Staten Island Holiday Events - Staten Island NYC

Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, & Kwanzaa Candle Lightings on Staten Island and Holiday Events & Things To Do NYC

December 20, 2024 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Holiday Events / Staten Island Things To Do / Staten Island Buzz NYC.

NOTE. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.

Be sure to visit our Staten Island Holiday Markets page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.

For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.

How The Staten Island Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized

These holiday events on Staten Island are organized as follows:

1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF STATEN ISLAND

2. BY DATE - (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)

Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.

3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.

4. Note STATEN ISLAND HOLIDAY MARKETS are published on a separate page - the links to which are posted at the bottom of this page, along with links to other boroughs.

Staten Island Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background

The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.

And there were also winter solstice celebrations to commemorate the end of the darkening of the skies. Some cultures celebrate with a festival of lights, and in Christian cultures the holidays are marked with holiday lightings including tree lightings and candle lightings - as well as the celebration of giving through the most well known and most generous man in the world - Santa Claus.

Meanwhile, back on Staten Island we celebrate in a number of ways, which carry on some of these ancient traditions. The following provides the dates / times / locales and some details regarding many of the various Staten Island holiday celebrations and Staten Island holiday markets and shopping for folks to enjoy between now and the end of the year.

Click here to read our report about Staten Island Holiday Events / Holiday Things To Do SI NYC.

Staten Island Parades NYC 2025

Schedule of Parades and Cultural Festivals on Staten Island NYC

April 27, 2025 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Parades NYC / Staten Buzz

This report provides a schedule of the parades held on Staten Island each year.

We update parades and festival events as we approach the event date. Pay attention to the dates / year as asterisked events have NOT been updated to 2025.

The parades include the Staten Island St. Patrick's Day Parade in March, Easter celebrations in April, the Staten Island Memorial Day Parade in May, the Polish Cultural Festival honoring St. Stanislaus, Filipino Parade, and Juneteenth celebrations in June, the Travis Independence Day Parade and the Festival on the Mount in July, the Richmond County Fair and Fig Festival in September, the Westerleigh Folk Festival, the Art on the Fence Show, SI Mexican Independence Parade and the Staten Island Columbus Day Celebration [formerly a parade] in October, and the NYC Marathon and the Staten Island Veterans Day Parade in November. And actually quite a bit more - scroll down to see for yourself.

We have also included a number of the larger cultural festivals here as well.

At the end of this report there are links to the parades and festivals in the other four boroughs of NYC.

CLICK here to view our report on Staten Island Parades NYC - Parades and Cultural Festivals on Staten Island NYC.

Labor Day Weekend on Staten Island NYC

Things To Do on Staten Island Over The Labor Day Weekend

August 27, 2024 / Things To Do NYC / Staten Buzz.

NYC Weather Last Year [2023]. The temperature highs will be around 80 on Friday and Saturday, rising to about 90 on Sunday and Monday. The temperature lows will be in the low 60's on Friday, the high 60's on Saturday and about 70 on Sunday and Monday. The winds will be 4 - 8 mph on Friday and Saturday, falling to 3 - 6 mph on Sunday and Monday. The humidity will range from around 50% to 65% on Friday and Saturday, rising to 55% to 70% on Sunday and Monday. Sunrise is approximately 6.23 am and sunset in 7.29 pm as of Friday 9/1/23.

The photo at right shows the panoramic view from Casa Belevedere on Staten Island in a prior year.

WORK IN PROGRESS 8.27.24  SOME OF THE INFO BELOW NEEDS UPDATING, SO WATCH DATES.

ALSO SEE FRONT PAGE FOR THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND ON STATEN ISLAND.

Special Events on Labor Day Weekend on Staten Island NYC

The biggest event of the Labor Day weekend on Staten Island is the Richmond County Fair in Historic Richmond Town which runs from 12 noon - 7 pm daily on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Labor Day Events on Staten Island

This Labor Day Weekend you can also go bicycling on Staten Island, play soccer & other games in Staten Island parks, go shopping on Staten Island, attend Staten Island parades, watch theater, visit the Staten Island art museums, and eat out at one of the Staten Island restaurants.

It's all happening right here, right in our favorite borough, Staten Island. Take your time to sort through the events at the various cultural and recreational sites around Staten Island and start planning your weekend. Click here to obtain information about things to do Labor Day Weekend on Staten Island. This events calendar should be updated by the time we get to Labor Day Weekend.

