Things to do in NYC in February 2021 include Black History Month celebrations, NYC Restaurant Week To Go, the New York African Film Festival, Presidents Day Weekend, Valentines Day, NYFW New York Fashion Week, Fashion Designers of Latin America fashion shows, and the NY Art Book Fair.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The situation remains fluid. Broadway and most cultural venues are closed, though some are doing virtual productions. Museums and indoor dining may be open. But take-out helps New York businesses.
Early February is the Cheapest Time to Visit New York City
February is the snowiest month in New York City, so it is the cheapest time of year to visit. There are normally big discounts on travel, hotel, food, and things to do. The cold makes it hard to just wander the streets, but if you plan your visit, you can save a lot of money.
All February
- Celebrate Black History Month.
- Dominicans celebrate Dominican Independence (Feb 27) all month long.
- Surfs up 🏄🏿♀️ in Rockaway, Queens and Montauk, Long Island.
- NYC Restaurant Week To Go is extended to February 28.
Things to do in NYC in February 2021 Week 5
February 1-7, 2021
Black History is American History
This week’s cover image flies the colors of the old Ethiopian flag up until 1914. These colors are revered and served as the model for many national flags of Africa and the diaspora. It’s because Ethiopia was the only African nation to successfully resist colonization. Red represents the sacrifices of our ancestors. Yellow represents peace and religious freedom. Green represents hope and the fertility of Mother Africa, the mother of all humanity.
Africa is a big and incredibly diverse continent. Five of Africa’s six regions are in Africa. The sixth is the African Diaspora out in the world.
American History is Black History
African diaspora culture dominates North America. Regardless of who is performing it, most popular culture of the Americas has deep African roots including gospel, blues, jazz, country, swing, rock, R&B, salsa, hip-hop, reggaeton, trap and Latin trap.
The same is true in the Caribbean with son, rumba, bomba, plena, cumbia, and tambor. It’s also true in Latin America with tango, candombe, caporales and so many traditions.
Monday, February 1
Remember Langston Hughes 🇺🇸, the Harlem Renaissance jazz poet, who was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1901.
Tuesday, February 2
Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria “La Morenita” 🇪🇸, the patron saint of the African island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Her feast is celebrated on this day by people of color throughout the Americas. Tenerife celebrates in August.
Celebrate Maman Brigitte, the Haitian Loa of death and life.
Wish Shakira 🇨🇴 a happy birthday! The Colombian pop star was born in Barranquilla, Colombia on February 2, 1977.
Wednesday, February 3
78th Golden Globes nominations are announced today at 8am ET. The awards are on February 28.
Celebrate the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave African American men the right to vote on February 3, 1870.
Thursday, February 4
OPENING NIGHT
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org through February 14. $12/film
Remember Rosa Parks 🇺🇸, the “mother of the freedom movement,” who was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on February 4, 1913.
Friday, February 5
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Remember Hank Aaron 🇺🇸, the Major League Baseball Hall of Famer who was born in Mobile, Alabama on February 5, 1934.
Saturday, February 6
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Sunday, February 7
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Celebrate Grenada Independence Day 🇬🇩 February 7, 1974.
Things to do in NYC in February 2021 Week 6
February 8-14, 2021
Monday, February 8
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Tuesday, February 9
The 2021 Oscars Shortlist is announced today.
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Wednesday, February 10
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Traditional Carnival (February 10-16, 2021) is cancelled around the world this year.
Thursday, February 11
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes 🇫🇷, the Marian apparition known for her healing powers.
ReSkill Americans is offering 7-month tuition-free virtual coding classes with mentorship to Black and Latin Americans. Twitter @ReskillAmerica
The Art Dealers Association of America has announced the November 3-7, 2021 date for the ADAA Art Show.
Friday, February 12
It’s President’s Day Weekend!
Celebrate Lunar New Year 🐲🧨🧧
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Remember Abraham Lincoln 🇺🇸, the American president who held our country together and ended legal slavery, and was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky on February 12, 1809.
Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves”
Abraham Lincoln, Complete Works – Volume XII
Remember “Tite” Curet Alonso 🇵🇷, one of the great salsa composers (Las Caras Lindas, Anacoana) who was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico on February 12, 1926.
Saturday, February 13
Happy Galentines Day 💘!
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Here’s a shoutout to Armando Pacheco Matos and our friends at Proyecto Patria y Cultura from Barrio San Antón in Ponce, Puerto Rico! patriaycultura.com
Sunday, February 14
Happy Valentines Day 💘! If you’re sad because you don’t have a partner today, don’t be. You have everything you need in your own chest.
You’ll love this virtual Valentine’s benefit for LongHouse Reserve sculpture garden in East Hampton, Long Island with Shirin Neshat, Paul Goldberg, Bill T. Jones, Laurie Anderson and many more.
CLOSING
Film at Lincoln Center’s 28th New York African Film Festival closes virtually at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Remember Frederick Douglass 🇺🇸, the abolitionist, writer and statesman, who celebrated his birthday as February 14, 1818.
