New York City’s Spring 2024 arts and culture scene is exciting as the city comes to life after the winter chill. Here’s a glimpse of what’s happening: street fairs, musical festivals, parades, and parks in bloom. It’s impossible to be bored in New York City in the springtime. And it’s almost impossible to narrow down just 25 must-see, must-do events for the season—but we did our best!
- Art Exhibitions: Galleries and museums across the city showcase exciting new exhibitions. From contemporary art to classic masterpieces, there’s something for every art lover to enjoy. Watch for special events and openings at institutions like the MoMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Guggenheim.
- Broadway Shows: Broadway is back in full swing, with a lineup of captivating productions ranging from beloved classics to innovative new works. Whether you’re in the mood for a dazzling musical, a thought-provoking drama, or a hilarious comedy, you’ll find it on the stages of Broadway.
- Outdoor Performances: With warmer weather, outdoor performances are becoming increasingly popular. From Shakespeare in the Park to concerts in Central Park, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy live entertainment al fresco.
- Film Festivals: Film enthusiasts can indulge in various film festivals throughout the city. From international cinema to independent films, these festivals offer a chance to discover new talent and explore diverse perspectives.
- Cultural Festivals: New York City’s diverse population ensures that there’s always a cultural celebration happening somewhere in the city. From food and music festivals to celebrations of heritage and identity, these events provide a vibrant showcase of the city’s rich cultural tapestry.
- Public Art Installations: Look for public art installations popping up around the city. These installations, from temporary sculptures to interactive exhibits, add creativity to New York’s streetscapes.
Spring is a time to get excited for the future and hope for good times. Explore the vibrant tapestry of springtime delights awaiting you, and let the season’s magic unfold around every corner.
|
1. Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo
April 5-August 4 | Brooklyn Museum
Utagawa Hiroshige’s ukiyo-e print series “100 Famous Views of Edo” is one of the most prized works in the Brooklyn Museum’s collection and one of the most celebrated sets of woodblock prints in the history of Japanese art. The full set will be displayed for the first time in 24 years. Accompanying the prints are a series of paintings that contemporary artist Takashi Murakami made in response to Hiroshige’s works.
2. Somewhere to Roost
April 12-May 25 | American Folk Art Museum
This exhibit’s more than 60 paintings, textiles, sculptures, and photographs represent the artists’ literal and figurative interpretations of home. The works range from 19th-century watercolors to lively quilts to thought-provoking references to incarceration and housing insecurity.
3. Frieze New York
May 1-5 | The Shed
More than 60 galleries from over two dozen countries will be displaying contemporary artworks at this year’s Frieze New York. The art fair also includes a special section, Focus, dedicated to emerging and under-appreciated artists. Those unable to attend in person can visit the online “viewing room,” which will open a week before the actual fair.
4. Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
May 10-September 2 | The Met Fifth Avenue
This exhibit by the Met’s Costume Institute aims to show that the immersive qualities of fashion go beyond stepping into a gown or donning a jacket. Some 250 garments and accessories dating back to the 17th century will be displayed amid light projections, soundscapes, and other multimedia technologies to reinforce the relationship between fashion and nature. As for the “sleeping beauties,” those are items too fragile to be placed on mannequins that will be displayed innovatively.
5. Jenny Holzer: Light Line
May 17-September 29 | Guggenheim Museum
In 1989, the Guggenheim hosted a Jenny Holzer retrospective in which her “truisms” and other written messages illuminated the museum’s famed rotunda. Thirty-five years later, the Guggenheim presents a “reimagination” and update of the original installation that will again display scrolling multicolor texts along all six of the museum’s ramps.
