Events in NYC – New York City Events Calendar

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As one of the world’s most iconic metropolises, New York City is buzzing with eclectic events of every kind throughout the year. If you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple and would like to know what’s going on during your stay, here’s a month by month run-down of some of the best events taking place here in 2020.

(Photo: Amanda Winters “The Catalyst for Fun” via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

This magical annual event features a dazzling array of dancers, drones, fireworks, and a flying Santa. Pre-show, guests can even take the chance to meet a Rockette or Santa, and admire 10,000 crystals hanging in the Grand Foyer.

LOCATION Radio City Music Hall DATES 1-5 January 2020

(Photo: Ralph Daily via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Big Apple Circus

The famous Big Apple Circus plays host to exhilerating high-wire aerialists, brilliant acrobats, jugglers, clowns, contortionists, rescue animals, and a live band in a heated tent, all for the enjoyment of thousands of attending revellers.

LOCATION Radio City Music Hall DATES 1-5 January 2020

Winter Jazzfest

A beacon of the New York City jazz scene gathering leading musicians from around the world, Winter Jazzfest includes a grand total of 150 artists playing at the famous Le Poisson Rouge music club and other venues across New York.

LOCATION Venues across New York DATES 9-18 January 2020 

(Photo: Peter MatthewsFollow via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Best of Brooklyn Food & Beer Festival

Offering unlimited craft beer tastings, food for sale from local chefs, and DJ music, this festival is one of the year’s best events for showcasing Brooklyn’s burgeoning craft beer scene. The event is restricted to ages 21 & over.

LOCATION Industry City York DATES 1 February 2020

Winter Jam

Visitors can look forward to free skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and ice bowling, as the Central Park bandshell area is covered with blown-in snow for one magical day. If you don’t have your own equipment, you can borrow it for free free.

LOCATION Central Park DATES 1 February 2020

New York Fashion Week Fall

Top models, photographers, and designers attend an array of invitation-only events during the summer edition of one of the wold’s most eagerly awaited fashion shows, complete with spring collection unveilings and plenty more.

LOCATION Venues across New York DATES 6-13 February 2020

(Photo: Art Comments via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Billed as the world’s oldest and largest St. Patrick’s parade, New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade celebrates Irish culture and the Catholic faith with an eye-catching procession on the famous 5th Avenue from 44th to 79th.

LOCATION 44th Street DATES 17 March 2020

(Photo: Richie S via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

CineKink
CineKink NYC showcases myriad movies and videos that celebrate and explore a wide diversity of sexuality over four days. The event also offers panel discussions, audience choice awards, a kick-off party, and an after-party.

LOCATION Anthology Film Archives, 2nd Avenue DATES 18-22 March 2020

Queens World Film Festival

This festival screens exciting and innovative films from diverse points of view made by maverick filmmakers from around the world. The event also features a Kodak Product Prize for Best Motion Picture Shot on Film.

LOCATION Museum of the Moving Image, Kaufman Astoria Studios DATES 19-29 March 2020 

Ecofest

Free-to-enter, Ecofest puts on a vast mix of top class exhibits showcasing alternative energy and the environment, green vehicles, food, and entertainment in the iconic setting of Times Square.

LOCATION Times Square DATES 4-5 April 2020

Tribeca Film Festival

This large-scale film festival offers a huge variety of groundbreaking movie screenings, including world premieres, along with celebrity talks, exclusive app-only content and a special Audience Award.

LOCATION Venues across Lower Manhattan DATES 15-26 April 2020 

New York International Auto Show

Come and see some of the world’s most beautiful, sought-after and technologically advanced automobiles at one of the most prestigious events on the car calendar, attended by car enthusiasts, industry insiders and global media alike.

LOCATION Javits Center DATES 10-19 April 2020 

(Photo: Nan Palmero via Flick / CC BY 2.0)

Harlem International Film Festival

Harlem International Film Festival showcases a diverse assotment of documentaries, shorts, youth projects, and animated works from Harlem to Hong Kong, along with panel discussions, awards and plenty more.

LOCATION Venues across Harlem DATES 14-17 May 2020 

Frieze New York

Shop for world class art created by over a thousand contemporary artists, attend talks, and mingle with a wide number of art-world celebrities at the New York edition of this highly acclaimed arts fair.

LOCATION Randall’s Island Park DATES 7-10 May 2020 

(Photo: Hrag Vartanian via Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0)

Memorial Day

Created to honour the men and women who have died while serving in our US armed forces, Memorial Day features several parades across the city, with some of the largest taking place in Brooklyn, the Bronx and on Staten Island.

LOCATION Venues across New York DATES 25 May 2020 

Brooklyn Film Festival

Lovers of the silver screen can come and watch some 120 films made by independent filmmakers from 27 countries during the Brooklyn Film Festival. The schedule also includes a popular one-day film tailored for kids.