Staten Island Public & Private Parks

Staten Island has a number of public parks of which a few include swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Staten Island Parks including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history. This is coming at a later date.

NYC Golfing on Staten Island

Staten Island has four golf courses and all of them are open this weekend. The Silver Lake Golf Course is located at 915 Victory Blvd in the northeastern section of Staten Island near the Silver Lake neighborhood. It's only short bus ride from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in St. George. The La Tourette Golf Course is located at 1001 Richmond Hill Road near the Historic Richmond Town and Lighthouse Hill neighborhoods in the center of Staten Island. The South Shore Golf Course is located at 200 Hugenot Road in the southwestern part of Staten Island in the Rossville neighborhood. It is home to the Grand Oaks Country Club. And the NYC Junior Golf Club is located at 66 Pitney Road at the southern end of Staten Island in the Woodrow neighborhood. Click here for details about Staten Island golf courses including maps and links to the operators' websites. The links are coming at a later date.

• CLICK here for things to do on Staten Island Labor Day Weekend.

Staten Island 4th of July Fireworks 2024 SI NYC

Best Viewing Locations / Places to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in St George, Midland Beach, Historic Richmond Town, Travis Town & Tottenville on Staten Island NYC

Updated July 3, 2024 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / July 4th Holiday on Staten Island / Staten Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather 4th of July Week as of 7.3.2024. The temperature highs will be in the mid 80's all week, while the temperature lows will start the week in the mid 60's, gradually rising to the mid 70's by Friday. Winds will be about 5 mph all week, except on Wednesday when they kick up to about 10 mph. The humidity will be a comfortable 40% - 60% on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, rising to 65% - 75% on Thursday and Friday.

There's a 40% chance of about a quarter inch of rain between the hours of 5 - 9 pm, dropping to 30% at that time, and staying there through most of Friday. No rain is currently forecast until late Thursday night [11 pm] and Friday, until late Friday evening.

NYC Weather Update for the Week Ahead as of 6.23.24 for the Fireworks Days [Wednesday, Thursday & Friday]. The temperature highs will be in the low 90's on Wednesday, descending to the mid 80's on Thursday, and down to the high 70's on Friday. The temperture lows will fall from the low 70's on Wednesday to the mid 60's on Thursday and Friday. The winds will range from 5 - 10 mph on all three days, descending from the high to the low of that range in tandem with the temperatures. The humidity will also fall from a high of about 80% on Wednesday, to 60% on Thursday, and then begin swinging back up on Friday to 80%, again. There's a 60% chance of about a half inch of rain on Wednesday, after 6 pm, but otherwise dry for these three fireworks days.

Air Quality. Last year [2023] we experienced some unhealthy air conditions stemming from the Canadian forest fires, caused by climate change, which is caused by carbon emissions from gas guzzling autos, power plants & other carbon powered and emitting machinery. To stay abreast of the air quality in NYC copy and paste this link into your browswer bar - https://www.airnow.gov.

Macy's July 4th Fireworks along the Hudson River Provides are very Remotely Viewable from Northern Staten Island

The Macy's 4th of July fireworks will be shown along the Hudson River this year, for the first time since 2009 - 2013. They have been shown along the East River since 2014, where they remained until this year [2024]. Mayor de Blasio had lobbied for the switch, which then spanned ten years. The Grucci Brothers will be doing the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in NYC, which they've been doing for decades and possibly since the inception of the event.

The following page contains between a half dozen and dozen different Independence / 4th of July fireworks celebrations in the five boroughs of NYC, including some fireworks shows on Staten Island which precede those on the 4th of July, including at several of the Staten Island Ferry Hawks games, and celebrations in Travis Town and at Empire Outlets, and distantly viewable fireworks in Manhattan and Coney Island Brooklyn. We're working on the fireworks in Perth Amboy as well as Independence celebrations at the Conference House in Tottenville and Historic Richmond Town. The updates will be coming over the next few days or no later than early next week.

• Click here for a report about the 4th of July Fireworks on Staten Island NYC as seen from St. George, Tottenville and Midland Beach SI & surrounding areas, including times and locations for the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in NYC, the Raritan Bay fireworks from Tottenville and Coney Island fireworks as seen from Midland Beach.

