Fairs and Festivals bring the fun
New York City streets come alive every summer with the sights, sounds and smells of food fairs, festivals, flea markets and cultural celebrations. Join the parties.
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Flushing Meadows Corona Park July 30-31 hkdbf-ny.org
The long tradition of teams racing Chinese Dragon boats comes to Queens in this eagerly anticipated annual festival. Held on the fifth day of the fifth Lunar month, rice dumplings are eaten on the first day of the races and four days before the first race each boat is blessed by a Buddhist monk and the eyes of the dragon are painted red. Yes, there are intricately-decorated custom teak boats, weighing one ton each and decorated with a dragon’s head and tail. Each dragon boat holds a team of 18 paddlers, a drummer and a person to steer. The competition ranges from the friendly to the fierce among a variety of different categories. The celebration of Chinese culture continues after the races with traditional dance performances, street theater and martial arts and plenty of street food.
HARLEM WEEK Aug 12-21 harlemweek.com
More that a week and bigger that one neighborhood, Harlem Week celebrates the rich African-American, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and European history of Harlem. This year marks the 48th anniversary of the popular festival which people flock to for the dance and musical performances on outdoor stages and at the Apollo Theater. Other popular events are the “A Great Day in Harlem” at Grant’s Tomb that historically includes speeches by community leaders. Other events have included a children’s festival, seniors fashion show, and classic car show.
SMORGASBURG Brooklyn, Manhattan, Jersey City smorgasburg.com
Yum. Smorgasburg, the beloved outdoor food market, has returned to the New York area with four locations — Williamsburg and Prospect Park in Brooklyn, near the Freedom Tower in lower Manhattan, and Jersey City — every weekend throughout the summer. Each location features between 20 and 50 vendors including fan favorites such as Red Hook Lobster Pound for lobster rolls, Smashed for burgers, Birria LES for tacos, Black Rican Vegan for Latin vegan, and Bite for mini-donuts. Check the Smorgasburg site to see where your favorite food vendor can be found. Beverages are available, too, and the Jersey City location is adjacent to the Smorgasbar beer garden. Cheers to that.
FLEA MARKETS brooklynflea.com; theseaport.nyc
Browse and buy, sip and shop, hunt and seek at outdoor flea markets throughout the city. Despite its name, Brooklyn Flea has two locations, one in DUMBO and one in Chelsea that runs on weekends through December. At these, you’ll find hundreds of vendors selling vintage clothing, antiques, furniture and jewelry, arts and crafts by local artists. Curated and cool, these markets have a range of treasures to hunt for: classic rock tees, vintage Levis, midcentury modern lamps and ‘70s “gold” jewelry. The fun is in the hunt as well as the scene.
The Hester Street Fair and Market offers cool products and a nice, cool breeze thanks to its location at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport. Foodies, music lovers and vintage fashion fans appreciate the diverse, appealing vendors and live DJ. Beer and baked goods are also available. Every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 20 at Pier 17, 89 South St.