Checkout Timeout’s guide on can’t- miss spring activities.
The sun will come out—eventually! Our guide to spring in NYC has flower shows, outdoor fests and cultural musts.
Once the weather warms up, these unmissable things to do in the spring in NYC will give you an excuse to spend some time soaking up the vitamin D. As the flowers begin blooming, New York will be booming with delightful events held in NYC parks as well as NYC street fairs and food festivals in NYC. Plus, get revved for spring’s biggest event: the opening of Time Out Market New York in Dumbo.
The Orchid Show
Things get super tropical at New York Botanical Garden just in time for spring. The theme for the 17th annual flora festival is The Orchid Show: Singapore. The display features thousands of orchids in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. As usual, there will be special Orchid Evenings during which visitors can enjoy the attraction after dark and see the Supertrees, including a gorgeous display of lights, among the orchids. There will be alcoholic beverages and snacks for purchase, as well as live entertainment. R
The Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
Witnessing the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s picturesque cherry blossoms is just the icing on the millennial-pink cake when you attend the always crowded Sakura Matsuri. Taiko drummers, samurai-sword masters, J-rock bands and stand-up comics grace the festival’s two stages. You’ll also find a Japanese tearoom, an art gallery, and a mini flea market that hawks mouthwatering Raaka Chocolate, wall scrolls, silk wraps and a profusion of pretty flowers.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
The Brant Foundation Art Study Center, East VillageApr 17 2019-May 15 2019
the New York branch of his namesake foundation with a (free!) survey of works that spans the career of the legendary Jean-Michel Basquiat, the wild-child painter who rose from street artist to toast of the art world during the 1980s.
The Macy’s Flower Show
New Yorkers and out-of-towners alike flock to this floral-filled exhibition, where jaw-dropping arrangements decorated to fit a specific theme are on display for two weeks. The subject for 2019’s installment at the megachain’s Herald Square location is Journey to Paradisios. Translation? It’s a cosmic dream offering revelers an out-of-this-world representation of outer space. Flower arrangements are designed to show off the “mystery of the cosmos,” so we imagine there will be nods to comets, stars, planets and more astrological wonders.
Frieze New York
Aesthetes will happily hop on a ferry or bus to Randall’s Island Park for Frieze New York, an expansive art festival that features displays from 200 international galleries. You have all day, so get immersed in the imaginative indoor and outdoor projects, check out the panel discussions, gawk at the new, Daniel Birnbaum–curated exhibition of virtual-reality artwork and soak in those breathtaking Manhattan views.
The Tribeca Film Festival
Robert De Niro and co.’s Tribeca Film Festival has long shown a spotlight on local indie features, documentaries, foreign films, the latest from big-name talent and the greatest from up-and-coming filmmakers. We’ve got your complete one-stop-shopping guide to Tribeca Film Festival: our personal must-see picks, movie screenings, ticket info, a list of nearby bars and restaurants and oh-so-much more
Full list of activities here!