Things to do in NYC in March 2021 include Rendez-vous with French Cinema and New York International Children’s Film Festival, St Patrick’s Day, and the Public Theater’s radio broadcast of a new Black and Latin “Romeo y Julieta.”
Features
Andalucían flamenco harpist Ana Crismán recorded a special concert in Spain for the World Music Institute that is available for streaming on worldmusicinstitute.org (ovationtix.com) on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 7pm. $10
The Month of March
March is spring. It brings Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. St. Patrick’s Day is a popular holiday.
March weather is early spring. Average temperatures range from 35° to 50°F so it is still cold. Rainfall is average.
These events happen all month long.
- College Spring Break Season ⛱ is all March long.
- NYCFC ⚽️ plays Major League Soccer at Yankee Stadium.
- NY Red Bulls ⚽️ play Major League Soccer at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey (Newark).
- Surfs up 🏄🏿♀️ in Rockaway, Queens and Montauk, Long Island.
Things to Do in NYC in March 2021 Week 9
March 1-7, 2021
Monday, March 1
Celebrate calendar Spring 💐
Celebrate Women’s History Month ♀.
Thursday, March 4
OPENING
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org through March 14. From $12/film
Friday, March 5
OPENING
New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org through March 14.
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
Saturday, March 6
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
The New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org
Celebrate Ghanaian Independence Day 🇬🇭, from the UK, on March 6, 1957.
Remember Gabriel García Márquez 🇨🇴, the Nobel Prize-winning author who was born in Aracataca, Colombia on March 6, 1927.
Sunday, March 7
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
The New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org
Things to Do in NYC in March 2021 Week 10
March 8-14, 2021
College Spring Break Season ⛱ runs through April 10, 2021.
Monday, March 8
Celebrate International Women’s Day.
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
The New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org
Happy Birthday Johnny Ventura 🇩🇴! The merengue pioneer was born in Santo Domingo on March 8, 1940.
Remember Enrique Rodríguez 🇦🇷, the Argentine tango composer and bandleader who was born in La Plata, Argentina on March 8, 1901.
Tuesday, March 9
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
The New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org
Celebrate National Meatball Day 🇮🇹
Wednesday, March 10
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
The New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org
Thursday, March 11
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
The New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org
Remember Astor Piazzolla 🇦🇷, the father of Nuevo Tango (tango jazz) who was born in Mar del Plata, Argentina on March 11, 1921. He first learned to play bandoneon in New. York City.
Friday, March 12
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
The New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org
Celebrate Mauritian Independence Day 🇲🇺, from the UK, on March 12, 1968.
Saturday, March 13
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
The New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org
The New Moon 🌙 reaches maximum over New York City.
Sunday, March 14
Daylight Savings Time ⏰ begins in some regions. The rule is “spring forward/fall back” so set your clocks one hour forward.
The 63rd Grammys are on CBS at 7pm ET.
CLOSING
Film at Lincoln Center’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 film festival is virtual at filmlinc.org. $12/film
CLOSING
The New York International Children’s Film Festival 👶🏽🎞🎪 is virtual at nyicff.org
Remember Rodolfo Biagi 🇦🇷, the Tango pianist and composer with a hard beat, who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 14, 1906.
Things to Do in NYC in March 2021 Week 11
March 15-21, 2021
College Spring Break Season ⛱ runs through April 10, 2021.
Monday, March 15
Oscar Nominations 🎞🏆 for the 93rd Academy Awards (April 15, 2021) were announced today.
Happy Birthday Sergio Vargas 🇩🇴! The merengue and bolero singer was born in Villa Altagracia on March 15, 1960.
Celebrate the Ides of March, a Roman holiday and the day Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BCE.
Tuesday, March 16
The South by Southwest (SXSW) tech, music and film festival is virtual from Austin, Texas March 16-20, 2021. In a normal year, many artists come to New York after SXSW. From $139
Wednesday, March 17
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day 🇮🇪!
The NYC St Patrick’s Day Parade 🇮🇪 is virtual.
Remember Elis Regina 🇧🇷, the MPB, samba and jazz singer, who was born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on March 17, 1945.
Thursday, March 18
Saheem Ali 🇰🇪 directs Romeo y Julieta 📻🎭 with a cast of Latin stars for the Public Theater on WNYC public radio and podcasts after. FREE with rsvp
Friday, March 19
Celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph 😇, the Latin Father’s Day which honors both fathers and stepfathers.
Saturday, March 20
The spring equinox marks the first day of meteorological spring 💐
Celebrate Nowruz, Persian 🇮🇷 new year.
Celebrate Tunisian Independence Day 🇹🇳, from the UK, on March 12, 1968.
Celebrate National Ravioli Day 🇮🇹
Sunday, March 21
Celebrate Namibian Independence Day 🇳🇦, from South Africa, on March 21, 1990.
Remember Benito Juárez 🇲🇽, the father of modern Mexico, who was born in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca on March 21, 1806.
Celebrate World Poetry Day 📚
Celebrate World Puppetry Day 🎭
Things to Do in NYC in March 2021 Week 12
March 22-28, 2021
College Spring Break Season ⛱ runs through April 10, 2021.
