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Best Family Festivals and Street Fairs in NYC this May

The Japan Day Parade marches down the west side on Saturday, May 11. Photo by Masaki Hori 2024. Photo
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4/30/24 - By Drew Kristofik

NYC street fairs and festivals are blooming all over this May, from glorious school fairs like Calhoun's carnival-fun filled fest to the little-kid friendly event at Columbia Greenhouse Nursery School, plus Hippo Playground hosts a Spring Fair complete with pony rides, Randall's Island's Touch-a-Truck Fest returns, there's a Mother's Day Garden Party at the NYBG, and the annual salute to service that is Fleet Week punctuates Memorial Day weekend.

You can find even more seasonal activities in our Spring Fun Guide, and don't forget to check our ever-expanding Family Activity Calendar, where you can look ahead to see all the summer has in store.

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Best Fairs and Festivals in NYC May 2024

Illumination Light Art Festival at Belvedere Plaza

Battery Park City – FREE
Thursday, May 2-Saturday, May 4, 2024
Belvedere Plaza, located on the elevated northwest corner above North Cove Marina, lights up the night(s) with a DJ and performances featuring local and international light artists showcasing their work. Closing night, Saturday, May 4, includes a Star Wars themed silent disco.   READ MORE

60th Annual Calhoun Spring Carnival

Upper West Side
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Carnival rides and games, prizes, and craft activities are trademarks of the annual celebration for the Calhoun community and neighborhood families. Enjoy the traditional first barbecue of the season with hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, freshly made sandwiches, and more. READ MORE

Pinkster Festival at the Van Cortlandt House Museum

Fieldston, Bronx – FREE
Saturday, May 4
Celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Pinkster on the picturesque lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences.  READ MORE

Columbia Greenhouse Nursery School Spring Fair

Upper West Side
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Columbia Greenhouse Nursery School's annual spring fair transforms the whole block into a kids' wonderland of games, rides, animals, and family-fun. READ MORE

Hippo Playground Spring Fair in Riverside Park

Upper West Side
Sunday, May 5, 2024
An Upper West Side institution, the Hippo Playground Spring Fair celebrates the season with pony rides, bouncy castles, a petting zoo, games, prizes, crafts, food, cupcake decorating, face painting, entertainment, and more. READ MORE

Party on Wheels at the New York Transit Museum

Downtown Brooklyn
Sunday, May 5, 2024
The subway is turning 120 years old, so bring the whole family to the New York Transit Museum for breakfast and birthday cake, artmaking and face painting, photos in a conductor's cab, and unlimited rides on vintage subway cars from the museum's platform to Hoyt-Schermerhorn and back. READ MORE

Children's Day Festival: Kodomo No Hi at Japan Society

Midtown East
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Hang the koinobori (carp streamers) and don your kabuto (samurai helmet): The Japan Society's Children's Day is back. Celebrate Japan’s national holiday with the captivating tale of Momotaro (Peach Boy) through a thrilling theatrical performance filled with storytelling, music, dance, and lots of audience participation. Continue the adventure with life-sized samurai armor displays, carp streamer making, samurai helmet origami, and more. READ MORE

PS 267 Spring Fling

Upper East Side
Sunday, May 5, 2o24
East Side Elementary School PS 267 hosts its annual block party with a day of fun for the whole family: bouncy inflatables, games, crafts, and snacks. Proceeds benefit the PS 267 PTA and the programs it supports. READ MORE

Japan Day Parade and Street Fair on Central Park West

Central Park – FREE
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Japan Day is celebrated with a parade and street fair. Watch the parade march down Central Park West before enjoying the festive street fair along 72nd Street.  READ MORE

AAPI Children's Literary Festival at the Asia Society

Upper East Side
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islanders heritage month with an exciting event featuring readings, meet-and-greet sessions with authors and illustrators, panel discussions, and writing and illustration workshops. READ MORE

Sheep Shearing Festival at the Queens County Farm Museum

Glen Oaks, Queens
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Visit the Queens County Farm Museum on the Nassau-Queens border to see the sheep get their annual haircuts. Move to the foot-stomping rhythms of live music, and enjoy farmer-led tours and a plant sale all day.  READ MORE

Urban Wildlife Festival in St. Mary's Park

South Bronx – FREE
Saturday, May 11, 2004
Get up close and personal with NYC’s wild residents. Learn about squirrels, turtles, raccoons, opossums, and coyotes, and discover the best places in New York City and New York state to watch wildlife. READ MORE

