You’d certainly find something of great interest in New York no matter when you’re visiting this city. Also called NYC by the locals, New York City will never give you a dull moment. There’s no bad time to visit the city either. You might be planning to explore this city sometime this year or later.
While making your plans, it would be a good idea to consider its most interesting annual events. Here, we’ve tried to include some of the best events that take place in this city every year:
1. The New Year’s Eve celebrations
Just like many other places in the world, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with great zest in NYC. However, the celebrations that take place in Times Square is perhaps the most spectacular. A million people or more come together at this square beneath a large ball. The dropping of this ball is watched by over a billion people across the world. This thrilling event also includes live performances and lots of confetti.
2. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
This parade attracts more than three million spectators. It is also watched by over 20 million viewers on television. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade features marching bands, floats, giant balloons, and even Santa Claus. In this city, the day of Thanksgiving is synonymous with the return of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. So, you can imagine how significant the parade has become over the years!
3. St Patrick’s Day Parade
New York City hosts the oldest and largest parade of St Patrick’s Day in the world. This event takes place annually on March 17. On this day, the Fifth Avenue of Manhattan comes alive with the chorus played by bagpipers. About two million people cheer in excitement and the green shades that they wear turn this event into a visual delight.
4. The US Open Tennis Championships
Nearly 700,000 people attend the US Open Tennis Championships every year. The fierce competition that ensues between the players is something that’s worth watching. For tennis lovers, this would be a great spectacle. It begins on the last Monday of August every year.
The US Open Tennis Championships is the biggest tennis tournament held in the United States. It is a more contemporary form of the US National Championship, founded in 1881.
5. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
Every year, thousands of people gather to witness the lighting of New York City’s most magnificent Christmas Tree. This event is also watched by millions on television. It comes shortly after Thanksgiving and is truly a big occasion for the New Yorkers. The lighting remains until the New Year’s Day, so don’t worry if you miss the inaugural lighting.
6. New York City Pride
New York City is also home to the world’s biggest Pride celebration. All through July, the city hosts a series of special events that celebrate LGBTQ art, history, and activism. The event culminates in a spectacular parade, which is full of glitter, attractive wigs, and rainbow flags.
You can head to The Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village to enjoy a drink or two. This bar is considered to be the LGBT Center and the place where Pride was born.