The weather is warm, the sun is setting late, and we’re here to make sure that New Yorkers make this summer count! From taking advantage of the season’s gorgeous weather, to telling you about the best summer happenings in NYC, get ready to make your way through the most ultimate NYC summer bucket list!
Here are all the best things to do this summer in NYC (and nearby):
1. Free summer concerts
Thanks to all of our fantastic parks, New Yorkers have plenty of choices for where to spend time outdoors during the warm weather months! You can hear some incredible music performances in NYC parks this summer, all for free. Some of them include SummerStage, Bryant Park’s “Picnic Performances”, and New York Philharmonic’s “Concert in the Parks.”
Check out the full schedule of free concerts here.
2. Free outdoor movie nights
No matter if you’re if in Midtown to Brooklyn, there are hundreds of free outdoor movies you can enjoy in your local park. Some spots you can plan to catch a movie at this summer include:
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Bryant Park
- Prospect Park
- Randall’s Island Park
- Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City
3. NYC’s beaches
Let’s face it, everyone needs a little beach day from time to time. Spend your weekend relaxing oceanside or building sandcastles at these best beaches across NYC. New York City’s public beaches open up for the season on Memorial Day Weekend, starting May 25.
4. NYC night markets
With warm weather comes nights spent outdoors, and there’s no better way to celebrate some of the city’s most delicious food than at one of its beloved markets. Some of our favorites are Bronx Night Market and Queens Night Market. See the full list of NYC’s best night markets here!
5. Kayak for free at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Be active and paddle your way around the East River. Brooklyn Bridge Park is offering free, 20-minute sessions on the water to kayak and see the city from a new perspective. Learn how to reserve your spot, on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays here. Some more of our fav spots to kayak can be found here.
6. Pickleball at Wollman Rink
Summer pickleball is back in NYC, as Central Park’s famous Wollman Rink has once again turned into 14 courts playable to New Yorkers all summer long. In collaboration with CityPickle, visitors are welcome to book a pickleball slot from 8 am to 9 pm, starting at just $10 per player. It’s a great way to work up a sweat, perfect your game, and have pretty sweet skyline views while you play. Learn more about the court and book your spot here!
7. Luna Park in Coney Island
You have to go to one of NYC’s most famous amusement parks, Luna Park, at least once this summer. With over over 50 games, rides and attractions (including the world-renowned Coney Island Cyclone), it’s an amazing option for all ages. The park is free admission, rides start at $4 and it’s just steps away from the beach…need we say more?! Learn more about Luna Park and plan your visit here!
8. Festival of Free Shakespeare in the Park
While we wait for the annual Shakespeare in the Park to return to its Central Park home in 2025, this year they’ll be taking it on the road across NYC! The Public Theater is in charge this summer, bringing The Mobile Unit’s bilingual musical adaptation of “The Comedy of Errors” to places like Hudson Yards, The New York Public Library and more, as well as free screenings of Shakespeare in the Park’s version of Much Ado About Nothing to parks around NYC! See a full list of events and times for this year’s Shakespeare programming here!
9. The new Roof Garden Commission at The Met
The 2024 edition of The Met’s rooftop exhibition was recently unveiled, and it’s one of our favorite iterations to date. It’s by Kosovar artist Petrit Halila, who’s brought to life plenty of childhood doodles he came across during his youth. Arbetare is meant to symbolize a generation of students who navigated an intense era of pop culture, politics, and history in his hometown region. Learn more about the brand new rooftop exhibit here!
10. Governors Ball
NYC’s premier music festival is back for it’s annual summertime return, hosting it’s second year in Flushing Corona Meadows Park! Governors Ball will feature 3 days of incredible music and food, with a lineup featuring Post Malone, The Killers, SZA, 21 Savage, Peso Pluma, and many more. It’s happening in Queens on June 7 – 9, and you can learn all the details including the full music lineup, food vendor list, and more here!
11. The Whitney Biennial 2024: Even Better Than The Real Thing
The longest-running survey of American art is happening all summer long at The Whitney Museum (through August 11). The Whitney Biennial: Even Better Than the Real Thing showcases 71 different artists, and their takes on navigating what’s “real” in the age of AI. Works range from sculpture to paintings and offer museum visitors an invitation to step outside their reality and think about something bigger. Learn more about the exhibit and plan your visit here!
12. NYC Pride
With June comes Pride Month and the chance to celebrate and show our support for the LGBTQIA+ community! There are plenty of month-long events that we look forward to you every year including the NYC Pride March, one of the largest annual Pride parades in the world. From the Grand Marshals to the theme and, of course, the parade route, everything you need to know can be found here. Plus, take a look at all the best Pride events here.
13. Tribeca Festival
Happening from June 5 – 16, the annual Tribeca Festival will return to New York City to celebrate the best in film! Over 100 indie films, documentaries, and foreign films will make their grand debut across iconic NYC venues (like The Beacon Theater, Spring Studios + more), with plenty of big names on display. Some of the most anticipated highlights this year include Lily Gladstone’s Jazzy, Aviici’s groundbreaking documentary I’m Tim, plus many more. Learn more about the festival here!
14. New York Yankees & New York Mets
Whether you’re a Yankees or a Mets fan (no judgement here…well maybe just a little) go catch a ball game at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field for the perfect summer activity.
15. NYC rooftop bars
Whether you’re looking for a good skyline view or a refreshing cocktail to sip on, New York City has all the rooftop bars you could ever imagine. Whatever you decide, you’re in for a great time and even greater views. Read the full list here.
