The River To River Festival takes place each summer from June through August in a many public venues in Downtown New York City (from Chambers Street down to the southern tip of Manhattan). The website lists tons of free things to do including live music, concerts, dance, shows, tours, and speaking engagements.

Email this post

TV Shows offer free music performances in the summertime all over the city.

• ABC Good Morning America Concerts every week in Central Park (used to be at Bryant Park) at 7am. Performances are usually at 8:30am.
• NBC Today Show Concerts every week at Rockefeller Plaza at 7am.

Excellent nationally-known artists perform and they usually play one or two songs! Admittance is first come first served.

Email this post

The South Street Seaport holds a summer music festival full of free outdoor shows.  Starts with a Guest DJ and bands go on around 7pm.  Bands this year include Superchunk, Polvo, Obits, and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.

Email this post

The  NY Philharmonic has offered free summer concerts at Central Park for more than 40 years. Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, the classical concerts have a fireworks finale too!

This year, the NY Philharmonic offers two free indoor concerts as well at CUNY Staten Island College and Queens College.

Email this post

We recommend you bring your own chair for popular musical acts (like Lauryn Hill and Boyz II Men performed last year).

Email this post

The Metropolitan Opera offers free summer events in parks of NYC and New Jersey.

This year, the company will present a six-performance series of recitals in the parks of all five boroughs for the Summer Recital Series.  Performances include Tony Award winner Paulo Szot and opera singers Lisette Oropesa and Alek Shrader with accompaniment by pianist Vlad Iftinca. Actor/conductor Damon Gupton will host several of the concerts. All performances are free and no tickets are required, except for the concert at SummerStage. For information on how to obtain free SummerStage tickets, please visit their website beginning June 1.

Starting August 29, the Met will present its first-ever Summer HD Festival, featuring screenings of ten productions from the company’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning Live in HD series. The HD productions will be shown in Lincoln Center Plaza on consecutive nights—for free.  Start times will range from 7:30pm to 8:00pm.  The screenings are free with no tickets required; 2800 seats will be available each night on a first-come, first served basis. There are no rain dates.

Email this post

Actually it’s pool-less. The concerts have now been moved to the Williamsburg waterfront, just a few blocks from McCarren Park Pool. This is because the $50 million makeover of McCarren Pool was approved to turn it from a concert venue back into a swimming pool by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

To guarantee admission please RSVP online.  One of the most popular and exciting free events all summer long.  You are not permitted to bring chairs, bicycles, food/drink, or professional video/photography equipment. This year will include the popular slide-n-slide and dodgeball games as well as a few surprises to be announced.

Email this post

Tickets are free but you must pick them up 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 goal is to present great musicians in concerts that are free to the public in spaces that are good for both the music and the audience.

Email this post

Clinton Free Concert Series provides great free concerts. Lawn seating only but you can bring your own picnic. Free kayaking is also available! Concerts infuse the sounds of an eclectic mix of bands of folk, blues, bluegrass, funk, and jazz.

Family events and festivals offers free good old-fashioned fun—relay races, face-painting, live music and fishing—perfect excuses for putting off chores and enjoying the sun.

Email this post

The Foundation creates programs in parks in all boroughs including free concerts, theater, dance, and kids sports programs. City Parks Foundation brings Summerstage to Central Park, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park, and free tennis lessons to kids 5 to 16 in 36 parks throughout the five boroughs. Free senior fitness programs meet twice a week at each location and participants are encouraged to maintain regular attendance to maximize health benefits.

Email this post