Memorial Day Weekend Things To Do on Staten Island NYC

Things To Do on Staten Island over the Memorial Day Weekend 2024

Updated May 26, 2024 from 5/21/24 / Staten Island Neighborhoods NYC / Things To Do on Staten Island NYC / Staten Island Buzz NYC.

This is a report containing things to do on Staten Island over the Memorial Day Weekend, including Memorial Day Parades on Staten Island with links to the other boroughs of NYC. 

NYC Weather Forecast as of 5.23.24. The temperature highs will fall from the mid 80's on Friday to about 70 on Monday, The temperature lows will be in the low to mid 60's all four days of the long weekend. No rain is in the forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but on Monday there's about an inch of rain expected, but when and how much has been changing, so stay tuned. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then kicking up to 10 - 15 mph on Monday. The humidity increases from 45% - 55% on Friday, to 45% - 75% on Saturday, and then continuing to rise to 70 - 80% on Sunday and 80% - 90% on Monday. Three out of four days isn't bad, and the last day, Memorial Day, is still a bit of a wild card.

The things to do on Staten Island on Memorial Day Weekend include art exhibitions, theater, live music, comedy, dance, shopping, outdoor activities such as soccer, kyaking, baseball, parades, street fairs, museums and dining in the Castleton, Stapleton, Richmond Town, Great Kills, Rossville, Tompkinsville near St. George, Westerleigh & South Beach neighborhoods neighborhoods on Staten Island in NYC.

Be sure to check our Memorial Day Weekend things to do post mid afternoon Friday of Memorial Day Weekend.

Brief History of the Memorial Day Holiday on Staten Island

Memorial Day first started out as Decoration Day in Waterloo, New York on May 30, 1866 - a year after the Civil War - to honor those who fought in it. In the 1880's the day came to be known as Memorial Day.

According to a May 25, 2012 report in Time Magazine, ten states - Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee also officially observe some version of a Confederate Memorial Day, sometime between late April and early June [in Texas it's in January]. It's been reported that unofficially most of the former Confederate states still commemorate it, but not without some controversy as to the former Confederate diaspora it's to honor their ancestors, while to the former diaspora of the slaves it seems a remnant of these states racist past.

About ten percent of the nation travels more than 50 miles over the weekend. Memorial Day differs from Veterans Day which is held on November 11th of each year. Veterans Day began by honoring those who fought in World War I which ended on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Both honor those who served in the U.S. Military. Veterans Day coincides with a similar holiday in Europe for the same reason, which is called Remembrance Day and Armistice Day.

Things to do in Other NYC Boroughs Memorial Day Weekend

Things to do Manhattan Memorial Day Weekend NYC and Queens Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend NYC and Things to do Bronx Memorial Day Weekend NYC and Brooklyn Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend NYC and Staten Island Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend NYC.

Click here for Staten Island things to do on Memorial Day weekend.

Staten Island Easter Events, Brunches & Ceremonies on SI NYC

There are Two Easters Observed - 1) West European Christians & 2) East European Orthodox

April 18, 2025 / Staten Island Neighborhoods NYC / Staten Island Things To Do Events NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.

Very Brief Introduction to Christian Easter Traditions

Christians observe Good Friday, which is when the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross. On the Sunday following Good Friday, Christians celebrate the Biblical account of Jesus rising from the dead, which is Easter.

Emperor Constantine became the Roman Emperor in 306. In 324 Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, wherein Christianity split into two different sects - Roman Catholic Christians [primarily in Western Europe] and Orthodox Christians [primarily in Eastern Europe]. The traditions have much in common, but one of the differences is in how they calculate the time of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

The Western European Christians [Protestants and Catholics] use the Gregorian Calendar to calculate when to celebrate Good Friday and Easter. The Gregorian calendar was created in the 16th century and made the official calendar by Pope Gregory. Orthodox Christians use the Julian Calendar, which was made law in the Roman Empire in 45 B.C. by Julius Caesar. The primary difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars is that the Gregorian calendar uses Leap Year [this year is one of them] to adjust the calendar for the 1/4 extra day per year, that to our rotation around the sun requires. Thus the calendar differences, and how the date of Easter is calculated, is why the Orthodox and Roman Catholic / Protestant Christian Easters oftentimes occur on different dates.

This year [2025] the celebrations of the two traditions are celebrated the same week, whereas in 2024 the celebrations were separated by five weeks. So both the traditional Western European Christian and the Eastern Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter the same week.

