Fun things to do this weekend in Harlem and beyond.

Spring is here, welcoming a fresh wave of visitors ready to explore Harlem. If you're one of them—or happen to be hosting friends and family in the area—here's a top list of things to see and do in the neighborhood. (Don't have room for guests? Try the area's newest hotels: the Harlem Renaissance-themed Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel or the new The George Manhattan, Tapestry Collection by Hilton .) And since you're bound to get hungry, check out TCU's suggestions for wher

Yoshino cherry blossoms in Sakura Park on April 6, 2026. Cherry blossom season is finally here. The always-eagerly-anticipated time of year typically kicks off in late March and stretches through April. To help you find the best viewing spots, TCU consulted NYC Parks Department's list of the top parks in the city  for cherry blossoms; four are in Upper Manhattan. Keep in mind that different types of cherry trees bloom at various times—Okame in late March, Yoshino in the first

The Grand Staircase in Fort Tryon Park leads to the Met Cloisters. A set of long park stairs is the perfect place to get a serious workout.   And if you live uptown, you're never too far from a hilly park crisscrossed with an impressive staircase—many have more than 100 steps.   So here's an idea: Find the nearest and get ready for a major sweat session. A good rule of thumb is to run up and down for 30 to 45 minutes. (Of course you can walk instead.)   From south to north, h

The Top of the Island Route takes runners by the Little Red Lighthouse. By Sam Renikoff With its historical sites and sweeping river views, Upper Manhattan has running routes that have been embraced by a large and passionate community of runners. The area includes dirt trails, paved paths, a recently refurbished outdoor running track , and there is certainly no shortage of hills, making it a playground for any type of runner. To help you discover what Uptown has to offer, her

The Studio Museum in Harlem's new home on 125th Street. A wave of new buildings and businesses continues to transform Harlem's 125th Street. Glossy high-rises like the 28-story Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel, which opened in 2023, have already significantly altered the skyline. Major retailers that arrived soon after, including Trader Joe's, Sephora and Target, are behind the jaw-dropping changes at street level. More recently, the Studio Museum in Harlem returned to the i

Harlem has one of the best collections of Black monuments in the country—and they're all within walking distance of each other. So here's a great idea for Black History Month: Hit the pavement and go on TCU 's DIY tour of these impressive memorials. Not only is it an opportunity to learn more about six inspirational Black figures, it's also a chance to see some pretty amazing art while you're at it. Note: Leave yourself about an hour and a half for the full tour. A. Duke Elli

Manhattan's amazing grid system makes navigating the city a breeze for locals and tourists alike—except when you find yourself in an area where the numbers suddenly vanish. Take Harlem. The streets running east to west are all numbered, but things get a bit trickier when it comes to the avenues. Over the years, three in the neighborhood's center—Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Avenues—have been renamed after prominent African Americans. Visitors may find the sudden lack of number

Six ways to have some fun this winter in Harlem and beyond

New energy-efficient LED lights illuminating the George Washington Bridge. It's not your imagination—the George Washington Bridge's towers have been lit up at night for the last few weeks. And it turns out there's a very good reason for it. The Port Authority of NY/NJ is testing out newly-installed LED lights on the almost-100-year-old bridge and has kept them on during the holidays. The lights will shine at night until this weekend, according to an email the TCU received fro

NYC's Mulchfest is back. The citywide program, running from December 26 to January 11, lets you recycle your Christmas tree at one of the Parks Department's dedicated drop-off spots. The resulting mulch is then used to nourish the city's trees. For those who want to get in on the action, there's also Chipping Weekend this Saturday, January 10 and Sunday, January 11 from 10am-2pm. Bring your tree to a dedicated chipping spot—Upper Manhattan has two, in Marcus Garvey Park and

The annual Three Kings Day Parade returns to El Barrio on Tuesday, January 6. El Museo del Barrio's one-of-a-kind Three Kings Day celebration returns to the streets of East Harlem on Tuesday, January 6. The 48th annual parade, a vibrant stream of giant puppets, live camels, and music and dancing that winds its way through El Barrio, features the theme ¡Pa’lante, Siempre Pa’lante! (“Forward, Always Forward!”)—inspired by cultural legacy of the Young Lords and their mission o

The Gottesman Rink has replaced the old Lasker Rink in Central Park.

These public tree lightings are sure to put you in the holiday spirit.

Photo: Harlem Night Market Get ready to shop, eat and dance because the trailblazing Harlem Night Market is coming back to East Harlem for the next three Saturdays. The local festival, which has been highlighting small businesses since it first launched in 2019, is returning to last year's spot on Park Avenue and East 112th Street (under the Park Avenue Viaduct) while its original location on 116th Street continues to undergo renovations. Spilling into the nearby Urban Garde

You're likely to find a Christmas tree stand every 10 blocks or so in Upper Manhattan

The annual holiday parade celebrating the colorful streams of light that decorate Harlem's 125th Street is back to dazzle the neighborhood. The Harlem Holiday Lights return this week courtesy of the 125th Street Business Improvement District, kicking off with a parade of floats through Harlem on Tuesday, November 18 at 6pm. Thi s year’s parade theme is “ Culture, Community, Connections ” headed by Grand Marshals The Apollo and actor and philanthropist Malik Yoba. Here's how

The view of the George Washington bridge from J. Hood Wright Park. It's an event that happens just a few times a year, but one definitely worth waiting for: the night when the George Washington Bridge's tower lights are turned on. The bridge's iconic criss-crossed steel towers are illuminated only during major holidays and September 11—coinciding with the days when the bridge flies the world's largest free-flying U.S. flag. Those holidays include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, P

Here are the top six things to get excited about in the Studio Museum in Harlem's new home

Photo: Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association Residents of Harlem's Mount Morris Park Historic District are inviting the community to come and trick or treat in the neighborhood—and providing a safe way to do so. More than 50 homes in the area have signed up to give out treats this Halloween, and each one is listed on the map below (swipe to the second slide on MMPCIA's Instagram post below). These trick-or-treat friendly stops will also have orange balloons out