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What's better than a walking tour of New York City? A free walking tour of New York City—and more than 200 of them will be available this May as part of Jane's Walk NYC festival hosted by the Municipal Art Society.
This beloved annual event, named after famed activist Jane Jacobs, invites New Yorkers to lead walks that celebrate urban life, culture, hidden gems, street art and more. Any New Yorker can lead a walk—and anyone can attend. The key is registering quickly because the popular events fill up quickly.
We're breaking the news on the full list of walks happening this, also shouting out a few of our favorites. Pro tip: register ASAP.
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About Jane's Walk
This year's Jane's Walk will be held on the weekend of May 2–4, rain or shine, across the five boroughs. Events include guided in-person walks, self-guided and virtual walks. For capacity reasons, RSVPs are required here for in-person walks guided by volunteers.
During the event, New Yorkers of all types—from trained tour leaders to students and passionate community members—share the places and stories that make their neighborhoods unique, explore the hidden aspects of the city and use walking as a way to connect with their neighbors.
Walks explore the immigrant experience in the East Village, architecture in Cobble Hill, secrets of Lower Manhattan and more.
"Jane's Walk NYC is a celebration of the vibrancy, history, and diversity that makes our city so extraordinary," said Keri Butler, interim president, Municipal Art Society of New York, in an official press release. "Led by community members, historians, librarians, students and any New Yorker with an interest in storytelling, these walks create an opportunity for New Yorkers to explore different aspects of their city—from the quirky to the historic."
This year's walks
Led by real New Yorkers, walks dive into everything from hidden architectural gems and literary landmarks to food and street art. Find the full list of walks here. Here are a few of our top picks:
Cultural experiences
- The East Village and the Immigrant Experience
- Forgotten History of Chinese in New York
- Muslim Histories of Harlem
Architectural marvels
- The Historic Architecture of Prospect Lefferts Gardens
- Explore Cobble Hill's Historic Architecture & Extraordinary Food Shops
- Broadway Melody: Architecture of Note in the Theater District
Notable niche events
- The New York Pigeon: Love Them or Love Them
- A Man, A Plan, A Canal, & the Weird Building by Whole Foods
- Secrets of Lower Manhattan (editor's note: this one is hosted by Time Out's very own Things to Do Editor!)
Time Out Tip: You never know what might happen—or who might show up at Jane's Walk. Last year, Daniel Pecoraro led a walk in Harlem that paid homage to Colson Whitehead’s novels, Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto. The author made a surprise appearance at the walk!
About Jane Jacobs
Jane's Walk was founded to celebrate the life and legacy of urban activist Jane Jacobs. Even if you don't know her name, you know her legacy if you've ever walked through Washington Square Park. Jacobs was integral in the efforts to preserve Washington Square Park, pushing back against government leader Robert Moses' plan to put a roadway through it. She lived for many years in Greenwich Village until moving to Toronto later in her life.
As a writer, urbanist and activist, Jacobs believed in the power of individuals to influence their city. Today, walks bearing her name take place in more than 200 cities worldwide. Jane's Walk NYC is the largest of these festivals.
Jane's Walk NYC is sponsored in part by Swig Equities and receives support from the New York Public Library, BPL's Library for Arts & Culture, Urban Archive and more.