NYC Street Fairs and Festivals

Shopping, Food, Music, and People

NYC street fairs and festivals are a quintessential part of summer in New York City. The streets close down to traffic and fill up with tents, treats, vendors, and people.

NYC Street Fair

Street events take place weekly from spring until late fall, so there are numerous opportunities all summer long for shopping, eating spicy sausage, and people watching.

Look for good deals and interesting items at one of the city's many street fairs, see the display of culture at festivals, sample delicious food, or just enjoy the sights and sounds of the New York City streets.

The best part is that most NYC street events are free to attend!

Popular New York City Street Fairs and Festivals

NYC Street Fair

Mad. Sq. Mark't EATS

When: May 4 - June 1, 2012, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: On Broadway next to Madison Square Park

Mad. Sq. Mark't is a late spring food fair with amazing eats. Not to mention an excellent view of the Flatiron Building.

The food vendors include well-known NYC restaurants. There are tables and chairs where you can sit down and enjoy your food. The market is open daily for almost a month.

For more information, visit urbanspacenyc.com.

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party

When: June 9 and 10, 2012, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Madison Square Park

Big Apple BBQ

You don’t find barbecue like this every day in the northeastern part of the country! The sight and smell of pulled pork, beef brisket, and baby back ribs will make you think you died and went to North Carolina.

Pitmasters from places that know barbecue (we’re talking the Carolinas, Alabama, and Texas, to name a few) show up to cook their delicious, and even award-winning dishes. Each pitmaster has a booth and sells BBQ plates for $8 each.

There’s also live music, cooking demos, and seminars. Pick up an event guide when you arrive or check out the website link below to read about the pitmasters and what they’re cooking.

Visit the Big Apple Barbeque Website for more information.

Egg Rolls and Egg Creams Festival

When: June 10, 2012, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Museum at Eldridge Street, Lower East Side

Egg Rolls and Egg Creams Festival

This annual Lower East Side event is centered around the Eldridge Street Synagogue.

This NYC street fair celebrates the heritage of Eastern European Jewish and Chinese immigrants, both of which have strong roots in the area. Family friendly activities include decorating yarmulkes, making dumplings, and playing mahjong.

It's also a great chance to tour the Eldridge Street Synagogue, and, of course, eat egg rolls and egg creams.

Museum Mile Festival

When: June 12, 2012,
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Fifth Avenue, between 82nd and 105th Streets

Enjoy an evening of live musical performances, kid-friendly street activities, and, best of all, FREE museum admissions!

The festival takes place on Museum Mile, a stretch of Fifth Avenue along Central Park known for its high concentration of exceptional museums.

Nine museums along this route open their doors for free, including the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim.

Visit museummilefestival.org for more information and the full list of participating museums.

River to River Festival

When: Various events, June and July, 2012
Where: Various venues in Lower Manhattan

This enormous summer arts festival puts on free events and musical performances at various venues in Lower Manhattan for a whole month.

For a complete guide to all the events at the River to River Festival, visit rivertorivernyc.com.

Bastille Day

NYC Street Fair

When: Sunday, July 15, 2012, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 60th Street, between Fifth and Lexington Avenues

In France, Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 and the beginning of the French Revolution. In New York City, it’s a great reason to put on a street festival complete with crepes and can-can dancers.

Cheese and wine tasting and a beer bar are held at the French Institute Alliance Francaise (22 E. 60th Street). Tickets are $8 - $15 and available at the door.

This NYC street fair celebrates French culture with regional foods, musical performances, and activities for kids.

Visit bastilledaynyc.com for more information.

4Knots Music Festival

When: TBA
Where: South Street Seaport, Pier 17

Formerly known as the Siren Music Festival in Coney Island, this event produced by The Village Voice has relocated to Lower Manhattan. The free festival features well-known and emerging musical artists who perform live all day long. The 4Knots Indoor Lounge will be open from 2 p.m. to midnight for guests 21 and over.

To view the musical line-up, see villagevoice.com/4knots.

Summer Streets

When: Sundays in August, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Park Avenue, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park

Experience beautiful Park Avenue in a unique way - without the cars, taxis, and buses. For three Saturdays in August, Park Avenue closes to traffic for a 6.9 mile stretch and opens for biking, walking, and playing. Free activities include yoga and rock climbing classes, performances, and bike and rollerblade rentals.

Learn more about Summer Streets.

Feast of San Gennaro

When: September 13-23, 2012
Where: Mulberry Street, between Canal Street and Houston Street

NYC Street Fair

One of the most popular of NYC street fairs, this annual event in Little Italy celebrates Italian culture.

The 11-day celebration of the Patron Saint of Naples features parades, religious processions, lots and lots of food options, games, and musical entertainment. You don’t have to be Italian to enjoy a party this big!

For more information, visit sangennaro.org.