10 Best Festivals in New York
New York Celebrations You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
There are more festivals in New York than you can shake a stacked breakfast bagel at. This colossal city of soaring skyscrapers and buzzy neighbourhoods is one of the USA’s undisputed arts, music, and cultural hubs. It boasts everything from big-name electronica parties to vibrant gay pride events, and that’s really just scratching the surface.
If we had to pick, we’d say that the summertime is the best season to be in New York for festivals. It’s got the bulk of the biggest-ticket events which means that the parades and partying take to the streets outside. That said, many of the best festivals in New York offer things to do in the midwinter, the spring, and fall alike. Let’s take a closer look.
What are the best festivals in New York?
1. St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Channeling the spirit of the Emerald Isle
Good for: Families, Nightlife, Photo
NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the longest-running Irish festival in the United States. It’s also one of the biggest Irish cultural events to take place anywhere outside of the Emerald Isle. The parade takes place on the streets of downtown Manhattan every year on the 17th March, moving from 44th Street to 79th Street through some of the busiest neighborhoods in the city.
The undisputed highlight of the event is when the parade makes its way up 5th Avenue, which involves over 150,000 performers. It’s when the big bands and Gaelic dancers really crank up the energy. Midtown also gets into the spirit of the occasion, with local taverns and bars coming alive with Guinness drinkers and Irish revellers who party into the early hours.
Location: New York, NY, USA
2. New Year’s Eve
Celebrate midnight in style
Good for: Couples, Families, Nightlife
New Year’s Eve is a mega event in New York City. The Big Apple is unquestionably one of the must-visit places on the planet to welcome in the next 365 days of the calendar, not least because of the legendary celebrations that take place in Times Square. Join the crowds there to watch the iconic New Year’s Eve Ball drop and enjoy performances by big-name artists and pyrotechnic displays.
But Times Square is just the beginning when it comes to NYE in NYC. There are loads of other celebrations to enjoy, from rooftop parties with stunning views of Manhattan’s skyline to fireworks dinner cruises on the Hudson River.
Location: New York, NY, USA
3. NYC Pride
One of the world’s largest LGBTQ+ events
Good for: Couples, Nightlife, Photo
NYC Pride is now one of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in the world. It’s a multi-faceted festival that takes place across the entire city, with events in all boroughs. However, the most famous component is the big march that traverses Lower Manhattan and 5th Avenue, along with the gatherings at the Stonewall Monument which commemorate the site of the iconic Stonewall riots of 1969.
These days, NYC Pride can attract crowds of over 2.5 million people who come not only for the main events but also for smaller parties throughout city, from rainbow flower shows in Chelsea to talks about the history of Stonewall in Greenwich Village.
Location: New York, NY, USA
4. Tribeca Film Festival
Mingle with A-listers
Good for: Nightlife, Photo
The Tribeca Film Festival is New York’s equivalent to Cannes and Sundance. It’s now firmly established as one of the most prestigious events in the cinematic calendar, attracting over 150,000 attendees with a staggering 600 screenings of the latest silver screen productions. Since its inauguration back in 2002 by none other than Robert De Niro, the event has expanded to venues all over Lower Manhattan and beyond.
Tribeca takes place over the course of about 11 days in June. The focus is on showcasing the best independent movies, though it’s also known as a testing ground for major blockbuster premieres. Even if you are not a movie buff, visiting a Tribeca venue is a sure-fire way to spot celebrities.
Location: New York, NY, USA
5. Museum Mile Festival
For a taste of Big Apple culture and history
Good for: History, Nightlife, Photo
The Museum Mile Festival should be high on the to-do list of culture enthusiasts passing through the Big Apple in early summer. It takes place along 5th Avenue and the blocks of the Upper East Side, connecting some of the world’s leading art institutions and historical collections, all of which offer free entry for one night only.
From 6 pm onwards, you’ll be able to drop into any of the eight participating museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, as well as more niche spots like the Africa Center and the Smithsonian Design Museum.
Location: New York, NY, USA
6. River To River Festival
An homage to diversity in art
Good for: Budget, Families, Photo
The River To River Festival was launched in the early 2000s with the aim of connecting the main districts of Lower Manhattan, between the Hudson River and East River, with a single cultural event. Today, it’s one of the top summer arts festivals in New York and is 100% free for everyone.
What’s great about the River to River Festival is that you never know what’s coming next. One day you might drop into an avant-garde dance show in a local theater, the next you might come across outdoor performance art in a riverside park. The festival begins in mid-June and concludes in the first week of July.
Location: New York, NY, USA
7. Electric Zoo
Electric vibes on Randall’s Island, NYC
Good for: Adventure, Nightlife, Unusual
Electric Zoo isn’t just one of the leading electronic music festivals in New York City, it’s one of the top electronic music festivals in the world. Since launching in 2009, it’s been drawing big-name acts in the EDM space and now hosts nearly 100,000 people in its vast space in Randall’s Island Park.
Lineups change year on year, but rest assured it’ll always include some of the leading stars of house, techno, and electronica. Past acts that have graced the stage include The Chemical Brothers, David Guetta, Skrillex, Deadmau5, and plenty more. Electric Zoo usually takes place on the first weekend of September.
Location: Randall’s Island Park, 20 Randalls Is Park, New York, NY 10035, USA
Open: Check the official website for annual schedule.
Electric Zoo
8. Lunar New Year Parade and Festival
When dragons come to Manhattan
Good for: Families, Food, Photo
The Lunar New Year Parade and Festival, also colloquially known as the Chinese New Year Festival, takes place in the middle of winter and is a fantastic showcase of the booming multiculturalism of this megacity. It happens in the enthralling Chinatown area of Manhattan, which spreads from East Broadway to Lower Manhattan.
At the festival, you’ll find everything from dragon dancers to Chinese musicians who take to the streets to perform. The main parades tend to converge down Mott Street and Canal Street, but there are also events to see down all the narrow side alleys. In addition, there are historical talks at the Museum of Chinese in America, along with related performances by the New York Philharmonic orchestra.
Location: Chinatown, New York, NY, USA
Lunar New Year Parade and Festival
9. Winter Jazzfest
Get your midwinter groove on!
Good for: Couples, Nightlife, Unusual
The Winter Jazzfest has been one of New York City’s leading events in the jazz calendar since it was first inaugurated in 2005. It’s a multi-venue event that takes place in intimate underground bars and on bigger stages alike, all of which are spread between Downtown Manhattan and the borough of Brooklyn.
The overarching focus here is on creative and cutting-edge contemporary jazz that features both unknown and upcoming artists, as well as bigger names like JSwiss and The Sun Ra Arkestra. One of the highlights of this event is the varied nature of the stages, which might be hidden in hipster bars or al fresco spots in leafy Central Park.
Location: New York, NY, USA
10. Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
When to see pink blossom in spring
Good for: Budget, Photo, Unusual
The Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival hits the Big Apple in April, which is when the cherry trees burst to life as the weather warms up. Once held in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the event has recently shifted to Villard Pocket Park in Hastings-On-Hudson (a 30 minute drive from central Manhattan).
This compact greenspace isn’t the only place to see the sakura trees of NYC in springtime. You can also head to Flushing Meadows, Central Park, or Roosevelt Island, all of which have their own clutches of gorgeous cherry blossom trees.
Location: Villard Pocket Park, 18 Villard Ave, Hastings-On-Hudson, NY 10706, USA
Open: Location and opening times change annually. Check online for up-to-date details.
Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
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