28 Best NYC Pop-ups You Shouldn’t Miss (July 2024) | The Exploreist (2024)

By Todd Maurer | Updated: July 05, 2024

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1: Mean Girls Experience (Upcoming)

Get ready to embrace the drama as a member of the Plastics at the Mean Girls Experience! Each reservation comes with your choice of entree and side dish, a 90-minute table reservation, access to all photo ops, and a Candy Cane Gram. Remember the rules: no tank tops two days in a row, only one ponytail per week, and jeans or track pants are reserved for Fridays and on Wednesdays, we wear pink. Bring your cool mom, mathletes, art freaks, your best friend’s ex-boyfriend, and all the fabulous people in your life.

2: BLOOM: The Secret Wonders of New York’s Forgotten Eden

Over 200 years ago, before Rockefeller Center was built, this part of the city was home to America’s first botanical garden, Elgin Gardens. A new immersive experience,BLOOM, will now explore that beautiful history at Rockefeller Center starting on May 15 and running through the summer. At this all-ages exhibit, you’ll walk through eight interactive rooms, like “Mushroom Fest,” “Transformation Tunnel,” and “Bloom Garden,” featuring a network of art installations, digital innovations, and playful explorations of the natural world.

3: Nordstrom Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary

Discover the world of Hello Kitty and her friends at a limited-time pop-up shop heading to Nordstrom’s NYC flagship store this month! Global icon Hello Kitty is celebrating her 50th anniversary, and she’s inviting you to celebrate with her. This limited-time event will feature exclusive apparel, accessories, home and beauty items, plush toys, pantry items, and more, with prices starting as low as $6 and climbing as high as $1,610. Can’t make it to the store for the pop-up experience in person? All the items will be available online as well.

4: The Insect World by Imaginari

Think bugs are creepy? Think again. That’s the message of The Insect World, an immersive experience that just opened in Manhattan. In this 12,000-square-foot space, you’ll find 6-foot-tall flowers, a mantis partying under a disco ball, oversized ladybug sculptures, 200 monarch butterflies perched on a 12-foot cherry blossom tree, and even an animatronic bee fluttering its wings! While the display is visually stunning, it also packs plenty of environmental messages and cool science facts to educate people on the importance of bugs.

5: INTER_

You’ll embark on an enchanting journey of self-discovery at INTER_, a labyrinth of otherworldly environments spread across two floors. This series of art installations highlight elements: fire, water, earth, and air, as well as a fifth element, ether, which represents one’s mind and awareness of it. The exhibits question life’s purpose, one’s journey and interconnection to the surrounding world, and even touch on memory and an analysis of self. JOBI Experiential is the genius behind this, in collaboration with artist Pete Sax.

6: Wonderland: Curious Nature

The New York Botanical Garden is debuting a new exhibition for 2024 called “Wonderland: Curious Nature.” On view from May 18 to October 27, 2024, this immersive experience, inspired by the classic tale and its 1871 sequel,Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There,will feature horticultural and contemporary art installations that evoke the spirit of exploration and uncanny nature of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Expect works that play with scale and perspective, with no “Drink Me” potion needed.

7: The Big Bounce America

While not technically in NYC, don’t miss this massive treat as The Big Bounce America — the world’s largest touring inflatable event — sets up shop in Long Island this May. Covering an expansive space of 16,000 square feet and towering 32 feet from the ground to the tips of candy-colored turrets, this colossal attraction is for kids and adults alike. The massive bouncy house is outfitted with obstacle courses, slides, and basketball courts, plus a DJ booth at the center of the action, pumping out the hottest tunes all day.

Read More: The World’s Largest, 16,000-square-foot Bouncy House Is Coming to New York This May

8: Bubble Planet

Bubble Planet, a brand-new surreal experience filled with every kind of bubble imaginable, has delighted fans worldwide, including Milan, London, Brussels, and Los Angeles — and now, it’s coming to the American Dream mall. You’ll find everything from 10 whimsical-themed rooms to a hot air balloon flight simulator and, of course, a massive ball pit in this pastel-hued space filled with mind-bending optical illusions and photo opportunities. Admission costs $26.90 for adults and $18.90 for children aged 13 and under.

