Manhattan Holidays - Things To Do in Manhattan Over the Holiday Weekends
Things to do in Manhattan Over the Following Hoiiday Weekends including Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Columbus / Indigenous People's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanzaa, & New Years Eve
May 2024 / Manhattan Holidays Things To Do / Manhattan Things To Do Events / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
EDITOR'S NOTE. These are organized chronologically as they occur during the year. They are updated as we near each occasion. For the dining and drinking holidays, like Valentines Day & Halloween, see the Restaurants section on this site. For all parades except St. Patrick's Day, Easter and Halloween - that are not associated with an official American holidsy - see the Holidays & Parades section of this site.
Manhattan Parades & Festivals - Cultural Festivals and Parades in Manhattan Harlem UES UWS Midtown East Village West Village Tribeca Chelsea LES Soho Tribeca Fidi Downtown Manhattan NYC
Manhattan Parades NYC 2024
Schedule of Parades and Cultural Festivals in Manhattan NYC
October 10, 2024 / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Parades / Manhattan Buzz NYC
This report provides a schedule of the parades held in Manhattan each year. We update each parade / festival as we approach the event date. Pay attention to the dates and ONLY asterisked events have been updated to 2024. Pay attention to the dates / year.
The parades include the Manhattan Three Kings Day Parade in January, Manhattan Chinese New Year celebrations in February, the St. Patrick's Day Parade in March, Easter Bonnet Parade, the Manhattan Tartan Day Parade, Greek Independence Day Parade and Persian Parade in April, the Sikh Day Parade, Japan Parade, the Dance Parade, Asian American Pacific Islander Parade, Fleet Week and Manhattan Memorial Day Parade in May, the Indian Parade, Manhattan Puerto Rican Day Parade, Israel Parade, Romania Festival, Pride Parade and Philippine Parade in June, the Manhattan Dominican, the Indian and Cuba American Day Parades and Bastille Day Celebration in July, the Labor Day Parade, San Gennaro Festival, Steuben Day Parade, African American Day Parade, Mexican Parade and Climate March in September, the Manhattan Columbus Day, Halloween, Nigerian, Hispanic Day, Pulaski and Indigenous Peoples Day Parades in October and the NYC Marathon and Manhattan Veterans Day Parade in November. And actually quite a bit more - scroll down to see for yourself.
At the end of this report there are links to the parades and festivals in the other four boroughs of NYC.
CLICK here to view our report on Manhattan Parades NYC - Parades and Cultural Festivals in Manhattan NYC.
Manhattan Things to do Martin Luther King Day Weekend - Events Manhattan NYC
Things To Do MLK Day Weekend Events Manhattan NYC
Things To Do In Manhattan NYC Over The Martin Luther King Day Weekend
January 11, 2024 / Things To Do Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
MLK Weekend Weather in NYC as of 1.9.24. Sunrise 7.19 am / Sunset 4.52 pm on MLK Day. The temperature highs will be in the high 40's on Friday, the high 50's on Saturday and descending to the mid 30's on Sunday and Monday. The temperature lows will be around 40 on Friday and then around 30 the rest of the weekend. There's a 100% chance of an inch and a half of rain on Friday evening beginning around 7 pm, and the possibility of some rain or snow Monday evening after 7 pm. The humidity will be in the 60% - 80% range on Friday, the 50% - 60% range on Saturday, the 40% - 50% range on Sunday and the 50% - 60% range on Monday. The winds will rise from 10 to 22 mph on Friday, hover about 19 mph on Saturday, and then fall back to 12 - 16 mph Sunday, and dropping again to 7 - 8 mph on Monday.
You can watch theater, visit the Manhattan art museums NYC, and eat out at one of the Manhattan restaurants NYC or go shopping in Manhattan NYC locales including Midtown, the Upper West & East Sides & the Village.
Brief History of Martin Luther King Holiday in NYC
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist Minister who became the leading voice for African Americans' non-violent civil rights movement beginning in the mid 1950's through to his assassination in 1968. In 1983, the third Monday of every year was set aside to honor Martin Luther King for his service to the nation. The third Monday was chosen, as it was the nearest Monday to the anniversary of King's birthday, which was January 15, 1929.
Martin Luther King Day has grown to take on an even larger meaning, as it is oftentimes referred to as a day on, versus a day off. Organizations around the city and nation have used the day to call people into action to address the needs of the community through volunteering and service.
As Martin Luther King Day is a national holiday, it's worth keeping in mind that many / most federal offices will be closed, along with a number of businesses.
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in Manhattan NYC
Sunday, January 14, 2024 beginning at 2 pm - Uptown Hall: The Inconvenient King at the Apollo Theater at 253 West 125th Street in Harlem. They describe the event as follows, " ... The Apollo partners with WNYC in our 18th annual celebration of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his enduring legacy on the culture ... This year’s presentation focuses on a renewed commitment to understanding the context, confronting the complexity, and elevating our collective consciousness in the face of injustice and discrimination ... NPR’s Notes from America host, Kai Wright moderates the first hour of this year’s celebration. Music, spoken word and other forms of creative expression round out the afternoon ... [Done] In collaboration with March On Washington Film Festival ...". Free but must rsvp at url below. They sold out last year. But last year 2022, they told us that if the ticket holders don't show up / pick up their tickets by 2.30 pm the day of the show, they will be released to the public waiting in line at the theater. For details see - https://www.apollotheater.org
Sunday, January 14, 2024 from 10 am to 12 noon - the Abyssinian Baptist Church on Striver’s Row is hosting a King Day Worship Service. The church is located at 132 Odell Clark Place [aka West 138th Street] between 138th & 139th Streets and Frederick Douglass & Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvds in West Harlem. The featured speaker is Reverend Dr. William J. Barber, II – Founding director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy
Yale Divinity School. The West Harlem neighborhood includes places where African Americans like author W.E.B. DuBois and civil rights activist Malcolm X spent some time. Free. For details see - https://abyssinian.org.
Sunday, January 14, 2024 from 5 to 6.30 pm - the Joy Regardless Concert at Riverside Church at 490 Riverside Drive on the UWS of Manhattan. This musical annual MLK Commemoration is preceded by a church service at 12 noon, followed by a Soul Food Brunch in the South Hall [$16], a Sermon Talkback beginning at 1.30 pm, a film entitled Our Friend Martin beginning at 3.15 pm, followed by the Joy Regardless Concert at 5 pm. Folks will be seated on a first come first serve basis. The church has a real historical connection to Dr. King, as it is where, in 1967 Dr. King gave one of his most famous speeches, Beyond Vietnam. A Time to Break Silence. For details see - https://www.trcnyc.org. Admission to the Joy Regardless Concert is $30 w/ kids 12 and under free.
