May · New York City
May is when New York's outdoor life begins in earnest. The parks fill up. The rooftop bars all open. Smorgasburg kicks off in Williamsburg. Outdoor concerts start in Central Park. The street cafés spill onto sidewalks. After six months of winter, New Yorkers burst outside like they're coming out of hibernation — because they are.
**The weather:** Average high 71°F, low 55°F. May is often the most pleasant weather of the year. A few days will be genuinely hot (80°F+), but most are perfect for walking.
**What locals do:** - **Smorgasburg opens in Williamsburg and Prospect Park** — every Saturday in Williamsburg, every Sunday in Prospect Park, April through October. The best food festival in the country, free to enter. - **Shakespeare in the Park tickets released** — free Shakespeare performances at the Delacorte in Central Park start in June; tickets become available in May. Lines form at 6am. - **Brooklyn Botanic Garden in full bloom** — the rose garden peaks in late May. - **Fleet Week (late May)** — the Navy and Coast Guard sail into NYC, sailors in white uniforms walk the streets, and the Intrepid Museum is free. - **Governors Island opens for the season (May 1)** — free ferry, car-free island, amazing Manhattan views. - **Little Island and Pier 26 outdoor programming** — free concerts, dance classes, yoga, movies. - **Ninth Avenue International Food Festival (mid-May)** — Hell's Kitchen's 40-block street fair with food from every culture imaginable.
**What to eat in May:** - **Strawberry season** at Greenmarkets — Union Square Greenmarket is unbeatable - **Soft-shell crabs** still in peak season at seafood restaurants - **Rosé season begins** — the rooftop bars start pouring it - **Cinco de Mayo tacos** anywhere in East Harlem, Sunset Park, or Jackson Heights
**Best for:** Outdoor enthusiasts, food festival lovers, garden/flower enthusiasts, photographers, anyone who wants to see New Yorkers in their happy mode.
**Local tip:** The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is completely free on Tuesdays and on winter Saturdays until noon. Budget travelers and locals alike plan their visits accordingly.