Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the city is transforming itself for the holiday festivities to come. Check out the many quirky events lined up for this weekend and next week:

Friday, November 17th

Arab Cinema Week, New York’s first and only film festival that features new and upcoming Arab movies, is back again! This year’s diverse roster includes 17 films from Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, and other countries.

Sacred Spaces The Road To… opens on Friday at the Rubin Museum. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect about their own sacred spaces and the act and action of pilgrimage.

Get your gang together and head to Big Bad Brooklyn, taking place at the Brooklyn Historical Society. This unique event will explore the notorious history of Brooklyn-based bootleggers, mobsters, and mafiosos. Enjoy conversations about mafia lifestyles, free access to the Brooklyn Historical Society’s gallery, and cold beer!

Saturday, November 18th

The Renegade Craft Fair is the world’s largest curated showcase of independent craft and design. 200+ makers and creative spirits will gather for the event, so expect to discover some truly one-of-a-kind finds.

Cheer on the few brave souls competing in the Brain Freeze Ice Cream Eating Contest, hosted by the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID. The person who takes the least amount of time to down a whole pint of Thai Tea Ice Cream will win a gift certificate prize.

The story of Grand Central Terminal is that of New York City itself: the structure embodies the social, cultural, economic and technological evolution around it. The Secrets of Grand Central Tour guides you through the history, stories, and hidden secrets of this widely used transportation hub.

Tour of the Secrets of Grand Central Terminal

The Jersey City Craft Beer Festival takes place on Saturday. The much anticipated event will feature an eclectic local assortment of over 150 beer and cider varieties, live entertainment, food, games and views of the New York City skyline, which can be seen from Harborside’s Atrium. Purchase your tickets here.

Sunday, November 19th

The 2nd Annual Print & Zine Fest will feature an emerging line-up of female/fem-identifying/non-binary/trans/gender non-conforming lead zines and print-makers in New Women Space, a community event space in Brooklyn.

Monday, November 20th

Did you know that New York is the third largest wine-producing state in the U.S.? City Winery is hosting a class and tasting on Wine’s Across New York State, where participants can taste twelve wines from six wineries, along with some hors d’oeuvres.

Tuesday, November 21st

Professor Theresa Enright will offer a critical analysis of the Grand Paris Initiative as part of the discussion of urban regions around the world struggling to effectively plan in the 21st century with the increase in territorial interdependence. This lecture is an initiative of the Urban Planning program at Columbia University.

Wednesday, November 22nd

The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show takes you on an enchanting journey through 150 landmarks, created with natural materials.

Thursday, November 23rd

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an obvious choice on Thursday, but also make sure to drop by a few New York City restaurants as they are offering special holiday menus. Check out the line up at amNewYork, City Guide and OpenTable.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Untapped Cities team!

Also check out our full schedule of Behind the Scenes tours in NYC.