NYC Events Calendar: Your Insider Guide (2025)
New York City hosts thousands of events every year - from iconic institutions like Restaurant Week to hidden gem sample sales that locals guard jealously. This guide covers the events that matter, when they happen, and how to never miss a registration deadline.
Annual NYC Events
NYC Restaurant Week
Launched in 1992, NYC Restaurant Week has become one of the city's most anticipated culinary events. Top restaurants offer prix-fixe menus at significant discounts - typically $30 lunch / $45 dinner at establishments that normally charge $100+.
Key Details
- When: Twice yearly - Winter (Jan-Feb) and Summer (Jul-Aug)
- Duration: ~3 weeks each session
- What: Prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus
- Where: 400+ participating restaurants citywide
Insider Tip:
Reservations open before Restaurant Week starts. The most popular restaurants (Gramercy Tavern, Le Bernardin, etc.) book out within hours. Set a reminder for reservation opening day.
Open House New York (OHNY)
One weekend per year, over 250 sites across NYC open their doors to the public - many for the only time all year. From private penthouses to infrastructure facilities, OHNY offers access to spaces you'd never otherwise see.
Notable Sites (Past Years)
- • Federal Reserve Gold Vault
- • Governor's Island
- • Private Williamsburg lofts
- • MTA subway control center
- • Steinway Piano Factory
- • Water treatment plants
- • Historic private clubs
- • Architectural landmarks
Critical Warning:
Popular sites require advance registration that opens ~2 weeks before the event. The most in-demand locations (Federal Reserve, etc.) fill within minutes. Registration usually opens at 10am on a specific day - last year it crashed from demand.
NYC Sample Sales
Fashion brands sell excess inventory at 50-80% off retail through sample sales. These aren't regular sales - they're warehouse events where you might find a $2,000 jacket for $200. NYC is the global capital of sample sales.
Major Sample Sale Categories
High Fashion
Theory, Helmut Lang, Rag & Bone, Vince, Equipment - usually twice yearly
Activewear
Lululemon, Outdoor Voices, Nike - often seasonal
Home & Kitchen
Le Creuset, All-Clad, Williams Sonoma warehouse events
Beauty
Glossier, Drunk Elephant, various beauty brand events
How NYC CityPing Helps:
We track upcoming sample sales and include them in your weekly digest. Get notified before sales start - early bird access often has the best selection.
Free Museum Days & Pay-What-You-Wish
NYC's world-class museums offer regular free admission windows. Some are truly free; others are "suggested donation" (you can pay $1 and get full access).
| Museum | Free/PWYW | When |
|---|---|---|
| MoMA | Free | Fridays 5:30-9pm |
| Met Museum | PWYW for NY residents | Always (show ID) |
| Whitney Museum | PWYW | Fridays 7-10pm |
| Brooklyn Museum | PWYW | First Saturdays 5-11pm |
| Guggenheim | PWYW | Saturdays 4-6pm |
| Natural History | PWYW for NY residents | Always (show ID) |
Broadway Week & NYC Must-See Week
Twice yearly, Broadway shows offer 2-for-1 tickets - effectively 50% off. NYC Must-See Week extends similar deals to attractions, tours, and experiences.
Timing
- Broadway Week: January and September (typically 2 weeks each)
- Off-Broadway Week: February and October
- NYC Must-See Week: Often concurrent with Broadway Week
Tickets go fast for popular shows. Less popular shows often extend the deal beyond the official week.
Seasonal NYC Highlights
Spring (Mar-May)
Cherry blossoms in Central Park & Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Tribeca Film Festival, Sakura Matsuri, Five Boro Bike Tour, Frieze Art Fair
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Shakespeare in the Park (free!), SummerStage concerts, Governors Island season, Rooftop bars peak, Restaurant Week Summer, NYC Pride
Fall (Sep-Nov)
NYC Marathon, Open House NY, NYFF at Lincoln Center, Halloween parades, Broadway Week Fall, foliage in Central Park
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Holiday markets (Union Square, Columbus Circle), Rockefeller tree, Restaurant Week Winter, Broadway Week Winter, Winter Jazzfest
Never Miss Another NYC Event
NYC CityPing delivers a curated weekly digest of events that matter, plus daily briefings covering everything from transit to parking to housing lotteries.
- ✓Sample sales before they sell out
- ✓Registration deadlines (OHNY, marathons, etc.)
- ✓Free events and PWYW opportunities
- ✓Curated picks - not overwhelming event spam
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