If you’ve been in NYC for an extended period of time, you’ve probably exhausted all the typical touristy attractions. You’ve been to the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and Central Park a thousand times. And you’ve probably walked through Times Square ten thousand! If you’re looking for something new, fresh, and exciting to do in NYC this summer, look no further. Here’s some of the top events going on this summer in NYC!
Michael Arenella’s 13th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party – Michael Arenella is back with his 13th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party which will take place on June 16-17th on Governor’s Island. This jazzy music festival was birthed in 2005 to capture the feel of the prohibition in the 1920’s and was originally just a small event. Now, it’s one of the biggest events in NYC and attracts people from all over the world! If you want to be part of this years celebration, buy your tickets as soon as possible before you miss out; the date is rapidly approaching and it always sells out!
NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks – If you want to see some live music but the prohibition era jazz isn’t really your thing, check out the NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks from June 12-17th! These outdoor concerts will take place in some of the biggest parks in the city, such as Central Park and Prospect Park, until the festivities conclude on June 17th with an indoor performance in Staten Island. With such a renown musical group, you’d think tickets would be a little on the pricey side but it’s quite the contrary. All six of these shows are absolutely free to go to, so if you’ve been thinking about seeing the NY Phil, now’s your chance!
Belmont Stakes Racing Festival – In case you were unaware, one of the biggest events in all of horse racing takes place every year just outside of Queens in Elmont, NY. The Belmont Stakes is the third and final jewel of horse racing’s renown Triple Crown. The unique traditional culture of horse racing makes attending one of these races quite a unique experience! There’s always plenty of fancy dresses, hats, and designated cocktails served just for this event. Tickets to the Belmont Stakes can be on expensive side, especially if you want a good seat, but the unforgettable experience is certainly worth it!
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks – If you live in New York, doing fireworks outside your apartment building on the upper east side is probably not the best idea in the world. However, you can still enjoy some awesome fireworks at the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks event! This is going to be the 41st installment of the annual fireworks show is going to be a whopping 25 minutes long! You can even tune into 1010 WINS-AM to hear the music that’s synced to the display!
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival – The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is back at Flushing Meadows Corona Park for another culture-filled festival! While over 180 dragon boat teams competing on the lake in Queens park, the party back on shore will be cheering as they enjoy live entertainment, some classic cultural foods, and other activities and crafts. There’s even going to be lion dance performances and martial arts demonstrations throughout the day!
Warm Up at MoMA PS1 – If you think the New York Philharmonic group is too old school for you, Warm Up at MoMA PS1 might be more up your alley. This annual concert series brings the best live electronic music to NYC from June 30th all the way through to September 1st for 10 Saturday summer concerts. General admission tickets to these shows are only around $20, which is a small price to pay considering the concerts start at noon and last for nine whole hours. If you’re still not sure if you want to check it out, you may be in luck! If you live in Long Island City and present your ID with a zip code between 11101 and 11109, you’ll get yourself a free ticket!
These are just a few highlights of the summer among many other things happening! No matter what kind of hobbies or interests you have, there’s always something going on in the Big Apple to keep a smile on your face.
Laura Peruchi is a Brazilian blogger, author, and entrepreneur. She has lived in Manhattan with her husband since 2014. Since then, she has shared on her blog varied content about the Big Apple. From travel tips, including unusual things to do, shopping tips, etiquette, restaurants, and a lot more, her blog has become a reference in Portuguese (also available in English) for anyone planning a trip to New York City.
