10 events to visit in New York City this February

|

During frigid February, New York City’s purveyors of culture and entertainment will once again be doing their best to keep locals and visitors warm by hosting a ton of great events.

(Photo: May S. Young via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Venues across the Big Apple will be staging everything from art displays to festivals to special touring exhibitions throughout February this year. If you’re coming to the city and would like to catch some of them during your stay, we’ve taken a good look at them all and picked out 10 of the best to look out for. Most of these events will have their own official website where you can find out more about ticketing, opening hours, and other useful info.

Chinese Lunar New Year Parade and Festival

The Chinese New Year – also known as the Lunar New Year – returns for 2023, once again promising a whole day jam-packed full of celebrations including bursting firecrackers, mesmerising lion dances and delicious cuisine. Taking place throughout NYC’s numerous Chinatown districts, this year’s festivities usher in the Year of the Rabbit and promises to deliver a veritable feast for the senses. The event’s signature parade kicks off at 1pm.

Chinatown / 12 February 2023

New York Fashion Week

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

The February instalment of this internationally renowned biannual fashion event will see the likes of Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs, among others, as well as new and upcoming designers showcase their Autumn/Winter collections to buyers, press and the public. To attend the more exclusive shows, you’ll need an official invitation, but some smaller designers open their doors to everyone, allowing fashion lovers to see the latest creations and newest trends with their own eyes.

Venues across NYC / 10-15 February 2023

Winter Jam

Central Park may be better associated with sunshine and picnics, or Autumnal colours, but for one day each February the vast green urban expanse is given over to a celebration of winter sports. Free to enter, the family-friendly festival features activities such as ice carving, snowshoeing, sledding, curling, ice bowling, and Bobsled. And fear not, if the natural elements don’t do their job, a mini mountain of man-made snow is provided to keep the fun times rolling.

Central Park / 4 February 2023

Titanic: The Exhibition

Far more than a mere display of historic artefacts, this travelling exhibition presents a unique narrative experience, telling the tale of the people aboard history’s most legendary ship on its maiden – and final – journey. Visitors can travel back to 1912 through over 200 original objects including photographs, handwritten letters, wayward keepsakes, and other personal belongings that tell countless stories about the fates and heroic deeds of those on board.

526 6th Avenue / Through February 2023

‘Kimono Style: The John C. Weber Collection’ exhibition

(Photo: The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975)

Running into mid-February, this exhibition will trace the transformation of the distinctive kimono from the late Edo period (1615–1868) through the early 20th century, as the T-shaped garment was adapted to suit the lifestyle of modern Japanese women. It will feature a selection of works from the renowned John C. Weber Collection of Japanese art that explore the mutual artistic exchanges between the kimono and Western fashion. Illustrating these connections will be over 60 kimonos alongside Western garments, paintings, prints, and decorative art objects.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Through 20 February 2023

National Pizza Day

It may have its origins across the pond in Italy, but nowadays pizza is almost as closely connected with New York. And each year, the city celebrates this long-standing culinary relationship with a full 24 hours dedicated to the delectable dough-based dish. At eateries across the city, hungry patrons can try quirky pizza creations, with numerous restaurants offering special deals to mark the occasion, including free pizzas when you buy a pitcher of beer or a bottle of wine. For a real taste of history, head to Lombardi’s in Little Italy, which lays claim to serving the first pizza in NYC back in 1905.

Venues across NYC / 9 February 2023

Presidents’ Day Weekend

Every third Monday in February – designed to coincide with the birthday of the first president of America, George Washington – cities across the US stop to honour all former and current US presidents. To mark the occasion, a number of fun activities and events are held across the city, with many museums hosting special exhibits for kids who will be enjoying their school holidays. It’s also a busy time for retail, with stores using the event to herald the start of their sales season.

Venues across NYC / 18-19 February 2023

NYC Broadway Week

(Photo: Antti-Jussi Kovalainen via Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0)

Home to one of the world’s most famous theatre scenes, at the heart of New York’s theatrical endeavours is the long avenue known as Broadway. Held biannually, NYC Broadway Week sees theatre houses throughout Broadway offer special shows and experiences, with tickets heavily discounted for the occasion, giving those who may usually be priced out the chance to save big on tickets to some of theatre’s biggest hits for a limited time.

Venues across NYC / 17 January – 12 February 2023

New York Restaurant Week

It’s often been said that it’s hard to have a bad meal in New York, such are the city’s levels of excellence nowadays when it comes to cuisine. And there’s no better time to find this out for yourself than during New York Restaurant Week, which sees eateries across the city offer special deals to both local and visiting diners, providing the perfect opportunity to sample New York’s diverse culinary offerings at bargain prices.

Venues across NYC / Through 12 February 2023

Blue Man Group

The comic musical and artistic Blue Man Group have been entertaining audiences across the world with their magical, multi-sensory performances for almost 25 years. Throughout February they’ll be putting on their unique and long-running show at New York’s intimate Astor Place Theatre, featuring their distinctive brand of audience interaction with the famously blue-painted cast. Incorporating an eclectic mix of music and art, both popular and obscure, the show never fails to dazzle those who see it.

Astor Palace Theatre / 1-26 February 2023

By Paul Joseph