Fifth Avenue Marks 200th Anniversary With Open Streets Birthday Bash

MIDTOWN, NY – Fifth Avenue will celebrate its 200th anniversary with a massive birthday party – and open streets – on Sunday, Dec. 8.

The free event, which is open to the public, runs from 12 to 6 p.m. and covers all of Fifth Avenue between 48th and 55th streets.

The party will feature pedestrianized streets, live entertainment, art installations, and interactive experiences. Performers include Juilliard Jazz’s Duke Ellington Ensemble, Sing Harlem, The Satin Dollz, Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra, Brass Queens, and the New York Belles.

Big names on or near the Ave - like Tiffany & Co., the Museum of Modern Art, the Peninsula Hotel, and more, will also join the festivities, offering pop-ups and other shopping extravaganzas. A rain date is set for Dec. 15.

Shifts In Midtown's Streetscape

The celebration in part highlights the ongoing transformation of Fifth Avenue, which city officials aim to redesign as a pedestrian-focused boulevard, per an announcement in October. Planned changes include wider sidewalks, reduced traffic lanes, safer crossings, and more than 230 new trees and 20,000 square feet of planters.

“As Fifth Avenue looks forward to its next 200 years, we will be continuing our work to redesign and rebalance the iconic street into a world-class, tree-lined, pedestrian boulevard,” said Ya-Ting Liu, NYC’s Chief Public Realm Officer, in a statement.

The city announced a similar redesign of Park Avenue between East 46th and East 57th streets in August of this year.