NYC’s Best Spring Events, Attractions, and Apartments

See what’s coming to life this spring in New York City! (Photo credit: Phil Roeder)

As New York City thaws from winter’s chill and welcomes the arrival of spring, it comes alive with an array of springtime events, activities, and attractions to enjoy while you rent a furnished apartment with New York Habitat in the city.

The diverse landscape of NYC means you can enjoy a tranquil garden full of blooms one minute, a world-class museum exhibit the next, and finish the day with a raucous party at a neighborhood bar. To help you make the most of your spring in New York, we’ve compiled a guide to some of the best things happening this season in the city. For more inspiration, check out our spring guides from 2018 and 2017—many of these events repeat each year!

Surround yourself with spring’s most beautiful blooms

Don’t miss Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s cherry blossoms in full bloom during the month of April. (Photo credit: Jason Wang)

What’s spring without the return of gorgeous flowers? It might be hard to believe, but there’s no shortage of gardens and green spaces bursting with blooms in the spring, even in a concrete jungle like New York. One of the most essential things to do in the spring is to see the gorgeous cherry blossoms in full bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Prospect Park, Brooklyn! You can stroll through the garden and enjoy the candy-colored flowers at your own pace, or join a tour—they happen every Wednesday in April. Also, be sure to join the festivities of Sakura Matsuri on April 27-28; the Japanese cherry blossom and cultural celebration will feature performers, crafts, games and more.

You can also celebrate the outdoors in warmer weather at Queens Botanical Garden’s Arbor Fest on April 28. Enjoy food and drink vendors, demonstrations, crafts, and even a petting zoo!

Last, florists look forward to the return of the annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx from February 23 thru April 28. Enjoy an explosion of colorful orchids of every shape and size in the Haupt Conservatory. The tropical flowers will be placed in beautiful arrangements and sculptures inspired by this year’s theme, ‘Singapore.’

Can’t get enough time outdoors? This 2-bedroom furnished apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant is for you! Settle in one of Brooklyn’s most beautiful and well-landscaped neighborhoods (really, Bed-Stuy won an award for its gardens!), and you’ll be rewarded with extra space for a grassy backyard garden that you won’t get in Manhattan. This duplex also features stunning pre-war details, cheerful artwork, and a sunny bohemian color and decorating scheme to get you in a springtime mood. Find plenty of space in the huge kitchen and sleeping arrangements for four.

The Macy’s Flower Show brings the colorful beauty of a spring garden indoors. (Photo credit: Shinya Suzuki)

The best part of NYC is that “stopping to smell the flowers” doesn’t have to be an exclusively sunny-day activity! Spring also marks the return of the Macy’s Flower Show (March 24-April 7), during which you can admire the Macy’s Herald Square department store as it’s decorated to the nines with millions of flowers arranged into fantastic shapes and scenes. This year’s theme is “Journey to Paradisios,” a celebration of space and the cosmos. The best part? The display is completely free to experience!

Chase away cabin fever with this sunny Chelsea studio apartment. (Rental ID: NY-14585)

Bring the inspiration of the Macy’s Flower Show indoors with this sunny furnished studio apartment in Chelsea. The exposed brick, decorative fireplace, and shiny hardwood floors are all signatures of a true NYC apartment, and the separate kitchen and fold-out sofa bed allow for maximum flow and function in the limited space. Speaking of function, spring’s unpredictable weather can bring sunshine one minute and rain the next, which is why it’s great that this apartment has plenty of shelves, a roomy closet, and storage space for all your rainy-weather gear. Macy’s will be nearby, or you can explore Chelsea Market, a neighborhood favorite!

Kick off spring with the best celebrations of art and culture

Visit an Irish pub in Manhattan on St. Patrick’s Day to keep the celebration going. (Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/flickr4jazz)

There are great events in every season in New York City, and spring is no exception! Just before the start of spring, dress up in green and join the fun of St. Patrick’s Day! New York has a strong connection to Irish culture, as it once welcomed Irish immigrants en masse in the early 20th century. Celebrate on March 16 with New York’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on 5th Avenue from 44th to 79th Street, or find a neighborhood Irish pub on March 17 to celebrate.

