The dog days of summer have officially arrived, so it can be difficult to trade time in your apartment for the sweltering concrete sauna that is New York City — especially when you may be running short on cash after traveling, partying and generally living in the city.
But there’s good news: You don’t need to rob a bank to get your kicks this August. Check out all the best completely free events that the city will be offering, and if you haven’t been checking items off your low-budget summer bucket list, now’s a great time to start.
Never let go of “Titanic” nostalgia at Bryant Park
Leo could’ve fit on the raft! Make some room on your picnic blanket for a friend or partner as you watch a classic love story unfold against the backdrop of an infamous maritime disaster. Bryant Park’s free outdoor movie series will conclude on Aug. 12 with a showing of James Cameron’s classic three-hour-plus film. If spaceships — rather than cruise ships — are more your thing, you can stop by on Aug. 5 for a screening of “Arrival,” which stars Amy Adams as a linguist tasked with figuring out how to communicate with extraterrestrials.
Enjoy opera and film at the Metropolitan Opera’s Summer HD Festival
Now in its 15th year, the Metropolitan Opera’s Summer HD Festival brings high-def cinematic recordings of opera performances to a giant screen mounted outside the Lincoln Center. This year’s edition kicks off with Oscar-winning film “The Red Violin,” followed by showings of everything from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” to Bizet’s “Carmen.” The festival starts on Aug. 23 and runs every evening through Sept. 2. Seats are available first come, first served.
Pick up old-school vibes at the Bronx Brewery
Hip-hop fans may want to venture to the Backyard at the Bronx Brewery on Saturday, Aug. 10, starting at 4 p.m., when DJ Ferg Fresh, DJ Element, DJ Tamera James and DJ GHOSTRIDER will be spinning vintage hip-hop, R&B and reggae jams at Old School Saturday’s New York City edition. It’s free all night, and while you still have to pay for beer, the music will make it worthwhile.
Dance the days away at Battery Dance Festival
Did you know that the 43rd annual Battery Dance Festival is approaching? Well, now you do. The festival is on daily from Aug. 11 to 17 at Rockefeller Park’s North Esplanade in Battery Park City and features a range of dance performances inspired by styles from around the world. Whether you’re into ballet or modern dance, you’re sure to find something to enjoy on the robust schedule for the week.
Learn how to trap invasive spotted lanternflies
While the pandemic raged in 2020, another plague descended upon New York City: the invasion of the spotted lanternfly. Four years later, efforts to quell the incursion have failed to eliminate the bugs. But that doesn’t mean resistance is futile. Head to Greenbelt Nature Center on Staten Island on Sunday, Aug. 11 to learn the art of making lanternfly traps. Then you can spread your knowledge to all your friends and family. Working together, we may one day be able to defeat the spotted lanternfly.
Check out works by Ghana-born artist Kwame Adjei
My Gallery NYC will feature the work of Ghana-born artist Kwame Adjei in a free show on Aug. 24 that offers “a vibrant celebration of Afro-centric art and culture.” While the art will take center stage, music will also be part of the event. You can bob your head to the beat of African drums as you ponder (and possibly purchase) Adjei’s art. The show runs all day, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., so you have plenty of time to explore other parts of Brooklyn.
Enjoy the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival
Bird’s spirit lives on in New York City. The three-day Charlie Parker Jazz Festival celebrates the lasting legacy of one of the most revered saxophonists ever, with performances staged in parks that Parker himself would’ve been quite familiar with. On Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23 and 24, it will take place in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park, featuring music by Christian McBride Big Band (performing Friday), Carmen Lundy (performing Saturday), and more. On Sunday, Aug. 25, the festival moves to Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, where a wide range of musicians will entertain crowds from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you happen to walk by and hear some sweet jazz stylings, take a minute (or hour) to stop and enjoy the music.
Vibe to dance music from around the world
Bryant Park is all about free events during the summer. The Live After Dark series is a particularly enjoyable one, featuring intimate music performances set up at The Porch, along Sixth Avenue between 41st and 42nd streets. Any of the shows would be worth your time, but if you pick one, make it the Jalopy Theatre’s presentation of world dance music on Aug. 17. Cristina Vane will play Americana-inspired music, Guachinangos will perform “cumbia with a Mexican Jarocho flavor,” and Slavophiles will find lots to love in Slavic Soul Party! They are billed as “NYC’s official #1 brass band for BalkanSoul GypsyFunk.”
See a show rooted in Mayan culture
Aug. 10 at noon is a great time to gather the whole family at the Lincoln Center for a musical storytelling performance by Sara Curruchich, whose work is rooted in Mayan culture. Portions of it are composed in her native Kaqchikel language, and the songs she plays reflect global influences on Indigenous traditions. Her show is part of Lincoln Center’s wide-ranging Summer for the City program, so if you can’t make it on Aug. 10, you have lots of other options to choose from.
Unwind with an evening yoga class along the East River
What could be more peaceful, more balancing, centering, than gazing out onto the serene waters of the East River while working through asanas? Hosted by Esplanade Friends, this free yoga class will take place starting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 14 at Andrew Haswell Green Park on the Manhattan side of the river. It’s part of a larger IronStrength Summer Workouts series, which features free exercise classes in cool locations throughout the city. If yoga isn’t your thing, you can try sprinting along the Hudson or doing Zumba in Herald Square.
Shut down Harlem (in a good way)
Riverbank State Park will transform into a massive uptown festival on Saturday, Aug. 3. Starting at 2 p.m., you can roam through Harlem Summer Shutdown, a free event promising music, food and vibes. Kick off the month’s first weekend with this festival, which goes until 8 p.m., and you’ll set the tone for a fun remainder of summer.
Go to “summer school” for Korean culture
Typically, summer school doesn’t conjure up fun. But in this case, the class is at a mall and it’s all about Korean culture. K-Fun Summer School concludes their series of classes on Aug. 8 at Flushing’s The Shops at Skyview. Running from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the theme for the class is “K-Culture Day,” featuring Korean arts and crafts, folk dance and music and even a traditional hanbok runway show. You can reserve your spot here.
Head to Crown Heights for a reggae-filled evening
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! travels off campus to Crown Heights, where reggae will be the theme for the evening. On Aug. 17, you can watch a screening of the Bob Marley biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” at Brower Park. You’ll also be treated to performances from Jamaica’s own singer Lila Iké, among others. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Watch the Olympics
The marquee global sporting event returns for its 2024 edition, staged primarily in Paris, France. If you’re looking for a place to watch all the action unfold, fear not: We have an entire guide to watching the Games in New York City, just for you.