There are a million things to do in NYC in September 2020.
September restarts New York City’s performing arts seasons. The City returns to work and school on the first or second week after Labor Day. Hispanic Heritage Month starts mid-month.
COVID-19
New Yorkers wear masks, social distance, avoid crowds and wash their hands. Large outdoor events are cancelled this month.
Things to do in NYC in September
These are New York City’s big Latin culture events in a normal September. The 75th UN General Assembly will be held virtually for the first time.
NYC HOLIDAYS
- Labor Day Weekend (September 4-7, 2020)
- High Holidays (September 18-28, 2020)
- Rosh Hashanah (September 18-20, 2020)
- Yom Kippur (September 27-28, 2020)
INDEPENDENCE DAYS
- Brazilian Independence Day (September 7)
- Independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua (September 15)
- Mexican Independence Day (September 16)
- Chilean Independence Day (September 18)
NYC PARADES
Large outdoor events are cancelled through at least the end of September.
- 53rd West Indian Day Parade (Virtual Aug 28 YouthFest, Sep 4 Brass Fest, Sep 7 Virtual Road, Sep 26 Panology)
- J’ouvert Parade (Cancelled)
- Labor Day Parade (Cancelled)
- Central American Independence Parade (???)
- African American Day Parade (Virtual Sunday, September 20 at 12pm)
- Queens Hispanic Parade (Cancelled)
NYC STREET FAIRS
- Brazilian Day (Cancelled)
- Feast of San Gennaro (Street fair cancelled, but San Gennaro procession on September 19)
NYC ART
- Photoville (As of August 29, being reimagined)
- Affordable Art Fair (Cancelled)
NYC THEATRE
Broadway is closed through at least January 3, 2021.
- Broadway Week. (Cancelled)
- Off-Broadway Week (Cancelled)
NYC MUSIC
- Metropolitan Opera Fall Season (Cancelled).
- New York Philharmonic Fall Season (Cancelled).
NYC DANCE
- New York City Ballet Fall Season (Cancelled).
NYC DANCING
- New York International Salsa Congress (Cancelled. Scheduled for Sep 2-6, 2021)
NYC FOOD FESTIVALS
- Open Streets : Open Restaurants
- NYC Restaurant Week (Cancelled)
- Peru to the World Expo (Cancelled)
NYC FASHION
- RUNWAY360 a virtual NYFW New York Fashion Week. (September 13-16, 2020)
- FDLA Fashion Designers of Latin America (Virtual September 11-16, 2020)
NYC LITERATURE
- NY Art Book Fair. Moved online in early 2021.
NYC MOVIES
- Queens Drive-In
- Harlem International Film Festival (September 10-13, 2020)
- 58th New York Film Festival (VIRTUAL September 25-October 11, 2020)
NYC SPORTS
BROADCAST ONLY
- US Open Grand Slam (ESPN through September 13)
- Yankees Major League Baseball (Regular season through September 27)
- Mets Major League Baseball (Regular season through September 27)
- NYCFC Major League Soccer (Regular season through September 12)
- NY Red Bulls Major League Soccer (Regular season through September 12)
NATIONAL DAYS
- Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15)
- National Dance Day (September 19)
- National Coffee Day (September 29)
FAITH DAYS
- Yemayá (September 7)
- Our Lady of Regla (September 7)
- Our Lady of Charity (Caridad del Cobre), patron saint of Cuba (September 8)
- Michelmas (September 29)
BIRTHDAYS
- Gloria Estefan, pop and salsa singer (Havana, Cuba, September 1, 1957)
- Maria Rita, MPB singer (São Paulo, Brazil, September 9, 1977)
- Jose Feliciano, folk singer (Lares, Puerto Rico, September 10, 1945)
- Andrea Echeverri, pop rocker, Aterciopelados (Bogotá, Colombia, September 13, 1965)
- Marc Anthony salsa singer (New York City, September 16, 1968)
- Julio Iglesias, pop singer (Madrid, Spain, September 23, 1943)
- Victor Manuelle, salsa singer (The Bronx, New York, September 23, 1943)
- Pedro Fernández, ranchera singer (Guadalajara, Mexico, September 28, 1969)
- Héctor Lavoe, salsa legend (Machuelo Abajo, Ponce, Puerto Rico, September 30, 1946)
AWARDS
- Primetime Emmy Awards (ABC, September 20)
- Latin Grammy Nominations (September 29)
Things to do in NYC in September 2020 Week 36
August 31 – September 6, 2020
Tuesday, September 1
The US Open Grand Slam finishes Round 1 on ESPN without fans at 11am and 7pm.
