’t miss out! Join the World Science Festival and Con Edison for this larger-than-life, touring event where the wondrous properties of science, technology, engineering, and math collide. The day is jam-packed with interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities, tours of the Astrophysical Observatory, and enormous exhibitions. This year, there will even be an opportunity to learn how to power a motor with mind control!

City of Science is FREE and open to the public. RSVP not required, but encouraged. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/2wsSofU

Annual Atlantic Antic™ Festival

Atlantic Avenue from Hicks Street and 4th Avenue
phone: 718-875-8993, email: [email protected]

The 42nd Annual Atlantic Antic™ Street Festival will be held on Sunday, September 25th, 2016, RAIN OR SHINE from noon to 6pm. Spanning ten blocks through four neighborhoods on Atlantic Avenue in the heart of downtown Brooklyn, this 42-year-old street festival is the largest and most celebrated street festival in New York City.

The Atlantic Antic™ is a longstanding New York City tradition that features international delicacies and unique merchandise with over five hundred vendors, one hundred local merchants, 15 live music stages, and one block dedicated to family-friendly fun.

SummerStage
Runs from May through September

Free performances by international artists and big name benefit shows in Central Park and elsewhere. SummerStage, a program of City Parks Foundation, presents performances of outstanding artistic quality, free of charge, to serve the diverse communities of New York City.

The City Parks Foundation has announced its massive 2016 SummerStage lineup and it does not disappoint. For 2016, SummerStage will run from May 16 through Sept. 23 and promises more than 100 free music, dance and comedy events across 16 parks in New York City.

New York Coffee Festival
69th Regiment Armory, Lexington Avenue, New York
email: [email protected], Facebook, Twitter

The New York Coffee Festival is New York’s flagship coffee event, celebrating the burgeoning specialty coffee scene in this great city. The festival features live experiences from over 70 coffee, food and equipment suppliers. Visitors will enjoy endless free coffee tastings, interactive workshops, demonstrations from world-class baristas, delicious street food, intoxicating coffee cocktails, live music, art and so much more.

Based on the highly successful programs in London and Amsterdam, this caffeinated event is an unmissable show for all serious coffee lovers and key industry stakeholders. More than 12,000 visitors are expected from across the USA and abroad.

Sound Culture Fest
at IRVING PLAZA
17 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003
phone: 212-777-6800

Sound Culture is an annual music festival featuring the very best in African and Caribbean music. Headlining the first ever Sound Culture event is Africa’s biggest entertainer Dbanj and Soca King - Machel Montano who have both had several sold out shows in New York already. For the first time, both the African and Caribbean communities in New York will be united at the city’s famed concert hall to celebrate both cultures and also two musical giants’ best back catalogues.

Brazilian Day
In the Heart of Little Brazil (West 46th St.)

Brazilian Day in New York in early September. Every year Brazilian Day in New York takes over 25 blocks, all surrounding Little Brazil. On this one very special day, Brazilians from far and wide get together from different parts of the world, many coming from Brazil just to attend the festival. They show their pride and love for their culture.

West Indian American Day Carnival & Parade
Labor Day Weekend, Brooklyn

West Indian American Day Carnival celebrates 46 YEARS OF CARIBBEAN Pride and Culture. Featuring 5-day cultural festival complete with live entertainment, colorful costumes, tasty cuisine, Steelpan and youth competitions and NYC’S Greatest Show on Earth!

Broadway on Broadway
Sun after Labor Day

Free performances feature songs by casts of virtually every Broadway musical, culminating in a shower of confetti; held in Times Square

Brooklyn Book Festival

The Brooklyn Book Festival is the largest free literary event in New York City, presenting an array of national and international literary stars and emerging authors. One of America’s premier book festivals, this hip, smart diverse gathering attracts thousands of book lovers of all ages to enjoy authors and the festival’s lively literary marketplace.