Monday, January 15, 2024 from 10 am to about 2 pm - Manhattan Country School Annual Commemorative MLK Day March. The eighth graders of the school have organized a march every year for the past 36 years [years unconfirmed]. The march is entitled 'The Power of Awareness: The March for Justice and Change'. The march route makes five stops at historically signficant sites, where students give 2 - 5 speeches at each stop. This year the march starts at the Harriet Tubman Memorial where West 122nd Street meets Frederick Douglass Blvd and St Nicholas Avenue. The next stop is the Frederick Douglass Circle at Frederick Douglass Blvd and West 110th Street, then onto the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, next the Joan of Arc Monument at West 94th and Riverside Drive, and finally at Grant's Tomb at Riverside Drive and West 89th Street before ending at Manhattan Country School at 150 West 85th Street. For details see - https://www.manhattancountryschool.org.
Monday, January 15, 2024 beginning at 1.30 pm - Harlem Gospel Choir performance at Sony Hall at 235 West 46th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The Harlem Gospel Choir was founded Allen Baily in 1986 after attending a MLK commemoration event at the Cotton Club in Harlem. They describe the choir and performance as follows, " ... The Choir presents the finest singers and musicians from Harlem’s Black Churches and the New York/Tri-State area ... The Harlem Gospel Choir’s songs of gospel and inspiration will touch the depths of your soul and lift your spirit to angelic heights, with sounds that are unfettered, joyous, and inspirational ...". The doors open at 12 noon and the show begins at 1.30 pm. Tickets run $38 - $52 at https://sonyhall.com. Things to do MLK weekend in Manhattan NYC.
All weekend there are jazz performances at the Birdland Theater at 315 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Tickets are $26 and $36 at https://birdlandjazz.com.
Back in 2020, just prior to the pandemic there was an exhibit that opened in January 2020 at the Schomburg Center for African American Culture in the Lapidus Center at 515 Malcolm X Blvd and 135th Street in Harlem. The exhibit was entitled Subversion & the Art of Slavery Abolition, which chronicles efforts made by the Abolitionists to stop enslavement via art, politics and culture. In 2021, 2022, 2023 and in 2024 they do not appear to have any MLK specific related programming, except in 2024 for an online program they held on January 4, 2024. That said, note that the Schomberg Center is normally closed on Sunday and will be closed MLK Day. But it's worth mentioning that they have a lot of good programming related to race and civil rights which you can find at https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/schomburg.
The Studio Museum of Harlem hosts a variety of cultural and art exhibits and programming related to African American culture. Their site at 144 West 125th Street, which they've occupied from 1982 - 2018, but which is still TEMPORARILY CLOSED while a new building is being constructed. They are currently operating out of Studio Museum 127 which is located at 429 West 127th Street in Harlem. The most recent estimate of when they expected to move back to their 125th Street site was generally referenced as sometime in 2024 [I believe they are already four years behind the schedule provided prior to the pandemic]. For updates / details see - https://studiomuseum.org.
The Africa Center at 1280 5th Avenue at 109th Street in East Harlem doesn't appear to have any specific programs scheduled for the MLK Weekend. The museum is focused on African culture rather than on African American culture. For details see - https://www.theafricacenter.org.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, January 12, 13 & 14, 2024 beginning at 8 pm except Sunday which begins at 2 pm - Jazz at the Joyce. The Joyce Theatre has just begun its Winter Jazz Festival. On Friday & Saturday there are modern dance performances by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre Company, and on Thursday and Sunday the performances are by Soles of Duende. It's all part of the larger January Arts Festival - https://www.janartsnyc.org/ which runs through most of this month of January 2024.
This weekend between January 13 - 15, 2024 - Make Your Own Day of Civic Action. There are multiple opportunities to help with food distribution through non-profit panties throughout many neighborhoods in Harlem and Manhattan. Here is one notable suggestion - https://www.foodpantries.org/address_geo.php
BE SURE TO CHECK BACK FRIDAY FOR ADDITIONAL THINGS TO DO OVER THE MLK WEEKEND.
- CLICK here for things to do Martin Luther King Day Weekend in Manhattan - MLK Day events Manhattan NYC.
Manhattan Things to do Presidents Day Weekend - Events Manhattan NYC
Things To Do Presidents Day Weekend Manhattan NYC
Things To Do In Manhattan NYC Over The Presidents Day Weekend
February 14, 2024 / Things To Do Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather. WHAT FOLLOWS IS FROM 2023. UPDATE COMING BETWEEN NOW & FRIDAY.
The photo at right is a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Union Square Park in Manhattan. Lincoln struggled to keep the United States together, while striving to rid it of the immoral and inhumane enslavement of African Americans.
Presidents Day is a federal holiday when all local, state and federal government offices are closed, which generally includes public schools - unless the district uses the holiday to make up a snow day, which is highly unlikely this year since there hasn't been any measureable snow.
Presidents Day is a time to reflect on the performance of our current presidents and legislators, to see how they stack up versus their historical peers. And in that reflection it's worth asking ourselves what we've done to contribute or detract from the national conversation.
Brief History of Presidents Day Holiday in NYC
A day commemorating Lincoln's birthday was first passed in Buffalo, New York in the early 1870's. Presidents Day originated as Washington's Birthday which was a holiday narrowly prescribed for federal government offices in Washington, D.C. in 1879. The holiday was dedicated to honoring the memory of the first American president, George Washington who was born on February 22, 1732.
In 1885 the holiday was expanded to include all federal government offices around the nation. In 1951 there was a push to create a Presidents Day holiday [vs a George Washington's birthday holiday] to include President Lincoln whose birthday is February 12, 1809 and was also celebrated by localities, but it didn't pass.
In 1971 the holiday was moved off of George Washington's birth date to being the third Monday in February. Thus while it never falls upon Washington's birthday 2/22, the official name of the holiday remains Washington's Birthday. But today, most folks refer to it as Presidents Day and to recognize the presidents who honored the U.S. Constitution and served the interests of the American people.
Click here for Manhattan - things to do Presidents Day Weekend MHTN / events in Manhattan NYC.
