LES History Month Comes to a Close; Successful Festival to Return Next Year

This past May, we celebrated the second annual Lower East Side History Month. After a whirlwind month of over 150 Lower East Side events, this year's LES History Month came to an end. The month was a huge success, and will return next year.

LES History Month is an annual celebration of the rich and diverse history of the Lower East Side. Taking place during month of May, LES History month is an umbrella for a variety of public events, exhibits, tours, and learning opportunities taking place in the historical definition of the Lower East Side-which includes the East Village, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Alphabet City. Conceived and launched by LES-based cultural and community groups, LES History Month aims to connect our present to our past, exploring how our history can inform and inspire our future.

For more information on our programs, visit our blog.

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PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS & BUSINESSES

This year, we had more than 80 institutes, organizations, and businesses to participate in LES History Month. Together, they offered more than 150 events in the Lower East Side, all throughout May.

Small businesses had a bigger presence this year. This year, LES History Month featured businesses such as La Sirena, Chinese Hawaiian Kenpo Academy, Little Hair Shoppe, Random Accessories, and more.

For a comprehensive list of this year's participating organizations, visit our participant's page!

CULTURAL FESTIVALS

Highlight of this year's LES History Month were the many major cultural festivals, each drawing thousands of people to the Lower East Side.

May started off with the 39th edition of the St George Ukrainian Festival. The festival offered over 100 performers, spread out over three days.

Loisaida celebrated their unique community for the 28th time, with Loisaida Festival. This festival is the largest community pride festival in the neighborhood, and grows annually in size, excitement, and impact.

Theater for the New City celebrated the Lower East Side Festival of the Arts for the 20th time this year. A cabaret style festival featuring over 100 performing groups.

Also, Essex Street Market celebrated its 75th birthday this May! Amongst other festivities, the historic LES culinary destination invited the neighborhood to join them in a massive block party on Essex Street.

LES History Month closed off with one of the best art festivals in the city, IDEAS CITY, founded by the New Museum. This three-day art festival offered 100+ free events, for anyone to participate, and attracted thousands of people.

A new addition to this year's LES History Month was The Greek Jewish Festival, hosted by Kehila Kedosha Janina. Despite it being the first edition, the festival attracted more than 1500 people to Broome St., all to enjoy traditional music, performances and food.

PROGRAMS

An key program at this year's LESHM was #LESstories. Dozens of organizations came out to help us chalk the sidewalks with bits and pieces of LES history, to make history visible.

In celebration of LES History Mont, FABnyc organized Typewritten Tales, in which they invited neighborhood residents to type up their stories and memories of the LES. These stories were ultimately collected and reinterpreted at IDEAS CITY.

Furthermore, this year's LES History Month featured the LES Community Hero Awards, in which six unsung heroes got awarded for their outstanding contributions to our community.

Last but not least, FABnyc invited neighborhood residents to join us on a Love Mob. With this first edition of Love Mob, FABnyc went to Clinton Street to highlight and support the small businesses on this unique street.

In total, there were more than 100 LES History Month-specific programs and events that drew the attention of the Bowery Boogie, the Lo-Down, ArtNews, Loisaida, and the New York Times.

Lower East Side History Month is an annual celebration of the rich and diverse history of the Lower East Side. Taking place during month of May, LES History month is an umbrella for a variety of public events, exhibits, tours, and learning opportunities taking place in the historical definition of the Lower East Side-which includes the East Village, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Alphabet City. Conceived and launched by LES-based cultural and community groups, LES History Month aims to connect our present to our past, exploring how our history can inform and inspire our future.

Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc) FABnyc was founded in 2001 as the nonprofit leadership organization for the East 4th Street Cultural District, a historic and vibrant arts corridor in Manhattan between Second Avenue and Bowery. Now a neighborhood-wide coalition of arts and community groups, FABnyc drives community and economic development, while also preserving the Lower East Side's rich heritage and creative energy.

Pictured: Greek Jewish Festival - Image by Kehila Kedosha Janina.