New York's Best Events & Seasons
Best Parade: West Indian-American Day Carnival and Parade. Held on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, this is the biggest parade in New York. The music (calypso, soca, reggae, and Latin), the costumes, and the Caribbean food make this unforgettable. If you're lucky enough to be in town on Labor Day, don't miss it.
Best Season in New York: Christmas. Christmas trees on Park Avenue, the big snowflake on 57th and Fifth, the trees at Rockefeller Center and Lincoln Center, the menorah at Grand Army Plaza at Fifth and 59th Street, the decorations in department store windows, restaurants, and hotels. And even though the crowds, especially around Midtown and Rockefeller Center, might bring out the Scrooge in you, the atmosphere is almost always festive and like no other time of year.
Best Time of Year to Come to New York: Summer. Most people prefer the temperate days of fall to visit New York, and that's when the city is most crowded. But my personal favorite season is summer, when the streets are empty, restaurants and shows are easier to get into, and free outdoor cultural events abound.
Best Day to Come to New York: New Year's Day. The holidays are over. You've had enough festivity -- see above. You've wisely skipped the insanity of New Year's Eve and arisen fresh and (relatively) sober. Get out on the town early; you'll have the city practically to yourself.
