(by 3 people)
Though many (wealthier) residents leave New York City during the summer months, for those of us left behind, the city offers up a cornucopia of free and cheap summer fun.
* Please check the websites for exact dates & other details *
Manhattan
- Piano in the Park
- (Daily) 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Some of the best pianists from all over New York come to Bryant Park to play on the Piano in the Park. Tap your toes to the music of Scott Joplin, the Gershwins, James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, Jelly Roll Morton, and more every weekday.
Bryant Park at the Fountain terrace (40th St. & 6th Avenue)
FREE - Bryant Park Good Morning America Concert Series
- (Fridays) 7AM
The concert series will showcase the hottest music with a wide array of artists.
Bryant Park (40th St. & 6th Avenue), Upper Terrace
FREE - NBC Rockefeller Plaza Concerts
- (Weekdays) 7:00am
NBC's Annual Today Show's outdoor concert series
Rockefeller Plaza (49th St. Between 5th & 6th Avenues)
FREE - Shakespeare in the Park
- Shows at 8:00pm
Pick up your free Shakespeare in the Park tickets on the day of the performance beginning at 1pm at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park or from 1 to 3pm at The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street.
Delacorte Theater-Central Park
FREE - Central Park Summerstage
- Various Days & Showtimes (Check schedule)
Summer stage is one of New York's greatest summer institutions, filling Central Park with music, theatre, opera and dance for two months each summer.
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, 72nd St &5th Avenue
FREE - HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
- (Mondays) Seating starts at 5:00pm, shows are at sundown
Free outdoor movies every Monday evening in Bryant Park. (Warning - very crowded!)
Bryant Park (Sixth Avenue at 40th Street)
FREE - Naumburg Orchestral Concerts
- (Tuesday or Wednesday) 7:30pm
The oldest free outdoor concert series in the US, the Naumburg features symphonic and semi-classical music.s(No rain dates)
The Namburg Bandshell and Mall Concert Ground, mid-Park from 66th to 72nd St.
FREE - Broadway in Bryant Park
- (Thursdays) from 12:30-2:00pm
Experience the glamor of Broadway in the great outdoors. Each week, several of this year's biggest hits come to the park for a dazzling afternoon of song and dance.
Bryant Park (40th St. & 6th Avenue)
FREE - River Flicks
- (Wednesdays & Fridays) Sunset
Popular and classic movies every Wednesday night at Pier 54 and Family-friendly flicks Friday night at Pier 46. Free popcorn is included.
Hudson River Park
FREE - Washington Square Music Festival
- (Tuesdays) 8:00pm
The sole activity of The Washington Square Music Festival is to present free concerts. New York has other free outdoor classical concert series, but only the Washington Square Music Festival is sponsored by a local civic organization-that organization, the Washington Square Association, Inc., which dates back to 1903.
Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village)
FREE - Lincoln Center Out of Doors
- Check website for schedule
Lincoln Plaza (64th St. Between Columbus and Amsterdam)
FREE - Dancing on the Plaza
- (Thursdays in August) 6:00pm - 8:30pm
The Conservancy invites you to free summer dance parties in Central Park. Bring a friend, or find one here, for dance instruction followed by dancing to live music under the stars.
The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center
Inside the Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues
FREE - Riverside Park Summer Events
- Riverside Park is a great place for both relaxation and recreation. While quiet spaces are abundant, many activities and events create a lively atmosphere. Riverside Park Fund sponsors and hosts a wide variety of activities, from ParkTalks and bird watching to family events and storytelling. Others also use the Park for community events.
- Hudson River Park Events
- All the concerts, dance classes, workshops, and races happening at Hudson River Park
- Bryant Park Events Calendar
- All the summer events at the park.
Brooklyn
- Celebrate Brooklyn Festival
The Festival is a series of music, dance, film and spoken word performances
Prospect Park Bandshell, Prospect Park West & 9th St.
Most events FREE - suggested donation of $3- Movies with a View Film Series
- (Thursdays)
Movies With a View features pre-movie mood music each night from some of New York City's best DJ's. RICE provides delicious dinners on site and Transportation Alternatives provides free bike valet parking.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
FREE
Queens
- Outdoor Cinema in Socrates Sculpture Park
- (Wednesdays)
Foriegn films with matching regional dance, music, and food.
Socrates Sculpture Park
Broadway at Vernon Blvd, Long Island City
FREE
New Jersey
- Hoboken Movies Under the Stars
- (Wednesdays) Movies begin approx: 9:00 pm in June & July and around 8:15 pm (in August)
Outdoor Movie Screenings overlooking the Hudson River.
Pier A Park
1st St. and Frank Sinatra Drive
FREE - More Hoboken Happenings
- The entire summer schedule of recreational and cultural activities.
Other Lists
For lists of various events in multiple boroughs and the metro area.
- Free & Cheap Movies Listing
- This list is from 2005, but the links are still valid.
- New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
- NYC parks events - mostly free, all summer long. Not to mention the parks facilities - beaches, swimming pools, tennis courts, etc.
- New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks
- This beloved tradition, now in its 42nd year, is coming to a park near you. Music under the stars, family and friends, and a fireworks finale make for a perfect summer evening.
Multiple Parks in the NYC metro area
FREE