Next Up - The History of the Easter Bunny & Related Traditions

• CLICK here to view our report on Easter events, Easter egg hunts and Easter brunches on Staten Island NYC. We start off with a brief history of the Easter Bunny and the origin of related traditions.

St Pats Day Parades on Staten Island in NYC

This is a Look at the Upcoming St Patricks Day Parades on Staten Island in NYC, Including Photos of the Parades we've Covered Over the Years, with Links to a Page Containing Photos and Descriptions of Some of the Best Irish Pubs in the Staten Island Borough

February 28, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather. Sunrise 6.32 am. Sunset 5.45 pm. We're getting two more hours [less 2 minutes] of sunlight than we were the weekend of the Winter Solstice on December 21, 2024, which is the shortest day of the year. Spring Forward Daylight Savings Time begins next week on Sunday, March 9th, 2025 at 2 am.

The temperature highs will be in the low 50's on Friday, rising to 60 on Saturday, before falling back into the high 30's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low 40's Friday, falling into the low 20's on Saturday and Sunday.

Looking at the weather forecast for the next couple of weeks, I now believe that Winter is essentially over after the two cold nights this weekend. We didn't have had more than a few weeks of Winter this year.

The humidity will be fairly low all weekend ranging from 30% to 60% on Friday and Saturday, falling to 20% to 40% on Sunday. It's going to be a windy weekend, as winds will range from 10 - 20 mph Friday, stay at the high end of 20 mph on Saturday, before falling back to 10 - 15 mph on Sunday.

The photo at right was taken at the St Pats for All Parade in Sunnyside Queens. This St Pat's Parade was created to allow LGBTQ folks to march in a St Patricks Day parade at a time when all of the other St Patrick's Day Parades banned LGBTQ from marching in the Irish parades. As of March 1, 2024 there's only one St. Patrick's Day parade that continues to discriminate against people whose gender isn't totally traditional / binary.

Staten Island Now has Two St Pat's Day Parades

Parades, Pubs and Restaurants on Staten Island NYC. Staten Island has a couple of St. Patrick's Day parades, only one of which we've covered. We've included a prior report of the Staten Island St. Patricks Day Parade to provide you with further details of the experience of attending - albeit many years ago before the LGBTQ controversy came up front and center. We've also included an article summary leading into our report about some of the best or oldest Irish pubs and restaurants on Staten Island in NYC. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and we will continue refining this report as we learn more about the Irish pubs and restaurants on Staten Island.

How this page is organized. We've organized this page by the Staten Island St Patrick's Day parade dates. The parades span the month, and even though ... the official feast date for St. Patrick is March 17th, the date of the Manhattan St. Patrick's Day parade is March 16, 2024 because as a tradition they don't march on Sundays, which in the Catholic religion is the Lord's Day. The Manhattan St Patrick's Day parade is the largest in NYC.

The LGBTQ Parade Participation Issue Appears to be Abating. In 2000 the St Pats for All parade was first launched in Sunnyside, Queens to protest the banning of gays from marching in the Manhattan St Pats Day Parade. In 2014 / 2015 the Manhattan Parade opened up its participation rules to allow gays to march. In 2020 the Throgs Neck parade in the Bronx opened up its participation to gays. At present only the Staten Island parade continues to ban LGBTQ community members from participating in the parade as openly gay people. The Staten Island ban continues in 2024 by the traditional parade organizers, but they now have competition as a new LGBTQ friendly parade will be marching on March 17, 2024.

• CLICK here to view our report on the St Patricks Day Parades scheduled in all 5 Boros of NYC in 2023 including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx & Staten Island.

Presidents Day Weekend Things To Do on Staten Island NYC

Things To Do Presidents Day Weekend on Staten Island / Events

February 14, 2025 / Staten Island Neighborhoods NYC / Things To Do on Staten Island NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.

WHAT FOLLOWS IS GENERALLY STILL RELEVANT, BUT LAST UPDATED IN 2023.

NYC Weather. The temperature highs Friday, Saturday and Sunday will range from the high 40's to the low 50's, before rising on Monday into the high 50's. The temperature lows will fall to 30 on Friday, rising to 35 on Saturday, to 45 on Sunday, before descending into the high 30's on Monday. No precipitation is forecast. It's going to be a fairly windy weekend, with the winds at 20 mph Friday, falling to 5 - 10 mph on Saturday and Sunday, and then rising again to about 10 mph on Monday. The humidity will be 50% - 60% on Friday, falling to 40% - 50% on Saturday, rising to 50% - 70% on Sunday, before falling back to about 50% on Monday. Click for Staten Island Weather.

