1. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
#1 Parade, Festival & Holiday Event
Dating back to 1924, New York's best-known parade is watched by 44 million people around the country each year. Next: November 28, 2013
Dating back to 1924, New York's best-known parade is watched by 44 million people around the country each year. Next: November 28, 2013
Photo: Courtesy of Macy's
2. New Year's Eve in Times Square
#2 Parade, Festival & Holiday Event
A million people watch the ball drop in person and another billion follow along at home during an event that has become synonymous with ringing in the New Year. Next: December 31, 2013
A million people watch the ball drop in person and another billion follow along at home during an event that has become synonymous with ringing in the New Year. Next: December 31, 2013
Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
3. West Indian-American Day Carnival
#3 Parade, Festival & Holiday Event
The Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn fills with three million people for this celebration of Caribbean-American pride, pumping $300 million into the New York City economy. Next: September 2, 2013
The Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn fills with three million people for this celebration of Caribbean-American pride, pumping $300 million into the New York City economy. Next: September 2, 2013
Photo: Courtesy of West Indian-American Day Carnival
4. St. Patrick's Day Parade
#5 Parade, Festival & Holiday Event
America's longest-running celebration of Irish-American pride had nearly 250,000 marchers in 2013. Next: March 17, 2014
America's longest-running celebration of Irish-American pride had nearly 250,000 marchers in 2013. Next: March 17, 2014
Photo: Dominick Totino Photography
5. NYC PrideFest and Parade
#6 Parade, Festival & Holiday Event (up from #7)
"Rain to Rainbows" will be the theme of the annual lineup of events marking the 44th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in the West Village. Next: June 28-30, 2013
"Rain to Rainbows" will be the theme of the annual lineup of events marking the 44th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in the West Village. Next: June 28-30, 2013
Photo: Courtesy of NYC PrideFest and Parade
6. Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting
#7 Parade, Festival & Holiday Event
The world's most famous evergreen draws tens of thousands to Midtown sidewalks for its celebrity-filled kickoff each holiday season. Next: December 4, 2013
The world's most famous evergreen draws tens of thousands to Midtown sidewalks for its celebrity-filled kickoff each holiday season. Next: December 4, 2013
Photo: Gregory Scaffidi/Courtesy of Tishman Speyer
7. World Science Festival
#8 Parade, Festival & Holiday Event
In six years, the brainy family-friendly event has grown into one of the spring season's biggest public gatherings and a marquee draw for scientists from around the world. Next: May 29-June 2, 2013
In six years, the brainy family-friendly event has grown into one of the spring season's biggest public gatherings and a marquee draw for scientists from around the world. Next: May 29-June 2, 2013
Photo: Greg Kessler