St Patricks Day Parades in Manhattan NYC
St Pats Day Parades in Manhattan NYC
This is a Look at the Upcoming St Patricks Day Parade in Manhattan NYC, Including Photos of the Parades we've Covered Over the Years with Links to a Page Containing Photos and Descriptions of Some of the Best Irish Pubs in the Manhattan Borough
March 7, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather. Coming with the Friday / Weekend post.
The photo at right was taken at the St Pats for All Parade in Sunnyside Queens. This St Pat's Parade was created to allow LGBTQ folks to march in a St Patricks Day parade at a time when all of the other St Patrick's Day Parades banned LGBTQ from marching in the Irish parades. As of March 1, 2024 there's only one St. Patrick's Day parade that continues to discriminate against people whose gender isn't totally traditional / binary.
Manhattan has Only One St Pat's Day Parade
Parades, Pubs and Restaurants in Manhattan NYC. Manhattan has only one St. Patrick's Day parade, which we've covered a number of times. We've included a prior report of the Manhattan St. Patricks Day Parade to provide you with further details of the experience of attending. We've also included an article summary leading into our report about some of the best or oldest Irish pubs and restaurants in Manhattan NYC. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and we will continue refining this report as we learn more about the Irish pubs and restaurants in Manhattan.
How this page is organized. The official feast date for St. Patrick is March 17th, but the date of the Manhattan St. Patrick's Day parade is March 16, 2024 because as a tradition they don't march on Sundays, which in the Catholic religion is the Lord's Day. The Manhattan St Patrick's Day parade is the largest in NYC.
The LGBTQ Parade Participation Issue Appears to be Abating. In 2000 the St Pats for All parade was first launched in Sunnyside, Queens to protest the banning of gays from marching in the Manhattan St Pats Day Parade. In 2014 / 2015 the Manhattan Parade opened up its participation rules to allow gays to march. In 2020 the Throgs Neck parade in the Bronx opened up its participation to gays. At present only the Staten Island parade continues to ban LGBTQ community members from participating in the parade as openly gay people. The Staten Island ban continues in 2024 by the traditional parade organizers, but they now have competition as a new LGBTQ friendly parade will be marching on March 17, 2024.
- CLICK here to view our report on the St Patricks Day Parades Manhattan NYC.
Manhattan Easter Parades, Events, Brunches & Ceremonies in MHTN NYC
Manhattan Easter Events, Brunches & Ceremonies in MHTN NYC
There are Two Easters Observed - 1) West European Christians & 2) East European Orthodox
March 29, 2024 / Manhattan Neighborhoods NYC / Manhattan Things To Do Events NYC / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
Very Brief Introduction to Christian Easter Traditions
Christians observe Good Friday, which is when the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross. On the Sunday following Good Friday, Christians celebrate the Biblical account of Jesus rising from the dead, which is Easter.
Emperor Constantine became the Roman Emperor in 306. In 324 Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, wherein Christianity split into two different sects - Roman Catholic Christians [primarily in Western Europe] and Orthodox Christians [primarily in Eastern Europe]. The traditions have much in common, but one of the differences is in how they calculate the time of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
The Western European Christians [Protestants and Catholics] use the Gregorian Calendar to calculate when to celebrate Good Friday and Easter. The Gregorian calendar was created in the 16th century and made the official calendar by Pope Gregory. Orthodox Christians use the Julian Calendar, which was made law in the Roman Empire in 45 B.C. by Julius Caesar. The primary difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars is that the Gregorian calendar uses Leap Year [this year is one of them] to adjust the calendar for the 1/4 extra day per year, that to our rotation around the sun requires. Thus the calendar differences, and how the date of Easter is calculated, is why the Orthodox and Roman Catholic / Protestant Christian Easters oftentimes occur on different dates.
This year [2024] the celebrations of the two traditions are separated by five weeks, with the Western European Christians celebrating next weekend and the Orthodox Christians celebrating a week later.
Next Up - The History of the Easter Bunny & Related Traditions
- CLICK here to view our report on Easter events, Easter egg hunts and Easter brunches in Manhattan NYC. We start off with a brief history of the Easter Bunny and the origin of related traditions.
Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend Manhattan NYC - Memorial Day Events & Parades Mhtn NYC
Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend Manhattan NYC
Things To Do In Manhattan NYC, Over The Memorial Day Weekend 2024
Updated May 27, 2024 from 5/21/24 / Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend Manhattan NYC / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
This is a report containing things to do in Manhattan over the Memorial Day Weekend, including Memorial Day Parades in Manhattan with links to the other boroughs of NYC.
NYC Weather Forecast as of 5.23.24. The temperature highs will fall from the mid 80's on Friday to about 70 on Monday, The temperature lows will be in the low to mid 60's all four days of the long weekend. No rain is in the forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but on Monday there's about an inch of rain expected, but when and how much has been changing, so stay tuned. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then kicking up to 10 - 15 mph on Monday. The humidity increases from 45% - 55% on Friday, to 45% - 75% on Saturday, and then continuing to rise to 70 - 80% on Sunday and 80% - 90% on Monday. Three out of four days isn't bad, and the last day, Memorial Day, is still a bit of a wild card.
The things to do in Manhattan on Memorial Day Weekend include art exhibitions, theater, live music, comedy, dance, shopping, outdoor activities such as soccer, kyaking, baseball, parades, street fairs, museums and dining on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Harlem, Washington Heights, Midtown Manhattan, the East or West Village, LES, SoHo, Tribeca or Downtown FiDi in Manhattan NYC.
Be sure to check our Memorial Day Weekend things to do, which we post on the front page on Friday afternoon leading into the Memorial Day Weekend in Manhattan NYC.
Brief History of the Memorial Day Holiday in Manhattan
Memorial Day first started out as Decoration Day in Waterloo, New York on May 30, 1866 - a year after the Civil War - to honor those who fought in it. In the 1880's the day came to be known as Memorial Day.
According to a May 25, 2012 report in Time Magazine, ten states - Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee also officially observe some version of a Confederate Memorial Day, sometime between late April and early June [in Texas it's in January]. It's been reported that unofficially most of the former Confederate states still commemorate it, but not without some controversy as to the former Confederate diaspora it's to honor their ancestors, while to the former diaspora of the slaves it seems a remnant of these states racist past.
About ten percent of the nation travels more than 50 miles over the weekend. Memorial Day differs from Veterans Day which is held on November 11th of each year. Veterans Day began by honoring those who fought in World War I which ended on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Both honor those who served in the U.S. Military. Veterans Day coincides with a similar holiday in Europe for the same reason, which is called Remembrance Day and Armistice Day.
