Have the most fun this summer with our list of the top 20 things to do in New York City, including Fourth of July Fireworks, outdoor music festivals and concerts, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Queens, and wet and wild fun at Coney Island in Brooklyn.
1. Ride and slide into summer fun at an amusement park.
|
Get set for a summer of thrills when Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn opens for summer in late May. Serious thrill-seekers won’t want to miss The Thunderbolt roller coaster or the new adventure course that features a zip line and ropes course. Plus, check out our full list of amusement parks in the area. |
2. Go for a relaxing boat ride.
Rent a watercraft at the Loeb Boathouse in Manhattan’s Central Park and be the captain of your own ship (well, just a rowboat) and take in the views of Central Park Lake. You can also take a classic Venetian gondola ride! For more info on where you can go boating in and around the city, check out our list.
3. Dance and sing along at outdoor concerts.
Enjoy open-air concerts and dance performances throughout all five boroughs when the City Parks Foundation presents SummerStage, with kid-centric performances taking place from mid-June through August. Visit the CityParks Summer Stage website for a complete schedule.
4. Pick your own berries.
The Hamptons aren’t the only fun thing about Long Island. Gather your brood for a day trip to pick your own berries a at Patty’s Berries and Bunches in Mattituck, which is home to more than 40 different varieties of your favorite berries.
5. See Shakespeare plays outside.
There's no better way to introduce the kids to the Bard than through the classic Shakespeare in the Park summer series. This year all performances are free nad take place at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park at 8pm. Coriolanus began this month.
6. Stroll the Museum Mile Festival.
Enjoy free access to some of the world’s finest art collections and special exhibitions as you stroll down Fifth Avenue during the Museum Mile Festival on the Upper East Side, Manhattan, in early June. Is your little artist feeling inspired? Check out our guide to art classes.
7. Swing to jazz music.
Get down to sweet syncopation in mid-June when the Red Hook Jazz Festival brings together DJ dance parties, musicians and dancers, awesome food, and youth performers to perform at Valentino Park and Pier. Visit hookarts.org for more information.
8. Take Dad out to the old ball game.
Treat Dad to a special baseball event by heading to Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Old Bethpage to watch teams from the 1864 league play “base ball”, as it was called then, following the rules and customs of the time and wearing vintage uniforms. Find more vintage and modern baseball games in the city in our guide.
9. Ride a carousel.
Take a spin on the historic Flushing Meadows Carousel in Queens, Take a spin on the historic Flushing Meadows Carousel in Queens, which was created by combining two historic Coney Island Carousels for the 1964 World's Fair—it's right next to the Queens Zoo, or find another merry-go-round near you.
10. Watch movies in the moonlight.
Starting in July you can enjoy free outdoor movies all summer long with Hudson RiverFlicks at Pier46 in Manhattan.
11. Go fish.
Teach the kids the perfect cast (while sneaking in some bonding time) when you go fishing for blue gill and giant carp at Kissena Lake in Queens. Watch out for turtles and try casting a line at these other local fishing holes.
12. Eat a famous frank.
On July 4th, catch competitive eaters scarf down iconic New York franks at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn. (Don’t forget to try one of your own!).
13. Watch the fireworks.
Don’t miss the city’s biggest Independence Day celebration when the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show lights up the city skyline. The show travels back and forth between the East and Hudson Rivers so check for details on where to view.
14. Go to the beach.
After it was temporarily closed last year, Rockaway Beach in Queens is back and better than ever. Soak up the sun on the newly-restored sand, swim in the ocean, and stroll the boardwalk. Plus, check out our full list of beaches in NYC, Long Island, and CT.
15. Celebrate different cultures.
Indulge in the diversity of the Big Apple with a kids' corner, wine and cheese tastings, film screenings, live music, shopping, and more during Bastille Day, a French-themed street fair hosted by the French Institute Alliance Française in mid-July on the Upper East Side. Plus, find other cultural festivals nearby.
16. Learn to golf or play a round of putt-putt.
From May through October, kids ages 6-17 can learn to play golf like the pros at the Junior Golf Center in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, which boasts a driving range, a clubhouse and classroom, and a six-hole practice course. Short game need some work? Play a round of putt-putt here in the city.
17. Celebrate Brooklyn with free concerts and performances.
Head to the Prospect Park Bandshell June through August to Celebrate Brooklyn! City residents have been flocking to this free, outdoor performing arts festival since 1979 to see majorly popular performers alongside emerging artists. Check our calendar for kid-friendly performances.
18. Relax on the water.
Take in the view of New York Harbor from Piers 16 and 17 at South Street Seaport or enjoy meeting marine animals, free boat tours, live music, kayaking, crafts, science experiments, Disney games for kids, and more during City of Water Day, presented by Waterfront Alliance in mid-July. Check out our guide for more water fun ideas.
19. Cheer on rowers at the Dragon Boat Festival in Queens.
Take part in Chinese tradition through cultural performances, arts and crafts, and an amazing boat race at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, held in mid-August at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.
20. Watch and play tennis at the US Open.
Help kick off the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, held in late August at USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. Got a budding Andy Murray or Serena Williams on your hands? Sign up for kids tennis classes.
More Seasonal Fun in NYC
| TOP 20 THINGS TO DO IN FALL IN NEW YORK CITY |
| TOP 20 THINGS TO DO IN WINTER IN NEW YORK CITY |
| TOP 20 THINGS TO DO IN SPRING IN NEW YORK CITY |
Also see:
125 Reasons to Get Outside This Summer
