Summer in NYC
The best and free things to do in NYC during the city. Yay- it's the best time of the year! Enjoy free film viewings, free concerts, festivals, and free swimming pools in New York City. And don't miss other events. View comments.
Belmont Park Race Track
Free Fridays June 13 - July 18 before 1pm
Free Family Day Sundays noon - 4pm
2150 Hempstead Turnpike Elmont, New York 11003
(718) 641-4700
Sundays are Family Days which include petting zoo’s, miniature golf, family comedy troupes, magicians and much more. There's something different each week!
Brooklyn Academy of Music Rhythm & Blues Festival
Thursdays 12pm - 2pm June 7 - August 9
MetroTech Center- Civic Center, Borough Hall area at the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues.
Free concerts on the lawn of the MetroTech Center.
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy offers many summer events including free outside film series viewings on Thursdays.
Bryant Park
42nd Street and 6th Avenue
The park holds various free events in every month. Check out the calendar for more details. There is a free film series every Monday in June - August. In addition, many Broadway shows perform a few highlights during lunchtime on the lawn.
Celebrate Brooklyn!
Free performances June 12 - August 9
Prospect Park Bandshell
Free musical performances (like Beth Orton and the Neville Brothers) as well as film viewings, and dancing.
Central Park
Central Park's Summerstage holds over a thousand free events each summer. There's also free Tango dancing in the park every Saturday 6pm - 9pm and free Tango lessons at 7:30pm at the Shakespeare Statue. Free concerts are offered at the Naumburg Bandshell. Try Catch-and-release fishing at the Dana Discovery Center Tuesday through Sunday 10am - 4pm. Harlem Meer Performance Festival of Latin, Jazz, World, and Gospel artists 2pm - 4pm on numerous dates.
City Parks Foundation
Parks in every borough
The Foundation creates programs in every park including free concerts, theater, dance, and kids sports programs.
Clinton Concert Series
Free concerts Mondays at 6pm
Pier 84 at 44th Street
Clinton Cove at 55th Street
Lawn seating only but you can bring your own picnic. Free kayaking is also available!
El Museo
Thursday 7pm - 9pm from June - August
1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street New York NY 10029
(212) 831-7272
Free evening performances in the inner courtyard
Flushing Town Hall Garden Concerts
Selected Fridays at 8pm
137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, New York 11354
(718) 463-7700 x222
Reserve your free tickets. Music of all genres is represented here.
Free food for all NYC youth 19 and under. The Summer Meals program has no restrictions and no paperwork. Just show up!
Free for All
Free concerts on Sundays at 5pm
The Town Hall- 123 West 43rd Street (btwn 6th Avenue & Broadway)
Tickets are free but you must pick themup starting at noon on the day of the concert. Two tickets per person- first come, first served. While there is always a line for tickets, very rarely have supplies run out before concert time.
The Fresh Air Fund offers free summer vacations for underprivileged NYC kids. Every year, thousands of children visit host families in 13 states and Canada through the Friendly Town Program or at upstate Fresh Air camps.
The Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club offers free canoe, bike, and self guided waterfront tours by the shorelines of Gowanus, Red Hook and DUMBO.
Hudson River Park
Free films on Wednesdays and Fridays
Free concerts at Pier 54
Pier 54 is located at West Street and 13th Street
Pier 46 is located at Charles Street and West Street
River Flicks shows free popular films and includes free popcorn. Pier 54 on Wednesdays shows “Quirky-Themed Movie Series” which are generally rated PG-13 and R. Pier 46 on Fridays shows Family Oriented films which are generally rated G or PG.
Lincoln Center
Free in August
Between West 62nd and 65th Streets and Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues
(212) 875-5000
Lincoln Center's Out of Doors presents over 100 free performances on the plazas of Lincoln Center in the month of August featuring music, dance, spoken word and fun events for the whole family.
Madison Square Park
Free concerts Wednesday evenings starting June 18, 2008
Free author readings Thursday evenings at 6:30pm, June 12 - August 7 (no program July 3)
Perforances of jazz, folk, bluegrass, soul, and popular music.. The park also holds numerous programs including Kid Fest, Mad. Sq. Kids, and Playground activities (with water sprinklers).