Monday, March 22
The “Alice Neel: People Come First” exhibition opens at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park, and runs through August 1. Neel was American, but spent her formative time as an artist in Cuba 🇨🇺. In New York she captured the spirit of “El Barrio” East Harlem.
Digital exhibition On Protest and Mourning is at the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute web at cccadi.org through June 30.
Celebrate Día de la abolición de la esclavitud (Puerto Rico Emancipation Day), the day when the Spanish law that ended slavery in Puerto Rico was enacted in 1873.
Wish Jorge Ben Jor 🇧🇷 a happy birthday. The father of samba-rock was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on March 22, 1942.
Thursday, March 25
Today is the UN’s International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Remember salsa legend, Johnny Pacheco 🇩🇴! The Fania Records co-founder and Fania All-Stars bandleader was born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic on March 25, 1935.
Celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation ✝️.
Celebrate Greek Independence Day 🇬🇷, from the Ottoman Empire, on March 25, 1821.
Friday, March 26
The sound of New York is world music.
OPENING
TThe Drom Online World Fest opens with Fanfaraï Big Band 🇫🇷🇩🇿, Snarky Puppy 🇺🇸, Donald Harrison “Big Chief” 🇺🇸, Ibrahim Maalouf 🇫🇷 and mor ve ötesi 🇹🇷 at 2pm & 8pm ET on dromnyc.com. Free but please donate to keep world music in New York City.
Ysanet Batista 🇩🇴 (Woke Foods) and urban farmer Sheryl Durrant 🇺🇸 talk about Food Justice For All on the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute’s YouTube and Facebook channels at 6pm.
Andalucían flamenco harpist Ana Crismán recorded a special concert in Spain for the World Music Institute that is available for streaming on worldmusicinstitute.org (ovationtix.com) at 7pm. $10
Saturday, March 27
The Drom Online World Fest continues with Nation Beat 🇺🇸, Ismail Lumanovski & Ruslan Agababayev 🇲🇰, Ismael Fernández & Sonia Olla 🇪🇸, Bokanté 🇺🇸, Al Di Meola 🇮🇹🇺🇸 at 2pm & 8pm ET on dromnyc.com. Free but please donate to keep world music in New York City.
Celebrate Passover ✡️ tonight through April 4. Chag Pesach Sameach!
Remember Arthur Mitchell, the first African American New York City Ballet dancer who founded Dance Theatre of Harlem, the first African American ballet company. Mitchell was born in Harlem on March 27, 1934.
Sunday, March 28
At this time of year, many cultures celebrate the passing of evil, the central importance of family, and the arrival of spring. Humans do similar things around the world and across time.
The Drom Online World Fest continues with Nano Raies 🇸🇾, Yeni Türkü 🇹🇷, Slavic Soul Party 🇺🇸, Samuel Torres 🇨🇴, Zülfü Livaneli 🇹🇷 at 2pm & 8pm ET on dromnyc.com. Free but please donate to keep world music in New York City.
The Worm Moon 🌝, the March full moon, reaches maximum over New York City at 2:48pm.
Celebrate Holi 🕉, the Hindu spring festival through tomorrow.
Happy birthday to Mario Vargas Llosa 🇵🇪, the Nobel Prize-winning author who was born in Arequipa, Peru on March 28, 1936.
Wish Lady Gaga 🇮🇹🇺🇸 a happy birthday. The Italian-American pop star was born in New York City on March 28, 1986.
Things to Do in NYC in March 2021 Week 13
March 29 – April 4, 2021
College Spring Break Season ⛱ runs through April 10, 2021.
Education is one of the keys to a better future. The National Dominican Day Parade and YAGP, Youth America Grand Prix ballet scholarships are active this week.
Monday, March 29
The Drom Online World Fest continues with Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra 🇨🇺, Jorge Glem 🇻🇪 & César Orozco 🇨🇺, Jorge Luis Pacheco 🇨🇺, Sertab Erener 🇹🇷 and Baba Zula 🇹🇷 at 2pm & 8pm ET on dromnyc.com. Free but please donate to keep world music in New York City.
Tuesday, March 30
Today is the deadline to apply for a National Dominican Day Parade scholarship at natddp.org
The Drom Online World Fest continues with the New York Gypsy All Stars 🇺🇸, Gripin 🇹🇷, Stephane Wrembel 🇫🇷, Tamara Jokic 🇷🇸, Mazhar, Fuat, Özkan 🇹🇷 at 2pm & 8pm ET on dromnyc.com. Free but please donate to keep world music in New York City.
Wednesday, March 31
The YAGP Gala is our favorite ballet in New York City. It’s a star-making machine. The YAGP 2021 Emerging Choreographer Gabe Stone Thayer will dance a world premiere with Skylar Brandt (both ABT) to music by rising Juilliard sensation Matthew Whitaker. It’s called “Journey Uptown.” Finally the ballet is coming to us.