The image at right shows a picture of the American colonial representatives, John Adams and Ben Franklin, meeting with a British general at the Conference House on Staten Island, in September of 1776, in an effort to prevent bloodshed and the American Revolutionary War. This occurred just a few months after the colonists declared their independence. And as history would have it - the British monarchy wouldn't negotiate - and five years later the American colonists had won the war.

Presidents Day is a federal holiday when all local, state and federal government offices are closed, which generally includes public schools - unless the district uses the holiday to make up a snow day, which is highly unlikely this year since there hasn't been any measureable snow.

Presidents Day is a time to reflect on the performance of our current presidents and legislators, to see how they stack up versus their historical peers. And in that reflection it's worth asking ourselves what we've done to contribute or detract from the national conversation.

Brief History of Presidents Day Holiday Staten Island NYC

A day commemorating Lincoln's birthday was first passed in Buffalo, New York in the early 1870's. Presidents Day originated as Washington's Birthday which was a holiday narrowly prescribed for federal government offices in Washington, D.C. in 1879. The holiday was dedicated to honoring the memory of the first American president, George Washington who was born on February 22, 1732.

In 1885 the holiday was expanded to include all federal government offices around the nation. In 1951 there was a push to create a Presidents Day holiday [vs a George Washington's birthday holiday] to include President Lincoln whose birthday is February 12, 1809 and was also celebrated by localities, but it didn't pass.

In 1971 the holiday was moved off of George Washington's birth date to being the third Monday in February. Thus while it never falls upon Washington's birthday 2/22, the official name of the holiday remains Washington's Birthday. But today, most folks refer to it as Presidents Day and to recognize the presidents who honored the U.S. Constitution and served the interests of the people.

• CLICK here for Staten Island - things to do Presidents Day weekend SI / events on Staten Island NYC.

Martin Luther King Weekend Things To Do on Staten Island NYC

Things To Do on Staten Island over the MLK Day Weekend

January 17, 2025 / Staten Island Neighborhoods NYC / Things To Do on Staten Island NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather as of 1.17.2025. Sunrise 7.16 am. Sunset 4.56 pm. We're getting 25 more minutes of sunlight than we were the weekend of the Winter solstice in late December.

This weekend we could get 1/10th inch of rain concentrated between 1 and 4 pm Saturday or none at all. And on Sunday there's an 80% - 90% chance we'll get two or more inches of snow between 1 pm and 9 pm. Monday is cloudy, but no precipitation is expected.

The temperature highs will be in the mid 40's Friday, the low 40's Saturday, falling to the mid 30's on Sunday and then to the mid teens on Monday. The temperature lows will be in the low 30's on Friday and Saturday, falling to the high teens on Sunday and dropping to about 10 on Monday. Most of next week will range from the high single digits up to 30 by next Friday, so enjoy the weekend, as it will be followed by a cold week. The winds will be 5 - 12 mph all weekend, at the lower end on Friday and Saturday, and at the higher end on Sunday and Monday. The humidity will rise from between 50% - 60% Friday, up to between 70% to 80% on Sunday, and again dropping to 50% to 60% on Monday.

Brief History of Martin Luther King Holiday in NYC

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist Minister who became the leading voice for African Americans' non-violent civil rights movement beginning in the mid 1950's through to his assassination in 1968. In 1983, the third Monday of every year was set aside to honor Martin Luther King for his service to the nation. The third Monday was chosen, as it was the nearest Monday to the anniversary of King's birthday, which was January 15, 1929.

Martin Luther King Day has grown to take on an even larger meaning, as it is oftentimes referred to as a day on, versus a day off. Organizations around the city and nation have used the day to call people into action to address the needs of the community through volunteering and service.

As Martin Luther King Day is a national holiday, it's worth keeping in mind that many / most federal offices will be closed, along with a number of businesses.

Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in the Staten Island NYC

CLOSED UNTIL JANUARY 29, 2025 _ Monday, January 15, 2024 beginning at 12 noon, 1 pm & 2 pm - The Roots of Rhythm - at the Staten Island Children’s Museum in the Snug Harbor Cultural Center at 1000 Richmond Terrace on Staten Island. They describe the event as follows, " ... A guest artist from S’Cool Sounds will teach visitors about a variety of exciting percussion instruments and their geographic origins! Come learn to play different rhythms and interact using key musical elements such as dynamics, tone, call and response, unison, and improvisation ...". Free w/ admission.

