Major cultural holidays are
celebrated with
parades and
festivals . The city takes
these, especially the parades,
very seriously. Almost every large
ethnic group in the city holds an
annual get-together, often using
Fifth Avenue as the main drag. The
events are often political or
religious in origin, though now
are just as much an excuse for
music, food and dance.
Whatever your flavor, chances
are your stay will coincide with
at least one such celebration. For
more details and exact dates,
phone 1-800/NYC-VISIT, or go to www.nycvisit.com
. Also, look at listings in New
York magazine's
"CUE" section, the New
Yorker magazine's "Goings
on About Town," the Village
Voice 's "Cheap
Thrills," or the weekly
"Obsessive guide to impulsive
entertainment," in Time
Out New York magazine.
JANUARY
Chinese New Year and Parade
First full moon between Jan 21
and Feb 19
A noisy, colorful occasion
celebrated from noon to sunset
around Mott St. Though dragons
still dance in the street,
firecrackers no longer chase away
evil spirits because former Mayor
Giuliani banned them for most
events. The chances of getting a
meal anywhere in Chinatown at this
time are slim; tel 212/431-9740.
Winter Antiques Show
Mid-Jan
This is the foremost American
antiques show in the country, at
the Seventh Regiment Armory, Park
Ave and 67th St tel 212/777-5218.
FEBRUARY
Twenty-four-Hour Marriage
Marathon
Valentine's Day
Get hitched or watch while more
than fifty couples take the plunge
110 stories and 1377ft above
Manhattan on the Observation Deck
of the Empire State Building tel
212/323-2340.
Empire State Building Run Up
Foot Race
Mid-Feb
Sponsored by the New York Road
Runners Club, contenders race up
the 1575 steps of this New York
City landmark tel 212/423-2229, www.nyrrc.org
.
MARCH
St Patrick's Day Parade
March 17
Celebrating an impromptu march
through the streets by Irish
militiamen on St Patrick's Day in
1762, this has become a draw for
every Irish band and organization
in the US and Ireland. Usually
starting just before noon, it
heads up 5th Ave between 44th and
86th sts tel 212/484-1222.
Greek Independence Day
Parade
Late March
Not as long or as boozy as St
Pat's, more a patriotic nod to the
old country from floats of
pseudo-classically dressed
Hellenes. When Independence Day
falls in the Orthodox Lent, the
parade is shifted to April or May.
It usually kicks off from 62nd St
and 5th Ave to 79th St tel
718/204-6500.
The Circus Animal Walk
Late March to early April
At midnight the animals from
Ringling Brothers' Barnum &
Bailey Circus march from their
point of arrival to Madison Square
Garden prior to opening of circus;
tel 212/465-6741 for tickets or
212/302-1700 for information.
APRIL
Easter Parade
Easter Sun
From Central Park down to
Rockefeller Center on 50th St, New
Yorkers dress up in outrageous
Easter bonnets. 10am-5pm. There's
also an Eggstravaganza, a
children's festival including an
egg-rolling contest in Central
Park, on the Great Lawn.
New Directors, New Films
Early April
Lincoln Center and MoMA have
presented this popular two-week
film festival for more than 25
years, showcasing films of
overlooked or emerging filmmakers
tel 212/875-5638, www.filmlinc.com
.
MAY
Ukrainian Festival
Mid-May
This extravaganza fills a weekend
on E 7th St between 2nd and 3rd
aves with marvelous Ukrainian
costumes, folk music and dance,
plus authentic foods. At the
Ukrainian Museum (12th St and 2nd
Ave) there's a special exhibition
of pysanky - traditional
hand-painted eggs tel
212/674-1615.
Martin Luther King Jr Parade
Mid-May
Celebrating Dr King's contribution
to civil rights, the parade covers
5th Ave from 66th to 86th sts. It
also pays tribute to
African-Americans who have served
in the US military tel
212/374-5176.
Ninth Avenue International
Food Festival
Mid-May
The festival closes down 9th Ave
between 37th and 57th sts for the
weekend and offers tantalizing
food, delicious scents, colorful
crafts and great deals tel
212/484-1222.
Fleet Week
End of May
The annual welcome of sailors from
the US, Canada, Mexico the UK,
among others, held at the Intrepid
Sea-Air-Space Museum; activities
and events tel 212/245-0072.
JUNE
Museum Mile Festival
First Tues evening
On 5th Ave from 82nd St to 105th
St. Museums, including the Museum
of the City of New York, Jewish
Museum, Guggenheim, the Met and
others are open free 6-9pm tel
212/606-2296, www.museummile.org
.
Puerto Rican Day Parade
Second Sun
The largest of several Puerto
Rican celebrations in the city,
seven hours of bands and
baton-twirling from 44th to 86th
sts on 5th Ave, then east to 3rd
Ave tel 718/401-0404, www.nationalpuertoricanparade.org
.
Lower East Side Jewish
Spring Festival
Check the Jewish Weekly for
date and location
Kosher foods, Yiddish and Hebrew
folk singing and guided tours of
the Jewish Lower East Side.
Mermaid Parade
First Sat after June 21
At this hilarious event,
participants dress like mermaids
and King Neptune and saunter down
the Coney Island boardwalk, after
which everyone throws fruit into
the sea. If you're around - don't
miss it tel 718/392-1267, www.coneyislandusa.com
.
