New York on PAUSE
April 16: Non-essential New York City businesses are closed through at least May 15.
The best things to do in NYC are to stay home and follow New York State and New York City guidelines.
May 2020 is one of the most beautiful months to visit New York City because of the big fluffy clouds from the Caribbean that frame the urban landscape. The City is still in it main school year rhythm. The weather is usually summery, but not too hot.
May is National Salsa Month and Haitian Heritage Month.
MAY HOLIDAYS: Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day Weekend.
MAY PARADES: Cinco de Mayo Parade, Dance Parade and Cuban Parade.
MAY STREET FAIRS: 152nd St Cultural Festival and the Big Salsa Festival.
MAY ART: Frieze Week is one of the big waves of art fairs. The art auctions follow. The PEN World Voices Festival brings writers from around the world to NYC.
MAY FILM FESTIVALS: The New York African Film Festival is for movie fans.
¡Get the Latin world!
BAHAMAS
UNCERTAIN ~ Bahamas Carnival is May 1-3, 2020.
SPAIN
UNCERTAIN ~ Barcelona, Spain’s flamenco festival, the Ciutat Flamenco festival is from May 16-24, 2020.
May 2020 things to do in NYC week 18
April 27 – May 3, 2020
Things to do in NYC in April 2020
Friday, May 1
Celebrate International Workers Day.
UNCERTAIN ~ BAHAMAS
It’s Bahamas Carnival through Sunday.
Saturday, May 2
The Spanish people rebelled spontaneously against French occupation in the Dos de Mayo uprising (Second of May uprising) on May 2, 1808.
Sunday, May 3
The first Sunday in May is Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian Mother’s Day.
[Anticipated] The Lucille Lortel Awards are at the NYU Skirball Center in Greenwich Village from 7-10pm.
May 2020 things to do in NYC week 19
May 4-10, 2020
Monday, May 4
[Anticipated] The Pen World Voices Festival runs through Sunday.
POSTPONED
The Met Gala is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Upper East Side, NYC.
POSTPONED
[Anticipated] The Ballet Hispánico Gala is at the Plaza Hotel in Midtown, NYC at 6:30pm. From $1,500
Tuesday, May 5
(Cinco de Mayo)
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo which commemorates victory in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
The French Revolution (1789-1799) began with the opening of the Estates General in Versailles, France on May 5, 1789.
Tango composer Osvaldo Fresedo was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on May 5, 1897.
Wednesday, May 6
Rudolph Valentino, the first Latin film idol, was born in Castellaneta, Apulia, Italy on May 6, 1895.
CANCELLED
Frieze New York is in Randall’s Island Park through Sunday.
Thursday, May 7
“Evita” Eva Perón, the legendary first lady of Argentina was born in Los Toldos, Argentina on May 7, 1919.
Friday, May 8
CANCELLED
47th Bronx Week was scheduled through May 17.
CANCELLED
TEFAF New York Spring is at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan’s Upper East Side through Tuesday.
AWAITING New York State & City Guidelines
[Anticipated] Applications to participate in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade are due today.
Saturday, May 9
POSTPONED
Latin Grammy-winner Buika sings Spanish flamenco soul in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at 8pm. From $17
UNCERTAIN ~ HONDURAS
[Anticipated] The La Ceiba Carnival, the largest Carnival in Central America, pays tribute to Isidore the Laborer in La Ceiba, Honduras through Sunday.
Sunday, May 10
Happy Mother’s Day!
Roberto Firpo, the early Argentine Tango pianist, orchestra leader, and composer in Flores, Buenos Aires on May 10, 1884.
CANCELLED
The Cinco de Mayo Parade was on Central Park West from 106th to 97th St from 1-4pm.
May 2020 things to do in NYC week 20
May 11-17, 2020
Monday, May 11
CANCELLED
American Ballet Theatre opens its spring season with an ABT Then program at the Metropolitan Opera House at 7:30pm.
Tuesday, May 12
FRANCE ~ POSTPONED
The Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France runs through May 23.
Wednesday, May 13
Thursday, May 14
Friday, May 15
POSTPONED
The Cuban Parade and Festival is in Union City, New Jersey from 2-5pm. FREE
Saturday, May 16
CANCELLED & REPLACED BY VIRTUAL PARADE AT 1PM
The 14th Dance Parade marches from the Flatiron District to DanceFest at Tompkins Square Park in the East Village.
POSTPONED ~ CARNEGIE HALL CITYWIDE
Puerto Rican drummer Otura Mun and ÌFÉ play a blend of Cuban rumba, Yoruba ceremony, Jamaican dancehall and American R&B at El Museo del Barrio in El Barrio East Harlem, NYC at 4pm. FREE
SPAIN
UNCERTAIN ~ The 26th Ciutat Flamenco festival is in Barcelona, Spain from May 16-24, 2020.
Sunday, May 17
CANCELLED
The 2018 Bronx Pride Parade was Sunday, May 19.
May 2020 things to do in NYC week 21
May 18-24, 2020
Monday, May 18
Celebrate Haitian Flag Day, the day when the first Haitian flag was adopted in 1803.
Tuesday, May 19
Celebrate Laylat al-Qadr, the most sacred night of the Muslim year.
Wednesday, May 20
Haitian Revolution leader Toussaint Louverture’s birthday is celebrated as May 20, 1743.
UNCERTAIN
[Anticipated] Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival is at Scandinavia House in Murray Hill, Manhattan through Monday.
Thursday, May 21
Celebrate Ascension Day which commemorates the ascension of Jesus to heaven.
UNCERTAIN
The Big Salsa Festival is at the New York Hilton in Midtown, NYC through Monday.
Friday, May 22
It’s Memorial Day Weekend!
CANCELLED
The Governors Ball Music Festival is on Randall’s Island through Sunday.
The new moon is at 1:38pm this afternoon.
Saturday, May 23
Celebrate Eid al-Fitr at sundown, the Muslim feast that ends Ramadan. Through sunset tomorrow. “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed holiday).
Sunday, May 24
It’s a New York City school holiday for Eid al-Fitr.
May 2020 things to do in NYC week 22
May 25-31, 2020
Monday, May 25
(Memorial Day)
Celebrate Memorial Day!
The May Revolution of 1810 launched the Argentine War of Independence on May 25, 1810.
Tuesday, May 26
Wednesday, May 27
Thursday, May 28
Celebrate Shavout, the Jewish Festival of Weeks through Saturday.
POSTPONED ~ CARNEGIE HALL CITYWIDE
Tabou Combo plays Haitian compas with a mix of Dominican merengue, Haitian Vodou, French Creole and American funk at The Plaza at 300 Ashland in Fort Greene, Brooklyn at 6:30pm. FREE
Friday, May 29
UNCERTAIN
[Anticipated] The Open Roads: New Italian Cinema film festival is at Film at Lincoln Center through Wednesday, June 3.
UNCERTAIN
[Anticipated] The New York African Diaspora International Film Festival is at Teacher’s College Columbia University in Morningside Heights, NYC through Sunday.
Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31
Celebrate Pentecost.
UNCERTAIN
The Drama Desk Awards ceremony is today.
Things to do in NYC in June 2020