pretty crowded in the evening . Watch Candace Bushnell take CNN on a tour of New York . '' Met in the Parks -LRB- June -RRB- An al fresco treat for opera lovers , every summer New York 's Metropolitan Opera Company lays on free outdoor performances in the city 's parks . The 2009 program will feature performances in each of the five boroughs , at Staten Island 's Tappan Park , Crotona Park in The Bronx , Queensbridge Park in Queens ; Coffey Park in Brooklyn , East River Park in Manhattan and at SummerStage in Central Park . If that 's whet your appetite for evenings of outdoor classical music , `` New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks '' takes place in July at parks around the city . Take a blanket and a well-stocked picnic hamper for maximum enjoyment . What do you think are New York 's seasonal highlights ? Sound Off below . Independence Day -LRB- July 4 -RRB- The day America declared its independence from Britain in 1776 is a national holiday celebrated in style throughout the country . But , naturally , New York is where the celebrations become a full-blown
There 's always something happening in the city that never sleeps , but if you 're in New York at the right time you 'll get to see New Yorkers coming together for one of the city 's big annual events . Giant inflatables are the highlight of the Macy 's Thanksgiving Parade . St Patrick 's Day Parade -LRB- 17 March -RRB- St Patrick 's Day is when New York 's sizeable Irish-American community celebrates its long association with the city , with thousands joining a flag-waving parade of traditional marching pipe bands . Dating back to 1762 , it 's far more traditional than New York 's other parades . There are no floats or corporate sponsors involved -- just vast numbers of green-clad revelers . Indeed , it 's the one day of the year when shamrock-adorned hats and stick on ginger beards are considered appropriate attire . The event kicks off at 11 a.m. at 44th Street , making its way past St. Patrick 's Cathedral at 50th Street and the American Irish Historical Society at 83rd , finishing at 86th Street at around 5:00 p.m. Needless to say , New York 's Irish bars get