See live performance shows from the most extreme of the incredible side show world. Each show, performed on the hour, is sure to astonish you and push your perception of realty to the brim of unbelievable. Performers include: The Human Blockhead, The Fire Eater, The Pain Proof Man, The Sword Swallowing Clown, The Strong Man, The Sword Swallowing Man.

Photography and video cameras welcome!

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Summergarden is presented by the Julliard School and Jazz Lincoln Center and is completely free! Sculpture Garden may close if attendance reaches maximum capacity. Entrance to Summergarden is through the Sculpture Garden gate on West Fifty-fourth Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. The Sculpture Garden opens at 7pm, and concerts start at 8pm and run approximately 1 hour – 90 minutes. The Garden Cart will sell light fare, and ice cream and sorbet from Il Laboratorio del Gelato. Wine, coffee drinks, and bottled water are also available for purchase.

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For a more street-theatre, gritty-New-York, young and funky kind of rendition of Shakespeare, check out Midsummer Night’s Dream (July 9-25, 2009) and Measure for Measure (July 30 – August 15, 2009).  Bring your own chair or come early to grab one of theirs.

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Reserve your free tickets. Music of all genres is represented here including salsa, mambo, do-wop, jazz, and Caribbean. Limited seating available or bring a lawn chair. Rain location is at the Flushing Town Hall Theater.

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This organization, founded by Bette Midler, provides free garden film screenings, summer fitness events, dance, and family activities.  Grab some snacks and a blanket to see these films.

They also provide free eco-friendly workshops.

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OUTDOORCINEMA is an annual festival of international film and regional cuisine from neighborhood restaurants beginning at sunset. Enjoy performances by local musicians and dancers against the backdrop of the Manhattan Skyline (Upper East Side). Pre-screening performances begin at 7pm.

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The productions, free to all New Yorkers, has book, lyrics and direction by Crystal Field and musical score composed by David Tice.

Street Theater always contains an elaborate assemblage of trap doors, giant puppets, smoke machines, masks, original choreography and a huge running screen providing continuous movement behind the actors. The company of 27 actors and five live musicians performs outside. The music varies in style from Bossa Nova to Gilbert & Sullivan. Complex social issues are often presented through children’s allegories, with children as the heroes, making these free productions a popular form of family entertainment.

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Epic Theatre Ensemble commissions and nurtures new socially-minded work by pre-professional, early-career, and well-established writers and supports playwrights exploring timeless social, political, and ethical issues.  The Sunshine series is a new play festival presented each spring that shines a light on important new political writing and plants the seed for future productions by Epic and other like-minded companies.

Dates and time vary.  You must RSVP by calling or via EpicTheatreCtr [at] aol [dot] com.

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15 weeks of free lawn performances at the Riverwalk Commons on Roosevelt Island with music of Appalachian-inspired bluegrass, blues, rock, hip hop, jazz, and the Vintage DJ. Sometimes coupled with swing dancing lessons.

The outdoor film series at Firefighter’s Field starts at sunset on special Saturday, Sunday, or Monday nights.  Choose which movie you would like to see next.

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The NYC Food Film Festival is a multi-sensory experience where filmgoers are able to watch food films then sample the food portrayed in those films. The films are short (generally under 20 minutes) and there are great views of the Upper East Side.

Admission to most of the festival is FREE and tasting portions of food from films will also be FREE.

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