It’s the first day of the fall months in New York City.
Happy birthday to us. Tango Beat ® was conceived in Kauai, Hawaii on September 1, 2008, born in Paris, France on September 1, 2009 and grew into New York Latin Culture Magazine on September 1, 2012. This is our eighth anniversary writing about Latin culture in New York City. Thanks for the journey.
September 1 is the first day to send requests for Christmas Midnight Mass tickets to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown, Manhattan.
Wednesday, September 2
The Corn Moon full moon rises over New York City at 1:22am.
The US Open Grand Slam starts Round 2 on ESPN without fans at 11am and 7pm.
Thursday, September 3
The Whitney Museum of American Art reopens in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.
The US Open Grand Slam finishes Round 2 on ESPN without fans at 11am and 7pm.
Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” about race relations in America is screening at the Queens Drive-In at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona-Park, Queens at 7:30pm. $35 per car (up to 4 passengers)
Friday, September 4
It’s Labor Day Weekend!
The US Open Grand Slam starts Round 3 on ESPN without fans at 11am and 7pm.
The 53rd West Indian Day Parade New York Carnival Back to Love Brass Fest is at wiadcacarnival.org from 8-11pm. FREE
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
Saturday, September 5
The Morgan Library & Museum reopens.
The US Open Grand Slam finishes Round 3 on ESPN without fans at 11am and 7pm.
Lizzie Borden’s “Born in Flames,” a 1980s feminist, sci-fi indie, is screening at the Queens Drive-In at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona-Park, Queens at 7:30pm. $35 per car (up to 4 passengers)
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
Sunday, September 6
The US Open Grand Slam starts the Round of 16 on ESPN without fans at 11am and 7pm.
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
Major League Baseball celebrates Roberto Clemente Day and the humanitarian example of the Puerto Rican Hall of Famer.
Things to do in NYC in September 2020 Week 37
September 7-13, 2020
Monday, September 7
Happy Labor Day! Enjoy the Federal and NYC public school holiday.
The 53rd West Indian Day Parade New York Carnival One Love Virtual Road is on wiadcacarnival.org from 9am-9pm. FREE It’s a zoom family carnival party.
Watch the US Open Grand Slam without fans on ESPN with Round of 16 and Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals at 11am and Round of 16 at 7pm.
Celebrate Brazilian Independence Day (from Portugal) on September 7, 1822.
Honor Yemayá, the Cuban Orisha mother of the sea.
CUBA
Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Regla at Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Regla (Church of Our Lady of Regla) in Regla, Havana, Cuba.
Tuesday, September 8
Watch the US Open Grand Slam without fans on ESPN with Quarterfinals and Men’s Doubles Semifinals at 12pm, and Quarterfinals at 7pm.
New Amsterdam became New York on September 8, 1624.
Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Charity (Caridad del Cobre), patron saint of Cuba.
Celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Mary.
Wednesday, September 9
The American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan’s Upper West Side reopens.
Watch the US Open Grand Slam without fans on ESPN with Quarterfinals and Women’s Doubles Semifinals at 12pm and Quarterfinals at 7pm.
Thursday, September 10
MoMA PS1 tickets go on sale.
Watch the US Open Grand Slam without fans on ESPN with Wheelchair Quarterfinals at 12pm, Men’s Doubles Final at 3pm and Women’s Semifinals at 7pm.
Today is the peak day of hurricane season.
José Feliciano, the multiple Grammy-winning folk singer who wrote the Spanish Christmas classic Feliz Navidad, was born in Lares, Puerto Rico on September 10, 1945.
CANADA
tiff the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the most important film festivals in the Americas, is in Toronto, Canada through September 20.
Friday, September 11
Remember 9/11/2001, a day that affected all peoples. Never forget, but always forgive.
Watch the US Open Grand Slam without fans on ESPN with the Women’s Doubles Final and Wheelchair Semifinals at 12pm, and Men’s Semifinals at 4pm.
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
The FDLA Fashion Designers of Latin America is virtual through Wednesday.
Saturday, September 12
El Museo del Barrio reopens in El Barrio East Harlem.
The Brooklyn Museum reopens in Prospect Park.
Watch the US Open Grand Slam without fans on ESPN with Wheelchair Finals at 12pm, and Women’s Singles Final at 4pm.
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
The FDLA Fashion Designers of Latin America is virtual.
Sunday, September 13
Watch the US Open Grand Slam without fans on ESPN with Wheelchair Finals at 12pm, and Men’s Singles Final at 4pm.
