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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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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Swing Dance the night away under the stars with music from New York’s hottest dance bands on Sunday evenings. Featured styles include swing, tango and salsa. Dance lessons before the live bands go on.

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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.

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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.

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Central Park is AMAZING in the summer.  Walk around and every few feet there is a new atmosphere.  Check out the bathing beauties on the Great Lawn, Belvedere Castle’s views, dogs dancing in the fountains, or the wonderful smells in the Shakespeare garden. Come as often as possible.

Central Park’s Summerstage holds over a thousand free events each summer. The artists represent a breadth of genres and cultures and perform in an outdoor setting accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Central Park SummerStage strives to develop audiences’ deepening appreciation for contemporary, traditional, and emerging artists as well as the communities in which these artists originate. Artists this year include Ziggy Marley, Indigo Girls, and TV on the Radio.

There’s also free Tango dancing lessons in the park every Saturday 6-9pm rain or shine. Located at Shakespeare Statue (across from the Columbus Statue at the beginning of Literary Mall – the opposite end of Bethesda Fountain and Summer Stage*) from 6-9pm. If RAIN move to the DAIRY a short distance away.

Free concerts are offered at the Naumburg Bandshell. Artists this year include the Knights, the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, the Naumburg Orchestra, and the Imani Winds.

Try Catch-and-release fishing at the Dana Discovery Center Tuesday through Sunday 10am – 4pm. The Discovery Center provides poles, unbarbed hooks, and bait. A great family activity!

Harlem Meer Performance Festival of Latin, Jazz, World, and Gospel artists on numerous dates (Sundays, June 21 through September 6, 2009). Performances take place at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (110th St btwn Fifth and Lenox Aves, inside the Park). Call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

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