"The Ninth Avenue International Food Festival in May has become a favorite weekend for New Yorkers since it began in 1973. From 37th Street to 57th Street, Ninth Avenue closes to cars and the festival takes over. More than a million people visit the festival each year. It's unique and amazing, celebrating the joys of ethnicity through food, entertainment and every kind of street fair stall.
Come for Argentinian, Brazilian, Cajun, Chinese, Cuban, Dominican, Ethiopian, French, German, Greek, Haitian, Indian, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Moroccan, Pakistani, Polish, Puerto Rican, Peruvian, Senegalese, Sicilian, Southern, Spanish, Thai, Trinidadian, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese food - and more!
Around the middle area of the festival, stages are set up for live music and dancing. You will see Egyptian belly dancing, German folk dancing, and Arabian scarf dancing, Midori & Chad performing Lindy Hop, Charleston, Peabody, Blues and Salsa routines, the New York Celtic Dancers sharing the traditional dances and music of Scotland - plus other performers and many local bands.
There are also plenty of regular street fair vendors selling inexpensive clothes, sunglasses, accessories and socks. If you like jewelry, there are always rings, bracelets, earrings, and pendants available. You'll also find the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market vendors selling their various wares down 39th Street.
Bring a big appetite, wear comfortable shoes and loose-fitting clothes. If you need to offset your gluttony-guilt, remember: the Ninth Avenue Food Festival is held to raise money for the community groups in Hell's Kitchen.
The festival takes place each year the weekend after Mother's Day. There is no admission fee and the festival extends from 37th street to 57th street. It starts at 9:30 am and ends at 6:30 pm. You can miss most of New York's street fairs but you can't miss this one.
Subway: A,C,E @ 42 St Port Authority Bus Terminal; C,E @ 50 St; A,B,C,D,1,9 @ 59 St
Info: Yelp
