For many in the U.S., Labor Day weekend is basically the summer’s last hurrah, and is celebrated with parties, parades and fairs, and all sorts of exciting events. It’s our last chance to take advantage of all the things we love the most about the summer, and there’s certainly no shortage of events to head to around the city to help you celebrate. This year Labor Day weekend falls on September 1-4, and to help you make the most of it this year, here are the best events to check out in NYC.
1. Dance all weekend at Electric Zoo
New York City’s premier electronic music festival is returning this LDW with a stacked lineup of the world’s hottest DJs! The three day takeover of Randall’s Island Park will see names like The Chainsmokers, Zedd, Chris Lake + Fisher, plus many more grace the stage. Across 6 stages, dance fans can enjoy an entire weekend of great music and great show production. Learn everything you need to know about the festival here.
Where: Randall’s Island Park
2. Celebrate the annual Brooklyn Labor Day Parade/West Indian Day Parade
The end of summer means catching all the color and excitement along Eastern Parkway for the Brooklyn West Indian Parade on Monday, September 4. The National West Indian Day Parade celebrates the heritage of the Caribbean. Singers, dancers, and musicians wear extravagant costumes and feathered head pieces, and tons of amazing floats make their way down the street. Learn more here.
Where: Along the Eastern Parkway, between Schenectady Ave. & Grand Army Plaza
3. Get Small is Beautiful Museum tickets at a discounted price
NYC’s favorite tiny art museum is running a special deal throughout Labor Day weekend (thru Sept 3)! You can view over 130 pieces of miniature art at a discounted price with the code 20OFFSMALL during it’s LDW flash sale. Learn more about the exhibition here!
🔎 Buy tickets to Small is Beautiful here!
4. Soak up the last of the summer’s beach days
Head to one of NYC’s gorgeous beaches this Labor Day weekend before the weather cools off for good! Some of our favorites can be found here.
5. Get sporty at the US Open
The world famous tennis tournament, The US Open, will be taking place this Labor Day Weekend at its home in Flushing, Queens. See legends like Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, and Novak Djokovic compete in their second and third round matchups all weekend long! Learn more about the tournament and see the match schedule here.
6. Set sail on NYC waters for a LDW cruise
Before you make your final goodbye to summer, hop on a boat one last time for a scenic NYC cruise! Check out some of our favorite cruise events setting sail this Labor Day weekend!
- All-White Attire Labor Party
- Hot 97 Labor Day Hot Yacht
- REGGAETON DISCO – Labor Day Sunset Party Cruise
- Labor Day Weekend Cruises
- Hip-Hop & R&B Labor Day Boat Ride
7. Bounce around at Pop in the City
Looking for something to do with kids in NYC? Pop in the City is an immersive and interactive pop-up experience offering a colorful & energetic burst of family fun! Enjoy oversized ball pits, cutting-edge effects, 200 glittering disco balls, and so much more. Labor Day Weekend is the final days it’s in NYC! Learn more here.
🎟️ Buy your last-minute tickets to Pop in the City here!
8. Enjoy frozen drinks and a tasty brunch at Loreley Beer Garden
Say farewell to summer and celebrate Labor Day weekend at Loreley Beer Garden with brunch, frozen drinks, and Margarita Beach Club all weekend long. Their outdoor garden is currently set up as a beach haven with a tropical plant and floral wall and a lifeguard tower perfect for a beachy photo-op, and their outdoor patio is complete with beach cabanas.
Their Labor Day Brunch will take place Friday (9/1) through Monday (9/4) 12 pm – 4 pm. There will also be a Labor Day Happy Hour on Monday (9/4) 5 pm – 10 pm with $16 Liter Steins, $2 off drafts and wines, $25 craft pitchers, and half-off Frozen Margaritas. Reservations can be made here.
Where: 7 Rivington St.
9. Take a staycation at QCNY Spa on Governors Island
Spend the weekend mastering “dolce far niente” or “the sweetness of doing nothing” at QCNY. This spa on Governors Island offers guests all sorts of relaxing options that include VIP cabanas, sunset aperitivos, live outdoor music, and lovingly-crafted gelato. It’s the perfect way to wind down summer and take some self-care time! Learn more here.
10. Cannonball in one of NYC’s rooftop pools while you still can
Public pools may not be your style, so thankfully there are several hotels and rooftop pools around NYC that you can visit with a day pass or membership that might be worth getting for the summer. So take advantage of them while you still can! Some of our favorite rooftop pools include:
- The Summer Club, LIC
- Somewhere Nowhere, Chelsea
- The William Vale, Williamsburg
11. Explore museums for free as a military member/family
Thanks to a program sponsored by Blue Star, more than 40 New York City Museums and gardens will be free admission to active duty National Guard and Reserve military personnel and their families! Granting access to some of NYC’s most iconic museums like The Whitney, Guggenheim, and American Museum Of Natural History, LDW is a great time to take advantage of the discount! Check out all of the museums that are free here!
12. Get wonky at the annual Unicycle Festival
Calling all unicycle enthusiasts! The 14th annual Unicycle Festival returns to NYC this Labor Day Weekend featuring learn-to-ride areas, basketball competition games, demonstrations, workshops, and so much more! Events begin August 31 and take place across Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn! Check out the full schedule here.
13. Celebrate Caribbean culture at an NYC party
Ring in Labor Day Weekend with all sorts of Caribbean parties and events that lead up to the West Indian Day Parade on Monday! We’re talking dancehall, good eats, costumes, and everything in between! Check out our favorite events happening below! Find info on all events here.
- MAS CAMP (9/1 – 9/2)
- Funs With Friends Bashment (9/2)
- Reggae Retro at Industry City (9/2)
14. Skate at Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace
Grab your friends and head to Flipper’s Roller Rink, one of our favorite spots to go rollerskating in NYC. Located in Rockefeller Center, visitors can enjoy the rink for as low as $22 for an hour! Learn more here.
Where: Rockefeller Center
15. Head upstate for the Great New York State Fair
If you’re looking for a little weekend getaway, head upstate to the annual Great New York State Fair! There’s everything you can dream of…amusement rides, great food from all over the state, and free concerts from some of music’s biggest names! Plus, this year there are direct trains from NYC to the Fairgrounds happening 5 times per day. Learn more about the New York State Fair here.
16. Or to the closer Richmond County Fair
The Historic Richmond Town in Staten Island is a preserved museum-village dating from the late 17th century, and this year they’re throwing their 42nd annual county fair. Guests can enjoy live music, puppetry, dance performances, rides, contests, and more, giving families plenty of do this Labor Day weekend. Learn more here.
16. Metropolitan Opera – Summer HD FestivalÂ
17. Enjoy fireworks, thrill rides, games, and more at Luna Park in Coney Island
Luna Park in Coney Island is inviting guests from NYC and beyond to spend their final moments of summer at the amusement park this Labor Day Weekend. From Friday, September 2nd through Friday, September 9th, Luna Park will be hosting a weeks worth of fun to celebrate the end of summer, kicking off on Friday night with a can’t-miss, free firework show overlooking the boardwalk! Learn more here.
Where: Luna Park in Coney Island, 1000 Surf Avenue