CLOSED UNTIL JANUARY 29, 2025 _ The SI Children's Museum also offers a one day fun camp on MLK Day from 9 am - 4 pm. The Fun Day Camp is described as follows, " ... science experiments, art making, outdoor exploring, exhibit play and much more!  We offer a light-hearted experience that appreciates and builds on the strengths of each camper. The camps are for ages 5 – 9 ...". Admission $85 / $70. Last day to register is January 11, 2024. https://www.sichildrensmuseum.org/day-camps-for-school-breaks/

√ Monday, January 20, 2025 from 1 to 3 pm - MLK Day of Service / Coastal Clean Up - meet at the north gate to Snug Harbor. They describe the event as follows, "... Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect coastal areas at Snug Harbor! Volunteers will help us remove debris from the coastline creating a healthier ecosystem ...". You must pre-register and children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. This is an NYC Parks Department and Snug Harbor Cultural Center collaboration. Free but rsvp required at - https://snug-harbor.org/event/mlk-day-of-service-coastal-cleanup/?instance_id=8039

√ Monday, January 20, 2025 from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm - 2nd Annual Black Leadership Brunch. A gathering of community leaders of African descent, including clergy, to break bread and discuss how to empower African American communities on Staten Island. At the Central Family Life Center at 59 Wright Street on Staten Island. Organized by Staten Island Black Heritage group. For details about the organizer see - https://siblackheritageday.com and for $52 brunch tickets see - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-mlk-day-leadership-brunch-tickets-785487603567?aff=oddtdtcreator

√ This weekend between January 18 - 20, 2025 - Make Your Own Day of Civic Action. . There are multiple opportunities to help with food distribution through non-profit panties throughout many neighborhoods on Staten Island. Here is one notable suggestion - https://www.foodpantries.org/ci/ny-staten_island

• CLICK here for Staten Island things to do on Martin Luther King Day weekend - MLK events SI NYC.

Staten Island Holiday Markets and Christmas & Hanukkah Shopping

Staten Island Holiday Markets, Christmas Shopping, Hanukkah Shopping & Holiday Shopping

December 20, 2024 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / NYC Shopping / Staten Island Buzz NYC.

NOTE - NEW - UPDATE CHANGE LOG. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.

Be sure to visit our Staten Island Holiday Events & Things To Do page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.

For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.

Staten Island Holiday Markets Getting Underway

The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.

THESE HOLIDAY EVENT & HOLIDAY MARKETS ARE ORGANIZED

1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF STATEN ISLAND

2. And BY DATE - (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)

Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.

And there were also winter solstice celebrations to commemorate the end of the darkening of the skies. Some cultures celebrate with a festival of lights, and in Christian cultures the holidays are marked with holiday lightings including tree lightings and candle lightings - as well as the celebration of giving through the most well known and most generous man in the world - Santa Claus.

Meanwhile, back on Staten Island we celebrate in a number of ways, which carry on some of these ancient traditions. The following provides the dates / times / locales and some details regarding many of the various Staten Island holiday celebrations and Staten Island holiday markets and shopping for folks to enjoy between now and the end of the year.

Click here to read our report about Staten Island Holiday Events / Holiday Things To Do & Staten Island Holiday Markets & Shopping.

Staten Island Holiday Events - Staten Island NYC

Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, & Kwanzaa Candle Lightings on Staten Island and Holiday Events & Things To Do NYC

December 20, 2024 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Holiday Events / Staten Island Things To Do / Staten Island Buzz NYC.

NOTE. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.

Be sure to visit our Staten Island Holiday Markets page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.

For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.

How The Staten Island Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized

These holiday events on Staten Island are organized as follows:

1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF STATEN ISLAND

2. BY DATE - (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)

Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.

3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.

4. Note STATEN ISLAND HOLIDAY MARKETS are published on a separate page - the links to which are posted at the bottom of this page, along with links to other boroughs.

Staten Island Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background

The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.

And there were also winter solstice celebrations to commemorate the end of the darkening of the skies. Some cultures celebrate with a festival of lights, and in Christian cultures the holidays are marked with holiday lightings including tree lightings and candle lightings - as well as the celebration of giving through the most well known and most generous man in the world - Santa Claus.

