1. New Year’s Eve in Times Square
New York
As the iconic Waterford Crystal ball descended down the flagpole atop One Times Square on Dec. 31, 2019, an estimated 1 million people in the streets of New York and over a billion watching from around the world welcomed 2020, unaware of what the year ahead was to bring. The 2020 year-end celebration was much different, to say the least, with a limited group of socially distanced in-person honorees instead of the massive throngs of revelers. The evening still featured live musical performances from Gloria Gaynor, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Porter, Cyndi Lauper, Machine Gun Kelly and more. Plus, organizers introduced a virtual- and augmented reality-based platform, where viewers were able to create and customize their own avatars and explore a virtual Times Square. Next: Dec. 31, 2021
As the iconic Waterford Crystal ball descended down the flagpole atop One Times Square on Dec. 31, 2019, an estimated 1 million people in the streets of New York and over a billion watching from around the world welcomed 2020, unaware of what the year ahead was to bring. The 2020 year-end celebration was much different, to say the least, with a limited group of socially distanced in-person honorees instead of the massive throngs of revelers. The evening still featured live musical performances from Gloria Gaynor, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Porter, Cyndi Lauper, Machine Gun Kelly and more. Plus, organizers introduced a virtual- and augmented reality-based platform, where viewers were able to create and customize their own avatars and explore a virtual Times Square. Next: Dec. 31, 2021
Photo: Courtesy of Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment
2. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
New York
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade signals the unofficial start of the holiday season, with more than 1,000 clowns, 1,200 cheerleaders and dancers, dozens of balloons and 26 festive parade floats. Last year, the 2.5-mile parade route, stretching from 77th Street to Herald Square, wasn’t lined with spectators, and organizers reduced the total number of participants by 88%. Instead of handlers, balloons were rigged onto specialty vehicles. This year, the 95th-annual parade will welcome back bystanders and include live performances by Carrie Underwood and the casts of Broadway’s Moulin Rouge, Six and Wicked. Next: Nov. 25, 2021
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade signals the unofficial start of the holiday season, with more than 1,000 clowns, 1,200 cheerleaders and dancers, dozens of balloons and 26 festive parade floats. Last year, the 2.5-mile parade route, stretching from 77th Street to Herald Square, wasn’t lined with spectators, and organizers reduced the total number of participants by 88%. Instead of handlers, balloons were rigged onto specialty vehicles. This year, the 95th-annual parade will welcome back bystanders and include live performances by Carrie Underwood and the casts of Broadway’s Moulin Rouge, Six and Wicked. Next: Nov. 25, 2021
Photo: Courtesy of Macy's
3. Pride Toronto
Toronto
Despite Toronto’s in-person Pride parade being canceled for two years in a row, the city’s monthlong celebration soldiered on with a virtual program in 2020 that featured DJs, drag artists, musicians and dancer programming with a focus on Toronto-based talent and women, Black, indigenous and people of color artists from local queer communities. In 2021, organizers hosted a “phygital” festival that included a mix of online and in-person events showcasing more than 150 2SLGBTQIA+ artists, 14 party collectives and seven committee programs. Next: June 2022
See more: How Pride Toronto Plans to Pull Off a 'Phygital' Festival
Despite Toronto’s in-person Pride parade being canceled for two years in a row, the city’s monthlong celebration soldiered on with a virtual program in 2020 that featured DJs, drag artists, musicians and dancer programming with a focus on Toronto-based talent and women, Black, indigenous and people of color artists from local queer communities. In 2021, organizers hosted a “phygital” festival that included a mix of online and in-person events showcasing more than 150 2SLGBTQIA+ artists, 14 party collectives and seven committee programs. Next: June 2022
See more: How Pride Toronto Plans to Pull Off a 'Phygital' Festival
Screenshot: Courtesy of Pride Toronto
4. Tournament of Roses
Los Angeles
More than 800,000 people from around the world come to Pasadena each year to experience the Tournament of Roses on New Year’s Day, with millions more watching the action on TV. In 2021, the Rose Parade was canceled, but fans of the beloved annual tradition were able to tune into a two-hour television special broadcast that included live-to-tape musical and marching band performances, celebrity guest appearances and highlights from past Rose Bowl games. The 133rd Rose Parade presented by Honda and the 108th Rose Bowl game will return next year. LeVar Burton was just announced as the parade’s grand marshal. Next: Jan. 1, 2022