9: Balloon Story

This summer, Balloon Story will transform the city’s iconic Armory building into a playful dreamland of inflatable and eco-friendly balloon art. This balloon wonderland will open on July 3 and throughout the summer. Explore a lush balloon jungle, complete with balloon parrots, snakes, and more, or venture into an arctic landscape filled with inflatable penguins. If you prefer the underwater world, navigate through an aquarium with fish and coral — all made entirely of balloons, or get a little competitive in a ball pit fight.

10: Color Factory New York

Color Factory is an interactive art museum, started in 2017 in San Francisco by event planner and blogger Jordan Ferney, artist Leah Rosenberg, and designer Erin Jang before it moved to New York and Houston. Inspired by the colors of the city, this multi-sensory exhibit guides you through 16 immersive rooms and installations to explore the joy and importance of color.

Expect to see the works of artists from all around the world, including Emmanuelle Moureaux, Andrew Kuo, and Tamara Shopsin, withhighlightsranging from a baby-blue ball pit to balloon-filled rooms and disco-themed dance floors, with cameras installed throughout the rooms for photography so you can focus on the experience itself, not the pictures.

Read More: Your Guide to Color Factory in New York City

11: Winter Lantern Festival

The theme of this extravaganza varies by location and changes every year. In 2022, you would wander about a world inspired by Chinese myths and legends, including a larger-than-life display of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, Ya Zi, and Fuzhu, a white deer with 4 antlers. Cameras are installed in front of popular spots to take pictures for you, and you can send them to your email for free. Seasonal beverages and foods will make this amazing experience even more enticing. The festival is also held in D.C. and Atlanta.

Read More: NYC Winter Lantern Festival Takes You on a Journey to the East

12: Museum of Ice Cream

This small pinky museum in SoHo welcomes you to a world of ice cream cones, rain sprinkles, cakes, and candies. Savor new ice cream flavors and treats on a floating table, ride an out-of-this-world pink “Celestial Subway,” follow the sound of a buzz that will lead you to a giant “Queen Beehive,” and take a dive into the largest Sprinkle Pool. The museum is very popular, so reserve yourticketat least two weeks in advance just in case it does sell out. Admission starts at $39. If you want a more private sprinkle splash, reservehere.

13: The May Room

The May Room is the latest art addition to Governors Island by Shantell Martin, built in 1942 and first opened as a Catholic chapel during World War II. Inside, you will also find Martin’s signature black-and-white line drawings that create a labyrinthine spanning the floors and walls of the building that act as a place for gathering, reflection, and performance. Custom furniture in the shape of letters also dots the floor of the space, which you can arrange however you like to spell out words for Instagrammable photos. It is free.

14: LuminoCity Festival

This massive wonderland of lights inspired by the Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Randall’s Island Park every November, inviting you to a narrative journey through five chapters of an original story starring Lumi. Travel through the worlds of the Mysterious Forest, Dangerous Dunes, Forgotten Ruins, Hidden Land of Hria, and Mystical Moon Land.

There is also an open-air Mini Gallery showcasing the history and culture of lantern-making traditions, a gift shop, and food trucks serving holiday treats and hot drinks. The light show centers around one theme each year, with new and unique pieces added to the festival to create a unique, magical experience.

Read More: LuminoCity Festival: Everything to Know and Tips

15: Holiday Train Show at NYBG

Shrink down to the size of a fairy as you step into New York Botanical Garden and board a vintage train, zipping through a charming display of over 170 New York landmarks made with materials like seeds, leaves, bark, acorns, and pine cone scales, spread out between four rooms of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Along the way, you will see the Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, and Rockefeller Center! This year’s show also highlights the garden’s own buildings and structures.

