New York Annual Events

New York City is the city that never sleeps so it’s unsurprising perhaps that its annual calendar is jam packed full of events that keeps people coming from all over the world to join in.

In January celebrate Chinese New Year in style with the annual parade along Manhattan’s lower east side; with 10 days of celebrations watch out for the decorative lions and dragons working their way through the streets. Expect colour, music and glorious food throughout the festivities.

February sees the Empire State Building Run Up Foot Race, a great event for people watching as contenders compete to race up the famous New York building.

The luck of the Irish is celebrated all over the world and New York is no exception and the St. Patrick's Day Parade is the oldest parade in America. You can get a good view of the parade from St. Patrick’s Cathedral where you will see the bishop of New York greeting the marchers. On Easter Sunday you will find the Easter Day Parade where New Yorker’s dress up in all manner of bonnets. There’s also a children’s egg rolling contest in Central Park. In April, don’t be surprised if you see a herd of elephants parading down the streets from Queens to Madison Square Garden; the animals from Ringling Brothers' Barnum & Bailey Circus parade the route every year.

The nation’s largest cycling event takes place in May. The Great Five Boro Bike Tour attracts around 30,000 competitors who cycle a 42-mile course through the five boroughs. Also in May is Fleet Week, a celebration held since 1984 to honour the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. There are extensive military demonstrations and member of the public also get to tour the visiting naval ships.

Good news for museum lovers in June; the Museum Mile Festival sees all museums from 5th Ave from 82nd St to 105th St. Museums, open to the public for from free 6-9pm. There’s also the JVC Jazz Festival at the end of the month with jazz greats coming to play at various locations, including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Beacon Theatre and Town Hall.

Independence Day is the 4th July and New York is alight with the party spirit. The Macy’s firework display is well worth viewing and for a great vantage point join other partygoers at Battery Park. If you want to stay nearby to make sure you get a good seat and if you don’t want to have to trek back through the city, why not stay at Club Quarters Wall Street. Located in the historical centre of New York, this hotel is only a short distance from Battery Park. With an onsite restaurant and bar, in-room movies, air conditioning, coffeemakers, dataports, free Internet access, free computer access and designer toiletries, you will have everything you need after you get back from the firework celebrations.

Celebrate African, Caribbean and Latin culture in Harlem week in August, with a parade, fashion show, Black film festival and tantalize your taste buds at the Taste of Harlem, where you can sample flavoursome traditional dishes.

September is football month; with the start of the National Football League (NFL) for a slice of the action book your tickets to see the New York Giants or New York Jets to see what the fuss is all about. There’s also the Labour Day national holiday so watch out for Carnaval celebrations throughout the city.

There’s a wealth of events in October with everything from the Pagan Pride Day Harvest Celebration to the NYC Underground Comedy Festival and the Haunted Halloween Carnival – get the information of the latest events from tourist information and take your pick.

In November you can see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, well known for its elaborate and colourful floats as well as marching bands. Or go and see any of fifty comedians during New York Comedy Festival who will appear at venues across the city.

There are plenty of festive celebrations in December; see polar bears opening gift wrapped turkeys and other treats at Central Park Zoo, or if you’re Jewish, and single, the Matzo Ball has become an institution for single Jewish people looking to meet other singles on the night before Christmas.

To end the year with an almighty bang, join the celebrations at the famous Times Square New Year’s Eve party. Watch the Times Square ball drop at the stroke of midnight and prepare for fireworks and lots of noise.