All Articles Can't-miss NYC winter festivals that are worth getting outside for

Can't-miss NYC winter festivals that are worth getting outside for

Check out these incredible festivals, parades, and more spread across the city's five boroughs.

By Amber P. Lewis 20 Dec 2022 2 minutes read
Illuminated dragon at the Winter Lantern Festival in New York
Illuminated dragon at the Winter Lantern Festival in New York
Image: Courtesy of Kaleido Arts & Entertainment Group

New York City has no shortage of amazing festivals during the chilliest time of the year. From a nearly 50-year-old parade in East Harlem to a jazz-filled festival spread across the city, the five boroughs boast some of the world’s most iconic and inventive winter celebrations. Here are our top picks for four of the best winter festivals in New York City for an unforgettable time.

Winter Lantern Festival

Light display at the Winter Lantern Festival
Light display at the Winter Lantern Festival
Image: Courtesy of Kaleido Arts & Entertainment Group

Running from Friday, October 21, 2022, through Sunday, January 8, 2023, the NYC Winter Lantern Festival is an immersive show of more than 1,000 handmade Chinese lanterns. The festival—held on Staten Island—is perfect for art lovers, creatives, and anyone who loves a good light show, with light displays designed to look like trees, flowers, and animals. To round out the fun, there’s also a live DJ, food vendors, illuminated swings, and projection mapping, which transform objects into a 3D interactive experience.

El Museo del Barrio’s Three Kings Day Parade

People walking in the Three Kings Day Parade
People walking in the Three Kings Day Parade
Image: Tagger Yancey IV/NYC & Company

About to mark its 46th year, the Three Kings Day Parade garners a crowd of thousands to celebrate Dia de Los Reyes, a Latin American Christian celebration that honors the arrival of the three wise men. The parade also celebrates Latin culture with parrandas, a carnival-like street party; giant puppets; ceremonial costumes; and a free kick-off breakfast inside East Harlem's El Museo del Barrio. During the festivities, you’ll also want to soak up the sounds of Latin American musicians and a Brazilian jazz band. Come ready to dance on January 6, 2023.

Winter Jazzfest

Performers at the Winter Jazzfest in New York
Performers at the Winter Jazzfest in New York
Image: Emra Islek

With over a hundred jazz performances and hundreds of musicians spread across 12 different venues, New York City’s Winter Jazzfest is the perfect winter festival for those who prefer jazz music as their holiday genre of choice. This multi-night winter festival boasts marquee performances by some of the country’s top jazz performers, in addition to up-and-coming talented artists. Attendees can expect to dance to live jazz music from Grammy-award winning musicians between January 12 and 18, 2023.

Chinese New Year Festival

Chinese New Year Festival in Manhattan
Chinese New Year Festival in Manhattan
Image: Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Set in the heart of Manhattan’s Chinatown, the city’s Chinese New Year celebration is one of the biggest in the country. In addition to a number of other celebrations around Sunset Park in Brooklyn and Flushing in Queens, Chinese New Year in NYC comes complete with dancing dragons, martial art performers, dozens of food stalls, cultural performances, and fireworks. Festivities in Chinatown begin January 22 and culminate in a parade through the neighborhood on February 12. Fair warning: Go hungry so you can try the many Lunar New Year delicacies sold at shops and stands along the parade route.

Amber P. Lewis
Amber P. Lewis is a passionate writer and self-proclaimed foodie who enjoys traveling the world. She is the owner of TrekLocal, a digital travel concierge company building custom travel itineraries for people who want to vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the cultural experience.