Are people who FaceTime while walking down the street literally insane?

Spring is finally here, and Coney Island is ready to shake off the winter blues this weekend as Luna Park opens its gates for the 2026 season. The seaside institution will reopen this Saturday, March 28 at 11am, kicking things off with a two-day celebration featuring rides, games, treats and more.

On Sunday, March 29, the spotlight shifts to the legendary Coney Island Cyclone for its annual egg cream christening ceremony, a quirky, very New York tradition that marks the official start of the season. This year, the Cyclone turns 99, so the ceremony marks the beginning of the countdown to its centennial in 2027. To celebrate, the first 99 riders on Sunday will score a free spin on the iconic coaster and a classic egg cream (while supplies last).

Discounted Luna Boardwalk passes will be available on-site all weekend, with a portion of proceeds going to local charitable groups like the Coney Island Sharks, Children of Promise and the Coney Island Public Library.

New York’s outdoor food festival season is about to get a delicious jumpstart. JAPAN Fes, one of the city’s most beloved street food events, is returning this month to celebrate a major milestone: its 10th anniversary in New York City.

The festival officially launches its 2026 season on March 28 at Astor Place in the East Village, bringing dozens of Japanese food vendors to the streets for a full day of snacking, sipping and exploring. If you miss that first event, another festival will follow the very next day on March 29 on 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Midtown.

If you’ve never been, imagine a block party devoted entirely to Japanese street food. Vendors serve everything from teriyaki chicken skewers and crispy karaage to onigiri, ramen, takoyaki and yakisoba. Sweet treats like matcha shaved ice and bubble tea also make frequent appearances, along with Japanese snacks, crafts and cultural booths.

After months on the road, Cardi B is finally coming back to her hometown for the New York leg of her headlining tour, the Little Miss Drama Tour. But before she hits the stage for a two-night run at Madison Square Garden (March 25 and March 26) and another show at Newark’s Prudential Center (March 26), she’ll be heading up to the Bronx to offer folks an exclusive first look at her upcoming beauty line.

On Tuesday, March 24, Cardi B will be popping up in the Bronx to promote her new haircare line, Grow-Good Beauty. Powered by Shopify, the Grow-Good Beauty Supply Bus will be hosting a beauty bodega right in front of the still-under-construction Hip Hop Museum from 11am to 6pm. While it is unclear as to what time the rapper will be making an appearance or what products will be available, if it is anything like her massive “Bodega Baddie” pop-up in September, we say get there early and prepare for a crowd.

Does your ideal night out involve dinner and a little spectacle? Clear your calendar for March 27: Sushi by Bou is debuting “Tuna Spectacle,” a one-night-only event that turns the usual quiet omakase counter into something far more high-energy. From 9pm to 11pm at its East Village location, guests will gather around as a team of chefs breaks down an entire 200-pound, premium bluefin tuna in real time.

As the fish is carved—a process that involves incredible precision—guests will also be served a steady flow of freshly prepared nigiri made from the very tuna being sliced moments earlier. The experience includes a welcome sake toast, with additional drinks available to keep the night moving.

The Midtown Cultural Alliance is hosting its second cross-organizational Open House from Thursday, March 26 through Sunday, April 5, bringing together the Japan Society, the Korea Society, Korean Cultural Center New York, L'Alliance New York and Scandinavia House. All five partner organizations will host a wide range of both free and paid programming intended to invite visitors to explore the Midtown neighborhood, with events ranging from gallery shows and film screenings to language courses and kids' activities. Check out the full lineup of 2026 offerings here.

Taking place on March 28 (from 11am to 7pm) and 29 (from 10am to 7pm), a free Hannah Montana pop-up will land in Greenwich Village, inviting fans to step inside a real-life version of the pop star’s famously fabulous glam closet. The two-day experience arrives as part of celebrations marking the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, which will premiere on March 24 on Disney+ and Hulu.

The activation was created in partnership with Maybelline New York and Disney and recreates one of the most memorable spaces from the beloved series. Inspired by the closet where Miley Stewart famously transformed into her blonde-wigged pop alter ego, the immersive setup turns that TV moment into a walk-through experience.

Inside, visitors will find interactive Maybelline beauty stations where they can try out stage-ready makeup looks inspired by Hannah’s signature pop-star style. Once the glam is complete, guests can strike a pose at a Polaroid photo station designed to capture their inner Hannah Montana moment.

The pop-up is free to attend and open to the public, with no RSVP required. Entry will be first-come, first-served, so fans eager to relive their Disney Channel era may want to arrive early.

The Easter fun lasts all week during the East Midtown Easter Egg Hunt. From Saturday, March 28 to Saturday, April 4, kids under 12 can visit businesses throughout the East Midtown area to hunt for Easter eggs. 

How it works: Each participating business will have candy-stuffed eggs hidden at their location beginning Saturday, March 28, for kids to look for on a first-come, first-served basis. Each location will also have one golden egg hidden, which is redeemable for an extra special prize for the hunter and their parents. To make sure kids all over the city have the chance to participate all week long, children are kindly asked to hunt one egg per location.

The event is hosted for the fourth year by the East Midtown Partnership, a business improvement district. Here's the full list of participating businesses.

The biannual celebration of Off Broadway theater is back, and it's better than ever. The 20th anniversary edition of 20at20 returns on March 23 through April 12, giving theatergoers the chance to score $20 tickets to 28 Off Broadway shows, starting 20 minutes before curtain at participating box offices.

Presented by the Off Broadway Alliance—a nonprofit dedicated to supporting, promoting and sustaining Off Broadway theater while making it more more accessible—the ticket promotion has long been a gateway for audiences to experience Off Broadway shows at deeply-discounted prices. All you need to do is arrive shortly before showtime, grab a $20 seat and discover a new play or musical.

This anniversary edition includes a mix of premieres, cult favorites, family shows and experimental works. Among the highlights is Monte Cristo: The Musical, starring Sierra Boggess, Adam Jacobs, Norm Lewis and Karen Ziemba. Comedy fans can head to Friends! The Unauthorized Musical Parody or Singfeld! A Musical About Nothing, both playing at the Theater Center. Classical drama also makes an appearance with Titus Andronicus from Red Bull Theater, starring Patrick Page at Pershing Square Signature Center. Meanwhile, international offerings include the U.S. premiere of Heartbreak Hotel from New Zealand company EBKM.

If you’ve ever wished you could crawl inside a Betsey Johnson store circa its heyday, your moment has arrived. From March 27-29, the designer is taking over Shopify’s SoHo space and turning it into “Betsey World,” a fully immersive glitter bomb pop-up.

Set at 131 Greene Street, the experience is designed as a series of themed environments pulled from Johnson’s decades-long creative universe. There will be an art gallery filled with original works, a bedroom and locker room that channel her personal history and a full-blown maximalist floral dreamscape. Rather than just recreating past stores, the new pop-up is a surreal mix that leans nostalgic, but with a slightly trippier edge.

A curated capsule of apparel, handbags, shoes and jewelry—each inspired by Johnson’s own artwork—will be available for purchase on-site, alongside select original pieces for collectors. The idea is that you’re not just browsing racks; you’re also taking home part of the world you just wandered through.

Celebrate all things spring on Sunday, March 29th at the Museum of Jewish Heritage's third annual Spring Equinox Festival, honoring Persian culture and the start of the warm-weather season with music, food and activities from noon to 6:30pm, plus free museum admission. In addition to authentic Persian food for Nowruz, the day-long festivities will also include backgammon lessons and boardgames, children's activities from Pardis for Children, a Persian dance performance, a history of Jewish henna and more.