New York May 2024

New York May 2024 Events

New York May 2024 Events

Head to NYC for Memorial Day as the City Starts to Open Back Up

Average temperature low to high: 54°-72°F
May means Memorial Day celebrations, and what better place to celebrate than in one of America's favorite cities? COVID restrictions will significantly ease on May 19, but reservations and ticket purchases for events are still highly recommended. Spring is the perfect time to explore New York by bicycle or venture around on-foot. The month's pleasant weather also welcomes outdoor venues like rooftop bars, which means sundecks, views, pools, and day drinking. 

May Event Calendar

OZY Fest

OZY Fest

Don’t miss out on the OZY Fest for a great day out for the entire family. The festival’s mission is to help New Yorkers and tourists discover new stars and fresh trends through TV shows, podcasts, stories, and more. Pushing boundaries through culture, the festival is a tailor-made event designed to broaden everything you thought you knew about music and its culture. Official 2023 dates TBA. 

 

New York Yankees

You can’t visit New York and escape a baseball game; it’s an iconic tourist activity that’ll leave you with life-long memories. New York Yankees are playing multiple dates in May, so you have got a great chance of sporting tickets for at least one game. For top-tier seats, you’ll need to increase your budget, though no matter where you’re positioned, the atmosphere will be thrilling.

New York Empire State Tattoo Expo

New York Empire State Tattoo Expo

The New York Empire State Tattoo Expo is a convention for everyone and anyone who loves tattoos, including the history and development of them. The entire event celebrates tattoos. Expect tattoo artists all in one location showing their best work to guests, and you can even get tatted when you attend. Tickets are only $39 for the day, or $76 for the weekend.

 

NYC Margarita Rumble

NYC Margarita Rumble

Your favorite NYC restaurants are battling to claim the fame of having the best margarita in town, and who better to judge them than… You! Let the tequila do the talking and vote for the tastiest drink of the day at the Margarita Rumble. Judging can be hard work, so listen to some live music while you’re at it. Tickets start from $53.

Japan Day

Japan Day

Learn more about Japanese culture at Japan Day in Central Park. Listen to traditional music, try delicious cultural cuisine, and try different activities that are popular in Japan. Get up-to-date information on the official website, such as the musical line-up.

Frieze New York

Frieze New York

View unique contemporary art pieces at Frieze New York Art Fair. From paintings to sculptures to interactive art, the full range of mediums will be represented, and most installations will be available for purchase if you want to take a masterpiece home.  Tickets can be purchased online.

Ninth Avenue International Food Festival

Ninth Avenue International Food Festival

Celebrate the diversity of Manhattan’s culinary scene with the Ninth Avenue International Food Festival. Taking place on May 20th and 21st along Ninth Avenue from 42nd Street to 57th Street. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience delicious ethnic dishes from a wide range of participating merchants. Some top spots to look out for are Gossip Bar & Restaurant, Vivi Bubble Tea, Valhalla Bar 815, and Nizza 630.

Dance Parade

Dance Parade

On May 20th, Sunset Park will be alive with the vibrant sights and sounds of the Dance Parade. Celebrating its 17th year, watch as colorful floats and costumed dancers will weave through the park, showcasing a variety of dance styles from around the world. In addition to over 10,000 dancers, there will be DJs, live music, and food from various vendors. Guests can also test out their dancing skills by taking dance lessons. Dance Parade is free to the public.

Fleet Week NYC

Fleet Week NYC

Fleet Week is an annual event where the men and women who served our country are honored by the Coast Guard, the Marine Corps, and the United States Navy. There are a ton of events around this time, like enjoying the Parade of Ships, embarking on a General Public Ship Tour, or watching the Navy Dive Tank in Times Square. Some of the ship tour locations include the Staten Island Homport Pier and Manhattan Pier 88 South. The whole thing lasts from May 24th to May 30th, so there's plenty of time to take in the sights and enjoy the festivities. Times vary depending on the day and event in question, but in general, most of the scheduled times seem to be between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Memorial Day Parade

Memorial Day Parade

Remember the fallen on Memorial Day by coming out to see the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade, hosted by the United Military Veterans of Kings County. Other marchers include members of the New York Police and Fire Departments, and various marching bands from Brooklyn high schools. Visit the official website for more information.

New York Events in May

Concerts

Theater & Headliners

Sports

Nightclubs

Things to do in New York

Things to Do in New York in May

See a Broadway show

See a Broadway show
A New York City visit isn’t complete without seeing a Broadway show. There are a lot of options to choose from like the Broadway-phenomenon, “Hamilton,” the Broadway classic, “Wicked,” “Lion King,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Mean Girls,” and more. Make sure to grab a ticket in advance!

Experience and play VR games at the city’s best virtual reality spots

Experience and play VR games at the city’s best virtual reality spots
If you haven’t tried virtual reality yet, New York’s a good place to start. The city has a few VR places to check out that’ll allow you to play games by yourself or with other people, like VR World NYC, Hubneo VR Lab, and Vrbar. Jump into the Light at the Lower East Side is also a great place to try, with their VR skydiving, VR boxing, and more. All-access passes there are $30 but they have matinee pricing as well.