It’s time for you to stop doomscrolling and be present in the moment because it’s officially spring in New York City! The flowers have bloomed, and the blossom trees are thriving!
Outdoor events are listed here to help you take advantage of the beautiful weather for when you hang out with your friends, to try out spring foods, and to even appreciate being alone.
However, being outdoors during the spring really correlates with weather patterns and severe allergies. Although one person might favor spring because of the warm weather and nature, others might say they are allergic to the spring because of pollen season and get low spirited when the rain comes out. But if that’s the case, you’re in luck because the city also has popular indoor events in season listed all below.
Read on to see your love for the spring grow!
Outdoor events
Our mental health, including our mood, anxiety and stress levels, plus sleeping abilities, are all benefited from spending even at least 15 minutes outdoors. What we may not feel at the moment are the physical benefits that come from being outdoors as well such as obtaining vitamin D and improved respiratory function. But would you believe me if I said there are fun outdoors activities this spring season that provide multiple of these benefits? What a steal!
Solo events
Every activity can be done alone, and it’s very beneficial if you want to do so to help build your self-love. The following are more relaxing and allow you to sit with your thoughts.
Central Park/Prospect Park
Central Park, located in the heart of Manhattan, is the fifth largest NYC park, and Prospect Park, located in Brooklyn, is smaller but still essential to the Brooklyn community. Both parks have so many trails where you can walk and listen to music, bike and run to get a workout or even practice many sports. Since the sun rises earlier and the sun sets later during the spring, you can wake up early before school to relieve some morning tiredness and late in the night to feel refreshed after being indoors in your school or job all day long.
It’s great to take pictures of the nature currently blooming before the temporary colors are gone, but for those who have pollen allergies, it may be best to stay farthest away from the pollen thriving in these parks. What’s cool about this NYC spring activity is that it’s totally free. Not just Central and Prospect Park but all NYC public parks are free as well as their amenities.
Union Square Greenmarket
Farmers markets during the spring have a wide variety of seasonal items at a very high quality making it differ from regular super markets. You are directly benefiting hard working farmers, fishers, and bakers every time you make a purchase. Union Square farmers market is a great option on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays year-round from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. In peak season, Union Square Greenmarket is a destination for 140 sellers that all have their unique and hard worked for items.
Doing groceries in the sun can help make chores feel much more refreshing. A good idea is to learn to bake or cook spring foods from seasonal items such as strawberry pie, carrot cake, Papas con Rajas(potatoes with peppers), and Herby Salmon and Potato Salad.
Free Kayaking Through NYC
Want an aerobic exercise that is low impact or just a relaxing view at the city? Both? The New York City Downtown Boathouse is a free kayaking program located at pier 26 Manhattan opening for the season on May 24th-October 5th. Check their website for the dates available during this time period. You can check out the New York City skyline closer to the Brooklyn Bridge at Pier 4 through sessions with Brooklyn Bridge Park BoatHouse during dates from May-September. Both are amazing programs and fun adventures you should definitely take advantage of.
Friend events
The warmer spring weather offers many opportunities for you and your friends to enjoy. You can also call out a friend you haven’t talked to for a while to get some spring fun before the summer time, or make some new friends doing a spring activity that you like. Friends will keep you distracted from your phone and taking up the spring without even knowing it!
NYCRUNS Summer Lovin’ 5K & 10K
Even though titled Summer Loving, this is a 5k and 10k race held in the spring to help you get excited about summer and the summer vibes that spring is giving on Governors Island. Held on May 10th and 11th from 7:30 AM-10:30 AM, bring a friend to hit some goals and even rest after on the relaxing island with city views.
Macy’s Flower Show
The 50th annual Macy’s flower show at Macy’s Herald Square from Sunday, April 27th to Sunday, May 18th, 2025 is an event that you can only experience during the spring season. This free event is a perfect spot to take some photos for social media, and appreciate the unique artworks. This event is inside the Macy’s so that means you can also shop while appreciating the beauty of spring with live music in the background.
New York Botanical Gardens Starry Nights
From Select Fridays & Saturdays, May 23 through September 13, 2025 from 7 to 10 p.m., the New York Botanical Garden will be holding a Van Gogh light show with drones. You and your friends can walk around the garden with the sunflowers that inspired Van Gogh in his artwork while having his Starry Night masterpiece lit upon you in the sky. There will be music and appetizers available to purchase. For students the tickets are $35 to purchase on their website .
Outdoor Movie Nights
NYC Parks are having free summer movie events all throughout the city from on select Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 9th-June 28. Multiple genres of movies are being shown, so take your blanket, snacks and a friend to hang in the night with your community. Make sure to check out the schedule for showtimes near you.
