The Beat

The Empire State is celebrating milestone anniversaries, hotel and museum openings, and major sporting events, making it a must visit destination in 2025

Albany, NY – January 30, 2025 – New York State is brimming with major anniversary celebrations, international sporting competitions, and a variety of new hotels, museums and attractions in 2025, offering new opportunities for travelers to immerse themselves in new destinations throughout the state. From the opening of the National Urban League's Urban Civil Rights Museum - Manhattan’s first museum dedicated to civil rights - to the PGA Ryder Cup on Long Island, to a Canopy Walkway at Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum in the Finger Lakes, New York State expands its offerings as a year-round destination for adventure, relaxation and cultural immersion.

Historic Gathering of International Tall Ships and Naval Vessels to Highlight the Nation's Semiquincentennial Celebration, July 3-8, 2026

New York, NY (January 28, 2025) – As the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary in 2026, plans have taken shape for a monumental celebration in the Port of New York and New Jersey. Sail4th 250, the non-profit organization leading the charge, today revealed more details about what’s in store for the region from July 3-8, 2026. 

By Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang with Diane Paulus

March 9, 2025 at 7pm, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

New York, N.Y. - Works & Process at the Guggenheim presents San Francisco Opera: THE MONKEY KING (猴王悟空) by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang with Diane Paulus, on March 9, 2025 at the Peter B. Lewis Theater, 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10128 at 7pm. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at https://www.worksandprocess.org/calendar/works-and-process-at-the-guggenheim-sfo-the-monkey-king.

New app and custom itineraries highlight area attractions

Syracuse, N.Y. – In honor of National Plan for Vacation Day on Tuesday, Jan. 28, Visit Syracuse announced the launch of its Simple Wonders campaign, a new set of resources designed to help both locals and visitors alike explore the natural beauty and cultural wonders of Syracuse and the surrounding region.

Monday, February 24, 2025 at 8pm, Carnegie Hall

New York, N.Y. - New York City Opera presents Music of Survival: Works by Weinberg, Korngold, and Rovne, with the NYC Opera Orchestra, featuring Constantine Orbelian, Conductor; Kristina Reiko Cooper, Cello; and Elizaveta Ulakhovich, Soprano on Monday, February 24, 2025 at 8pm in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, W. 57^th Street and Seventh Avenue, NYC.

Utica, N.Y. - Join the Utica/Oneida County Branch NAACP to celebrate Black History Month 2025 with its annual program hosted by the History Center. This event will follow the national theme of African Americans and Labor. The program is available in person and virtually via Zoom.

Experience a Candlelit Musical Journey Featuring NYC’s XinOu Strings

January 15, 2025

New York, NY - Tourismo (formerly Junket) is thrilled to bring its enchanting event series, the Grand Illumination Symphony, to New York City starting February 14, 2025. This unique concert series will transform the historic St. Paul’s German Evangelical Lutheran Church into a stunning venue illuminated by 1,000 candles, setting the stage for an unforgettable musical experience.

2024 Statewide Attendance Hits 88.3 Million, Exceeding Previous Record Set in 2023 by 4 Million

Parks’ Centennial and Eclipse-Viewing Gatherings, Governor’s Free Swimming Initiatives Contributed to 12th Consecutive Year of Increased Attendance

Governor’s Unplug and Play Strategy Encourages Even More Healthy Recreation for New York Families

Park Attendance Data Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced state parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) saw a record 88.3 million visits in 2024. Total visits statewide surged by over four million, which is a five percent increase compared to the previous record year in 2023.

Eighty-four percent of those surveyed believe tourism positively impacts their community

Lake Placid, NY (January 27, 2025) – The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism has compiled and released the results of its third annual tourism impact survey, conducted in late 2024. 

The survey gathered feedback from residents and business owners in Essex and Hamilton counties, as well as the villages of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, regarding their perceptions of tourism's impact on the local economy and community.

Written and performed by Kevin James Doyle, and directed by two time Emmy Award-winner Cory Cavin

New York, NY – SoHo Playhouse proudly presents the New York premiere of After Endgame, written and performed by Kevin James Doyle, and directed by two time Emmy Award winner and Writers Guild Award nominee Cory Cavin. After Endgame runs February 11 – March 8, 2025 in a limited 4-week engagement for 21 performances in the theater’s intimate Huron Room. Previews begin February 11 for a February 15 opening.