41 Amazing Things To Do This August In NYC

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to cool off in NYC! There are also lots of new rooftops, outdoor concerts, park movie nights, and more to keep you busy.

From dreamy art installations to free kayaking to biking to beaching, here are the best things to do in August in NYC to make the most of the last summer months!

1. Travel through eight whimsical rooms at Bubble Planet

Through VR technology and whimsical rooms, you can journey through Bubble Planet to excite all of the senses. Each of the eight rooms invites you into a colorful world of fantastic landscapes and bubbles. Grab your tickets here.

2. Travel back in time to the 1920s at the Jazz Age Lawn Party

It’s coming up on your last chance to attend the party of the summer on Governors Island! Jazz Age Lawn Party is bringing a Prohibition-era world full of photo booths, vintage clothes, dance lessons, carnival games and of course, live jazz. Grab your tickets now.

3. Roam through larger-than-life balloon sculptures at Balloon Story

Full of playful exhibits and interactive installations, Balloon Story is an adventure that awaits you at NYC’s iconic Park Avenue Armory. Sure to unleash your inner child, Balloon Story will defy your imagination through eco-friendly sculptures that will have your jaw drop. Get tickets now.

4. Take in sweeping city views at One World Observatory

Ride over 100 stories above ground level and be amazed and how magnificent the city looks from the sky. From One World Observatory you’ll be able to see 50 miles out on a clear day. Grab tickets here.

5. Watch an outdoor movie at Bryant Park’s free summer movie nights

Always a warm-weather staple in NYC, the free sunset movies have returned once again — it’s the second summer they’re back since COVID-19, when the series was canceled for the first time in 26 years. Though screenings started in June, you have until August 15th to catch a film in the park. Find out August’s movie lineup here.

6. Listen to a 14-piece orchestra perform the best of Taylor Swift

This unique concert series is bringing a high-energy, musical experience featuring Taylor Swift’s greatest hits to The Cutting Room. The reinterpretations will be performed by Broadway stars including Tony winners and nominees. Plus, you can sip on cocktails and treat your tastebuds to delicious bites while you enjoy the performance. Buy your tickets here.

7. Attend a gorgeous concert by candlelight

Treat yourself to a relaxing evening surrounded by shimmering candlelight and beautiful music at these stunning evening concerts in NYC. Hear everything from classical masterpieces to current day tracks. These are some of our favorites below:

• Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyoncé
• Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
• Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and More

8. Head to the beach

NYC is known for its notoriously hot and humid summers, which may be true for all over the tri-state but definitely seem worse when you’re surrounded by tons of sky-high buildings! Taking a trip to one of our lovely beaches is definitely one of the best ways to beat the heat, so check out our list of the best beaches in NYC. Here’s a sneak peek:

• The People’s Beach at Jacob Riis Park, Queens
• Coney Island, Brooklyn
• Orchard Beach, The Bronx

See the rest of the list here.

9. Enjoy miles of car-free streets with the return of Summer Streets

Summer Streets is returning once again for the last weekend of July (27th) and the four Saturdays of August (3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th). For those unfamiliar with the event, this is a pedestrian and cycling haven where miles of NYC streets will be closed off to cars and various activities will be taking place along the route. Learn more here.

10. Make a trip out to Dinos Alive in Schenectady

Enter back into a time when giants ruled the planet at Dinos Alive. This dinosaur exhibition boasts over 80 life-sized moving replicas of the most jaw-dropping creatures from T-rexes to Stegosaurier, Ankylosaurusi and Velociraptors. Grab your tickets now.

11. Take advantage of dining deals during NYC’s Restaurant Week

Restaurant Week celebrates NYC’s dining scene by offering prix fixe menus to some of the city’s most established restaurants and neighborhood favorites, and it’s going on from Monday, July 22 through Sunday, August 18, 2024. This year, hundreds of restaurants across all five boroughs are participating in Restaurant Week, offering deals during meal periods of their choosing (lunch, dinner, or both). Learn more here.

12. Frolic through lavender and wildflowers

NYers love cherry blossom season, but once the weather gets warmer new blooms start to emerge. If you’re looking to frolic through more colorful florals, check out the following:

• Central Park’s wildflower meadow
• Long Island’s sweeping lavender fields
• Brooklyn’s rooftop meadow garden

13. Hop aboard NYC’s first-ever floating Mexican restaurant

You read that right! This floating restaurant serving up delicious Mexican fare is literally in the Hudson River. Cruise around and enjoy the sunset views over the city skyline during your meal, and cheers your friends amongst the beautiful backdrop before you sip on one of their many agave-based spirits. Read more here.

