Whether it’s to celebrate, commemorate or entertain, festivals are one of the best ways to get out and see your local community. These events attract huge crowds of people to street fairs, parks and entertainment venues. New York City alone hosts dozens of cultural, food and music festivals each year.
The boroughs also host a number of outdoor performing arts festivals that are free to attend. For example, Prospect Park’s BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival is an annual summer event that brings together a wide variety of art forms. This includes theater, dance, music and visual arts.
Other events such as the Hudson Valley Film Festival and the Rochester International Jazz Festival attract film lovers, musicians and music fans from around the world. They also help to support the local economy by bringing in money from visitors.
A yearly celebration of art, the Frieze Art Fair at Randall’s Island draws a large crowd each May to appreciate and admire the work of some of the world’s top artists. It’s a bit of a trek to get there but it’s well worth it for anyone who loves art.
For foodies, there is the New York State Fair, which features every type of food imaginable. The New York State Fair has a lot of things to do with the family as well, such as rides and games.
The biggest Pride celebration in the world happens each July at New York City, and it’s not to be missed. With a parade and special events throughout the month, this festival is an opportunity to learn about LGBTQ history and activism.
In the town of Loiza, there is another kind of festival – the Vejigante festival. This is a celebration of the Day of Saint James the Apostle, and it features people dressed in masks and dancing to bomba music. They sing and dance in a way that creates a dialogue between the drummers and the dancers, instead of the other way around.
During the Theater Festival of San Juan, many different theatre companies come to town and perform their work. The festival has a reputation for being one of the most interesting and innovative in the world. The Francisco Arrivi and Victoria Espinosa theaters are a hub of activity during this festival.
If you are looking for a more relaxed and peaceful time, the Rockland County Fair is a great place to be. This fair is family-friendly and has a little bit of everything from animals to live music. This is a wonderful way to get a taste of the countryside in New York.
If you are a music fan, then the Taste of Country Music festival is an excellent choice. This festival is held at Knox Farm State Park, which is a scenic and historic 633-acre park in the heart of the Roycroft Arts & Crafts Movement in East Aurora, New York. The lineup for this festival has included big names such as Lady Antebellum and Willie Nelson.