16: Frost Fest

For the very first time in history,Luna Park in Coney Islandis extending the thrill of summer into the winter season with a brand-new holiday celebration, Frost Fest! You will be treated to a plethora of winter activities, including Rudolph’s Rink, Coney Island’s newest outdoor skating rink, holiday lights and decor, photos with Santa, rides and attractions, a holiday market with festive bites and drinks, as well as a tree lighting ceremony! Frost Fest kicked off Saturday, November 18 and will stay open on select dates through January 7, 2024.

17: Santa’s Winter Wonderland

Opened at Pier 15 in late 2023, Santa’s Winter Wonderland is a 7,500-square-foot whimsical waterfront pop-up that gives you a taste of the North Pole right here in New York City! Sparkling lights, illuminated Christmas trees, and tiny glass houses — the decor screams “holidays.” You can sit in Santa’s sleigh, write a letter to Santa, play in Rudolph’s game room, visit Santa’s s’mores-making station, or steal a kiss under the mistletoe! The big man in red will also be here 7 days a week for pictures to remember this moment forever.

18: Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Roam under one million sparkling lights at Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s holiday trail that stretches from 990 Washington Avenue to 150 Eastern Parkway. Walk along the garden’s landscapes to a curated holiday-themed soundtrack as you explore the Winter Cathedral tunnel, the Fire Garden at Lily Pool Terrace, the Sea of Light, and a fully-animated light display that adorns the Cherry Esplanade.

19: Jump for Joy: Bouncy Castle of Breasts

At the Museum of Sex, the city’s friskiest collection of exhibits, you can pick up gears you’ll only find at a sex shop, step into a strip club with VR goggles, and jump away your inhibitions in a boob-themed bounce room! This naughty version of a childhood favorite features cartoonish large breasts that, like the human body, come in various skin tones. The perky boobs add additional angles to bounce against and off. Don’t worry about bumping into someone or throwing them off their destination — it is a group activity and more fun that way.

20: Candytopia

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Willy Wonka’s Factory,Candytopiais the closest you can get and best of all, you don’t need a golden ticket. Your experience starts with greetings from candy minions, who will give you the lay of the land, a short orientation, and engage the group in some games. Then, you are released to the second room and explore at your own pace.

Some rooms also have cameras at angles you won’t be able to get for cool pics! There are 17 rooms, some of which feature candy sculptures and sweet-based art and activities. Think a marshmallow pit, masterpieces recreated with candy, an infinity mirror room, a ring swing garden, a Sugar High Theater, and a confetti room complete with candy-farting piggies.

21: The FRIENDS™ Experience New York

If you’re a fan ofFriends, which is about six friends going through just about every life experience imaginable together, don’t miss this pop-up! With two floors of interactive experiences, you’ll be part of this 90’s comedy TV show. Pose on the iconic orange couch and explore props and costumes from the show. There’s even a Central Perk if you want to grab a coffee and some pastries. Before you leave, get your fix of FRIENDS™ products, from an array of clothes to accessories and collectibles, at the FRIENDS™ Experience Store.

22: Sweet Cats Cafe

This cute cafe in Flushing serves all kinds of bubble tea and cakes, complete with plush-filled claw machines and explosions of pink. Test your skills and chance at their many claw games to win an adorable plush! Grab one of their pink shopping carts to carry all your prizes as you move throughout the cafe.

Check out specialty drinks like Tinkle Bell, Purple Paradise, and Frozen Volcano! And their selection of milk tea and crepe cakes is practically endless, with favorites like Red Bean, Taro, Rose, Matcha, and Earl Grey. Then, snap Insta-worthy photos in the all-pink ball pit or on the swinging chair under a Sakura tree!

23: Sloomoo Institute

SoHo is full of interactive, fun spaces. After your visit to the Museum of Ice Cream, take your kids toSloomoo Institutefor a day full of slime. This 8,000-square-foot space is an art exhibit and art class in one. You will enter a black light cove filled with glow-in-the-dark slime, design your slime in a 150-foot-long DIY bar, drench yourself in a slime waterfall, and walk on a lake made of slime. The goal is to intrigue, delight, and evoke your inner child. Plus, slime is known to support stress relief as much as it does your imagination.