The Manhattan School of Music offers a summer music camp free of charge to New York City public school students completing grades 5, 6, 7, and 8. Must apply in advance and audition.
Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series
Mondays at 7:30pm
Wingate Field- entrances on
Brooklyn Avenue (Rutland Road and Winthrop Street)
We recommend you bring your own chair for popular musical acts (like Lauryn Hill and Boyz II Men).
McCarren Park Pool Parties
Free concerts on Sundays at 2pm
Free film viewings on Tuesdays
Entrance is on Lorimer Street btwn Driggs Avenue and Bayard Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
To guarantee admission please RSVP online.
The Metropolitan Opera offers summer concerts in parks of NYC and New Jersey. Concerts are free and start at 8pm.
Every summer Museum Mile Festival features the 9 museums of Fifth Avenue collectively open their doors for a mile-long block party and visual art celebration.
New York Classical Theatre offers free performances, open rehearsals, and family workshops in locations across Manhattan. This summer's performances are William Shakespeare's Cymbeline and the Tradegy of MacBeth and George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance.
The NY Philharmonic has offered free summer concerts at Central Park for more than 40 years.
The NY Public Library Reading Program is offered in every library branch in the city. This program provides free activies to children including Story Time for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers as well as film screenings, arts & crafts, chess, and a summer reading celebration program to encourage literacy.
Regal Entertainment Group offers free admission to the 10am G & PG rated films on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the nine week festival. Check for your local theater.
Rooftop Film Shorts
Some films are free
Different NYC rooftops
Weeks of underground movies outside hosted by IFC.
Shakespeare in the Park
Tuesdays through Sundays at 8pm
Delacorte Theater- Entrance to Central Park is at 79th Street and Fifth Avenue
Only during the summer. Here, many famous actors got their start or have taken time to guest perform. About.com offers tips to receive these coveted tickets.
Seaside Summer Conerts
Thursday nights at 7:30pm
Asser Levy/Seaside Park- at West 5th Street and Surf Avenue in Coney Island/Brighton Beach.
Bring your own chair or rental one for popular musical acts (like Air Supply and the B-52's).
Socrates Sculpture Park
Free films on Wednesdays July - August
32-01 Vernon Blvd. Long Island City, NY 11106
(718)956-1819
OUTDOORCINEMA is an annual festival of international film, music, dance, and food beginning at sunset.
The South Street Seaport holds a summer music festival full of free outdoor shows.
About.com lists the best free swimming pools in NYC.
Summer on the Hudson
Riverside Park South
The annual outdoor arts & culture festival on the Upper West Side, Riverside Park. Festival includes music concerts, dance performances, movies under the stars, DJ dance parties, kids shows, special events, and wellness activities. All programs and events are free to the public.
Summergarden at the MOMA
Sundays at 8:00pm, July 6 – August 24
The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden
11 West 53 Street (btwn Fifth and Sixth Avenues) New York NY 10019
(212) 708-9400
Summergarden is presented by the Julliard School and Jazz Lincoln Center and are 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 7:00 p.m., and concerts start at 8:00 p.m. and run approximately one hour to 90 minutes. The Gelato Bar will sell light fare, and ice cream and sorbet from Il Laboratoria del Gelato. Wine, coffee drinks, and bottled water are also available for purchase.
- TV Shows offer free music performances in the summertime all over the city.
- ABC Good Morning America Concerts every week at Bryant Park at 7am.
- NBC Today Show Concerts every week at Rockefeller Plaza at 7am.
Union Square
Free events on Wednesdays, June - August
At 14th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues
Free lunchtime concerts, afternoon yoga classes and evening performances.
Victorian Gardens at Central Park
Free for children under 36 inches tall with a paid adult May 24th - Sept 14th, 2008
Enter the park from 59th Street and 6th Avenue and walk north
Located at Wollman rink, the park contains rides, concessions, face painting, balloon sculpting, live entertainment, and interactive activities.
Washington Square Park
Free June 21 at 5 pm & July 8, 15, 22, 29, at 8 pm
Free concerts of classical, chamber orchestra, and folk music
Water Taxi Beach
Free on Thursdays
Hunters Point Long Island City New York (2nd Street and Borden Ave.)
Bring a hoodie and get a free hot dog after September 22. This “beach” (yes, there is sand) offers music, a bar, and a nice view of the city!