Holi Celebration at the Seaport

Dances. Music. Drummers. Stories. Delicious food 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 and the invite you to join the celebration of the traditional Indian festival of colors on Saturday, March 15, from 11:00am–2:00pm.

Bring the kids, bring your friends, and join us for a colorful day, which will include interactive dance performances and workshops, literary festival, delicious tastings, art activity, a puppet storytime, music 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 at Pier 16 featuring nearly a dozen Indian owned-businesses.

No outside colors are permitted. Colors will be available for purchase by Kulture Khazana. Link to purchase.

In celebration of Holi, guests are encouraged to wear an all-white outfit to help amplify the Powder Play experience.

Literary Festival

11am - 11:45am | Literary Festival | All Ages | Seaport Museum, 213 Water Street

Meet renown Indian authors at the first ever Holi Literary Festival. Featured authors include Jugal Hansraj, Anu Sehgal, Kabir Sehgal, Jennifer Kurani, Monica Saigal, Niki Patel, Shweta Ganesh Kumar

We will start the festivities with a book reading from author / actor Jugal Hansraj and Anu Sehgal. Theme Colors of Holi.

Book readings by author Shweta Ganesh Kumar and Monica Saigal will take place at McNally Jackson at 2pm.

Holi Powder Play

12:00, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30 and 2:00pm | Seaport Square | Free

We will count down to 5 powder plays with our dholi, so get your gulaal and cameras ready, as the Seaport sky turns rainbow with the colors of Holi (Holi Hai!!).

Please purchase your colors

In celebration of Holi, guests are encouraged to wear an all-white outfit to help amplify the Powder Play experience.

Foods of Holi

11:00am - 2:00pm | Seaport Square | Free

Experience and taste the quintessential foods of Holi featuring our favorite Indian chefs and restaurants.

Holi Dance, DJ & Drum Performance

12:00pm | Seaport Square | Free

The Holi celebration continues with colorful and vibrant dance performances that include several Holi songs, followed by a dance performance and workshop by Shehnaaz Dance Academy, which will get everyone moving to popular songs, as Dholi Amrit from Premier Drummers will join in to provide a soundtrack of traditional beats. DJ Magic Mike will get everyone moving to our favorite Holi songs.

Holi Humor

12:20pm | Seaport Square | Free

Join us for Holi Humor as comedian Kaneez Surka, a South African-born Indian now based in New York City, delivers her signature laughs and lively storytelling.

Holi Collaborative Mural

11:00am–5:00pm | Pier 16, Seaport Museum | Free General Admission

Visitors of all ages are invited to continue the Holi celebration with the Seaport Museum by joining in to create a vibrant collaborative mural inspired by the colorful pigment and balloon fights of the annual festival. Every participant will be provided with a colorful paintball to add their touch to the mural. Supplies are limited. This activity takes place outdoors at Pier 16 and walkups are welcome.

No additional registration required.

Host or Publisher The Seaport