14. Cool yourself down at Peekamoose Swimming Hole

There are a ton of swimming holes outside of NYC, and about 2.5 hours from the city you’ll find one of them–Peekamoose Blue Hole. The crystal clear waters here offer a welcoming way for NYers to cool down, and if you’re not feeling brave enough to plunge into the water from the raised rock platform, there is a path that allows you to walk into the water at your own pace. Learn more here.

15. Take in skyline views at these stunning NYC rooftops

Nothing beats a drink in hand and a skyline in sight. Here are some of our favorite rooftops around the city:

• Head up 64-stories and enjoy tasty drinks at Overstory rooftop.
• Escape to the Hamptons right in the city at this beachy-themed bar

Check the entire list here and adventure to one of these fantastic rooftops across the city for the most unbeatable scenery and not to mention, refreshing cocktails!

16. Splash around at this massive outdoor waterpark near NYC

Mountain Creek Resort is a multi-use property complete with a bike park, ski lodge, zip lines, snow tubing, and our summer favorite: a massive outdoor waterpark. Though it’s located in Vernon, New Jersey, it’s less than two hours away from the city! Learn more about how you can splash around at this waterpark here.

17. Kayak for free at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday through August this summer you can enjoy free kayaking at Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse Pier 2 . The sessions only run for 20 minutes but the views are worth it and at the end of the day, it’s a free activity! So why not? Learn how to make your reservation here.

18. Take a dip in an NYC pool

NYC’s free public pools are open for the season, but if you’re looking for something more high-end, there are tons of gorgeous private pools to check out too! Here are some of our favorites:

• Roosevelt Island’s pool
• Jimmy at the James in SoHo
• The Beach at Dream Downtown in Chelsea
• McCarren Hotel & Pool in Brooklyn
• QC NY Pool on Governors Island

19. Visit America’s only floating pool in NYC

Unlike your average spots to swim, “Floating Pool Lady” at Barretto Point Park in the Bronx is actually located on a barge floating in the East River! Walk across a gangplank to travel between land and the seven-lane infinity pool that boasts incredible waterfront views, along with guest access to locker rooms, bathrooms, and a pool house. Read more here.

20. Visit all the must-try ice cream shops in NYC

One of the best ways to beat the heat in NYC is by indulging in some delicious ice cream! Of course Mister Softee is a classic, but here are some of our other favorite spots to grab a cone:

• Whipped Urban Dessert Lab, Lower East Side
• Van Leeuwen’s, Multiple Locations
• Tipsy Scoop, Kips Bay & Williamsburg
• Milk & Cream Cereal Bar, Little Italy
• Marvel, Astoria

21. Pick your own sunflowers in New Jersey

The lovely Happy Day Farm in nearby New Jersey has opened its sunflower field for the summer to those looking to come out and pick their own fresh flowers. And honestly, even if you decide not to take any home (though, why wouldn’t you?) the sight of a sunflower field alone is worth the visit. Find out how to visit here.

22. Visit a stunning waterfall

If you’re ready for some summer hikes but want to make sure you can really take in the most picturesque views, make sure trails with waterfalls are on your list! Some must-visit picturesque waterfalls include:

• The Ravine, Central Park
• Kaaterskill Falls: Hunter, NY

See the full list here.

23. Go on a relaxing summer bike ride

Spending time outdoors has been one of our few escapes during the pandemic. Safely, of course! So we were looking for some perfect summertime activities you can do without taking a trip out of NYC…and what’s better than a lovely (not too strenuous) summer bike ride? We asked the true experts: New Yorkers themselves (aka you, our readers and followers!) for their best spots on Instagram, and as usual, you didn’t disappoint! Find out what the rest of them are here.

24. Dine on the waterfront

Take in the breezes at NYC’s best spots for waterfront dining! From eating on historic boats with insane views of the sunset to checking out secluded seafood hotspots on NYC’s smaller surrounding islands, you’ll be cooling down in no time. See them here!

26. Go camping under the stars at Governors Island

Treat yourself to this lovely glamping experience on NYC’s perfect island getaway: Governors Island! Over the years, Collective Governors Island Luxury Camping Retreat introduced plenty of new and exciting amenities that included “live music nights, tarot readings, crafting, morning yoga, bike rentals, chair massages, plenty of lawn games, campfires and cocktails” throughout the season—but this year, the experience is offering even more incredible amenities than years prior. Find out more here!

27. See all there is to do at a NYC street fair

During the summer the city’s streets get crowded with those looking to spend the warm months outdoors, and NYC street fairs take over tons of blocks across all five boroughs during this time. Most often a visit to a street fair means tasty bites, shopping opportunities from vendors, and the chance to dance the day away, and why would anyone want to pass that up? Check out the full list of this summer’s street fairs here.