Things to do in Other NYC Boroughs Memorial Day Weekend
Things to do Manhattan Memorial Day Weekend NYC and Queens Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend NYC and Things to do Bronx Memorial Day Weekend NYC and Brooklyn Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend NYC and Staten Island Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend NYC.
- Click here to view the rest of our report of things to do Memorial Day Weekend in Manhattan NYC. And we'll have more to add by Friday.
July 4th Fireworks Manhattan NYC
Manhattan 4th of July Fireworks NYC 2024
Best Viewing Places / Locations to Watch Fireworks in Manhattan NYC
Updated July 3, 2024 / Manhattan Neighborhoods / 4th of July Fireworks & Holiday Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather 4th of July Week as of 7.3.2024. The temperature highs will be in the mid 80's all week, while the temperature lows will start the week in the mid 60's, gradually rising to the mid 70's by Friday. Winds will be about 5 mph all week, except on Wednesday when they kick up to about 10 mph. The humidity will be a comfortable 40% - 60% on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, rising to 65% - 75% on Thursday and Friday.
There's a 40% chance of about a quarter inch of rain between the hours of 5 - 9 pm, dropping to 30% at that time, and staying there through most of Friday. No rain is currently forecast until late Thursday night [11 pm] and Friday, until late Friday evening.
NYC Weather Update for the Week Ahead as of 6.23.24 for the Fireworks Days [Wednesday, Thursday & Friday]. The temperature highs will be in the low 90's on Wednesday, descending to the mid 80's on Thursday, and down to the high 70's on Friday. The temperture lows will fall from the low 70's on Wednesday to the mid 60's on Thursday and Friday. The winds will range from 5 - 10 mph on all three days, descending from the high to the low of that range in tandem with the temperatures. The humidity will also fall from a high of about 80% on Wednesday, to 60% on Thursday, and then begin swinging back up on Friday to 80%, again. There's a 60% chance of about a half inch of rain on Wednesday, after 6 pm, but otherwise dry for these three fireworks days.
Air Quality. Last year [2023] we experienced some unhealthy air conditions stemming from the Canadian forest fires, caused by climate change, which is caused by carbon emissions from gas guzzling autos, power plants & other carbon powered and emitting machinery. To stay abreast of the air quality in NYC copy and paste this link into your browswer bar - https://www.airnow.gov.
At right is a photo of the Manhattan July 4th fireworks, taken near the South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan in an earlier year.
Macy's July 4th Fireworks Returns to the Hudson River
Provides Good Viewing for Manhattan and New Jersey and Possibly Remotely Viewable from Tall / Hotel Building Rooftops in Greenpoint & Williamsburg Brooklyn & LIC
The Macy's 4th of July fireworks will return to the Hudson River this year after being shown along the East River since 2014. The last time they had been shown along the Hudson River [2009 - 2013] they stayed there for five years. Mayor de Blasio lobbied for the return of the fireworks to the East River, which lasted for ten years. The Grucci Brothers will be doing the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in NYC, which I believe [unconfirmed] they've been doing since the fireworks inception in 1976 .
The consequence of this change, is that Brooklyn and Queens will not have front row seats to the Macy's July 4th fireworks display, as the fireworks show will be about four miles west of where it's usually held, which is on the west side of Manhattan instead of the east side. We've tentatively heard that the fireworks barges will be stationed between 14th and 34th Streets and we'll update you here if that changes.
The following page contains a number of different Independence Day / 4th of July fireworks celebrations viewable from Manhattan and also contains links to July 4th fireworks displays and event in all five boroughs of NYC. A couple of the highlights include best viewing locations in Manhattan for the Macy's 4th of July fireworks, Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn fireworks and one old fashioned 'small town' parade on Staten Island.
- Click here for a report about where to watch the 4th of July Fireworks in Manhattan NYC 2024 & surrounding areas, including times and locations for the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in NYC and at Jones Beach on Long Island.
Manhattan Things To Do Labor Day Weekend - Events Manhattan NYC
Things To Do Labor Day Weekend Manhattan NYC
Things To Do In Manhattan - Events Over The Labor Day Weekend
August 27, 2024 / Things To Do Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather Last Year [2023]. The temperature highs will be around 80 on Friday and Saturday, rising to about 90 on Sunday and Monday. The temperature lows will be in the low 60's on Friday, the high 60's on Saturday and about 70 on Sunday and Monday. The winds will be 4 - 8 mph on Friday and Saturday, falling to 3 - 6 mph on Sunday and Monday. The humidity will range from around 50% to 65% on Friday and Saturday, rising to 55% to 70% on Sunday and Monday. Sunrise is approximately 6.23 am and sunset in 7.29 pm as of Friday 9/1/23.
In the photo at right you can see an art show held in Manhattan in a prior year.
WORK IN PROGRESS 8.27.24 SOME OF THE INFO BELOW NEEDS UPDATING, SO WATCH DATES.
ALSO SEE FRONT PAGE FOR THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND MANHATTAN.
Special Events on Labor Day Weekend in Manhattan NYC
One of the biggest events over the Labor Day Weekend in Manhattan include the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit which runs from 12 noon to 6 pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, as well as the following weekend. The show runs along University Avenue from 13th Street down to Washington Square.
Also, from Friday, August 25th to Monday, September 4th, 2023 there are nightly high definition screenings, beginning at 8 pm, of Metropolitan Opera performances shown in the plaza at Lincoln Center at Columbus and 68th Street on the UWS. Copy and paste this link to see what's playing each night - https://www.metopera.org/season/summer-events/summer-hd-festival/ . FREE. You can pay to ensure a seat [212.875.5456], as there are only 2,500 seats, and it's first come / first serve, and they open for seating only an hour before the screening begins. Shows continue through rain, unless there's thunder and / or lightning.
And it's worth mentioning that on Friday and Saturday, September 1 & 2, 2023, the Metropolitan Museum Rooftop Cantor bar is open from 5.30 - 8.15 pm on the 5th floor. Free w/ admission to the Met. This year the bar stays open through October 22nd, 2023 and it's worth noting that it closes at 4.15 pm on weekdays, and opens at 11 am on all days.
Ironically, the Labor Day Parade in Manhattan is held Saturday, September 9th,the weekend after Labor Day in Manhattan. It begins at 10 am on 5th Avenue at 44th Street marching north to 64th Street.
