New York City summer is finally here! While we’ll be spending the majority of this month out east, I wanted to make sure to provide a great resource for anyone spending the summer in the city or visiting! Of course, there are everyday attractions in NY that I would highly recommend, such as seeing a Broadway show, visiting Times Square, grabbing dinner at a restaurant you’ve been dying to try, checking out the views from an observation deck, walking the Brooklyn Bridge and spending time at some of the museums.
Here is everything you need to see and do this month in NYC!
Celebrate the 4th of July
Whether you’re just in town visiting or you’re spending Independence Day weekend in the city, I have you covered! I recently published a whole blog post about everything there is to do this weekend to celebrate the holiday. Let me know what your favorite activity is, other than the fireworks, of course!
See Winnie the Pooh
The Winnie the Pooh show is playing at The Hundred Acre Theater and Theater Row now! Something really fun is Nostalgia Nights, which are Saturday evenings and they have specialty cocktails, puppeteer talkbacks, free giveaways and so much more! Also on July 20th, there will be a sensory friendly performance, which is so nice! Bring your kids and have a great time!
H&M’s Hotel Hennes
Hotel Hennes is H&M’s newest activation in NYC. This is a free experience, where you can check out this hotel full of surprise activations, fun performances, photo-ops and so much more! It’s running from July 23rd-25th and is open from 2-9PM. Although all of the Photo Suite slots are booked, they are still open and will be running for the free experience.
Shakespeare in the Park
Who likes free things?! Coming at you with another free experience in the city, is Shakespeare in the Park. This summer, they are showing Richard III and a musical adaptation of As You Like It. It’s the 60th year the Public Theater has put this series on and it’s really one of the best things to do here in the summers! Make sure you grab tickets to ensure you get seats!
Photography: The Public Theater
Pop Up Pool Party
Located on Roosevelt Island, there’s a cool pool in town! Manhattan Park just revealed their new mural by the pool and I must say, it is going to be one of the best outdoor activities this summer! This is actually the 8th year they have had this and it’s the best way to cool down on a hot summer day. If you haven’t been out to Roosevelt Island, either, it’s the perfect time to go! Spend the whole day and go to the pool and then grab dinner afterwards. It’s also a really nice pool to bring your kids to!
Photography: 6sqft, Pop Up Pool Party
SummerStage
SummerStage is back and better than ever! If you aren’t aware of what this is, it’s a whole concert season featuring tons of musical performances. During the summer months, they put on performances throughout all 5 boroughs in NYC and the best part is that it’s free tickets! Grab some friends and check out the lineup!
Photography: City Parks Foundation
Pier 17 Rooftop Concerts
Pier 17 is also hosting some fantastic concerts this summer. Not only are the performances phenomenal, but you’ll also get some of the best views in town! With live music performances from bands like Iron & Wine, Jason Mraz and Alec Benjamin, you can count me in! Seaport also has a ton of great spots to grab drinks or a bite to eat beforehand.
Photography: Pier 17
Summer in the Square
Every Thursday this summer through August 4th, Union Square will have Summer in the Square! This will feature kids programs, live performances, children’s activities and live Jazz music. This is one of the best things in town to bring your family to, as there is so much for kids to do! I’m really excited to check it out with my family, they even have a puppet show on July 14th!
Photography: Union Square Partnership
Padel Club
NYC’s first padel club is here! If you’re someone who loves playing padel, you are going to have to check this out! It’s located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and opening this month. This over 16,000 square foot space is for members-only and upscale fitness center actually has 4 full size courts to play on. It’s $150/month for a membership, but if you don’t have one, it’ll cost $55/hour and you can play 3x a month. This is definitely one of the more fun things we’re getting this month!
Hudson Yards Outdoor Concert Series
I’m really happy to announce so many free things going on in the city this summer, especially free concerts! Hudson Yards is having their summer concert series and it’s already begun. Running through August 3rd in Public Square & Gardens. Did I mention Daya will be performing?? This is something the entire city will want to be a part of! There will be plenty of food, drinks and cocktails, as well!
Outdoor Movies
Who doesn’t love to watch movies?! Bryant Park actually offers outdoor movie showings in the summers, which is great because it’s cooled down by night time and you can bring your own snacks and drinks, although there are concessions available. You can picnic starting at 5PM and the showings begin at 8PM. So definitely go earlier to get a good seat!
Photography: Bryant Park
Smorgasburg
Foodies, this one is for you! Smorgasburg is the largest open air food market in NYC! With locations in Brooklyn Manhattan and Jersey City, there’s plenty of opportunity to find a spot close to you to check out! They have everything from BBQ to sandwiches to cookies and back! It’s also a really fun place to bring your kids to try out new bites! Check out their site for hours and days of operation, as well as a full list of their vendors.
Bryant Park Picnic Series
Is there anything better than enjoying a picnic while watching musical performances?! It’s a laid back event series that requires no tickets and they have blankets for you to borrow to sit on. There will be vendors with food and drinks, but you are more than welcome to bring your own items. With every type of musical performance imaginable, this is something you will definitely want to check out this summer!