Meanwhile, back on Staten Island we celebrate in a number of ways, which carry on some of these ancient traditions. The following provides the dates / times / locales and some details regarding many of the various Staten Island holiday celebrations and Staten Island holiday markets and shopping for folks to enjoy between now and the end of the year.

Click here to read our report about Staten Island Holiday Events / Holiday Things To Do SI NYC.

Thanksgiving - America's Communal Holiday

The Pilgrims Legacy: Love, Sharing & Community Empowerment

November 25, 2019 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Thanksgiving Holidays on Staten Island NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.

Last year I happened upon a childhood book of fables and fairytales that I had saved since I was a first grader. I was young enough to still like fairytales and old enough to be learning and loving to read. The book, A Gateway to Storyland, by Platt & Munk Co, was given to me around the holidays, and the book still gives me a warm, loved feeling when I periodically open it [see photo at right and it's still in print]. I read it numerous times after I received it, as the illustrations fed the imagination, and lessons embedded in the words resonated with wisdom.

Unselfish Parental Love Manifested by Empowering Progeny

Love comes in many forms, but the purest form is unselfish love. The love of truly giving something with no thought of anything in return. That love is oftentimes given intergenerationally - from grandparents to parents to children.

Perhaps the greatest gifts are those that cost us nothing but our time. Like the gift of teaching someone something that they will be able to put to good use throughout their lives. Parents do this all the time, when they teach their children's skills and impart some knowledge and wisdom ... just as my parents did many years ago, by giving me a well illustrated fairytale book to encourage my learning to read, while sharing the time tested wisdom of the ages, handed down in fables and fairytales.

The Pilgrims Shared Communal Resources to Actualize a Dream

At Thanksgiving time we commemorate one of America's first settlements, founded by the risk-taking, resource-pooling, hardworking, spiritual community of Pilgrims.

The Pilgrims were early English settlers who arrived on American shores in the early 17th century [1600's]. They came here because they wanted a measure of freedom and self-determination that they were forbidden in Europe or what was called the 'old country'. The Pilgrims wanted to practice their faith, unencumbered, in a way that differed from the established Church of England. They pooled their money to obtain a ship, the Mayflower, to cross the Atlantic in mid September of 1620, landing on America's shores at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts on November 9, 1620.

The Pilgrims Receive Help from the Native People of a Strange Land

Per Wikipedia, the Piligrims survived a hard winter in 1621 with the help of the Wampanoag, an American Indian tribe. The Pilgrims were the immigrants, and the first Americans, the Indian natives, welcomed them. The Wampanaog taught the Pilgrims how to catch eels, and how to grow and harvest corn. Thus the Pilgrims ended 1621 with a good harvest which they celebrated and shared with their new friends, expressing their thanks to a higher power, aka God, for the success of their endeavors.

Thus it was that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in America ... or did it?

• CLICK here for the rest of the story about Thanksgiving Day sentiments in NYC.

Columbus Day Weekend on Staten Island NYC

Things To Do on Staten Island Over The Columbus Day Weekend

October 13, 2024 / Things To Do NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 10.11.24. Today - Sunrise 7.03 am & Sunset at 6.20 pm. There's a 50% chance of a small amount [less than 1/5th inch] of rain Sunday night after 9 pm & ending Monday mid morning. Temperature highs will be in the low 70's through Sunday, descending to the low 60's on Monday. Temperature lows will be in the mid to high 50's through Sunday, descending into the mid 40's on Monday. It's going to be a windy weekend, with winds of 11 to 16 mph through Sunday, rising to 17 to 19 on Monday. The humidity will be 40% - 50% Friday and Saturday, rising to 60% - 70% on Sunday, before falling back to 50% - 60% on Monday. Generally a good weather three day holiday weekend. Enjoy.

This report contains a listing of some of the things to do on Staten Island over the Columbus Day Weekend including art museums, theaters, live music / comedy / dance venues, sporting & social events, and restaurants for Staten Island NYC.

Columbus Day Events on Staten Island

This weekend you can go bicycling on Staten Island, play soccer & other games in Staten Island parks, go shopping on Staten Island, attend Staten Island parades, watch theater, visit the Staten Island art museums, and eat out at one of the Staten Island restaurants. And it's all happening right here in Staten Island. So take your time to sort through the days and locations and start planning your weekend.

