Fun things to do this weekend 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

Fall is in full swing, 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 soon—here's a top list of things to see and do in the neighborhood. And since you're bound to get hungry, check out TCU's suggestions for where to eat and drink nearby. 1. Tour the area's Black monuments It's safe to say Harlem has the best collection of Black monuments in the country—from a 25-foot-tall memorial dedic

The new Studio Museum in Harlem building is now open. 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 that opened in 2023, have already significantly altered the skyline. Major retailers that arrived last year, including Trader Joe's, Sephora and Target, are behind the jaw-dropping changes at street level. Not to mention the brand-new Studio Museum building and the full

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

Marathon runners looping around Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. The New York City Marathon is back this Sunday, November 2, with more than 55,000 runners participating in the iconic 26.2-mile race. One of the best places to catch all the action? Miles 21 and 22 in Harlem, a section of the route that has a less-crowded, almost small-town feel. This 42-block stretch—Fifth Avenue from E 138th Street to E 96th Street, with a short detour around leafy Marcus Garvey Park—is where yo

The annual pumpkin flotilla at the Harlem Meer in Central Park. Photo: Central Park Conservancy Pumpkin flotillas, scarefests, haunted cottages—and more spooky things to see and do this week in Harlem and beyond. Halloween on the Harlem Meer Thursday, October 30 4pm-7pm FREE Central Harlem The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, Central Park, 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Aves This celebration by the Harlem Meer includes family-friendly crafts, music and entertainment,

Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and registered voters in New York City have two ways to vote early : by mail or in person. Those wishing to vote by mail in the 2025 NYC General Election—offices up for grabs include Mayor, City Council, Borough Presdient, and more—have until Saturday, October 25, 2025 to apply for an early mail ballot . In-person early voting runs from Saturday, October 25, 2025 to Sunday, November 2, 2025 (locations could be different

Shorakapok Rock in Inwood Hill Park Here's an Upper Manhattan landmark definitely worth visiting on Indigenous Peoples' Day: Shorakapok Rock. This small boulder in Inwood Hill Park marks the spot, according to legend, where in 1626 Native Americans “sold"—or more likely agreed to share or lease for a certain time —the island of Manhattan to the Dutch for tools and beads worth 60 guilders. An NYC Parks sign near the spot. Not everything about the transaction is known—there i

The Uptown Night Market returns to West Harlem on Thursday, October 9. After five seasons, the Uptown Night Market is hosting its final...

Spooky decorations on W 120th Street. Fifteen spots in Upper Manhattan will join hundreds more across the city in becoming car-free "Trick or Streets" for Halloween. The locations—a mix of Open Streets and other public spaces—will feature special programming like live music, seasonal arts and crafts, plus extended hours for trick-or-treaters. This year the events have been extended from Friday, October 17 to Friday, October 31. The "Trick or Streets" taking place uptown are