World Science Festival
(New York)

Museum Mile Festival (New York)

Taos Solar Music Festival (Taos, N.M.)

Hemingway Days
(Key West, Fla.)

May 28–June 1

June 3

June 27–29

July 15–20

Stretching from Greenwich Village to the Upper West Side, the World Science Festival brings together Nobel laureates and educators as well as artists whose work is inspired by scientific discovery. Visitors can sit in on talks by Oliver Sacks (of Awakenings fame) or watch Karole Armitage’s interpretive dance inspired by Brian Greene’s The Elegant Universe at the Guggenheim.

For just one night, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., nine museums along Fifth Avenue will open their doors for free, setting the stage for the city’s biggest block party and visual art celebration. Visitors can wander up and down a traffic-free street and enjoy fine art, as well as participate in free art lessons and demonstrations.

Hailed as the Solar Capital of the World, Taos, two-and-a-half hours from Albuquerque, hosts an annual festival spotlighting eco-savvy innovation and an eclectic assortment of national music acts. This year, Collective Soul, Susan Tedeschi, Steve Earle, and the flamenco-inspired band Pacifika will take turns on the solar- and wind-powered stages as guests peruse exhibits on green building and more.

Taking place just before the birthday of Key West’s most famous denizen, Hemingway Days pays tribute to Ernest “Papa” Hemingway’s hobbies, with events like the Key West Marlin Tournament and granddaughter Lorian Hemingway’s prestigious short story contest. Visitors will likely experience déjà vu as Papa look-alikes congregate at Sloppy Joe’s to participate in an annual pageant.