It may not seem like it if you were outside today, but spring has arrived in New York City. As the warm weather arrives (it should any day now) so do the dozens of street fairs and other seasonal activities.
Here’s a rundown of some of the Big Apple’s biggest spring flings:
April brings with it the mega-popular Tribeca Film Festival. The annual event started in 2002 by Robert De Niro. It features screenings of films from around the world, including many premieres. Best of all, the directors or stars of the shows stick around after the screenings to answer questions from fans.
Once May rolls around New York streets become a mecca for street fairs. The festivals take place nearly every weekend from May through September. If you are looking for a great place to sample local food or purchase handmade crafts the street fairs are where you want to be. The Ninth Avenue International Food Festival is one of the city’s most popular.
May is also when the annual New York Five Boro Bike Tour take place. The event typically draws 30,000 cyclists from around the world, who race around the city’s five boroughs (from Lower Manhattan through the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island).
One of my favorite springtime events in the Big Apple is the Sakura Matsuri festival held at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It is the best chance to see and smell one of the largest cherry blossom displays outside of Japan. It also features dozens of Japanese-themed events and performances.
Spring is also the prefect time to explore one of New York’s natural wonders. On the weekends, Central Park closes to traffic and becomes a huge open-air haven for walkers, runners, bikers and inline skaters. If you prefer to watch others break a sweat you could opt to take a carriage ride along the park’s scenic paths.
Planning a trip to New York? Check out these other Big Apple-related articles:
Traveling to New York? Think Broadway
New York’s Must-See Attractions—The Empire State Building
New York’s Must-See Attractions—The Statue of Liberty
Little People in the Big Apple: Central Park Zoo and FAO Schwartz
Little People in the Big Apple: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Patriotic Travel Destinations—Taking A Cruise of New York
Where To Get Your Chocolate Fix In New York