Festival of the Feast of San Gennaro

Boisterous event in honor of the patron saint of Naples, held along Mulberry St. in Manhattn's Little Italy. The saint's statue is carried through the streets with donations of dollar bills pinned to his cloak. See one of the Feast of San Gennaro websites for additional information. Typically celebrated in the last two weeks of September.

Dumbo Arts Festival
3 Days-Late September

Each year the DUMBO Arts Festival seeks to highlight Brooklyn’s commitment to and presence in the arts community by presenting the best in local, national, and international art amid the breathtaking backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.

The DUMBO Arts Festival attracts 200,000 visitors over 3 days with the participation of over 400 artists from a variety of disciplines, 100 studios, 50 galleries and stages and 100 programming partners.

Fashion Week

A week-long series of runway shows where over 100 designers show off their collections for upcoming seasons. There are lots of parties and celebrations during New York Fashion Week. Fashion Week occurs twice yearly, in February and September.


Free Summer Outdoor Concerts

Attend one of the many free outdoor Summer concerts and outdoor movie events around New York City.

Brazilian Day

The Brazilian Day festival celebrates Brazil's Independance Day with music, dance and food. It is considered the largest ethnic event Manhattan, attracting a multicultural audience. The festival is held n 46th Street, also known as Little Brazil, on the Sunday before Labor Day.

West Indian American Day Carnival

The West Indian American Day Carnival is Brooklyn's celebration of the Caribbean culture. It features festive music, a parade and great food. The parade is held on Eastern Parkway and includes representation from Trinidad, Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada, Haitu and many other Caribbean countries.

Feast of San Gennaro

Held on the streets of historic Little Italy, the lower Manhattan neighborhood which served as the first home in America for hundreds of thousands of Italian immigrants who came here seeking to improve their lives beginning in the early part of the 20th century.

BAM Next Wave Festival

Beginning in mid-September and extending through mid-December, the BAM Next Wave Festival in Brooklyn presents New York's most comprehensive and daring survey of progressive arts. Check out their website for performance details and ticket information. Single tickets, subscriptions and discount packages are offered.

October Events

CITY OF SCIENCE: Brooklyn
Park Slope Armory YMCA, 361 15th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
phone: 212-348-1400, email: [email protected]

Enter City of Science, a buzzing metropolis of science, technology, engineering, and mathematical possibilities. Featuring awe-inspiring, interactive demonstrations and larger than life activities, this indoor exhibition unleashes everyone’s inner scientist. Experience how creativity and discovery go hand-in-hand, right here in Brooklyn.

City of Science is FREE and open to the public. RSVP not required, but encouraged.

Annual Vietnamese Moon Festival
Thomas Paine Park/Foley Square, Lafayette St & Worth St, New York, NY 10007

Please join us at the Vietnamese Moon Festival on Saturday, October 10, in Thomas Paine Park (near City Hall) for an afternoon filled with new cultural experience. Play traditional folk games with easy rules and non-stop laughter! Try a moon cake - the Vietnamese delicacies you might have seen but never knew the taste. Hear (and participated in) the legends of the Goddess of the Moon, re-enacted by our energetic storytellers. Conclude with the marching of the biggest lantern you’ve ever seen! email: [email protected]

FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE. Thomas Paine Park / Foley Square. Lafayette St & Worth St, New York, NY 10007. (City Hall stop on the 4, 5, 6, J, Z train)

Oktoberfest, Munich on the East River
Oktoberfest Tent at East River

Zum Schneider’s Oktoberfest is the first ever large-scale, under-a-tent celebration of this great tradition to come to New York City. Fully decked out original Oktoberfest tent for close to 1,000 people with original furniture, "Masskrügen" (liter steins), original Oktoberfest beers on tap: HB Traunstein Festbier, Andechs Festbier (exclusive), and Wiesn-Hendl & Haxn (Oktoberfest roast chicken & pork shank) plus other food served in the tent. The festivities are family friendly and open to all ages. With activities that include a small fair featuring “Hau den Lukas” "Wettnageln" (strong men contests), as well as cotton candy stands, roasted almonds, giant Pretzels and the traditional gingerbread hearts and more. Live music by Mösl Franzi and the Ja Ja Ja's on stage throughout the two consecutive weekends.

