We’re more than halfway through October, which means 2021 will soon come to a close. This was the year when New York City started to bounce back from pandemic shutdowns. Broadway reopened. Indoor dining resumed at 100% capacity. Museums mounted exhibitions that had been delayed by the pandemic. New attractions like the SUMMIT observation deck atop One Vanderbilt are preparing to open. And there is so much more to look forward to in 2022.
Untapped New York will be hosting a virtual talk with Susan Gail Johnson, author of An Almanac for New York 2022, on November 11, 2021 at 5 p.m. Johnson will reveal the surprising discoveries she made while researching the book, little-known happenings in each of the five boroughs, quintessential New York events that are back after being on pause for 18+ months, unique ways to experience the city at different times of day, and fascinating nuggets of New York City history. The event is free for Untapped New York Insiders (and get your first month free with code JOINUS).
From the return of major festivals and street fairs to once-in-a-lifetime performances and blockbuster exhibitions, these are ten cultural events happening in New York City’s five boroughs featured in the Almanac that you’ll want to mark on your 2022 calendar.
An Almanac for New York 2022 with Susan Gail Johnson
January 23, 2022: the New York premiere of Penelope with Uma Thurman and Renée Fleming
Playwright Tom Stoppard and composer André Previn collaborate on this dramatic telling of the story of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus from Homer’s Odyssey. With Uma Thurman as the narrator and acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming as Penelope, accompanied by the Emerson String Quartet and pianist Simone Dinnerstein, this performance is sure to be a highlight of New York’s cultural calendar.
The premiere will take place on January 23, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Carnegie Hall. Tickets range from $19 to $125.
January 20 – 30, 2022: the Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory
The Winter Show, one of the leading art and design fairs in the U.S., returns to the Park Avenue Armory in January 2022. Every year, the fair showcases thousands of works of art, antiques, and design curated by international galleries and hosts a program of panel discussions, exhibitor talks, and other events. The 2022 program has not been released yet, but it’s sure to be a good one.
February 22 & 23 and March 1 & 2, 2022: Elton John’s Farewell Tour
Elton John’s highly anticipated Farewell Yellow Brick Tour was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it’s finally set to kick off in New Orleans in January 2022 before coming to New York. The legendary singer will perform at Madison Square Garden on February 22nd and 23rd and at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on March 1st and 2nd.
April 21 – 24, 2022: The New York International Antiquarian Book Fair
The 61st annual edition of the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair will gather lovers of books and printed media. Over 200 exhibitors will showcase first editions, rare books, maps, print ephemera, illustrations, historical documents, and illuminated manuscripts covering every conceivable topic imaginable, from literature to fashion. The fair will take place at the Park Avenue Armory from April 21 – 24, 2022 and general admission costs $25.
May 5, 2022: The Met opens the second half of the fashion exhibit In America
The second part of the exhibition will open on May 5, 2022 in the Met’s American Wing period rooms and will tell sartorial narratives related to the contents of those rooms.
June 17 – 19, 2022: Juneteenth Festival
The East New York and Brownsville community have been hosting a Juneteenth festival since 2009 and it has grown every year since. Each year, the organizers choose a theme that educates New York’s Black community on its history while working to change the narrative about the horrendous effects of slavery. The festival includes performances, talks, an interactive marketplace, wellness activities, and a parade.
June 18, 2022: the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island
After being canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Coney Island Mermaid Parade will be back and better than ever in 2022. This quirky tradition dates back to 1983 and has been recognized as the largest arts parade in the country. It’s also one of the only parades without a religious, ethnic, or political affiliation. Rather, it’s a celebration of the summer solstice and New York’s community of creative artists and performers.
August 29 – September 11, 2022: The U.S. Tennis Open
The U.S. Tennis Open is one of the biggest sporting events of the year, drawing spectators from around the country to watch tennis pros face off. Since 1978 it has been held at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. The 2022 U.S. Tennis Open will be held from August 29 until September 11, 2022. Individual tickets start at $125.
November 23, 2022: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is a cornerstone of the holiday watched by millions as it’s broadcast live on Thanksgiving day. The massive parade takes about 10,000 people and 12,000 cubic feet of helium per balloon with the most featured balloon being Snoopy.
November 30, 2022: Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center
Every year, the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is one of the biggest events of the year and that will be no different in 2022. It takes 50,000 lights to decorate the tree, which stretched end to end would measure five miles—roughly the distance from 14th Street to 110th Street.
An Almanac for New York 2022 with Susan Gail Johnson