28. Escape the city with one of these quick summer trips

Who else is looking for a little summer getaway from the city? Well, we asked and you answered! Here are some charming, scenic escapes from NYC life, if only for a day or two. Most of these ideas came from SecretNYC readers themselves, responding to a survey on our Instagram story. So, thank YOU. Find them all here.

29. Enjoy the breeze at one of NYC’s many waterfront parks

Even on the hottest summer days, we’re lucky enough to live in a city surrounded by water. And even more luckily, there are tons of public parks situated along the waterfront — allowing for stunning views and refreshing breezes! Whether it be on the Hudson or East River, uptown or down, there are plenty of options the next time you want to cool down in one of NYC’s waterfront oases.

• Little Island, Hudson River Park
• Gantry Plaza State Park, LIC
• Brooklyn Bridge Park, Dumbo
• Riverside Park, West Side

30. Slurp on some of NYC’s tastiest oysters

New York might make you think of top-tier pizza and bagels, but don’t forget about the plentiful seafood options the city holds. Especially during the summertime, you can find some of the freshest finds around! Some of our favorite spots to grab oysters include:

• Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar, East Village
• Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co, Greenpoint

Find the full list here.

31. Get fresh local produce at a farmer’s market

The city’s endless amount of farmers markets are a must-visit—especially in the warm weather—and the level of produce and goods you can find here is unmatched. For a fresh and tasty meal cooking with local produce is the way to go. Find some of our favorite NYC farmer’s markets here.

32. Cool down by sipping on some boozy frozen cocktails

From the classic frosé and frozen margs, one of the most delicious ways to cool down is by sipping on a frozen drink. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of these to be found around the city. Loads of NYC businesses are serving refreshing icy slushees that of course, have a nice little spike of alcohol, two of which are:

• Pink’s Cantina, East Village
• The Sampler, Bushwick

The rest of the list can be found here..

33. Stay cool at one of NYC’s cooling centers

Temperatures have been scorchingly hot this summer so it’s important to keep cool and remain hydrated. Whenever NYC is struck by a heatwave, the city opens cooling centers across the boroughs with public air-conditioning. Use this “Cooling Center Finder” online here to locate one nearest you.

34. Visit an NYC museum for free

New Yorkers are lucky to have access to incredible cultural institutions at the tip of their fingers, but one of the best parts is that some museums don’t even make you pay for entry! Some museums offers free admission every day or a once-a-month sort of deal that let’s you immerse yourself in art and education at no cost. Find which museums offer free admission and when here.

35. Experience all things Olympics at the Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is transforming into an Olympic hub for this years 2024 games. From watch partiers to Parisian food, athlete visits and photo-ops, find all of the best Olympic happenings across the campus through Sunday, August 11th. Learn more here.

36. Take a stunning road trip through quaint towns, wineries and seaside restaurants

Escape the stench of the city in the heat of the summer with a beautiful drive on Long Island following the North Fork Trail Scenic Byway! This route provides all of the gorgeous scenery you could ever want with lighthouses, seaside shops, wineries and more. Whether you make all the stops along the way or are just doing it for the drive, the route is a perfect way to spend some time outside of the city. Find out more here.

37. Go disc golfing at NYC’s first-ever course

The city’s first-ever disc golf course has made its way to Queens. Residents can head over to Highland Park to test their skills . Not sure what disc golf really is? Think golf meets frisbee tossing! Remember, it’s never too late to pick up a new hobby! Learn more about the sport and course here.

38. Hang loose and catch a wave this summer

Whether you grew up catching waves or you’ve never even touched a surf board, there’s so many places to hone your skills in or near NYC. From surfing at Rockaway Beach to indoor surfing at Skudin Surf at American Dream, find all of your options here.

39. Test your luck with the SNL lottery

Be one to score the hottest ticket in town by joining the SNL ticket lottery that kicks off at 12 am EST on August 1, 2024. Winners will get two FREE tickets to an upcoming SNL show this season. Find out how to enter here.

40. Roller skate at this intergalactic rink in Bushwick

Roller rink meets nightclub at Bushwick’s psychedelic Xanadu Roller Arts. Spanning 16,000 square feet, the space welcomes you to skate, dance and listen to music. Plus, its the city’s only year-round indoor roller rink. Learn more here.

41. Explore this 15,000 square-foot exhibition dedicated to Banksy

Peruse one of the world’s largest collections of Banksy’s artwork at the Banksy Museum. From life-size recreations of his murals to a selection of his studio work, learn more about one of the world’s most enigmatic artist’s. Buy your tickets today.