Escape Music Festival

An electronic and indie rock event established in 2014 with inaugural concerts acts including Moby, Girl Talk, Placebo and Mayer Hawthorne. The festival was set to take place at Pier 9 in Red Hook but was moved to Governors Island.

Modern Sky Festival

China’s Modern Sky Festival is coming to the U.S.!!!! Come out for two days of music, food, drinks and fun in New York’s Central Park.

New York City Wine & Food Festival

The annual NYC Wine & Food Festival brings together the world’s greatest chefs, winemakers, spirits producers and personalities to educate palates and entertain attendees in high style. It pays homage to one of the greatest dining cities in the world while fighting to end hunger!

CMJ Music Marathon

Over 33 years running, CMJ Music Marathon is one of the world’s most important platforms for the discovery of new music. Throughout one vital week every October, CMJ features over 1,400 live performances in more than 80 of New York City’s greatest nightclubs and theaters.

New York Television Festival

Each year, all of the Festival's individual development initiatives culminate at the Festival - held each fall in NYC. The week-long celebration features screenings of the best independently-produced content, panels and talkbacks with industry thought leaders and creative luminaries and red-carpet premieres of the stars and creatives behind the seasons' most anticipated new network and cable shows.

New York Festival of Light

Head to Elizabeth St Garden in Nolita to see this one-of-a-kind show…a first for New York! The New York Festival of Light Organization (NYFOL) is a non-profit art group whose vision is to create and provide a unique and delightful experience for residents and tourists; enhancing NYC’s architecture through interactive, static and projected lighting installations.

November Events

TSC New York City Marathon

This is the world's largest marathon with over 35,000 participants and two million spectators. Normally the first weekend in November.

December Events

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting


The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit by the 30,000 energy efficient LED lights typically late in November. The Tree will remain lit and can be viewed until early January.

Chanukah Celebrations

During the eight nights of this holiday a menorah-lighting ceremony takes place at Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza

New Year's Eve in Times Square & Ball Drop

The famous party in Times Square. Fireworks at the South Street Seaport and Central Park.

Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square
Held late November or early December.

Winter's Eve is New York's largest holiday festival featuring legendary artists, up-and-coming musicians, dancers, street performers and more. This festival welcomes the holiday season and lights up the Upper West Side with an evening of music, food, dancing and fun for everyone.

Recurring Events

Celebrate Brooklyn

Running from June to early August, Celebrate Brooklyn! holds its 35th Season at the Prospect Park Bandshell. It is still free after 35+ years! The line-up covers dozens of creative canvases and cultures—it’s as diverse and dynamic as Brooklyn itself.

Hester Street Fair
Corner of Hester and Essex Streets
phone: 917-267-9496, email: [email protected]

The Hester Street Fair an outdoor community market located on the Lower East Side, specializing in handmade goods, creative products and artisanal food. HSF is a launching pad for small, independent businesses and artists. Hundreds of vendors rotate over 60 spots every Saturday and Sunday to create one of the most dynamic outdoor events in New York City. Located at the intersection of Hester and Essex Streets, the Fair is open from 11am to 6pm every Saturday and Sunday.

Pier Antique Show
Held in March & November
Pier 94, 12th Avenue

The Pier Antiques Show is NYC's largest & most comprehensive art & antiques event related to ceramics, porcelains and rugs with all eras and all vintage products.

River to River Festival
May to Sept

Largest Arts Festival in NYC
Downtown NY - Battery Park - City Hall

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
(Mar.-Apr.), Madison Square Garden

New York City Festival Calendar
This is a comprehensive list of exciting festivals happening in New York throughout the year - everything from food and art to music and cultural festivals. The list updates automatically, too!

Submit your event here.


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