Food events
Food events are popular during the spring time and are a chance for you to try multiple cultures of food from talented cooks all in one place.
Japan Fes
Japan Fes is the world’s largest Japanese food festival. Other than holding events all over the city, Japan Fes has festivals in Paris, New Jersey, Miami, Texas and Tokyo with over 1 million attendees and 2 thousand vendors. At Japan Fes, you can find favorites such as different recipe of Onigiris, matcha drinks, flavored sweets, sushi tacos, ramen, tanghulu, and more. They have about 37 events for New York City, which have already started since January 26 and will be ending November 8. Check out their website for locations near you.
Smorgasburg
Smorgasburg is an outdoor food market with locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Smorgasburg is every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in New York from April 4, 2025 through the last weekend of October. The market takes place at the World Trade Center on Fridays, in Williamsburg on Saturdays, and in Prospect Park on Sundays. They are the largest weekly outdoor food market in America. Their vendors are local, all being restaurants and chefs from around the city and further.
Ube Land New York
Watch out because on May 18, 2025 at Park Slope, 5th Avenue between 10th and 11th Street Philippines Fest will hold their annual Ube Fest. For those unfamiliar, ube is a purple yam and used in many Philippine sweets for its similar vanilla flavor. Dive into Philippine culture while eating Filipino ube flavored foods like flan, musubi, and biko or even other foods like ube flavored smash burgers, quesadillas, Dubai chocolate cookies.
Complex Family Style Food
The Complex Family Style Food Festival is an event that brining together food and fashion. This year vendors of clothing and cooks plus restaurants are going to have stands in Industry City Brooklyn on Saturday May 17 from 1:00pm-9:00. Its an inclusive culture environment and great to go with your family. Industry city will be holding multiple events over the summer with their goal of creating communities. Check out their other shops while there as well!
Queens Night Market
Queens Night Market is not home to just food but to 100 local vendors selling art and merchandise with live performances bringing Queens culture altogether. It’s known to be the most affordable night market, and really feels like NYC is in one place. They are open Saturday from 4:00 pm to midnight from April to October!
Indoor events
Solo events
Shopping
There’s no better day to spend a day indoors other than in the American Dream Mall, which is the second largest mall in the United States. With over 40 stores, attractions like a theme park, a water park, an indoor ski slope, indoor mini golf, and more, you will definitely find something that sparks your interest! Plus, it’s only an 18 minute drive from Manhattan.
Ichiran
Ichiran is a solo dining ramen restaurant with two locations in Manhattan and one location in Brooklyn. You are able to enjoy a meal in peace with no distractions. You order from an electronic device and the waiters only lift up a curtain in your cubical to give you your food. Not only will feel as comfortable eating alone as everyone else, but their ramen is top notch and customizable
Friend events
Squid Game: The Experience NYC
Inspired by the award winning Netflix series Squid Game where players fight to win a money jackpot by successfully winning multiple games, you can now play them too at Manhattan Mall with purchased tickets from the Squid Game The Experience website, but this time, just for fun! Go with your friends to see who will support you through the challenges of five Squid game/Korean games or who will only keep their eyes on the jackpot. In addition to the games, they have a Korean-inspired Night Market, merchandise, and photo spots. Play the games on dates currently selling from May-September 2025.
Stranger Things on Broadway
New York City is known for their spectacular plays on Broadway. “Stranger Things,” the Netflix series, has to watch the “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” play to feel as if you were with the series character Vecna during his origin story. Tickets are sold on their website from May through November 2025. It’s “A jaw-dropping, must-see theatrical Marvel” claims Entertainment Weekly.
Food events
Time out market
Time Out Market, as in Time Out media company, is an indoor market specifically chosen by the editors to bring well rated chefs and restaurants to create the best eats and drinks of the city. Find breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week 8-10pm Sunday through Thursday and 8am-11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. You get amazing views of the Brooklyn bridge on the balcony with live musicians and DJs on special events!
Sip and play
Are you and your friends intense when playing board games or laid back because you are all just there to have fun? Bring your friends to Sip and Play located in Park Slope Brooklyn, a unique entertainment spot with a variety of Board Games you can play for $10 with your friends while getting a seasonal beverage or a snack.
Spring is out and already thriving. Hopefully, most of the events are new to you and spark some interest. The spring time isn’t just confined to these activities, and New York City has way more events if these may not be for you!
Check out free upcoming popups and events during the spring time at NYC For Free to find a activity and free gifts everyday of the spring season, which are sure to keep you from wasting time on your phone. You are not missing out on anything being off of social media when you can be busy having fun this spring season!