The soul that is within me no man can degrade.”
Frederick Douglass, traveling in Pennsylvania, quoted by Booker T. Washington in 1901
Things to do in NYC in February 2021 Week 7
February 15-21, 2020
Monday, February 15
Johnny Pacheco, who popularized salsa, co-founded Fania Records, and led the Fania All-Stars to international fame, left the stage today in Teaneck, New Jersey. Vaya con Dios!
Celebrate Presidents Day 🇺🇸 the U.S. national holiday that celebrates the birthdays of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Official New York Fashion Week NYFW: Women’s Fall-Winter 2021 👗 and FDLA, Fashion Designers of Latin America fashion shows run through Wednesday.
President Biden is reopening Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) enrollment for health insurance coverage through March 15.
Tuesday, February 16
Celebrate Mardi Gras 🥳 (Fat Tuesday), the peak of Carnival.
Official New York Fashion Week NYFW: Women’s Fall-Winter 2021 👗 fashion shows continue today.
Wednesday, February 17
Celebrate Ash Wednesday ✝️.
Celebrate Lent ✝️ through Saturday, April 3.
Official New York Fashion Week NYFW: Women’s Fall-Winter 2021 👗 fashion shows end today.
Poet and civil rights activist Julia de Burgos 🇵🇷 was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico on February 17, 1914.
¡Río Grande de Loíza!… Río grande. Llanto grande.
Julia de Burgos, “Río Grande de Loíza!” from “Poemas exactos a mi misma” (1937)
El más grande de todos nuestros llantos isleños,
si no fuera más grande el que de mí se sale
por los ojos del alma para mi esclavo pueblo.
Thursday, February 18
The 33rd Premio Lo Nuestro Latin music awards are on Univision at 7pm ET.
American novelist Toni Morrison 🇺🇸 (“The Bluest Eye” (1970), “Song of Solomon” National Book Critics Circle Award (1977), “Beloved” Pulitzer Prize (1987), Nobel Prize in Literature (1993) was born in Lorain, Ohio on February 18, 1931.
You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.”
Tony Morrison, “Song of Solomon” (1977)
Celebrate Gambian Independence Day 🇬🇲 February 18, 1965.
Friday, February 19
PRIDA: Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts, hosts a community open mic: Poetry, Prose, Unity & Performance on Zoom from 7-8:30pm. FREE
Saturday, February 20
Wish Sir Sidney Poitier 🇧🇸🇺🇸 a happy birthday. The Bahamanian American actor was born in Miami, Florida on February 20, 1927.
I am the me I choose to be.”
Sidney Poitier
Sunday, February 21
Remember Chesperito 🇲🇽, the beloved comic, who was born in Mexico City on February 21, 1929.
Things to do in NYC in February 2021 Week 8
February 22-28, 2020
Monday, February 22
Celebrate Saint Lucian Independence Day 🇱🇨 February 22, 1979
Remember President George Washington 🇺🇸, United States founding father and human slaver, who was born in Popes Creek, Virginia on February 22, 1732.
What would Jorge Washington do?”
Keith Widyolar, Editor, New York Latin Culture Magazine
Remember Luis Buñuel 🇪🇸, the Spanish filmmaker who helped develop the Mexican film industry was born in Calanda, Teruel, Spain on February 22, 1900.
Celebrate National Margarita Day! 🇲🇽
Tuesday, February 23
The new moon 🌙 rises over New York City at 10:32am.
Remember W.E.B DuBois 🇺🇸, the writer and one of the founders of the NAACP, who was born in Great Barrington, Massachussetts on February 23, 1868.
Either America will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States.”
W.E.B. Du Bois, Niagara Movement Speech, 1905
Wednesday, February 24
OPENING
This year’s NY Art Book Fair 📚🎪 is Printed Matter’s Virtual Art Book Fair at pmvabf.org through Sunday. FREE
Thursday, February 25
Celebrate Purim Eve ✡️, the festive Jewish holiday.
Friday, February 26
Celebrate Purim ✡️, the festive Jewish holiday.
Rock and roll pioneer Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr. 🇺🇸 was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 26, 1928.
They call, they call me the fat man
Fats Domino, The Fat Man, 1949
‘Cause I weigh two hundred pounds
All the girls, they love me
‘Cause I know my way around”
Saturday, February 27
Celebrate Dominican Independence Day 🇩🇴 February 27, 1844. ¡Quisqueya!
College Spring Break Season ⛱ runs through April 10, 2021.
The “Snow Moon 🌝 February full moon, reaches maximum at 3:17am.
Sunday, February 28
Watch the 78th Golden Globes Awards 🎞🏆 live on NBC from The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills from 8-11pm ET.
Categories of Things to do in NYC in February 2021
February is Black History Month. Dominicans celebrate Dominican Independence all month long.