| 1. Head in the Clouds May 11 and 12 | Forest Hills Stadium Korean girl group (G)I-dle, Japanese hip-hop artist Awich, and Filipino-American singer/songwriter Lyn Lapid are among the performers at this festival dedicated to contemporary music by Asian artists. Asian food plays a big role too, with vendors offering everything from Korean fried chicken to sugarcane juice. 2. 18th Annual Dance Parade and Festival May 18 | Sixth Avenue and 17th Street to Tompkins Square Park Some 10,000 dancers are expected to perform more than 100 styles of dance during this celebration, which culminates with the four-hour, five-stage DanceFest at Tompkins Square Park. In addition to performances, the festival includes dance lessons, competitions, and plenty of opportunities to move to the beat of local DJs. 3. Tribeca Festival June 5-16 | Various sites The core of what originated as the Tribeca Film Festival remains its film screenings—this year, 249 feature and short films will be shown. But there’s much more as well. This includes premieres of TV series and podcasts, live performances by comedians and musicians, multimedia and immersive experiences, and panels with industry heavy-hitters. The final three days include De Niro Con: screenings, an interactive fan experience, discussions, and more honoring film legend and festival co-founder Robert De Niro. 4. Museum Mile Festival June 11 | Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Streets The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, the International Center of Photography, and the Museum of the City of New York are among the nine museums offering free admission during this year’s festival. The stretch of Fifth Avenue is closed to traffic as well, making way for musical performances and street entertainers. 5. Cats: The Jellicle Ball June 13-July 14 | Perelman Performing Arts Center The Ballroom culture of the LGBTQ+ community inspired this reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats,” itself inspired by T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.” Arturo Lyons (aka NY Father Icon Arturo Miyake-Mugler of HBO Max series “Legendary”) and Omari Wiles (creative director of dance company Les Ballet Afrik) choreographed the competition-style restaging. |
1. Uptown Night Market
April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8, September 12, and October 10 | 12th Avenue and 133 Street
On the second Thursday of each month through October, beginning at 4 p.m., the space beneath the arches of the Harlem Viaduct becomes a cornucopia of food vendors selling everything from roti to brownies. You’ll find sellers of jewelry, soaps, and other items, plus live music.
2. Cocktails Through The Ages Mixology Class
May 15 | City Winery
Have you ever wondered what cocktails were popular among Victorian imbibers or longed to imbibe the same sophisticated drinks as Nick and Nora in “The Thin Man”? This class, led by two City Wintery mixologists, will let you create and taste cocktails from a variety of eras, paired with bites to complement each drink.
3. Ninth Avenue International Food Festival
May 18 and 19 | Ninth Avenue from 42nd to 57th Streets
Tacos and bubble tea, paella and pizza, escargots and ice cream: If it’s tasty, you can find it here, at the city’s oldest continuing food festival. There will be two stages with international music and dancing to complement the global food and beverages, so get ready to eat, drink, and be merry.
4. New York Rum Festival
June 8 | 100 Sutton St., Brooklyn
Here’s your chance to sample a variety of premium rums and learn more about the beverage’s making, the differences among rums from various countries, and how to optimize your imbibing experience.
5. Manhattan West Food Festival
June 14 and 15 | Manhattan West Plaza
Manhattan West is an eight-acre, six-building complex home to several restaurants and bars. During its inaugural food festival, you can savor food and drinks at Alfresco from several of these hot spots, priced at cost and accompanied by live DJ performances.
| 1. TD Five Boro Bike Tour May 5 | Citywide Pedal your way from downtown Manhattan up to the Bronx, down through Queens and Brooklyn, and over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to Staten Island, where you can recover in the VIP lounge with a well-deserved lunch. Or cheer the bikers on and enjoy the music and dance performances at stages along the route. 2. Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show May 11, 13, and 14 | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Celebrating its 148th anniversary, the Westminster Dog Show is more than 3,000 canines representing over 200 breeds, trotting around a ring to show off their good looks. The first day spotlights agility and obedience training and includes a special exhibition of dock diving, spotlighting dogs who love to make a splash. 3. Wonderland: Curious Nature May 18-October 27 | New York Botanical Garden Enjoy your own adventures in Wonderland as you explore this immersive experience inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tale. Along with a 12-foot-high White Rabbit made of plants, larger-than-life kinetic mushrooms, and an all-white chess game, there will be scavenger hunts, exhibits about mind-altering plants, art installations, otherworldly botanical displays, and of course, tea parties. 4. The Mermaid Parade June 22 | Coney Island A true “only in New York” event, this fantastical fete pays homage to the Mardi Gras parades held during Coney Island’s heyday. Along with costumed merfolk vying to be crowned King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, there will be marching bands, dancing groups, floats, antique cars, and all sorts of other wildly artistic and imaginative participants. 5. Pride March and PrideFest June 30 | Fifth Avenue and 25th Street to Greenwich Village Sometimes referred to as a parade, the Pride March typically includes floats and performers, but it’s as much a civil rights demonstration as it is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. Along with the march, there’s the PrideFest street fair, a kaleidoscopic gathering of booths selling and offering samples of food, drinks, and gear along with free performances. |