Labor Day Events In Manhattan
You can still attend NYC street fairs in Manhattan, go bicycling in Manhattan, play soccer & other games in Manhattan NYC parks, go shopping in Manhattan locales including Midtown, the Upper West & East Sides & the Village, attend Manhattan parades, watch theater, visit the NYC art museums, and eat out at one of the Manhattan restaurants NYC.
And it's all happening right here in our favorite borough - Manhattan. So take your time to sort through the events and start planning your weekend. Click here to obtain information about other things to do in Manhattan NYC beyond the Labor Day Weekend. This events calendar is updated monthly with about 100 different Manhattan fun / cultural events.
Manhattan Public & Private Parks
Manhattan has one of number of public parks of which a few include swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Manhattan Parks NYC including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history.
NYC Golfing In Queens & The Bronx
Manhattan doesn't have any golf courses per se, but all of the other boroughs do and all of them are open this weekend. That said, Manhattan has a nice driving range at Chelsea Piers which is open this weekend.
Click here for details about Queens Golf Courses including maps and links to the operators' websites. The Bronx has several public golf courses: Mosholu and Van Cortlandt Park are accessible via the MTA / subway.
- Click here for things to do Labor Day Weekend in Manhattan.
Manhattan Things to do Columbus Day Weekend NYC
Columbus Day Weekend Manhattan NYC
Things To Do In Manhattan NYC Over The Columbus Day Weekend
October 13, 2024 / Things To Do Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather Forecast as of 10.11.24. Today - Sunrise 7.03 am & Sunset at 6.20 pm. There's a 50% chance of a small amount [less than 1/5th inch] of rain Sunday night after 9 pm & ending Monday mid morning. Temperature highs will be in the low 70's through Sunday, descending to the low 60's on Monday. Temperature lows will be in the mid to high 50's through Sunday, descending into the mid 40's on Monday. It's going to be a windy weekend, with winds of 11 to 16 mph through Sunday, rising to 17 to 19 on Monday. The humidity will be 40% - 50% Friday and Saturday, rising to 60% - 70% on Sunday, before falling back to 50% - 60% on Monday. Generally a good weather three day holiday weekend. Enjoy.
This report contains a listing of some of the things to do in Manhattan over the Columbus Day Weekend including art museums, theaters, live music / comedy / dance venues, sporting & social events, and restaurants for Manhattan NYC.
See our weekend post on the Friday of Columbus Day Weekend with things to do in Manhattan NYC including the Columbus Day Parade on the front page of this site. The weekend post will include all sorts of other events and activities not necessarily related to Columbus Day.
You can still attend NYC street fairs in Manhattan, go bicycling in Manhattan, play soccer & other games in Manhattan NYC parks, go shopping in Manhattan locales including Midtown, the Upper West & East Sides & the Village, attend Manhattan parades, watch theater, visit the NYC art museums, and eat out at one of the Manhattan restaurants NYC.
Columbus Day Events In Manhattan
Columbus Day Parade - Upper East Side Manhattan
Monday, October 14, 2024 from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm, with parade beginning at 12 noon - The Columbus Day Parade. The Manhattan Columbus Day Parade kicks off at Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and marching up to 72nd Street along the Upper East Side. There's a mass at St. Patricks Cathedral preceding the parade, likely at 10 am [unconfirmed time]. Check the front page of this website for other things to do over the Columbus Day Weekend in Manhattan. For details and related Columbus Day Weekend events see - https://columbuscitizens.org
Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 9 am to 3 pm - 3rd Annual Indigenous People's Parade. There's a ceremony that begins at 9 am and the parade begins at 12 noon marching down South Broadway from Madison Square Park at 26th Street to Union Square Park at 17th Street in south Midtown. There's likely to be after parade celebration in the park.
Manhattan Public & Private Parks & Public Indoor Swimming Pools
Manhattan has one of number of public parks of which a few include indoor swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Manhattan Parks NYC including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history.
NYC public indoor swimming pools are open.
NYC Golfing In Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn & Staten Island
Manhattan doesn't have any golf courses per se, but there is a driving range at 62 Chelsea Piers at 22nd Street and the West Side Highway.
There are also three simulated golfing centers in Manhattan that operate under the Five Iron Golf name at 22 Stone Street [at Broad St] in the Financial District, at 138 5th Avenue in the Flatiron District and in the Continental on the third floor at 883 6th Avenue near Macy's and Madison Square Garden.
Queens has four golf courses and all of them are open this weekend. Click here for details about Queens Golf Courses including maps and links to the operators' websites.
The Bronx has four public golf courses: Mosholu, Van Cortlandt Park are accessible via the MTA / subway. And Pelham Bay Park and Trump golf links are accessible via subway and a brief bus ride. The Trump Golf Links are an NYC golf course owned by the city, for which Mayor Bloomberg had cut a licensing deal with Donald Trump to rename and manage it. Since the Capitol Riot / Insurrection, the City has decided to terminate that deal and rename the golf course, but Trump is suing to keep the contract.
Brooklyn has a couple of golf courses including Dyker Beach golf course which is accessible via subway and Marine Park golf course which is accessible via subway and bus.
And Staten Island has three beautiful golf courses including: Silver Lake which is only a few miles from the St. George Ferry, LaTourette Park which isn't far from the Staten Island Mall in the central / western part of Staten Island and the South Shore Golf Course which much further south of the Staten Island Mall, along the west coast of Staten Island.
Click here for things to do Columbus Day Weekend, including the parade, in Manhattan NYC.
Manhattan Halloween Parties, Parades & Events NYC
Manhattan Halloween Parties, Parades & Events NYC
Manhattan Halloween Parties in Midtown, UES, Upper East Side, East Village, West Village Halloween Parade Manhattan NYC, UWS, Upper West Side, SoHo, Harlem, LES, Lower East Side, Downtown NYC Seaport, Inwood & Washington Heights Manhattan Halloween Events NYC
UPDATING October 13, 2024 vs 10.30.23 / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Restaurants / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
Halloween occurs on a Thursday this year. The Manhattan Halloween party celebrations begin leading into the weekend running through to Halloween day itself. The following is a round up of some of the Halloween parties planned in Manhattan.
THE FOLLOWING NEEDS UPDATING TO 2O24. STAY TUNED. WE'RE ON IT.
The weather around Halloween is usually about 65 during the day time and around 50 degrees at night. It's too early to tell what the precipitation will be the preceding weekend as well as on Halloween, but we provide weather updates each Friday.
