Best Free Things to Do This Summer in NYC

Alyson Penn
06/24/2016

With colorful festivals, concerts by big-name artists and Shakespeare performances, there are fun, free things to do every day in NYC this summer. And, of course, outdoor activities like relaxing in Central Park and strolling the Brooklyn Heights Promenade also cost nothing. Here’s a roundup of some great events that’ll leave you with extra cash in your wallet.

Free Summer Events

Jun
25

Concerts
Celebrate Brooklyn!

A favorite among Brooklyn’s summertime concert series, Celebrate Brooklyn! is set at the beautiful Prospect Park Bandshell.

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Jun
25

Arts & Culture
SummerStage

New York City's biggest summer concert series takes place in Central Park and other green spaces all around the five boroughs.

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Jul
1

Film & TV
Bryant Park Movie Nights

Check out the summer movies series that started it all, in Midtown’s Bryant Park.

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Jul
4

Festivals & Parades
Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks

The iconic fireworks display on the East River will celebrate its 42nd anniversary.

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Jul
11

Film & TV
Movies with a View

Movies compete with the Manhattan skyline at these screenings in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

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Jul
16

Arts & Culture
Shakespeare in the Park

These free productions at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park are a beloved summer tradition.

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Jul
25

Performing Arts
Lincoln Center Out of Doors

Head to Damrosch Park for music, dance and spoken-word events; family shows; and specially commissioned works.

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Jul
28

Outdoors & Recreation
Harlem Week

Celebrate the community’s rich economic, political, and cultural history.

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Aug
3

Arts & Culture
Dragon Boat Festival

A colorful multicultural tradition, this festival paddles back to Flushing Meadows–Corona Park for a weekend-long celebration.

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Aug
3

Outdoors & Recreation
Summer Streets

For three Saturdays in August the streets become car-free.

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