Click here to obtain information about things to do Columbus Day Weekend on Staten Island. This events calendar is updated monthly with dozens of different Staten Island fun cultural events.

See our weekend post on the Friday of Columbus Day Weekend with things to do on Staten Island NYC including the Columbus Day Parade on the front page of this site. The weekend post will include all sorts of other events and activities not necessarily related to Columbus Day.

Staten Island Columbus Day Parade replaced with an Italian Cultural Festival

The Staten Island Columbus Day parade was cancelled in 2014. In its place there's a Columbus Day Parade Weekend Italian Cultural Festival at Mount Loretto that begins Friday and runs through Monday, October 6 - 9, 2023.

Saturday & Sunday, October 12 & 13, 2024 from 12 noon - 6 Saturday, and until 5 pm Sunday - 13th Annual Fall Festival and Italian Exotic Car Show - at Case Belvedere at 79 Howard Avenue in the Silver Lake neighborhood near Grymes Hill and just south of Tompkinsville on Staten Island. In prior years there's been a Friday night members only event, but I don't see anything like that for this year [2024]. The event features luxurious, classic and performance Italian autos on the lawn, along with Italian food and drink, and live entertainment. This is a Staten Island festival more than a fair in Silver Lake near the Grymes Hill and Tompkinsville neighborhoods of Staten Island. See Casa Belvedere Italian Cultural Foundation for details. Admission $10. Kids under 12 free. For details see - WS - https://casa-belvedere.org/ or FB - https://www.facebook.com/casabelvederesi

Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, October 11 to 14, 2024, opening from 6 to 11 pm Friday, & from 12 noon until 11 pm [fireworks show Saturday night], 9 pm and 6 pm respectively - Fall Festival at Mount Loretto at the CYO MIV Community Center at Mount Loretto at 6447 [near 6581] Hylan Blvd in the Charleston neighborhood of Staten Island [near Prince's Bay & Pleasant Plains]. Fireworks on Saturday evening October 12th, 2024 - rest of update of info below coming next week. Kids age 10 and under are free. For $5 / person tickets and details see - WS - https://cc-si.org/ or FB - https://www.facebook.com/CatholicCharitiesOfSI

Editor's Note. This is a bit different from the Fall Festival on the Mount on October 26 & 27, 2024. Both events are held around the same location. This Staten Island Halloween party [10/26 & 10/27/24] includes Staten Island's largest pumpkin patch, DJ, food, pony rides, petting zoo, beer and sangria wine, and some entertainment. Donation Adults / Kids 10 & under free / Parking $5.

Staten Island Public & Private Parks & Public Indoor Swimming Pools

Staten Island has one of number of public parks of which a few include swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Staten Island Parks including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history. This is coming at a later date.

NYC public indoor swimming pools are now open [unconfirmed].

NYC Golfing on Staten Island

Staten Island has four golf courses and all of them are open this weekend. The Silver Lake Golf Course is located at 915 Victory Blvd in the northeastern section of Staten Island near the Silver Lake neighborhood. It's only short bus ride from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in St. George. The La Tourette Golf Course is located at 1001 Richmond Hill Road near Historic Richmond Town and Lighthouse Hill neighborhoods in the center of Staten Island. The South Shore Golf Course is located at 200 Hugenot Road in the southwestern part of Staten Island in the Rossville neighborhood. It is home to the Grand Oaks Country Club. And the NYC Junior Golf Club is located at 66 Pitney Road at the southern end of Staten Island in the Woodrow neighborhood. Click here for details about Staten Island golf courses including maps and links to the operators' websites. The links are coming at a later date.

• CLICK here for things to do on Staten Island Columbus Day Weekend including the festival which replaced the parade.

Holidays & Parades on Staten Island in NYC

DMarch 8, 2025 / Holidays & Parades on Staten Island NYC / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Buzz NYC.

This section is dedicated to the Holidays & Parades section on Staten Island NYC.

How to Make the Most of This Section

The reports at the top of the page will reflect the most recent - OR MOST RELEVANT - which sometimes are reports we did a while ago, that continue to have particular relevance / resonance for the current period. Below that are archived reports which we will rotate, again based on their relevancy. Please be patient as it may take a while for us to get this working the way we want. But be assured, we'll do our best to eventually get there.

CLICK here to view our Staten Island Holidays & Parades NYC section.