The 47th Annual Village Halloween Parade Manhattan NYC starts at 7 pm at Spring Street and 6th Avenue and marches north to 16th Street on Tuesday, October 31st. It runs through the West Village neighborhood for three to four hours with the official end time at 10.30 pm. We've heard that there are over 35 bands and an innumerable showing of creative costumes.
The following is a short list of Manhattan Halloween parties at local bars, restaurants and arts and public venues will be added over time. In most cases we suggest that you call ahead and rsvp a spot to be sure you get in.
Click here to view our report on Manhattan Halloween Parties NYC - Halloween Parties, Parades & Events in Manhattan NYC.
Thanksgiving Day Parade Manhattan
89th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade NYC
November / UWS Upper West Side Neighborhood / Manhattan Parades NYC / Manhattan Buzz / by Michael Wood.
On Thursday November 27, 2015 the 89th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began at 9 am. The hydrogen-filled balloons are inflated and held along Central Park West around the Museum of Natural History on Wednesday evening. You can view them the night before Thanksgiving, as they are fastened securely to the ground, for free.
Sometime in the wee hours of Thanksgiving morning, folks from around the nation begin to camp out along the Thanksgiving Day Parade route to secure a good viewing location in advance of the parade. These intrepid members of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade audience braved the weather, which this year was pretty accommodating. When I arrived between 7 and 8 am it was in the mid 40's.
I asked a few of them why they did this and they told me that they had traveled from distant states and may never see the parade in person again. Some of them also had friends or family marching in the parade and they didn't want to miss seeing and photographing them marching in the nationally televised parade.
Click here to visit our section dedicated to Manhatan Parades NYC.
Thanksgiving - America's Communal Holiday
The Pilgrims Legacy: Love, Sharing & Community Empowerment
November 20, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / Thanksgiving Holidays in NYC / Gotham Buzz NYC.
A couple of years ago, I happened upon a childhood book of fables and fairytales that I had saved since I was a first grader. I was young enough to still like fairytales and old enough to be learning and loving to read.
The book, A Gateway to Storyland, by Platt & Munk Co, was given to me around the holidays, and the book still gives me a warm, loved feeling when I periodically open it to browse through the fairytales and fables containing little nuggets of age old wisdom about how to conduct onesself [see photo at right / the book is still in print]. I read it numerous times immediately upon receiving it, as the illustrations fed my imagination, and lessons embedded in the words resonated with timeless sagacity.
Unselfish Parental Love Manifested by Empowering Progeny
Love comes in many forms, but the purest form is unselfish love. The love of truly giving something with no thought of anything in return. That love is oftentimes given intergenerationally - from grandparents to parents to children.
Perhaps the greatest gifts are those that cost us nothing but our time. Like the gift of teaching someone something that they will be able to put to good use throughout their lives. Parents do this all the time, when they help their children develop skills, and impart some knowledge and learning ... just as my parents did many years ago, by giving me a well illustrated fairytale book to encourage my interest in reading, while sharing the time tested insights of the ages, handed down through storytelling.
I. A Brief Thanksgiving History
The Pilgrims Shared Communal Resources to Actualize a Dream
At Thanksgiving time we commemorate one of America's first settlements, founded by the risk-taking, resource-pooling, hardworking, spiritual community of Pilgrims.
The Pilgrims were early English settlers who arrived on American shores in the early 17th century [1600's]. They came here because they wanted a measure of freedom and self-determination that they were forbidden in Europe or what was called the 'old country'. The Pilgrims wanted to practice their faith, unencumbered, in a way that differed from the established Church of England. They pooled their money to obtain a ship, the Mayflower, to cross the Atlantic in mid September of 1620, landing on America's shores at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts on November 9, 1620. Think of it. It took about a month and a half to travel a distance we can now traverse in about five hours.
The Pilgrims Receive Help from the Native People of a Strange Land
Per Wikipedia, the Piligrims survived a hard winter in 1621 with the help of the Wampanoag, an American Indian tribe. The Pilgrims were the immigrants, and the first Americans, the Indian natives, welcomed them. The Wampanaog taught the Pilgrims how to catch eels, and how to grow and harvest corn. Thus the Pilgrims ended 1621 with a good harvest which they celebrated and shared with their new friends, expressing their gratitude to a higher power, aka God, for the success of their endeavors.
Thus it was that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in America ... or did it?
- CLICK here for the rest of the story about Thanksgiving Day sentiments in NYC.
Manhattan Holiday Events - Holiday Things to do Manhattan NYC
Manhattan Holiday Events - Manhattan NYC
Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, & Kwanzaa Candle Lightings in Manhattan & Holiday Markets & Events NYC
December 15, 2023 / Upper East Side UES / Upper West Side UWS / Midtown NYC / East Village & West Village / Tribeca SoHo Bowery / Holiday Events & Holiday Markets - Kwanzaa, Hanukkah & Christmas Holidays in Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
Be sure to visit our Manhattan holiday markets NYC page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.
For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.
How The Manhattan Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized
NOTE. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.
These holiday events in Manhattan are organized as follows:
1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF MANHATTAN
2. BY DATE - (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)
Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.
3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.
4. *** Note MANHATTAN HOLIDAY MARKETS are published on a separate page - the links to which are posted at the bottom of this page, along with links to other boroughs.
Manhattan Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background
The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.
Holiday lighting festivals and ceremonies have been on the rise in Manhattan in recent years. While some date back many years, some are fairly new.
Attending holiday lightings alone, with friends or with the kids gives folks a chance to enjoy their own cultural heritage and provides an opportunity to learn a bit more about and share in the cultural heritage of others.
Each lighting is a bit different, as some are orginated by the community, some by businesses, some by religious organizations, and a few have arts organizations behind them. Please feel free to send us a notice of your holiday lighting event if it's not posted herein.
Manhattan Holiday Events & Holiday Markets Now Underway
This is not meant to be a complete list, but rather a list of the holiday lighting events. The holiday lighting events are organized individually by each Manhattan neighborhood including the Upper East Side UES, the Upper West Side UWS, Midtown NYC, the East Village, the West Village, the Bowery, SoHo, Tribeca and more to come. Many include the serving of some beverage like hot chocolate and generally some snack like cookies.
- Click here for our report about the Xmas / Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings - holiday things to do Manhattan - Christmas, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa events Manhattan NYC.