Lesbian and Gay Pride Week
Late June
The world's biggest Pride event
kicks off with a rally and ends
with a parade, street fair and
dance tel 212/807-7433, www.nycpride.org
.
Washington Square Music
Festival
Late June to early July
A series of free Tues night
classical, jazz and big-band
concerts at this outdoor venue tel
212/431-1088.
JULY
Independence Day
July 4
The fireworks from Macy's, South
Street Seaport and the display
over the East River are visible
all over Manhattan, but the best
place to view them is either from
the Seaport, Battery Park, the
Esplanade at Brooklyn Heights or
from atop almost any building at
about 9pm tel 212/484-1222 or
560-4060.
New York City Tap Festival
Mid-July
The weeklong festival features
hundreds of tap dancers who
perform and give workshops tel
646/230-9564, www.nyctapfestival.com.
AUGUST
Harlem Month
Culminates with Harlem Day on
the third Sun
The monthlong celebration of
African, Caribbean and Latin
culture includes a children's
festival, a dance show, a fashion
parade, talent contest and other
festivities, such as the Black
Film Festival and the Taste of
Harlem tel 212/862-7200.
Dance Theater of Harlem
Street Festival
Usually the second week
A variety of dance performances
plus events for children, on 152nd
St between Amsterdam and Convent
aves tel 212/690-2800.
New York International
Fringe Festival
Usually mid-Aug
Cutting-edge performance art,
theater, dance, puppetry, etc. at
many different venues on the Lower
East Side tel 212-420-8877, www.fringeny.com
.
SEPTEMBER
West Indian-American Day
Parade and Carnival
Labor Day
Brooklyn's largest parade, modeled
after the carnivals of Trinidad
and Tobago, features music, food
and dance. Tel 718/774-8807 or
212/484-1222.
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
tel 212/768-1560 or 563-BWAY.
Festival of the Feast of San
Gennaro
Ten days in mid-Sept
Boisterous event in honor of the
patron saint of Naples, held along
Mulberry St. The saint's statue is
carried through the streets with
donations of dollar bills pinned
to his cloak tel 212/764-6330.
African-American Day Parade
Late Sept
Runs from 111th St and Adam
Clayton Powell Blvd to 142nd St,
then east toward 5th Ave, Harlem
tel 212/862-7200.
New York Film Festival
Two weeks late Sept to mid-Oct
One of the world's leading film
festivals unreels at Lincoln
Center tel 212/875-5610, www.filmlinc.com/nyff/nyff
.
OCTOBER
Columbus Day Parade
On or around Oct 12
One of the city's largest binges
pays tribute to the city's Italian
heritage and commemorates the day
America was put on the map; 5th
Ave from 44th to 79th sts tel
212/249-2360.
DUMBO Art Under the Bridge
Festival
Mid-Oct
More than 700 emerging and
professional artists show their
work in 250 open galleries. The
Parade of Concept (robots,
remote-controlled vehicles and
floats) kicks off the show in the
neighborhood of DUMBO (Down Under
the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) -
in Brooklyn between the Manhattan
and Brooklyn bridges tel
718/624-3772, www.dumboartscenter.org
.
Greenwich Village Halloween
Parade
Oct 31
In the 7pm procession on 6th Ave
from Spring to 23rd sts you'll see
spectacular costumes, wigs and
make-up. The music is great and
the spirit is wild and gay. Get
there early for a good viewing
spot tel 212/475-3333 ext 4044, www.halloween-nyc.com
.
NOVEMBER
Veteran's Day Parade
Nov 11
The United War Veterans sponsor
this annual event on 5th Ave from
39th to 23rd sts tel 212/693-1475.
Fall Antiques Show
Mid-Nov
Foremost American antiques show in
the country, at the Seventh
Regiment Armory, Park Ave and 67th
St tel 212/777-5218.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade
Thanksgiving Day
New York's most televised parade,
with floats, dozens of marching
bands from around the country, the
Rockettes, and Santa Claus's first
appearance of the season. More
than two million spectators watch
it from 77th St down Central Park
W to Columbus Circle, then down
Broadway to Herald Square,
9am-noon tel 212/494-4495, www.macysparade.com
.
DECEMBER
Rockefeller Center Christmas
Tree Lighting
Early Dec
The lighting of the tree begins
the festivities tel 212/632-3975.
Chanukah Celebrations
Usually in mid-Dec
During the eight nights of this
holiday, usually in mid-Dec, a
menorah-lighting ceremony takes
place at Brooklyn's Grand Army
Plaza tel 718/778-6000.
Holiday Windows
Beginning Dec 1
The windows on 5th Ave, especially
those of Lord & Taylor and
Saks Fifth Avenue, are well worth
waiting on their long lines for.
New Year's Eve in Times
Square
Dec 31
Some 200,000-plus revelers party
in the cold streets tel
212/768-1560, www.timessquarebid.org
. There are also fireworks at the
South Street Seaport, Central Park
and Brooklyn's Prospect Park. More
family-oriented, alcohol-free
First Nights with dancing, music
and food take place throughout the
city tel 212/818-1777.
