The 47th Annual Museum Mile Festival is set to transform Fifth Avenue in New York City into a vibrant cultural block party on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, rain or shine. This free event will see a stretch of Fifth Avenue, from 82nd Street to 110th Street, closed to traffic, allowing visitors of all ages to explore a remarkable concentration of world-class museums.
Key Details:
* Date and Time: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM EDT
* Location: Fifth Avenue, from 82nd Street to 110th Street, New York City. The avenue will be closed to traffic, creating a pedestrian-friendly environment.
* Admission: All participating museums offer free admission during the festival hours.
* Theme: The festival is part of "Founded By NYC," a citywide commemoration of the 400th anniversary of New York's founding as a municipality.
Participating Museums:
Eight major cultural institutions along Museum Mile will open their doors for free:
* The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 5th Ave at 82nd St)
* Neue Galerie New York (1048 5th Ave at 86th St)
* Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1071 5th Ave at 89th St)
* Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (2 E 91st St)
* The Jewish Museum (1109 5th Ave at E 92nd St)
* Museum of the City of New York (1220 5th Ave at 103rd St)
* El Museo del Barrio (1230 5th Ave at 104th St)
* The Africa Center (1280 5th Ave at 109th St)
Several neighborhood partners will also host activities, including the New York Academy of Medicine, the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Asia Society, 92NY, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, NYC Kids Project, The People's Bus, and AKC Museum of the Dog.
Activities and Highlights:
The Museum Mile Festival is known for transforming Fifth Avenue into a lively block party with diverse activities beyond just free museum access. Visitors can expect:
* Free Museum Access: Explore current exhibitions and permanent collections at all participating museums.
* Live Performances: Enjoy street musicians, bands (like Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars at The Jewish Museum, Alsarah and the Nubatones at The Africa Center), and other performances along the avenue.
* Art-Making Activities: Engage in hands-on art projects suitable for all ages. For instance, the Jewish Museum will have mini poster designs inspired by Ben Shahn, while the Guggenheim will offer outdoor artmaking and sidewalk water painting.
* Family-Friendly Events: Many museums and street vendors will offer activities specifically for children, including street games, crafts, and scavenger hunts. Kids' Activity Guides will also be available.
* Exhibition Highlights:
* Museum of the City of New York: Explore "Urban Stomp: Dreams & Defiance on the Dance Floor" and "Above Ground: Art from the Martin Wong Graffiti Collection." They will also host street games, Bhangra dance, and crafts.
* The Met: See exhibitions like "P.S. Art: Celebrating the Creative Spirit of New York City Kids" and "Recasting the Past: The Art of Chinese Bronzes, 1100–1900." They'll also have hands-on art activities and floral arrangement demonstrations.
* Guggenheim: Access to galleries including "Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers."
* Neue Galerie: Free gallery access, including "Austrian Masterworks from the Neue Galerie."
* Cooper Hewitt: Participate in a design activity called "What Makes NYC Feel Like Home" and explore "Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial."
* The Jewish Museum: Features "Ben Shahn, On Nonconformity" and "The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt."
* El Museo del Barrio: Enjoy music and art-making from DJ Chiquita Brujita.
* The Africa Center: Explore the photography exhibition "Between Nostalgia & Dreams" by Yusuf Ahmed, the window installation "When the War is Over" by Sarah Elawad, and live music.
* Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW): Explore their exhibition "Rethinking Etruria" with docent tours.
* Food Vendors: Enjoy various culinary options along the closed-off street.
* Community Engagement: The festival provides a unique opportunity to connect with the city's rich cultural landscape and celebrate the start of summer in a vibrant community setting.
With a wide array of artistic and cultural experiences, the Museum Mile Festival 2025 promises an engaging evening for locals and tourists, showcasing New York City's best museum scene.
Also check out other Arts events in Manhattan, Festivals in Manhattan, Music events in Manhattan.