More than 800,000 people from around the world come to Pasadena each year to experience the Tournament of Roses on New Year’s Day, with millions more watching the action on TV. In 2021, the Rose Parade was canceled, but fans of the beloved annual tradition were able to tune into a two-hour television special broadcast that included live-to-tape musical and marching band performances, celebrity guest appearances and highlights from past Rose Bowl games. The 133rd Rose Parade presented by Honda and the 108th Rose Bowl game will return next year. LeVar Burton was just announced as the parade’s grand marshal. Next: Jan. 1, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Tournament of Roses
5. San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade
San Francisco
Several cities host memorable Pride celebrations, but San Francisco’s festival is the oldest of its kind in the country. For two days, the city becomes a sea of rainbow flags with events featuring live music and comedy, along with a high-energy parade. The annual parade, though, was canceled the last two years. After hosting a strictly virtual lineup in 2020, the city’s 2021 offerings included a mix of in-person, outdoor and online events. The theme, All in This Together, was part of a strategy to focus more on the Bay Area queer community, a move away from the event’s former branding that some believed targeted tourists more than locals. Next: June 2022
Several cities host memorable Pride celebrations, but San Francisco’s festival is the oldest of its kind in the country. For two days, the city becomes a sea of rainbow flags with events featuring live music and comedy, along with a high-energy parade. The annual parade, though, was canceled the last two years. After hosting a strictly virtual lineup in 2020, the city’s 2021 offerings included a mix of in-person, outdoor and online events. The theme, All in This Together, was part of a strategy to focus more on the Bay Area queer community, a move away from the event’s former branding that some believed targeted tourists more than locals. Next: June 2022
Photo: @mbenesch/Instagram
6. Calgary Stampede
Calgary
After a pandemic-induced cancellation in 2020, a slightly altered edition of the annual rodeo, exhibition and festival returned to Stampede Park this year. As expected, attendance was roughly half of the previous years with fewer visitors allowed because of physical distancing. More than 500,000 people attended the 10-day event, compared to over 1.2 million in 2019. Next: July 8-17, 2022
After a pandemic-induced cancellation in 2020, a slightly altered edition of the annual rodeo, exhibition and festival returned to Stampede Park this year. As expected, attendance was roughly half of the previous years with fewer visitors allowed because of physical distancing. More than 500,000 people attended the 10-day event, compared to over 1.2 million in 2019. Next: July 8-17, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Calgary Stampede
7. Winterlude
Ottawa
Ottawa’s flagship winter event, an annual wonderland of activities such as tube sliding and skating, welcomed 600,000 residents and visitors at the beginning of 2020. But organizers had to reinvent the event into a virtual experience in 2021, with creative programming including a virtual ice-carving competition that challenged Canadian pro ice sculptors to transform eight blocks of ice into works of art over the course of 28 hours. Next: Feb. 4-21, 2022
Ottawa’s flagship winter event, an annual wonderland of activities such as tube sliding and skating, welcomed 600,000 residents and visitors at the beginning of 2020. But organizers had to reinvent the event into a virtual experience in 2021, with creative programming including a virtual ice-carving competition that challenged Canadian pro ice sculptors to transform eight blocks of ice into works of art over the course of 28 hours. Next: Feb. 4-21, 2022
Photo: canada_cap/Instagram
8. Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec City
Even though there was no traditional ice palace or parade this year, attendees were still able to enjoy a range of online and outdoor activities. While there weren’t permanent installations where people could potentially congregate, several outdoor ice and snow sculptures and 20-foot-high towers were spread out throughout Quebec City. Next: Feb. 4-13, 2022
Even though there was no traditional ice palace or parade this year, attendees were still able to enjoy a range of online and outdoor activities. While there weren’t permanent installations where people could potentially congregate, several outdoor ice and snow sculptures and 20-foot-high towers were spread out throughout Quebec City. Next: Feb. 4-13, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of 8. Quebec Winter Carnival
