Holi at The Seaport : Save the Date →
Story time. Colorful puppets and powder play. The annual Holi celebration lets us shake off the winter blues and celebrate the arrival of spring. This year, the Seaport in partnership with The Culture Tree and the South Street Seaport Museum invite you to join the celebration of the traditional Indian festival of colors on Saturday, March 18, from 11am–2pm.
Bring the kids, bring your friends, and join us for story time, puppet-making, dance workshops and a puppet show and, of course, spirited fun with brightly colored powder.
Visitors can also sample traditional Indian cuisine enjoyed during this annual holiday, purchase Holi’s signature colored powders and shop at the outdoor Indian market on Front Street featuring nearly a dozen Indian owned-businesses, including Tagmo, the Seaport’s own Indian restaurant.
**In celebration of Holi, guests are encouraged to wear an all-white outfit to help amplify the Powder Play experience.**
Event Info
Saturday, March 18, 2023
11am–2pm
Multiple locations
What’s On S+4
STORY TIME & PUPPET-MAKING
11:00am | All Ages | Seaport Museum | 12 Fulton Street | Free
Kick off the Holi celebration in the South Street Seaport Museum’s introduction galleries. Festivities begin with author Anu Sehgal’s bi-lingual (Hindi-English) reading of her new book Kahani Rangeeli, or Colorful Story, which shares the ancient story of Holi and how it’s celebrated. After learning the history of Holi, children are invited to make puppets in preparation for the puppet show Colors of Krishna’s Love, presented by WonderSpark Puppets. Together they’ll enjoy one of the most beloved stories from Krishna’s childhood in which he engages in games and antics with friends and family.
Please note, the advanced registration is at maximum capacity but walk-ins are encouraged.
Foods of Holi
11:30am | All Ages | Seaport Museum | Fulton Street
Join Anu Sehgal as she talks about traditional foods of Holi, their cultural and nutritional significance.
Please note, the advanced registration is at maximum capacity but walk-ins are encouraged.
Puppet Show
11:35am | All Ages | 12 Fulton Street
The puppet show, Colors of Krishna’s Love, highlights one of the most beloved stories from Krishna’s childhood, engaging in games and antics with his friends and family, including his friends Radha and Sudama. These beautiful moments from Krishna’s life celebrate unconditional love and friendship. The show will include dance, drama, puppetry, songs and a grand finale in which the children can play with their own Krishna, Sudama and Radha puppets. This show is produced in partnership with WonderSpark Puppets and The Culture Tree.
No registration is required.
Holi Dance & Drum Performance
12:30pm | All Ages | Fulton & Front Streets
The Holi celebration continues with a colorful and vibrant Bhangra dance lesson led by the renowned dancer, Sarina Jain, founder of Masala Bhangra. Jain will get everyone moving with Bhangra dance, an energetic traditional folk dance from Punjab. Dholi Amrit from Premier Drummers will join in to provide a soundtrack of traditional beats.
Powder Play
1:00pm | All Ages | Fulton & Front Streets
The festivities will end with powder play, the quintessential part of Holi, in which everyone will be able to play Holi with colors (Holi Hai!!). Holi’s signature colored powders may be purchased from vendors at the event.
Please note outside colored powders are not allowed at this event.
Holi Collaborative Mural
March 18, 19 | 11am–4:30pm | Pier 16 | Free
Continue the Holi celebration on Pier 16 with the Seaport Museum by joining in to create a vibrant collaborative mural inspired by the colorful pigment thrown during the annual festival. Together, we will roll up our sleeves and celebrate the colors of Holi. Participants will also receive a free take-away designed and printed by Bowne & Co. to customize as a keepsake for this special celebration.
The event is free, and advance registration is required.
Register NowOur Partners
The Culture Tree
The Culture Tree provides South Asian themed educational and cultural programs that enrich the lives of children and their families and promotes a deeper connection with their roots and the world around them. We use language, art, puppet shows, dance, food and the holidays to provide an immersive experience. theculturetree.com
South Street Seaport Museum
The South Street Seaport Museum, located in the heart of the South Street Seaport Historic District in New York City, preserves and interprets the history of New York as a great port city. Founded in 1967, the Museum houses an extensive collection of works of art and artifacts, exhibition galleries and education spaces, working nineteenth century print shops, and an active fleet of historic vessels that all work to tell the story of “Where New York Begins.” seaportmuseum.org