OPENING
The Neighboring Scenes: New Latin American Cinema 🎞🎪 is at filmlinc.org through April 12. From $12
CLOSING
The Drom Online World Fest continues with the Džambo Aguševi Orchestra 🇲🇰, Frevo Bombastico 🇺🇸, Emre Kula 🇹🇷, Moğollar 🇹🇷, Gloria Gaynor 🇺🇸 at 2pm & 8pm ET on dromnyc.com. Free but please donate to keep world music in New York City.
The YAGP, Youth America Grand Prix 🩰🎪 virtual gala is at yagp.org at 7pm ET.
The “Playing for Peace” soccer film screens at kickingandscreening.com at 7pm. Free with rsvp
Watch Part 2 of Argentine concert pianist Rosa Antonelli’s Lincoln Center concert on Antonelli’s YouTube channel at 7:30pm. FREE
Celebrate César Chávez Day 🇲🇽🇺🇸, the day the Mexican American labor and civil rights leader was born in Yuma, Arizona on March 31, 1927.
Categories of Things to Do in NYC in March 2021
MARCH HOLIDAYS
- College Spring Breaks ⛱ through April 10, 2021
- NYC Schools Spring Recess 🎓 March 29-April 2, 2021
MARCH INDEPENDENCE DAYS
- Ghana 🇬🇭 March 6, 1957 (from the UK)
- Mauritius 🇲🇺 March 12, 1968 (from the UK)
- Tunisia 🇹🇳 March 20, 1956 (from France)
- Namibia 🇳🇦 March 21, 1990 (from South Africa)
- Greece 🇬🇷 March 25, 1821 (from the Ottoman Empire)
MARCH FESTIVALS
- International Women’s Day 🌹 March 8
- St Patrick’s Day 🇮🇪 March 17
- Feast of St Joseph 😇 March 19
- Nowruz, Persian new year 🇮🇷 March 20, 2021
- Passover ✡️ March 27 – April 4, 2021
- Holi 🕉 March 28-29, 2021
MARCH PARADES
- St Patrick’s Day Parade 🇮🇪 VIRTUAL March 17, 2021
MARCH ART
- Affordable Art Fair New York Spring 🎨 MOVED to May 20-23, 2021
- Armory Arts Week 🎨 MOVED to September this year
MARCH DANCE
- YAGP, Youth America Grand Prix 🩰🎪 VIRTUAL Wednesday, March 31, 2021
- Flamenco Festival 💃🏽 CANCELLED
MARCH FILM
- Rendez-vous with French Cinema 🇫🇷🎞🎪 March 4-14, 2021
- New York International Children’s Film Festival 🎞🎪 March 5-14, 2021
- Oscars Nominations 🎞🏆 Monday, March 15, 2021
- Neighboring Scenes: New Latin American Cinema 🎞🎪 March 31 – April 12, 2021
- ReelAbilities Film Festival 👩🏽🦽🎞🎪 MOVED to April 29-May 5, 2021
- Colombian Film Festival NY 🇨🇴🎞🎪 (2020: July 16-23, 2019: March 28-31) TBD
- Queens World Film Festival 🗽🎞🎪 TBD
- New Directors/New Films film festival 🎞🎪 (ran in December 2020) TBD
MARCH LITERATURE
- World Poetry Day 📚 Sunday, March 21, 2021
MARCH MUSIC
- 63rd Grammy Awards 🎼🏆 Sunday, March 14, 2021
MARCH SPORTS
- NYCFC ⚽️ Major League Soccer, early March to October
- NY Red Bulls ⚽️ Major League Soccer, early March to October
- Surfing 🏄🏿♀️ Rockaway, Queens and Montauk, Long Island
MARCH THEATRE
- Romeo y Julieta 📻🎭 Public Theater and WNYC Public Radio, March 18, 2021
- World Puppetry Day 🎭 Sunday, March 21, 2021
- Broadway 🎭 is closed until at least June.
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
- Gabriel García Márquez 🇨🇴 Nobel Prize-winning author, March 6, 1927
- Johnny Ventura 🇩🇴 merengue pioneer, March 8, 1940
- Astor Piazzolla 🇦🇷 tango jazz composer, March 11, 1921
- Sergio Vargas 🇩🇴 merengue and bolero singer, March 15, 1960
- Elis Regina 🇧🇷 bossa nova singer, March 17, 1945
- Benito Juárez 🇲🇽 founding father of modern Mexico, March 21, 1806
- Jorge Ben Jor 🇧🇷 father of samba-rock, March 22, 1942
- Johnny Pacheco 🇩🇴 salsa legend, Fania co-founder and Fania All-Stars leader, March 25, 1935
- Arthur Mitchell founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem, March 27, 1934
- Lady Gaga 🇮🇹🇺🇸 pop star, March 28, 1986
- César Chávez 🇲🇽🇺🇸 labor and civil rights leader, March 31, 1927
MARCH NATURE
- New Moon 🌙 March 13, 2021
- Spring 💐 Saturday, March 20, 2021
- Worm Moon 🌝 full moon, March 28, 2021
- Macy’s Flower Show (CANCELLED)
MARCH NATIONAL DAYS
- National Meatball Day 🇮🇹 March 9
- Ides of March 🇮🇹 March 15 Roman holiday
- National Ravioli Day 🇮🇹 March 20