24: Macy’s Flower Show

To celebrate the spring season and the fashion industry, this two-week flower show brings nearly one million flowers, plants, and trees from around the world to transform Macy’s Herald Square into a breathtaking floral extravaganza. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. This year’s show was created in partnership with Dior, with one section dedicated to the fragrance Miss Dior. Other installations include glittery strawberries, a red-and-black butterfly, and a ladybug with a kaleidoscope on its back.

25: Serra Fiorita

If you’re looking for floral-infused drinks and a spot to take Instagrammable photos, head to SERRA by Birreria. Atop the Italian market, Eataly NYC Flatiron, this rooftop bar welcomes you to a greenhouse — “Serra” is Italian for “greenhouse” — decorated with vibrant florals inspired by a 3D paper book.

The decor is seasonable, so you will see something new every time you visit. In 2022, the space was transformed into a forest of gold, green, orange and red, with leaves covering the glass ceiling and wind around the dining room to create a crisp outdoor tableau. Grab a co*cktail made with Italian gin, a frozen co*cktail, or a glass of wine.

26: The SuperReal Experience [back soon]

This latest pop-up in FiDi brings cutting-edge projection mapping tech and multimedia art to the walls and ceiling inside the historic Cunard Building, transporting you through unique and abstract scenes that are both stunning and interactive. The floor is a giant mirror that also enhances the special effects.

One minute, you could be daydreaming in a fairylike flower garden, and the next, you’re caught in a thunderstorm or thrown into the middle of a tropical disco. During the 45-minute show, feel free to relax on bean bags or just lie on the floor or play with balloons that also react to the show.

27: The Floral Escape [back soon]

If you want to add some colors to your Instagram feeds, this floral extravaganza at the Garden State Plaza is where you need to be! The Floral Escape welcomes you to take a stroll through an oasis of flowers inspired by the fall season at Queens County Farm Museum, where creativity blooms into a series of multi-sensory floral-filled installations.

While there, be sure to check out the new floral-filled taxi, grab “the best seat in the house” as you sit amongst a bed of blooms, or snap a selfie under the beautiful floral arches for the ultimate Garden Vibes. They have a second location in Westfield Garden State Plaza, New Jersey.

Read More: The Floral Escape NYC: Everything to Know

28: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

Dyker Heights is a residential neighborhood in the southwest corner of Brooklyn. It transforms into a winter wonderland in late November with over-the-top Christmas lights and decorations. Think snowman lanterns, life-sized nutcrackers, and even carousels! While there are no particular Christmas conifers to look for, you will find plenty beautifully decorated here.

Most homeowners will start to hang their Christmas lights and decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving. However, the best time to see the lights is mid-December through New Year’s Eve. We recommend going anytime between dusk and 10:00 PM as most houses will turn their displays off after 10:00 PM.

Read More: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights: a Complete Guide

29: Shakespeare In the Park

If you are a fan of Shakespeare, you will love this summer pop-up! Between May and September each year, the Public Theater presents two Shakespearean shows in Central Park’s Delacorte Theater, with free tickets distributed in the park and throughout the city. Intrigued? Check outherefor tickets and official dates.

In 2019, the shows that made it to the stage were the rollicking comedyMuch Ado About Nothing(May 21-June 23) and a dark political dramaCoriolanus(July 16-August 11), wrapped up with a special Public Works presentation ofHercules(August 31-September 8), an adaptation of the 1997 Disney movie.

Read More: A Guide to Shakespeare in the Park in NYC

Past Pop-ups in NYC That Have Ended

1. Nightmare Dollhouse(October 13 to October 31, 2023)

2. Wonderland Dreams(October 7, 2022 to September 10, 2023)

3. Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience(October 28 to January 22, 2022)

4. Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit(June 8, 2021 to April 10, 2022)