Spring also marks the return of Tribeca Film Festival (April 24 thru May 5), one of the most famous film festivals in the United States. Attend screenings and premieres of the films everyone will be talking about tomorrow, and keep an eye out for celebrity sightings in the ritzy Tribeca neighborhood.

Find a fresh space for a busy lifestyle in this Midtown East furnished apartment. (Rental ID: NY-16839)

If you want to stay connected to the cultural pulse of New York City, you really can’t beat staying in Midtown! This studio furnished apartment in Midtown East is great for a busy New Yorker who wants maximum convenience at their fingertips. This contemporary apartment is located in a modern elevator building with a gym and rooftop terrace, so you won’t have to leave your home to access top-of-the-line amenities. This neighborhood is well-connected by the 4 and 6 subway lines, which will take you uptown, downtown, and even to Brooklyn and the Bronx, to ensure you don’t miss a single event.

Banish cabin fever by getting active outdoors

Get a great workout in true NYC fashion during the 5 Boro Bike Tour in May! (Photo credit: Shinya Suzuki)

Fitness enthusiasts will look forward to spring to get outdoors and stretch their legs after winter’s long hibernation. The city hosts a couple of great events that welcome people of all fitness levels, including the 9/11 Memorial 5K Run/Walk on April 28. Register beforehand to participate in the 5K, which offers great views of Battery Park, One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty. Registration fees go towards the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

You can also register to participate in the annual 5 Boro Bike Tour on May 5, a go-at-your-own-pace bike trek through all five boroughs of NYC. Get a fabulous tour of the city as major roadways are closed to vehicle traffic! Registration fees benefit NYC’s free bike education programs.

Step, slide, or swirl into spring with the Dance Parade

See a colorful display of culture and dance during NYC’s annual Dance Parade.

In one of the city’s largest displays of cultural diversity, the New York City Dance Parade returns on May 18. The parade grooves down Broadway with over 10,000 dancers representing over 80 styles of dance from all over the world, both modern and traditional! Line up to watch and enjoy the colorful costumes and multicultural pride that makes NYC great. For highlights from last year’s parade, visit our YouTube channel!

Ways to go “green” this spring in NYC

Union Square’s blossoming trees are a perfect backdrop for their annual Earth Day block party. (Photo credit: Frej Berg)

Spring is a time of renewal and a time for giving back to the earth, so it couldn’t be a better time to start living a more eco-friendly lifestyle! New York City is a great city for biking and using public transportation, which is an easy way to shrink your carbon footprint. Make your commute more fun with a visit to one of NYC’s most unique subway stations! New York is also at the forefront of cuisine, so try eating a fresh and eco-friendly meal at a vegan or farm-to-table restaurant.

For more “green” living tips, you can participate in the free Earth Day block party at Union Square Park on April 23. Visit exhibitor booths to learn more about ecological living, see performances, play games, bring used goods to recycle, and try some eco-sourced snacks at food vendor stalls in the park! Union Square also celebrates spring with the Union Square Greenmarket farmer’s market, open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday in the park. Stop by and shop for some locally-grown produce, flowers, preserves and more and support sustainable farming!

Welcome spring with the airy green style of this Union Square 1-bedroom apartment. (Rental ID: NY-16310)

This earthy 1-bedroom furnished apartment in Union Square will open your eyes to spring! Large windows and glass doors from the bedroom to the living room let plenty of natural sunlight flood into the space, and potted plants keep things cool and eco-chic. Enjoy access to a full kitchen and dining table that will let you prepare and eat your favorite whole food finds from the local farmer’s market. Finally, the subway is just 60 ft. from this apartment, so making the switch to public transportation couldn’t be easier!

Still wishing you were an official New Yorker? Use the change in the weather as an inspiration to shake off winter’s chill and find your dream furnished apartment or vacation rental with the help of one of our agents. All you need to do to start is submit a request, and you can be ready to move in time for spring and all these great events!