There are many reasons to attend events in New York City.
They make for great entertainment, and you get to change up your usual schedule.
You might even find out some things that you didn't know about NYC.
For example, did you know that New York City was first established as early as 1624? Ever since then, the city has grown and become a center for amazing annual events. If you're looking to attend some New York City events, you might be wondering where to start.
Fortunately, there are so many NYC events going on in this big city that you'll surely be able to see at least one of them whenever you're in New York. Keep reading and learn all about the top annual events in New York City.
NYC Restaurant Week
Every year in both winter and summer, there is a special restaurant week that takes place. As the name suggests, this event lasts all week and it focuses on a large number of restaurants throughout the city where you can try all sorts of delicious food. Needless to say, this is the perfect event for foodies.
If you love the idea of trying food from all sorts of cultural backgrounds, then you'd better put this event in your events calendar. Across New York's five boroughs, there will be special menus set for the week where you can try certain foods from hundreds of different restaurants.
Of course, you likely won't be able to visit all of the participating restaurants in only a week. However, with the time you do have, you'll surely be able to hurry around and try all sorts of delicious meals. If you're lucky, you might even be able to get some food from some of the most prestigious and talented chefs in all of New York City.
The Details
NYC restaurant week is certainly the time to get your hands on food that you normally wouldn't try or have the opportunity to get. You can use this week to find great new restaurants that you never even knew about before. You can also take the opportunity to try strange new foods and expand your palate.
By the time the week is over, you might have a few new favorite restaurants in mind. Keep in mind that every NYC restaurant week is a little bit different and that it takes place twice a year. So, you'll always have a reason to attend this event because there will always be something new and interesting going on and there will always be new food to try.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
If you're looking for free events that are also very impressive, then you can't miss out on seeing Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This has long been one of the biggest seasonal events in New York City and millions of people come to see it every year. You also don't need to worry about paying hundreds of dollars for a simple ticket or trying to find a seat since you can see this parade march through the city without much of an issue.
While the streets are sure to be crowded during this festivity, the floats and balloons are so large that you should be able to see all the fun no matter where you're standing. This parade follows a 2.5-mile path through the city.
While watching this parade, you can expect to see all sorts of entertainment, especially musical entertainment. You are sure to see marching bands marching down the street and you might even spot some celebrity performers. The balloons are, perhaps, the most exciting part of the parade since they are so massive and colorful.
What You Need to know
The balloons take on the shapes of beloved characters such as Snoopy, Hello Kitty, and other cartoon characters. But where in the city can you expect to find this grand parade, you might ask? The parade starts at the Upper West Side and follows a path down to Macy's Herald Square.
As long as you're along this route, you shouldn't have any trouble seeing what the parade has to offer. Just remember that there will be large crowds and that the weather will be starting to cool down and you might be outside watching the parade for a few hours. For that reason, you'll want to be prepared, perhaps with some snacks or water, when you plan on going out and seeing the parade.
Times Square New Year's Eve
After the Christmas events are over, you'll still have the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration to look forward to. This has been a beloved annual event for decades. While you can watch this event from your TV or computer, there's nothing quite like being there in person.
The event focuses on watching the New Year's ball drop just as it strikes midnight. This ball is designed in a beautiful way and offers a great light show once it starts to drop. Leading up to midnight, you can expect to enjoy all sorts of music by celebrity singers and musicians.
This is not to mention that you can enjoy the beauty that Times Square itself has to offer, especially at night when the lights of the many billboards and businesses light up the sky. While this event has been virtual for the past couple of years due to COVID-19, future New Year's Even events will likely be back in person.
Keep in mind that Times Square is particularly crowded during this time and that you will likely need to arrive quite early to get a good spot.
Your Guide to New York City Events
If you're looking for some amazing New York City events, you'll find that there will never be any shortage of them. From the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration and beyond, there is always some event to enjoy while in NYC.
The Event Planner Expo's 10-year-anniversary is also quite an important event that you shouldn't miss. Get your tickets here.
