If you're traveling to New York City in May, you most likely have a list of things to see and do, and while there's nothing wrong with following other tourists to the Empire State Building or the Museum of Modern Art, delve a little deeper into the culture of New York by attending these annual festivals, art shows and events.
Savor the tastes of New York at the Ninth Avenue International Food Festival in mid-May. Merchants from Ninth Avenue serve up savory dishes representing cultures throughout the world, including Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece and Asia. A tradition since 1973, the Ninth Avenue Association was formed to unite the business community and to support neighborhoods. The festival also features over 200 vendors selling jewelry, arts and crafts, music and other items.
Join up to 32,000 bicyclists for the annual Five Boro Bike Tour held at the beginning of May. The 42-mile bike ride kicks off at Battery Park in Manhattan, follows a route through Harlem, the Bronx and back to Manhattan. Then it's on to Queens with a ride along the East River and over the Pulaski Bridge leading into Brooklyn. A festival awaits at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, three miles before the finish line, where bikers can rest, eat lunch and enjoy the exhibits. Bike the final three miles to the finish line where a free ferry to Manhattan awaits.
New York Fleet Week, which got its start in 1984, celebrates the sea services, and features 10,000 sea personnel, including sailors, marines and members of the Coast Guard. It takes place in the last week of May in Manhattan, showcasing numerous military demonstrations and displays and allowing visitors to see the most up-to-date capabilities of the Navy, Marine Corp and Coast Guard. Free ship tours are available in Manhattan and Staten Island.
Celebrate Memorial Day in Greenwich Village at the bi-annual Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit that takes place over two weekends at the end of the month. The exhibit, an event for 80 years, also takes place Labor Day Weekend, and displays the work of local, national and international artists. Visitors come from far and wide to view photography, watercolors, oils and acrylics, mixed media, sculptures, metal work, ceramics and more. According to the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit website, the tradition began in 1931 when Jackson Pollock and fellow artist Willem DeKooning, both of whom were in dire financial straits, displayed their art on the sidewalk to earn money.
