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 falls on Monday, September 5, and to help you make the most of it this year, here are the best events to check out in NYC.
1. 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 (9/2) through Monday (9/5) 12p.m. – 4p.m. There will also be a Labor Day Happy Hour on Monday (9/5) 5p.m. – 10p.m. 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.
2. Celebrate Labor Day in style on a yacht
Spend an incredible night to remember on a stunning yacht in the NYC harbor. Enjoy food and drinks, breathtaking views of the NYC skyline, and dance the night away to some of the best DJs around. Grab your tickets here.
3. Escape the hustle and bustle of NYC with a quick summer getaway
Labor Day is pretty much the official end of summer, so escape NYC with a quick summer getaway while the weather is still warm! Find some of our favorite getaways here.
4. 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
5. Wear white one last time at A.R.T. Soho’s White Out Labor Day Party
Arlo SoHo’s rooftop A.R.T. Soho is celebrating the end of summer with music, bites, cocktails, and more, at their first annual ‘White Out’ Labor Day Party. Festivities will include an open bar, appetizers, a DJ, prizes, and a fun way to say farewell to the summer. Guests are required to wear all white attire, and tickets can be purchased here.
Where: 231 Hudson St. #11th Floor (Arlo Soho Rooftop)
6. Catch a Labor Day Buzz with a boozy dessert from Tipsy Scoop
To celebrate Labor Day, boozy ice cream brand Tipsy Scoop will be offering a special online sale. For 24 hours, from Sunday, August 29 through Monday, August 30, everything will be 24% off sitewide. Stock up on your favorite flavors such as Mango Margarita Sorbet, Vanilla Bean Bourbon, or the new Atlantis Paradise Island Banana Rum Chocolate Swirl in preparation of Labor Day weekend.
Where: 217 E 26th St. / 270 Metropolitan Ave.
7-8. 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 rest can be found here.
9. Dance to a DJ and chow down on plant-based specials at Ras Plant Based
Ras Plant Based—the organic, plant-based, Ethiopian restaurant in Crown Heights, Brooklyn—will be hosting a live DJ, Roots N Riddim NYC, all Labor Day Weekend for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy dishes like Ethiopian style nachos paired with deliciously refreshing drinks such as frozen margaritas and painkillers.
Where: 739 Franklin Ave.
10. Revel in all Astoria has to offer at their Labor Day street fair
Head to 30th Avenue in Astoria, Queens for an 11-block Labor Day street festival. Enjoy bites, shopping, and a fun way to say goodbye to summer.
Where: Along 30th Ave. between Steinway St. & 29th St.
11. 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 5. 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
12. 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.
13. Dance the night away on a rooftop in Brooklyn
Harriet’s Rooftop at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge will be hosting a Hot Honey Sundays after party, giving NYers the perfect way to celebrate Labor Day. Hot Honey Sundays it the largest open-air music and dance party in NY, bringing thousands together every week to dance, eat, drink, and connect with community, and the after party will feature sounds by Smurfo, Deo’Jorge, Anna Collecta, JKriv, and a special guest TBA! The party takes place September 4th from 6p.m. – 10p.m., and you can RSVP here.
Where:60 Furman St.
14. Celebrate at and end of Summer Soirée at The Standard
Head to The Garden at The Standard for their Lobster & Rosé Soirée for an end of summer celebration. Dig into delicious dishes of lobster almost any way you could imagine–butter-poached claws and tails, a Lobster Cobb Salad, or, of course, the perfect summer dish, a lobster roll! Frosé and rosé popsicles are also the perfect thing to pair with it to stay cool all day. This is taking place Saturday, September 3rd, through Monday September 5th from 12p.m. – 8p.m. and you can book your reservation here.
Where: 25 Cooper Sq.
15. Head to the annual 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.