Over the past 400 years, immigrants have brought their traditions to New York from every corner of the world. We celebrate our rich tapestry of cultures at museums,
performance centers, parades and festivals throughout the state. You can learn more about your own heritage and get acquainted with many others.
Hear ancient legends from a Native American storyteller at the
Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave, or experience a sweat lodge at the spa at
Turning Stone. In the
Finger Lakes, you can tour the homes of prominent abolitionists like Harriet Tubman and follow the Underground Railroad.
Check out Tibetan culture at the
Jacques Marchais Museum and Latino art at
El Museo del Barrio in
New York City, or explore the traditions of immigrants from Ireland, Italy and Wales at the
Slate Valley Museum in Granville.
Celebrations around the state range from Lunar New Year festivities in New York City's
Chinatown, to
Albany's
Tulip Festival that commemorates local Dutch heritage, to a
French Festival famous for its breads and pastries in the
Thousand Islands-Seaway region.
If it's true that people become friends when they dine together, you can make friends all across New York. From New York City--where restaurant selections range from African to Ukrainian--to
Buffalo, where you can sample ethnic specialties like Polish pierogis at the Old World-style
Broadway Market.