03 Nov Celebrate Diwali in NYC
Discover the joys of Diwali in New York City with our curated list of family-friendly events. Join in on the fun and excitement with the ones you love and experience a range of spectacular activities. From stunning light displays to captivating cultural performances, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and create unforgettable memories.
Saturday November 4
Diwali Celebration
Auditorium of IS 230, 73-10 34th Avenue Jackson Heights, Queens, NY 11372
Free
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a resource fair, lamp lighting ceremony, dance performances, food and music!
Saturday November 4
Celebrate Diwali!
Books of Wonder
42 West 17th Street New York, NY 10011
Free
Celebrate Diwali with These Wonderful Books! These wonderful, hopeful books are sure to inspire you and your young readers! From a sweet celebration of the holiday, to a young boy finding his voice, to two siblings diving deep to save the merpeople! You won’t want to miss this great live event!
Saturday November 4
Diwali Studio
Aksarā Studio, 10 W End Ave, #10A, New York, NY 10023
$25, ages 5 and up
Looking for an experience of something different & true to your roots this year? Come to Akṣarā Studio where we will be engaging you in a plethora of creative activities ranging from painting, and paper sculpting to making a Diwali storyboard and watching a cooking demo.
Saturday November 4
Sparkles & Steps – A Family Diwali Event
Old First Reformed Church, 729 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
From $44
Experience the vibrant traditions of Diwali as we light up the night with dazzling Diya and colorful decorations. Gather your loved ones and craft enduring memories through a range of engaging activities suitable for all ages. Enjoy henna tattoos, Storytelling, traditional Indian dance workshops, arts and crafts for young ones, groove to DJ Tauba’s tunes, Shop from our Diwali bazaar, and relish delectable Indian cuisine and beverages.
Saturday November 4
Marine Park Alliance Presents: Festival of Lights 2023 – Diwali Celebration
Carmine Carro Community Center in Marine Park, 3000 Fillmore Ave, Brooklyn
Free
Celebrate how good triumphs over evil in this holy month of Kartika on the Hindu Calendar.
Sunday November 5
Family Sundays Diwali Celebrations & Dazzling Diyas
The Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th St., New York, NY 10011
Free
Join us for Family Sundays at the Rubin! Bring your family to the Mandala Lab on the third floor for an afternoon of creativity and self-exploration that both kids and grown-ups can enjoy. In honor of Diwali, a holiday that celebrates light overcoming darkness, there will be a series of special programs at this Family Sunday.
Sunday November 5
ONEWIN Diwali Festival of Lights
Villa Russo, 101-12 Lefferts Boulevard, Queens, NY 11419
Free
Let’s come together as a community to light up the night and share the joy of Diwali, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness. This event is open to all, bring your family and friends!
Mark your calendars for a night filled with diyas, musical and dance performances, Mehndi (Henna) art, delicious deserts and refreshments, Raffles, laughter, and JOY! See you there!
Monday November 6
Diwali Puppet Storytime: Ramleela, A Story of Diwali
Allerton Library, Children’s Room, 2740 Barnes Ave, Bronx, NY 10467
Free
Diwali is one of the key festivals celebrated in South Asian, by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. It is the festival of lights, with a symbolism of the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge of ignorance and hope over despair. The festival of Diwali has its roots in ancient India and the epic Ramayan. Through Ramleela Puppet Show, see Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman and Ravana come to life. It is a famous story on Diwali from North India.
Wednesday November 7
Diwali Artmaking Celebration
Pier 57, 25 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Free
Celebrate Diwali with Children’s Museum of the Arts and The Culture Tree during a free all ages artmaking program at Pier 57 on Wednesday, November 8 from 4–7 PM.
Thursday November 9
Diwali at BCM
Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
Free
BCM is celebrating Diwali on Thursday, November 9 in partnership with The Culture Tree! Join us between 2 pm–5 pm during Amazon Free Hours to learn about the story of Diwali through an engaging puppet storytime, mithai-making workshops, and a paper lantern project in our art studio.
Friday November 10
Diwali Celebration at the Seaport
Seaport Square at Pier 17, 89 South Street, New York, NY 10038
Free with RSVP
Dance. Costumes. Treats and honoring traditions. Join us at the Seaport to celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, this November. Co-hosted by our friends at The Culture Tree, this joyful afternoon includes dance performances, a dance workshop, and traditional art activities. There will also be a live DJ and a Diwali photo booth by Kulture Khazana and Desi Rainbow Parents and Allies.
Come and enjoy rangoli art, Indian food and mithai from TAGMO, and delights from other vendors. The dance portion of the celebration will begin with traditional dances, the garba and dandiya raas. Once the sun sets, it will be time to float your diyas in pools set up for the festival.
Friday November 10
Diwali in LIC 2023
Five Star Banquet, 13-05 43rd Avenue, Queens, NY 1110
$110, free for kids under 12
Join us for an unforgettable celebration of Diwali at the Five Star Banquet in Queens, NY! Experience the magic of this vibrant festival as we come together to light up the night with joy and laughter. Immerse yourself in the rich traditions, mesmerizing music, and mouthwatering cuisine that make Diwali so special. Get ready to be have fun with sparklers, colorful decorations, and a lively atmosphere that will leave you spellbound.
Saturday November 11 & Sunday November 12
Diwali at CMOM
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024
Come celebrate Diwali at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) Saturday & Sunday, November 11-12, 2023! Experience rich Indian culture as we journey through different parts of India to experience dance, art, and culture while celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights. Regional festivities bring unique flavors to this cherished event. Explore this and more as CMOM partners with The Culture Tree to showcase diverse Indian dances such as the Bharatnatyam, Odisi, Kathak, and Garba, capturing the essence of Diwali and the diversity of Indian culture.
Sunday November 12
Bhakti Center’s Sixth Annual ‘Diwali – Festival of Lights’ Celebration
Bhakti Center, 25 First Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Free
Please Join us for the sixth annual ‘Diwali – Festival of Lights’ celebration. Our Diwali Mela will feature traditional Indian musical dance performance, food stalls featuring Indian street food and drinks, henna stall, face painting and a photo booth! We will hear about the significance of Diwali and sing an Aarti together. The evening will culminate in everyone having an opportunity to offer lamps!
Monday November 13
Diwali Puppet Storytime
53rd Street Library, 18 West 53rd Street, New York, New York
Free
Our founder and children’s author Anu Sehgal will read a couple beautiful books, through which the festival of Diwali will come to life. Children will learn about its history, cultural and social significance. We will pair the storytime with a Diwali cardmaking activity.
Sunday November 19
9th Annual Diwali Festival
Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd, Queens, NY 11354
$20 ($15 members), $8 children
Celebrate Diwali with this all-ages festival and dance party, featuring DJ Rekha and Kathak classical dancer Abha Roy, Srijan Dance Company with special guest dancers! Enjoy Indian classical and folk dance performances that showcase the story of Diwali, and then DJ Rekha will get you dancing with Bollywood-inspired music that combines Punjabi music with hip-hop. Explore rangoli design with Anju Gupta, discover Indian food and recipes with Chef Nupur and Queens Curry Kitchen, as well as Indian block printing, henna, Hindi calligraphy and more.
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