Photography: Bryant Park Picnic Performances
Attend New York Restaurant Week
Restaurant Week is back! It’s one of the best deals you’ll find in the city! Running from July 18th- August 21st, yes-longer than a week, you’ll discover some of the very best dishes in town! The menus and participating restaurants will be revealed on July 6th, so check back at this link to make your reservations!
Watch Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
On July 4th, the annual Hot Dog Eating Contest is back and at the fan favorite- Nathan’s! This is a great way to spend a little time on the 4th of July, in such an American way! Also, if you haven’t tried a Nathan’s hot dog, you are missing out! Head out to their original location in Coney Island for the real deal! This is also televised!
Photography: Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Free Kayaking
Both the Hudson River and East River offer free kayaking adventures in the summers. If you’re a first-timer or a pro, this is something that’s fun for all! This article has a ton of resources that will help you decide where to book and when to book it for. Did I mention it’s another free activity?!
Photography: Time Out, 6 Free Options for Kayaking in NYC
Go on a Dinner Cruise
Can’t get enough of the water but don’t want to go in? A dinner cruise is the way to go! Enjoy a meal with drinks while taking in immaculate views. I highly recommend The Bateaux, as they are super simple to book and the trip is always great! It departs from Pier 61 and goes all the way past the Statue of Liberty to the East River. Children are allowed on the lunch and dinner cruises, but must be above the age of 6 for the premiere dinner experience, as it is longer. It’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday night!
Photography: The Bateaux New York
Hamptons Day Trip
Take a day out of the city to spend in the Hamptons! There truly is so much to do, such as go shopping, check out the beaches, eat outstanding food and really just take in the nature and peace and quiet compared to city life. Everyone needs a break from the city every once in awhile. Check out my latest post on everything to do out east!
Celebrate National Tequila Day
National Tequila Day is Sunday, July 24th! Personally, I’ll be celebrating with a margarita by the pool, but there are plenty of restaurants and bars in the city to get a fantastic drink at! To name a few: Agave, Anejo, Tijuana Picnic, Bonnie Vee and Botanic Lab.
Walk the High Line
The High Line is a nonprofit organization and a public space that stretches down the west side of Manhattan. It’s built on top of a historic, elevated rail line and is full of plants and art to view as you walk. It’s completely free and is a great way to see a lot of the city. I recommend ending in Chelsea and heading over to the Little Island for more great sights!
See the Manhattanhenge
The Manhattanhenge is when the sun aligns with Manhattan’s street grid. It’s a sight to see and it happens at sunset. Where do we spot it? Here’s a few great locations: 14th street, 23rd street, 34th street, 42nd street, 57th street, Tudor City overpass and Hunter’s Point South Park. You can see it nightly until July 12th each night around 8:20PM.
Photography: Neil deGrasse Tyson, 2001
Check out Governors Island
Governors Island is something I always recommend, especially in the summertime! There truly is so much to do there, such as glamping, you can bring your dog to the park there on Saturdays, Gitano has just opened (reservations book out a month in advance) and so much more! It’s a quick ferry ride and is one of the best places in the city. You can even get a lobster roll out there!
Photography: Governors Island
Jazz at Pier 84
Hudson River Park at Pier 84 has some really fun Jazz nights in the summer! The full lineup is on their website and of course, this is another free event to attend this summer in NYC! It’s a great place to hear some live Jazz music in a green space.
Photography: Hudson River Park, ZonaVibe
See the New Parenting Musical
54 Below has a brand new musical out called In the Trenches: A Parenting Musical. It’s about new parents to have to rediscover their identities after having kids. It premiered in Colorado and got a fantastic response and I am so excited it’s now here in NYC, making their debut here on July 13th. Grab your tickets here!
For more NYC things to do, visit here!
12 thoughts on “Everything to do in NYC This Month”
I do like the sound of the dinner cruise, that does sound different. I love that it goes past The Statue of Liberty whilst you dine.
It’s always been my dream to celebrate the 4th in NYC. Everything you posted here makes me want to jump on a plane right now… one day!
So much fun to do in New York. I will have to share this with my son who lives there.
New York City looks like such an eventful place, I also love the dresses and skirts caught in a few of your snapshots!
Wow! This is a really great list of things to do in NYC! Thanks for sharing this with us!
There’s a lot of awesome and amazing things to do in NYC! I would really love to visit there!
My son just came back after a week in NYC and he just loved it. He really wants to move there.
Summer is the best season to have fun. Thanks for these sugestions!
Sounds like there is a lot to do! I may have to make a trip someday and try some of these activities. The holidays sound fun there!
This look like a fun place since I have not visited new york in a long time. It has a lot of fun places to go.
I cant believe we’re halfway through the year and summer is here! time flies quickly. Spending Independence Day weekend in the city with these activities sounds awesome to me.
The city has endless things to do for sure and I am long overdue for a trip in. I love that dress on your in the first pic!