Manhattan Holiday Markets - Holiday Shopping Manhattan NYC
Manhattan Holiday Markets - Manhattan NYC
Christmas Markets, Hanukkah Markets, Kwanzaa Markets & Outdoor Holiday Markets - Holiday Shopping in Manhattan NYC
December 15, 2023 / Upper East Side UES / Upper West Side UWS / Midtown NYC / East Village & West Village / Tribeca SoHo Bowery / Holiday Events & Holiday Markets - Kwanzaa, Hanukkah & Christmas Holidays in Manhattan / Holiday Shopping Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
Be sure to visit our Manhattan Holiday Events NYC page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.
For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.
NOTE. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.
Holiday outdoor markets have been on the rise in Manhattan since the dawn of the 21st century. While some date back many years, quite a few are relatively new.
Shopping at holiday markets alone, with friends, or with the kids gives folks a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor and satisfy some of their yearnings as well as the yearnings of those we love.
Each of the Manhattan holiday markets is a bit different, as some are organized by community groups and others by business organizations. Oftentimes one can find artisanal products that are made in NYC or NYS.
Manhattan Holiday Markets Getting Underway
Some of the Manhattan holiday markets get underway almost immediately after Halloween, while others open up around Thanksgiving time. The Manhattan holiday markets are located in or near the following Manhattan neighborhoods - the Upper East Side UES, the Upper West Side UWS, Midtown NYC, the East Village, the West Village, the Bowery, SoHo, Tribeca, Lower East Side, Harlem, Inwood and Washington Heights. Many either include the serving of some beverage like hot chocolate and generally snacks like cookies - or are near food vendors and restaurants.
Click here for our report about the Xmas / Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanzaa Holiday markets in Manhattan & Holiday shopping Manhattan NYC.
Manhattan New Years Parties - NYE Parties Manhattan NYC
Manhattan New Years Eve Parties NYC & NYE Parties & Events MHTN 2023 / 2024
New Years Parties & Restaurants on the Upper East Side UES, Midtown, West & East Village, Upper West Side UWS, SoHo, Tribeca & Downtown in Manhattan NYC
December 29, 2023 / Manhattan New Years Eve Parties & Restaurants NYC / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
Weather Forecast. NYE Sunrise in NYC - 7.20 am. NYE Sunset in NYC - 4.38 pm. The temperature highs will be in the mid 50's on Friday, dropping to the mid 40's for the rest of the three day holiday weekend including Monday. The temperature lows will be around 40 through Sunday, dropping into the low 30's on Monday. Humidity will be around 70% on Friday, descending into the 60's for the rest of the three day weekend. The winds will be about 8 to 10 mph on Friday & Saturday, dropping to about 5 to 7 mph on Sunday and Monday. No precipitation is in the forecast, although it will be cloudy all days except NYE Sunday. Have a safe and Happy New Year.
As happens every year, there will be a number of great New Years parties in Manhattan preceding and following the dropping of the ball at Times Square.
New Years Eve occurs on a Sunday this year. While New Years Eve is one big party, it's important to keep in mind, that like St. Patrick's Day, all the amateurs come out to play [it's not just the Irish who are out drinking on St. Patrick's Day]. So some measure of caution is advised and you have to be careful.
The following are a number of different New Years restaurants in Manhattan NYC where you might consider booking a reservation.
Click here for Manhattan New Year Parties Eve NYC - NYE Parties Manhattan NYC.
Zum Schneider Fest - German Beer Halls Manhattan - East Village Restaurants NYC
east village restaurants zum schneider restaurant zum schneider fest oktoberfest manhattan nyc
Ze Zum Schneider Festival in Manhattan
A German Immigrant Brings his Homeland Culture to Manhattan
September 24, 2018 / Near the Gramercy Neighborhood & Stuyvestant Town & Peter Cooper Village Neighborhoods in Midtown / East Village Restaurants Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
A couple of years ago I attended the Zum Schneider Festival along the East River at 23rd Street. What I witnessed was a mirthful display of old fashioned fun. The whole event is led by a restaurateur with a giant sized personality, who sings, eats and talks his way through the ten day Oktoberfest celebration.
I arrived on a Saturday afternoon and began by inquiring for the press liaison, with whom I had made prior arrangements. It wasn’t long before she appeared and began introducing me to the cast of characters who would play roles in the activities planned for the afternoon.
The most memorable of the character introductions was the man for whom the festival was named, Sylvester Schneider, restaurateur of Zum Schneider. Zum, in the German language, means Go To, so the Zum Schneider restaurant includes some subliminal advertising – telling all those who come across it, to ‘go to the Schneider restaurant’. Funny. Cute. Befitting the character I would get to know a little better as the afternoon unfolded.
The first tent on the East River opened in 2014, while the Zum Schneider restaurant, I was told had opened in 2002. Sylvester told me he had come to America from Bavaria where Oktoberfest had originated.
- CLICK here to see the rest of our report about the upcoming the Zum Schneider Fest in Manhattan which is organized by the Zum Schneider restaurant in the East Village NYC, including photos.
Ze Zum Schneider Festival in Manhattan
A German Immigrant Brings his Homeland Culture to Manhattan
September 24, 2018 / Near the Gramercy Neighborhood & Stuyvestant Town & Peter Cooper Village Neighborhoods in Midtown / East Village Restaurants Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC. Continued.
Sylvester told me that King Ludwig of Munich, Germany held the first Oktoberfest in Bavaria in honor of his new wife, Theresa Saxe-Hildberghausen in 1810. He mentioned that horse races were a big part of the first festival and some of them thereafter. According to Wikipedia, the festival went on hiatus in 1812 due to the Napoleonic Wars, but resumed thereafter, intermittently going on hiatus for other wars and at least one cholera epidemic. A few years after the first Oktoberfest, carnival booths were added and the event became a full blown Bavarian cultural festival, at times renamed or hijacked for political purposes, such as when the Nazis came to power. Beer drinking, as well as Bavarian music and costumes have long been a part of the festival.
Sylvester came to the U.S. in 1987 as a musician. He played in Oktoberfests as on the 8th day of the traditionally 16 day event, drums and singing were the focus of the event. Sylvester was joined by two associates, Sylvia and Tony, who were also co-organizers of the event.
Sylvester told me that he tried to maintain an authentic Bavarian Oktoberfest experience, and that he was among one of the first to provide a new generational Oktoberfest experience. He said that in 2015, about 7,500 people attended the event, coming from parts of Long Island and New Jersey, as well as NYC.