FEBRUARY HOLIDAYS
- Presidents Day Weekend 🇺🇸 February 12-15, 2021
- Presidents Day 🇺🇸 February 15, 2021
- Special Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) enrollment February 15 – March 15
- College Spring Breaks ⛱ between February 27 and April 10, 2021
FEBRUARY INDEPENDENCE DAYS
- Grenadian Independence Day 🇬🇩 February 7, 1974
- Gambian Independence Day 🇬🇲 February 18, 1965
- Saint Lucian Independence Day 🇱🇨 February 22, 1979
- Dominican Independence Day 🇩🇴 February 27, 1821 (from Spain) & 1844 (from Haiti)
FEBRUARY FESTIVALS
- Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria 🇪🇸 February 2
- Maman Brigitte 🇭🇹 February 2
- 15th Amendment ratification 🇺🇸 African American men’s right to vote, February 3, 1870
- Carnival 🥳 Week February 10-16, 2021 is CANCELLED WORLDWIDE
- Lunar New Year 🇺🇸 February 12, 2021
- Valentines Day 💘February 14
- Mardi Gras 🇫🇷 February 16, 2021
- Ash Wednesday ✝️ February 17, 2021
- Lent ✝️ February 17 to March 29, 2021
- Purim ✡️ February 25-26, 2021
FEBRUARY PARADES
- Lunar New Year Parade 🐲🧨🧧 not for the public this year
FEBRUARY ART
- ADAA The Art Show 🎨 🎪 TBD
- Armory Week 🎨 🎪 MOVED to September 2021
FEBRUARY DANCE
- New York City Ballet Winter Season 🩰 CANCELLED, but some online offerings
- Harkness Dance Festival 🕺🏽💃🏽🎪 CANCELLED but The Future Dance Festival is in April.
FEBRUARY FASHION
- New York Fashion Week NYFW: Women’s Fall-Winter 2021 👗 February 15-17, 2021
- Fashion Designers of Latin America 👗 TBD
FEBRUARY FILM
- New York African Film Festival 🎞🎪 VIRTUAL February 4-14, 2021
- Oscar Shortlists Announcement 🎞🏆 Tuesday, February 9, 2021
- 78th Golden Globe Awards 🎞🏆 NBC, Sunday February 28, 2021
- New York International Children’s Film Festival 🎞🎪 MOVED to March 5-14, 2021
- Oscars 🎞🏆 MOVED to April 2021
- MoMA Doc Fortnight 🎞🎪 documentary film festival TBD (2020: Feb 5-9)
- Neighboring Scenes 🎞🎪 Latin American Film Festival (NOT THIS YEAR)
FEBRUARY FOOD
- NYC Restaurant Week To Go 🍽🎪 January 25 EXTENDED to February 28
FEBRUARY LITERATURE
- NY Art Book Fair is Printed Matter’s Virtual Art Book Fair 📚🎪 February 24-28, 2021
FEBRUARY MUSIC
- Premio Lo Nuestro 🎵🎪 February 18, 2021
FEBRUARY SPORTS
- Westminster Dog Show 🐕🎪 MOVED upstate in June
FEBRUARY THEATRE
- Broadway 🎭 CLOSED until June at least
- Off-Broadway 🎭 CLOSED until June at least
- NYC Broadway Week 🎭🎪 CANCELLED
- NYC Off-Broadway Week 🎭🎪 CANCELLED
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
- Langston Hughes 🇺🇸 Harlem Renaissance writer, February 1, 1902
- Shakira 🇨🇴 pop star, February 2, 1977
- Rosa Parks 🇺🇸 civil rights hero, Tuskegee, Alabama (February 4, 1913)
- Daddy Yankee 🇵🇷 reggaeton star (February 3, 1977)
- Hank Aaron 🇺🇸 baseball player (Mobile, Alabama, February 5, 1934)
- Carmen Miranda 🇧🇷 actress (Marco de Canveses, Portugal, February 9, 1909)
- Alejandro Guzman 🇲🇽 February 9, 1968
- Don Omar 🇵🇷 reggaeton star, February 10, 1978
- “Tite” Curet Alonso 🇵🇷 salsa composer, February 12, 1926
- Mala Rodriguez 🇪🇸 rap star February 13, 1979
- Gloria Trevi 🇲🇽 pop star, February 15, 1968
- Vicente Fernandez 🇲🇽 ranchera singer and actor, February 17, 1940
- Sir Sidney Poitier 🇺🇸 actor, February 20, 1927
- Rene Perez “Residente” 🇵🇷 rap star, February 23, 1978
FEBRUARY NATURE DAYS
Asians are Latin Through the Caribbean
American Latin is a mix of all the world’s peoples. We are Chinese and South Asian (East Indian) through the Caribbean and parts of South America.
After building the Transcontinental Railroad (1863-1869) in California, Chinese Americans moved to Manhattan Chinatown and the Caribbean to escape American racial violence. We built the railroads in the Caribbean and then blended in. Even the jíbaro, the iconic Puerto Rican mountain farmers have Chinese mixed in.
New York’s vanishing Chinese Spanish or Spanish Chinese restaurants were founded by Chinese Cubans. All of this is our heritage.
The point is: DON’T PICK ON ASIANS. Asians are Latins too.