5. Banksy: Genius or Vandal Exhibition(August 26, 2021, to November 28, 2021)

6. The Alice: An Immersive co*cktail Experience(September 23, 2021 to November 30, 2021)

7. The SuperReal Experience(December 16, 2019 to January 9, 2022)

8. Arcadia Earth(August 30, 2019 to December 1, 2023)

9. Stranger Things: The Experience(May 19, 2022 to September 4, 2022)

10. ZeroSpace(Opened on August 7, 2018, and now it is a Metaverse lab)

11. Kusama: Cosmic Nature(April 10, 2021 to October 31, 2021)

12. The GREEN, Lincoln Center(May 10, 2021 to September 1, 2021)

13. Kaws: What Party(February 26, 2021 to September 5, 2021)

14. The Little Mermaid co*cktail Experience(November 18, 2021 to March 6, 2022)

15. DARKFIELD Flight(Opened on August 4, 2022, and it stayed in NYC for about 3 months)

16. Geometric Properties(March 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021)

17. Krampus’ Cove (December 4, 2023 to December 31, 2023)

18. Balloon Museum: Let’s Fly (October 27, 2023 to January 14, 2024)

19. The Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic (November 7, 2023 to January 2, 2024)

20. Astra Lumina (November 24, 2023 to March 17, 2024)

21. Domino Effect (January 25, 2024 to March 06, 2024)

22. AirOtic Soirée: A Circus-Style Cabaret (January 04, 2024 to April 06, 2024)

What is a Pop-up?

Great question! Essentially, it is a business that opens for a limited time with a clear start and end date. And sometimes it is only around for a month or year before moving to another city. They come in many different forms, but most are unique in some way and very Instagrammable, whether it is a restaurant, a shop, or an art installation. And that brings us to the next question. 👇🏼

Different Types of Pop-ups

1. Pop-up Art Installations: They can be traditional art installations like galleries. But most are meant to create photo opportunities for Instagram, such as Yayoi Kusama Art Tour, where you’d take pictures in an Infinity Mirror Room or with a massive, polka-dotted flower.

2. Pop-up Shops: These are temporary stores that you’d often see during the holidays. Some permanent stores also put up beautiful windows that, for sure, will rake you a ton of social media links and comments.

3. Pop-up Restaurants: Some are run by bigs chefs trying something experimental, while others are more traditional restaurants with plans to stay open for a few months.

4. Pop-up Events: These cover the rest, and they can come in the form of an impromptu listening party to release a new album to a temporary themed bar. They are to create hype around an upcoming event, release, or product.

Tips for Visiting a NYC Pop-up

• The best time to visit is weekdays during the day and right before it opens. Otherwise, you end up being in a super long line. The same goes for reservations. Do it as early as possible.

• As most pop-up rooms are small, bring a versatile and wide-angle lens if you want to include more in the shot.

• If you shoot with a DSLR, don’t use the auto white balance, which helps your camera choose the one closest to what your eyes might see for many of these places, especially if you’re in a room with lots of unnatural colors.

• Some pop-ups only stay for a short period, like a month or two, so get the tickets as soon as it opens. Below, we will share tips on finding the latest pop-ups so you won’t miss anything.

• If you’re planning a photoshoot at a pop-up packed with bright colors, such as Color Factory or Rose Mansion Holiday Extra, be sure to wear something that can contrast with the vibrant surroundings.

• Think of a few poses you’re going to do. Many pop-ups offer plenty of photo opportunities, and you don’t want to have the same pose all the time.

• Research and read reviews before going. While most pop-ups don’t justify the steep price you pay, you still need to understand what you’re singing for and have the right expectations.

• Expect to see lots of people. The truth is that no matter how early you go, there will be people, and be patient and positive even if you can’t get your perfect picture. It is more about the experience than a likes-raking Instagram masterpiece.

How to Find the Latest Pop-ups in NYC?

1. Bookmark this post as we will update it as soon as newpop-ups are announced.

2. Set up Google Alerts to keep track of what’s popping up in the news. Go to Google Alerts and enter “new york pop-ups, nyc pop-ups” into the Create an Alert section. You can then select how often you want to receive emails as it happens, daily or weekly.

3. Follow Instagram accounts or #popupnyc that are constantly featuring pop-ups and events.

FAQs about NYC Pop-ups