When we talked about the fare being served, he noted that the cuisine reflected a limited menu from his East Village Restaurant, Zum Schneider, but that it did not include embellishments added at the restaurant [for pragmatic / logistical reasons].
I had an opportunity to sample the offerings which included fish, pork, chicken, salads, beers and pretzels – everything you would expect to find at a real Oktoberfest.
I walked around the big carnival sized tent. There were picnic tables filled with guests and plenty of food beer throughout the tent. In the back the food was served, in the middle of the tent the beer was poured [generally served by the waiting staff], and in the middle of the tent there was an elevated stage.
At one point during my visit, Sylvester and his band got up to perform some traditional Oktoberfest sing alongs, which seemed very popular with the boisterous, well fed, well sated crowd. There was an accordion player, a tuba player, a clarinet player, and of course Sylvester playing the drums and leading the sing along.
Outside the big tent there were a couple of carnival rides, a couple of booths, a line waiting of folks waiting to get in, and the East River. I took my plate of food outside and sampled the bratwurst which was very moist and flavorful, the chicken which was also quite good, and the pork – again another high quality, well cooked piece of meat.
Many years ago I had attended a real Oktoberfest in Germany, in the Rhine wine region of the country. As I began to leave, I felt that I had briefly returned to the celebratory feast of German culture. The Zum Schneider Fest seemed to do what Sylvester had intended, bringing a little bit of Bavarian culture to the East side of Manhattan on the East River.
Prost [means cheers in German].
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Halloween in Manhattan NYC
A Floating Pumpkin Flotilla on Harlem Meer
October 29, 2018 / Upper East Side Neighborhoods / Holidays in Manhattan / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
After a cold, wet, rainy Halloween Weekend Saturday, many Manhattanites were looking to escape into the eerie fantasy world we call Halloween. Halloween is said to have originated in Ireland as a Celtic festival to ring in the New Year and celebrate the harvest, but today it's mostly an opportunity for people to dress up as someone or something else ... and free themselves of their workaday world and act out some of their pent up desires ... or something ...
Manhattan offers a banquet of Halloween event and party options. They range from river boat cruises, to rooftop parties, to haunted houses and floating pumpkin flotillas. Yes, floating pumpkin flotillas on the Harlem Meer at the Dana Discovery Center in the northeast corner of Central Park on the Upper East Side. So, having never been to it, I decided to go this year to witness the Halloween magic myself.
The Dana Discovery Center & Harlem Meer
I arrived a bit early at East 105th Street and 5th Avenue, just north of the Museum of the City of New York. I walked in through the entrance to the Conservatory and walked out of the Conservatory northern gate. From the gate I could see the Dana Discovery Center across the Harlem Meer [Harlem is a Dutch town and meer means pond in the Dutch language] and there was a dirt path running all around the pond.
It was a bit before 4 pm as I walked the path to the northern side of the pond. I landed in the area still west of the Dana Discovery Center, where there were booths set up by the NYC Parks Department. There were kids interacting with folks working the event, learning about planting pumpkins. They were given samples which they could take home with them. In another area, there were a few folks working for the Parks Department who were receiving carved out pumpkins brought by members of the audience to be included in the floating flotilla. In prior years people could carve pumpkins on site, but they discontinued that in favor of folks bringing their own pre-carved pumpkins. I've seen this elimination of on site carving at other events, so my guess is that it may have something to do with lawyers mitigating the organizers' potential liability risks.
Manhattan Kids Halloween in Central Park
There were other stands as well, which I believe were of an arts and crafts nature. And in the distance, along the eastern side of the Dana Discovery Center there was music playing. I parked myself near the pumpkin flotilla launch pad, as that was a hive of activity, and the place to be when the flotilla launched ... or so I thought.
While waiting I met and conversed with several people, including a super nanny with her charge, a writer from another state in search of her own truth, a mother with her rambunctious son, a couple of very loving mulit-cultural parents with their children, and a couple of French women. Like myself they were attending the event for the first time, and we all braved the cool weather [50's], waiting for hours before the pumpkin flotilla began launching at 5.30 pm.
The Floating Pumpkin Flotilla Takes Flight
As the flames inside the pumpkins were lit, the crowd gathered more intently, cameras flashing, all eyes upon the prize. The prize was an aesthetic of pumpkin faces shining upon the still waters of Harlem Meer, and being surrounded by a mix of the local community and the world community to witness this event. The whole flotilla would eventually be pulled behind the two kyaks around the meer beginning around 6.30 [aka dark] for about a half hour before ending.
I started walking back around the meer, as the pumpkin lighting continued, shooting photos along the way. The crowd was largely quiet, speaking in low conversational tones, between themselves. I eventually made my way back through the gate to 5th Avenue where I met a woman while waiting for a southbound bus. She told me she was a hairdresser back in the day and that she used to take her kids camping along the waterside of Harlem Meer. She told me that, "Things have changed a lot since then." and that "The biggest changes came after 911."
Ah, yes, it was a simpler time. But then again so is the whole notion of the lighting up a few dozen pumpkin faces, and dragging them behind a kyak on a pond - attracting literally a thousand or more people to watch the event - seems kind of simple too.
I hope you had or will have a Happy Halloween.
Things To Do This Weekend Manhattan NYC
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN MANHATTAN
OCTOBER WEEKEND EVENTS IN MANHATTAN NYC
UPDATED 10 / 12 / 24
ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS
Also, Click Logo at the Top of the Screen to Check Front Page for Additional
Things To Do this Weekend in Manhattan / Manhattan Weekend Events NYC
OCTOBER is the first full month of Autumn, when the cooler weather sets in.
This is the month of the Pulaski Day Parade, the Korean Parade & Festival, the Nigerian Parade, the Columbus Day Parade, the Indigenous Peoples' Parade & Celebration on Randalls Island, the Manhattan Hispanic Day Parade, and the Village Halloween Parade and Parties.
October is also the first full month where the new season at all of NYC's cultural institutions, kicks into high gear. Open House NY provides an opportunity to tour 270 of NYC's cultural and architectural sites. There's the LGBTQ Film Festival, the Fall for Dance Festival at NYC City Center [this year 2024 it was held in September], the NY Film Festival at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall opens the Fall Season.
And there's an assortment of other events such as Comic Con at the Javits Center and the NYC Food & Wine Festival.
The photo above was taken at Lincoln Center on the Upper
West Side of Manhattan in a prior year. Enjoy.
Use search to find prior stories, maps, photos and business listings.
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