Millions of travelers will visit New York City this summer as the Big Apple's unrelenting allure will be complemented by a plethora of major openings and colossal events ranging from new hotels, shops and tourist attractions to festivals, sporting events and one-of-a-kind parades. Here are some of the top experiences that await visitors to New York City this summer.

The Shed debuted in Manhattan's Hudson Yards neighborhood on April 5 and the first half of the new cultural hub's inaugural season will continue with several highly anticipated exhibitions, including Tony Cokes and Oscar Murillo (June 19-August 25) Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise (June 22-July 27) and MAZE (July 23-August 17).

New York City's Pride celebrations are scheduled to take place over several weeks from May 10 through June 30. All five boroughs will participate, beginning with Staten Island (May 10-18) and Harlem (May 31-June 29) followed by Queens (June 2), Brooklyn (June 8) and The Bronx (June 23). The festivities will culminate with the U.S. debut of WorldPride (June 24-30) featuring more than 50 events over the course of five days. Approximately 4-5 million participants are expected.

One of the hottest hotel openings in New York City this year is JFK Airport's TWA Hotel. The 512-room hotel in the former TWA flight center dedicated to the jet age is scheduled to open on Wednesday, May 15.

The city's first outlet shopping destination, Empire Outlets, will also open May 15. Launching just steps from the Staten Island ferry, the outlets will boast as many as 100 retail and dining experiences, including Nike and Nordstrom Rack.

The Statue of Liberty Museum will also make its anticipated debut in mid-May. Visitors to Liberty Island this summer can look forward to an immersive education tour along with breathtaking views of the statue, harbor and lower Manhattan.

More than a decade after an advocacy campaign was launched to save the last remaining section of the original rail structure, the reimagined Spur will open to the public this June. The all-new attraction will feature a series of rotating art pieces titled The Plinth.

Scheduled for Saturday, June 8 in Queens' Belmont Park, the Belmont Stakes is much more than just the final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown as it features a three-day festival including dozens of thrilling races, live music and a food-truck village, among other highlights.

Visitors to New York City this summer can also participate in the opening of the ocean for swimming season during the Coney Island Mermaid Parade taking place Saturday, June 22. The event will see "King Neptune" and "Queen Mermaid" lead a procession of mermaids and mermen down Surf Ave and the boardwalk to the beach in what's become Brooklyn's largest parade of the year.

The world's best competitive eaters will descend on Coney Island on July 4 for the 103rd iteration of the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. After the all-American event, head down the boardwalk to catch the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball game at MCU Park followed by fireworks.

The nation's largest Fourth of July spectacular returns to the East River this summer to light up the New York City skyline. Past celebrations have included big-name stars such as Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry, among others.

Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood will host the third annual New York City E-Prix on Saturday, July 13. Spectators will watch electric vehicles reach speeds up to 140 mph and will have a chance to meet drivers and experience the latest racing technology at the Allianz E-Village.

Celebrating the fifth month on the lunar calendar, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival will take place the first weekend in August (August 2-3) on Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The event will feature as many as 200 dragon boat teams in addition to a variety of on-shore experiences, including traditional food, martial arts demonstrations, dance performances, Chinese crafts and children's activities.

New York City will once again play host to tennis' fourth and final Grand Slam event to close out summer when the U.S. Open Tennis Championships return to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. The 51st U.S. Open promises to be the best yet after the center completed $600 million worth of strategic transformations last year.