16. Jazz Age Lawn Party
The 19th annual Jazz Age Lawn Party is returning to Governors Island this summer, and world’s original and most authentic Prohibition-era-inspired gathering! It’s happening on two weekends (June 8-9 & August 10-11), and it brings thousands of time travelers to NYC every year to experience the one-of-a-kind 1920s era party. We’re talking live jazz performances, pie baking contests, dance lessons and contests, and gourmet food and drink. We promise it’s nothing like you’ve ever seen before! Learn more about Jazz Age Lawn Party here!
🎷 Grab tickets to The Jazz Age Lawn Party here!
17. July 4th
July 4th is one of NYC biggest weekends, and there’s plenty going on in and around the city! The famous Macy’s 4th Of July Fireworks will return to the Hudson River this year for the first time in over 10 years, and there’s also plenty of other barbecues, events, and parties to put you in the red, white, and, blue mood! See all of our favorite July 4th events in NYC here.
18. Japan Fes New York
Explore and eat your way through dozens of Japanese vendors like Fujinomiya Yakisoba Society, K. Minamoto, and so much more! Food items average at $10, making Japan Fes. a rather affordable way to immerse yourself in delicious Japanese cuisine. The event normally brings in 250,000 yearly visitors and is held 20 times per year, and you won’t want to miss it! Learn more about it here.
19. Smorgasburg
The country’s largest weekly open-air food market is already up and running, and Smorgasburg should be on every foodie’s summertime bucket list! With 3 locations across NYC (World Trade Center, Williamsburg, Prospect Park), the market brings together the city’s very best food vendors selling their tasty treats. It varies by lcoation but popular shops include Big Mozz, Everything Oxtail, Mao’s Bao, Wah Gwaan, and more! See the locations and food vendor list for Smorgasburg here!
20. Candlelight concerts
Calm your mind and experience classical music in a new light with these sensational candlelit dinners in some of New York City’s most magical locations, from stunning restaurants to glamorous lounges. Concerts range in theme, from tributes to Beyonce to a stripped back version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Either way it’s an experience you won’t want to miss! More candlelight concerts can be found here.
21. NYC boat tours
Who doesn’t love a day on the water? Escape the city heat and spend your time relaxing (or partying) on some luxurious cruises around the Hudson and East River. From wine tastings, brunching, & dancing, take all your favorite summer activities and make them that much better afloat! Take in the skyline and cheers your friends because there’s a cruise experience for everyone, day or night…hey why not both!? See the full list of cruises here.
22. NYC’s public pools
If we know one thing, it’s that summers in NYC are HOT! From sweaty subway rides, to AC’s units dripping on you, taking advantage of pools are an essential way to survive the season. See the full list of NYC public pools here, which are open through Labor Day Weekend.
Also, don’t forget to check out America’s only floating pool right here in NYC!
23. NYC’s private hotel & rooftop pools
Maybe you’re looking for something a little less…public. You can still take a dip in the many private hotel and rooftop pools around the city sure to cool you down one canon ball at a time. View all our top picks here.
24. Free yoga in Bryant Park
From May 29 – September 25, Bryant Park will be hosting their free yoga classes in the park. So whether you’re a yogi or a first-time goer, learn from expert instructors for an active and energetic session beyond a mere indoor studio class. See more information here.
- 10 am on Tuesday mornings on the Upper Terrace
- 6 pm on Wednesday evenings on the Lawn
25. Head to one of NYC’s many street fairs
NYC is always buzzing with energy, and as the weather gets warmer the city’s streets get crowded with those looking to spend the warm summer months outdoors! As you probably know, NYC street fairs take over tons of blocks across all five boroughs during this time, and we’re sharing with you a complete list of all the city’s fairs! Find them here.
26. Glamping on Governors Island
Forget about sleeping on the floor and going to the bathroom outside, regular camping is so last year! That’s right, now it’s all about glamping. Enjoy a luxurious stay on NYC’s island oasis with incredible amenities under the sky. Camp under the stars tonight!
27. The Banksy Museum
NYC’s new Banksy Museum is filled with 160 Banksy-inspired recreations, where you can see tons of life-sized works and influenced by the mysterious artists himself. See new iterations of classics like “Girl With Balloon” and “Flower Thrower” like never before! It’s a must-see for any Banksy fans and it runs through July!
🎈 Grab your tickets to The Banksy Museum here!
28. Ice cream shops in NYC
A large scoop of ice cream is the answer to any hot or cold day in the city (let’s be honest ice cream is good in any weather). Spend your summer trying every ice cream shop in the city to find your favorite. Need somewhere to start? Check out some of our other favorites here.
29. Tea Around Town
Fancy a bit of afternoon tea?! Tea Around Town is one of the coolest ways to tour NYC right now, where you can cruise around town sipping on three tiers of scrumptious scones, sweets, and savory treats! The 90-minute experience starts at Bryant Park and takes you around to iconic landmarks like the NY Public Library, Grand Central Terminal, and Radio City Music Hall…all while taste testing with your pinkies up. Not to mention the IG-friendly bus interiors make it the coolest spot to show of your way around town.
🍰 Grab your tickets to Tea Around Town here!
30. Waterfront dining in NYC
Nothing pairs better than a cocktail in hand and the skyline in sight! Spend your summer waterside at any of NYC’s gorgeous waterfront restaurants and bars like Island Oyster on Governors Island or aboard a historic ship at Baylander Steel Beach in Harlem.
View the full list here.