Held the second Tuesday in June, this free festival is fun and popular

By Heather Cross

New York City Travel Expert, about.com

What is the Museum Mile Festival?:

During this annual festival, 5th Avenue is closed to traffic and becomes home to a block party, complete with musical and artistic entertainment for children and adults. In addition to the nine museums offering free admission, there are activities, musical entertainment, and artist demonstrations along Fifth Avenue. Face painting and chalk drawing along Fifth Avenue are especially fun for children.

Which Museums Participate in the Museum Mile Festival?[post_ads_2]

All participating museums are located along Fifth Avenue.

• The Africa Center - 110th Street
  institution dedicated to exploring the policy, business and culture of Africa
• El Museo del Barrio - 105th Street
  collection & exhibits exploring Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures
• Museum of the City of New York - 103rd Street
  museum celebrating and interpreting the City and its culture and history
• The Jewish Museum - 92nd Street
  exhibits focusing on the artistic and cultural heritage of the Jewish people

• Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution - 91st Street
  historic and contemporary design museum housed in the Andrew Carnegie Mansion
• National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts - 90th Street
  educational institution dedicated to the fine arts and supporting artists
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum - 89th Street
  art museum housed in an iconic Frank Lloyd Wright building
• Neue Galerie New York - 86th Street
  museum dedicated to 20th century German and Austrian art and design
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art - 82nd Street
  New York City's largest and most diverse art museum

Tips for Enjoying the Museum Mile Festival:

• Be prepared for the weather - the festival is held rain or shine
• Be prepared for crowds - the event is attended by 50,000 annually
• Lines at museums can be long, but move quickly
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Guggenheim Museum tend to be the busiest
• This is a great opportunity to check out museums along the mile that you've never visited before. If you don't mind the crowds, it's nice to see what each museum has to offer without having paid full admission for the privilege. It's a great chance to identify museums you might want to return to later.
• I would only plan to be able to visit two museums during the festival -- you might be able to squeeze in 3, but with the lines for admission, it can be difficult.
• Spend some time strolling Fifth Avenue - artists and musicians, as well as cultural organizations offer an array of entertainment along Fifth Avenue

Directions to the Museum Mile Festival:

4/5 to 86th Street; 6 to 86th, 96th and 103rd Streets; walk two blocks west to Fifth Avenue

Restaurants Near the Museum Mile Festival:

In addition to vendors selling hot dogs, beverages, and pretzels, check out these nearby eateries near Museum Mile.

• 92 - Moderate-Expensive American Cuisine
  45 E. 92nd St. (Madison)
• Cafe Sabarsky - Moderately priced German/Austrian cuisine
  1048 Fifth Ave. (in the lobby of the Neue Gallerie at 82nd St)
• Caffe Grazie - Expensive Italian cuisine
  26 E. 84th St. (Madison Ave)
• One Fish Two Fish - Moderately priced American cuisine
  1399 Madison Ave. (97th St.)
• Sarabeth's - Moderate-Expensive American Cuisine
  1295 Madison Ave., Hotel Wales (92nd/93rd)