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
RUNWAY360 (Virtual New York Fashion Week) presents Harlem’s Fashion Row at 7:30pm. RUNWAY360 runs through next Wednesday.
The FDLA Fashion Designers of Latin America is virtual.
Things to do in NYC September 2020 Week 38
September 14-20, 2020
Monday, September 14
RUNWAY360 (Virtual New York Fashion Week) presents Carolina Herrera (Venezuelan) at 10am and Zero + Maria Cornejo (Chilean) at 6pm.
The FDLA Fashion Designers of Latin America is virtual.
Tuesday, September 15
The New Museum of Contemporary Art reopens in the Lower East Side today.
The 75th UN General Assembly is virtual through September 30.
The FDLA Fashion Designers of Latin America is virtual.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through October 15.
Celebrate Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Nicaraguan and Salvadoran independence days from Spain in 1810.
Wednesday, September 16
The FDLA Fashion Designers of Latin America is virtual.
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day from Spain in 1810.
Thursday, September 17
MoMA PS1 reopens.
The new moon rises over New York City at 7am.
Celebrate U.S. Constitution Day and the adoption of the United States Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787.
Friday, September 18
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
Celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Jewish new year starting at sundown through Sunday. “Shanah Tovah” (Good year).
Celebrate Chilean Independence Day (from Spain) on September 18, 1810. ¡Junta queremos!
Saturday, September 19
The New York Mets play arch rivals the Atlanta Braves on Fox at 7:07pm.
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
The Feast of San Gennaro is cancelled, but the San Gennaro mass and procession is in Little Italy, NYC.
Join the solemn high mass at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood and procession of the Statue of San Gennaro through Manhattan’s Little Italy (at 6pm?).
Comic actor Germán Valdés “Tin-Tan” was born in Ciudad, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico on September 19, 1915.
Celebrate National Dance Day.
Sunday, September 20
Watch Juventus vs Sampdoria, the Juventus Serie A season opener with the Juventus Club NYC supporters club at the Football Factory at Legends in Koreatown, NYC. Time TBD
Watch Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid, Madrid’s La Liga season opener with the Peña Madrista NYC supporters club at Playwright Irish Pub in Manhattan’s Garment District at 3pm ET.
The 51st African American Day Parade in Harlem gives a virtual “Tribute to Black Business” at 12pm.
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards are broadcast live on ABC from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles from 8-11pm. FREE
Things to do in NYC in September 2020 Week 39
September 21-27, 2020
Monday, September 21
Tuesday, September 22
Today is the Fall Equinox, the first day of meteorological Fall.
It’s National Register to Vote Day. Register to vote at any New York Public Library or online at vote.org (NGO).
New York City Ballet’s Fall 2020 Season is cancelled. It would have run for four weeks through Sunday, October 18. Enjoy City Ballet archives online during this time at nycballet.com
Wednesday, September 23
Thursday, September 24
Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy.
Honor Obatalá, the West & Central African Orisha who created earth and people.
Friday, September 25
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
The 58th New York Film Festival at Film at Lincoln Center is a virtual collaboration with the Toronto (tiff), Venice and Telluride film festivals through October 11.
The New York Mets play their next to last game of the regular season with arch rivals the Atlanta Braves on Fox at 7:07pm.
Saturday, September 26
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
The 58th New York Film Festival at Film at Lincoln Center is a virtual collaboration with the Toronto (tiff), Venice and Telluride film festivals.
The 53rd West Indian Day Parade New York Carnival Panology steel pan festival is on wiadcacarnival.org from 8-11pm. FREE (Steel Pan-Technology. Get it?)
Sunday, September 27
Dine outdoors at Open Streets : Open Restaurants
The 58th New York Film Festival at Film at Lincoln Center is a virtual collaboration with the Toronto (tiff), Venice and Telluride film festivals.
Things to do in NYC in September 2020 Week 40
September 28 – October 4, 2020
Monday, September 28
The 58th New York Film Festival at Film at Lincoln Center is a virtual collaboration with the Toronto (tiff), Venice and Telluride film festivals.
Tuesday, September 29
2020 Latin Grammy nominations are announced today.
Celebrate National Coffee Day.
The 58th New York Film Festival at Film at Lincoln Center is a virtual collaboration with the Toronto (tiff), Venice and Telluride film festivals.
Wednesday, September 30
The 58th New York Film Festival at Film at Lincoln Center is a virtual collaboration with the Toronto (tiff), Venice and Telluride film festivals.
We chose this image of the statue of Alma Mater in front of the Columbia University Library because the nourishing mother is Mother Earth. We need to rely on knowledge and some good mothering to get through the COVID-19 Pandemic together.