A lot of annual events take place in New York City. The major ones are listed below:

January

The Three Kings Parade Day, 5th January

The Three Kings Day Parade, usually held on January 5th, is a festivity held in the streets of East Harlem to pay tribute to the three kings who visited the Newborn King. The parade led by the Three Kings is filled with schoolchildren, barnyard animals and lively music.

Location: Spanish Harlem, up Fifth Avenue to 116th Street


National Boat Show

The New York National Boat Show is a feast to both experienced boaters and those who would like to discover the joy of boating as one can get any information and advice on boating. The seminars on fishing, the Power Boat Docking Challenge, Live Fresh Water Fishing Demonstrations, Video Game Contests and the Kids' Coconut Climb are also part of the show, which makes it a family event.

December 29th – January 6th
Location: Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th Street, New York,

Chinese New Year Festival

Depending of the year, either in late January or in early February the nationwide-famous celebrations of Chinese New Year take place in New York. It is really a sight to behold as the streets of Chinatown attract both New Yorkers and tourists with colorful parades of dancing dragons and fireworks displays.

February

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a nationwide famous showcase for purebred dogs. It is the greatest dog show in the world and the second longest continuously held sporting event in the USA.


March

St. Patrick's Day Parade, 17th March

St. Patrick's Day, celebrating the patron saint of Ireland, takes place on March 17th each day. Traditionally, on that day a parade walks along New York's Fifth Avenue. It is a colorful feast. People wear shamrocks and green clothing, whereas the bagpipe blowers play Irish music. Lots of fun for everyone!


April

Annual New York International Orchid Show

Each year around the middle of the month New York International Orchid Show is held at the Rockefeller Center. Thousands of orchids brought over here from various corners of the world can be seen. This huge display is one of the largest in the world.

May

Tribeca Film Festival

Starting from 2002, in the first week of May the Tribeca Film Festival in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Manhattan. The festival, initiated by Robert de Niro and Jane Rosenthal, is reputed for being one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. US and world premieres as well as family-friendly and independent movies can be watched.


New York City Fleet Week

During the New York City Fleet Week lots of military displays and demonstrations take place. The citizens of New York and tourists have a unique chance to admire the capabilities of the Sailors, Coast guardsmen and Marine Corps and visit the participating ships which are usually docked at the New York Passenger Ship Terminal (Manhattan) and the Stapleton Pier (Staten Island).

June
Puerto Rican Day Parade

Each year on the second Sunday of June the Puerto Rican Day Parade takes place on Fifth Avenue.
The parade, always attracts crowds as New York politicians, eminent celebrities and hip-hop artists, take part in it. It is the second largest event in New York City.

Location: Up Fifth Avenue from 44th to 86th Streets

July
4th of July

The Fourth of July, most frequently referred to as the Independence Day, is a national holiday during which the adoption of Declaration of Independence (of July 4th, 1776) is celebrated. Of all the festivities taking place on that day, including parades, picnics, baseball games, family reunions, concerts, the fireworks display over the East River is the centerpiece.

August

US Open Tennis Tournament

Every year one of the Grand Slam tournaments for professional tennis players is held at the USTA National Tennis Center in Queens. A must to all tennis fans!


September

West Indian American Day Carnival Parade

West Indian American Day, held on Labour Day (the first Monday of September), is a feast to all Caribbean Americans who attend a colourful Carnival Parade march with nonstop music, Caribbean food and chic costumes. It is held in Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.

Feast of San Gennaro
For over 75 years, the streets of Little Italy witness the San Gennaro Festival which is held to commemorate San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, Italy. It is a perfect opportunity to taste delicious Italian cuisine as the street vendors line Mulberry Street and sell sausages and other snacks. The 11-day feast starts on the second Thursday of September. The religious centerpiece is the Grand Procession with the statue of San Gennaro all along the streets of Little Italy.


October

New York's Village Halloween Parade, 31st October

Every Halloween both locals and tourists can watch costumed participants, circus performers, dancers, artists and ''live music'' floats in the parade walking along the streets of New York City's Village. The centerpiece is the pagent sized puppet. The parade, loved by New Yorkers, is frequently referred to as ''New York's Carnival''.



November

New York City Marathon
Every year athletes from all over the world come to New York to attend New York City Marathon. The 26-mile-long race takes place in the first week of November. The participants run along the streets in the five borough of New York City.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Each year the famed Macy's department store sponsors the three-hour parade which starts at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Though the festivity draws crowds, the inflation of the balloons for the parade which takes place close to the American Museum of Natural History
the day before is a real attraction. The popular balloon characters , which can be seen on that occasion, include Shrek, Big Bird, Kermit the Frog, Garfield, and many others.

December

Lighting of Christmas Tree
Each year the lighting of the world's tallest Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center attracts hundreds of locals and tourists, so join them to watch that spectacular event!

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve the major New Year's Eve celebrations take place in Times Square with the worldwide known countdown to midnight. However, there are more, equally spectacular events on that special night of the year. Namely, one can choose from the midnight fireworks displays in Prospect Park, Central Park and in the South Street Seaport or the Midnight Run which takes place in Central Park.