LOCATION Venues across New York DATES 1-7 June 2020 

Coney Island Mermaid Parade

One of New York’s most unusual events, each year thousands of spectators flock to Surf Avenue on Coney Island to watch King Neptune and Queen Mermaid lead a procession of semi-nude marchers in costumes through the neighborhood.

LOCATION Coney Island DATES 20 June 2020 

(Photo: Steven Pisano via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Fourth of July in NYC

Celebrate America’s birthday New York-style this 4th of July by watching the most awe-inspiring and spectacular fireworks show from a number of vantage points, set against the city’s jaw-dropping skyline.

LOCATION Venues across New York DATES 4 July

Bastille Day

Celebrate Bastille Day by getting stuck into delectable crêpes and éclairs, tasting wine and cheese, watching mimes and cancan dancers, and visiting a dedicated kids’ corner, as well as various other fun-packed events and activities.

LOCATION Venues across New York DATES 14 July 2020 

(Photo: S Pakhrin via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Dance on Camera Festival

Documentary screenings, features, shorts, experimental works, and music videos that combine dance with cinematography in innovative ways are what to expect at this annual event that draws revellers from far and wide.

LOCATION Venues across NYC DATES 17-20 July 2020

Battery Dance Festival

New York’s longest-running public dance festival showcases original works by established & emerging dance companies on the shore of New York Harbor. Featured dancers come from such exotic clime as Sri Lanka, Turkey & Argentina.

LOCATION Robert F. Wagner Junior Park DATES 15-21 August 2020

(Photo: Steven Pisano via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Afropunk Festival

This outdoor summer music festival celebrates multicultural arts, hosting a wide array of well-known musical artists (including major hip-hop artists), as well as food trucks, live artworks and the SpinThrift Market.

LOCATION Commodore Barry Park, Brooklyn DATES 22-23 August 2020

New York International Salsa Congress

Every Labor Day weekend salsa lovers from all around the world come to town for this celebration of the Cuban dance form, featuring a packed schedule of workshops, performances, competitions, live music and DJs.

LOCATION New York Marriott Marquis, Times Square DATES 3-7 September 2020

New York City Unicycle Festival

Watch 300 unicycles roll around the city, or try it yourself, at this quirky, free-to-enter event that celebrates the famous one-wheeled mode of transport. There’s also unicycle sports, exhibitions, and races.

LOCATION Governors Island DATES 3-7 September 2020

New York Comic Con

Attracting comic book lovers from around the world, New York Comic Con features hundreds of events including autograph sessions, panel talks, pre-premiere movie screenings, a live-event stage, and a daily costume contest.

LOCATION Javits Center DATES 8-11 October 2020

(Photo: Richie S via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

New York Coffee Festival

The Big Apple’s flagship coffee event celebrates the city’s burgeoning speciality coffee scene, with exceptional coffee, as well as food, cocktails, live music, art on offer, and plenty more.

LOCATION Metropolitan Pavilion DATES 11 October 2020

Columbus Day Parade

The annual Columbus Day parade attracts around a million spectators and 35,000 eager marchers each year, with enthusiastic flag waving, marching school bands, professional musicians, and traditional folk groups among the highlights.

LOCATION Fifth Avenue DATES 12 October 2020

(Photo: Jazz Guy via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

The NYC Marathon

More than 40,000 marathoners hotfoot it through all five boroughs over a 26.2-mile course. Popular vantage points for spectators include Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn’s Park Slope and Central Park South near the finish line.

LOCATION Route starts in Staten Island DATES 1 November 2020

(Photo: Dave HerholzFollow via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Brooklyn Crush Wine & Artisanal Food Festival

This artisanal food extravaganza returns for its Fall Edition, offering attendees the chance to sample a selection of wines, ciders and other beverages, all complemented by mouth-watering culinary treats.

LOCATION Industry City, The Landing DATES 7 November 2020

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Starting at 77th St and Central Park West and heading down to Macy’s Herald Square, this magical parade features musical guests and Broadway performers, sandwiched between giant inflatable cartoon characters.

LOCATION Check parade route DATES 26 November 2020

Long Island Festival of Trees

Marvel at creative Christmas trees, visit a magical gingerbread village, catch live entertainment, ice skate, and tour the on-site museum during this celebration of the beauty, majesty and variety of trees.

LOCATION Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City DATES 1 December 2020

New Year’s Eve in Times Square

One of the world’s most iconic locations for seeing in the New Year, Times Square becomes awash with mesmerising lights, big-name musical act, balloons, confetti, fireworks, and a crystal ball that drops at midnight.

LOCATION Times Square DATES 31 December 2020