Mother's Day Weekend Garden Party at NYBG

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Saturday & Sunday, May 11 & 12, 2024
Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Garden is abloom with activities, music, crafts, and face painting—not to mention walking tours packed with colors and gorgeous spring scents. READ MORE

Submerge: NYC Marine Science Festival at Pier 84

Midtown West – FREE
Friday & Saturday, May 17 & 18, 2024
The Hudson River Park presents Submerge—a free, two-day science extravaganza devoted to raising awareness about our coastal waters.  READ MORE

Sound & Color! Spring Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park – FREE
Saturday, May 18, 2024
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy takes its beloved kite festival to the next level with live musical performances, food vendors, kids activities, and more. Watch your kite soar above the Manhattan skyline the one day of the year kite-flying is open to the public at Brooklyn Bridge Park. READ MORE

Spring Festival presented by the Forest Hills Youth Athletic Association

Forest Hills, Queens Saturday, May 18, 2024
The Forest Hills Youth Athletic Association hosts its annual spring fling, featuring bounce houses, face painting, a home run derby, lawn games, food vendors, live music, boutiques, a pie-eating contest, raffles, and much more!   READ MORE

Big Truck Day on Randall's Island

Randall's Island – FREE
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Strap on your seatbelt and get a close-up view of the big trucks that keep New York City clean and safe. Learn how firefighters, garbage truck drivers, and other big truck operators use these vehicles to drive our city forward. READ MORE

Queens International Children's Festival at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning

Jamaica, Queens – FREE
Saturday, May 18, 2024
JCAL's Queens International Children's Festival returns with high-quality arts performances and craft activities to inspire young people and families to enjoy the arts. Programming includes a Japanese Drum performance by Taikoza, a dragon dance performance by NY Chinese Cultural Center, magician, bouncy house, popcorn, mini golf, games, arts and crafts, and more. READ MORE

Dance Parade + DanceFest in the East Village

East Village – FREE
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Dance Parade returns to the streets, celebrating its 18th annual procession and festival with 10,000 dancers and more than 100 unique styles of dance. READ MORE

LIC Springs into Summer

Long Island City, Queens – FREE
Saturday, May 18, 2024
The Long Island City Partnership celebrates Long Island City with live music, dance, and performances, plus interactive lessons, art, fitness classes, outdoor dining, pop-up activities, games, and more. READ MORE

Willowtown Spring Fair

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 18, 2024
The Willowtown Association hosts its annual spring fair with face painters, a bouncy house, a bake sale, music, games, and more.  READ MORE

Ninth Avenue International Food Festival

Hell's Kitchen
Saturday & Sunday, May 18 & 19, 2024
Enjoy cuisines from different countries, including Poland, Italy, Spain, Greece, Japan, Thailand, and more. From open to close, visitors can browse the offerings along 15 city blocks of gourmet food and beverages. READ MORE

Aloha Days Children’s Festival at the National Museum of the American Indian

Battery Park – FREE
Saturday & Sunday, May 18 & 19, 2024
This year’s family festival at NMAI celebrates all things Hawai’i! Enjoy a hula dance performance and learn the history behind it, get to know Hawaiian musical instruments, watch animated short films about ocean safety, and participate in a variety of hands-on activities for all ages.  READ MORE

The Fabulous Fifth Avenue Street Fair

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Head to Park Slope's Fifth Avenue to peruse this street fair, featuring food and sale items, rides, bouncy castles, music performances, and more.  READ MORE

Strawberry Festival

Upper East Side – FREE
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Don't miss the highly anticipated all-church picnic and strawberry festival on 92nd Street, featuring live music, scrumptious food, exciting kids' activities, and joyful conversations with friends and neighbors.  READ MORE

Fleet Week NYC

Hell's Kitchen – FREE
Wednesday, May 22-Tuesday, May 28, 2024
The US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard's celebration of sea services invites families to tour ships, watch the Parade of Ships, and enjoy exhibits, military band concerts, and aviation events throughout the week.   READ MORE

Lower East Side Festival of the Arts Street Fair

Lower East Side
Friday, May 24-Sunday, May 26, 2024
NYC's Lower East Side Festival of the Arts is a cabaret-style festival featuring more than 100 performing groups from the Lower East Side. READ MORE

Pinkster Celebration at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum

Flatbush, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, May 25, 2024
The Wyckoff House Museum and Elite Learners join forces for a special Pinkster Festival with live music, carnival activities, drumming, and more. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Forest Hills Youth Athletic Association
Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York
Various locations