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Free NYC Summer Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals for Families

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6/12/23 - By Drew Kristofik

Free concerts and music festivals are a summer staple in NYC, and there are always loads of great performances to enjoy. We've rounded up all the best free concerts in New York City this June, July, and August, all guaranteed to keep the kids grooving all summer long.

There are summer concerts in the parks, playgrounds, piers, and plazas from Manhattan to Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Queens, so scroll, click, and set reminders so you don't miss your favorites. Beloved annual summer concert series, like Summer on the Hudson Play Dates, Lincoln Center's Musical Storytimes, Summerstage, BRIC: Celebrate Brooklyn, and the Hudson River Park's Blues Barbecue are all on the schedule, and we have a little something for the whole gamut of musical tastes, from jazz to rock, opera, folk, hip-hop, and classical.

 

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Summer in the Square features engaging children’s programming, family-friendly movie nights, and more! Photo courtesy of Union Square Partnership
Summer in the Square features engaging children’s programming, family-friendly movie nights, and more! Photo courtesy of Union Square Partnership

Free Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals in NYC All Summer Long

Naumburg Orchestral Concerts

Central Park
Tuesdays from Tuesday, June 11-Tuesday, August 6
Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy classical music under the stars on select Tuesday evenings at the Naumberg Band Shell. READ MORE

Summer for the City: Musical Story Time at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Wednesdays from Wednesday, June 12-Wednesday, August 7
Lincoln Center celebrates Summer in the City with a free storytelling program in Damrosch Park. Curated by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, each story time event focuses on narratives perfect for all ages. READ MORE

Summer Concerts at the Hudson Yards

Midtown West
Wednesdays from Wednesday, June 19-Wednesday, August 7
The Bowery Presents hosts a new series of live outdoor concerts in the Public Square and Gardens. Bring a blanket and a picnic, or take advantage of the glorious concession stands. READ MORE

Live at the DUMBO Archway 2024

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Thursdays from Thursday, June 20-Wednesday, August 7
Live at the Archway is Dumbo's signature series that features dynamic musical performances, pop-up galleries, and interactive art experiences in a magical, only-in-Dumbo setting. Always free, always all-ages, and always rain or shine.  READ MORE

Sunset on the Hudson at Pier 45

Greenwich Village
Fridays from Friday, May 31- through Friday, June 28
Start the weekend with musical entertainment on the waterfront! Bring a blanket and a picnic. READ MORE

Picnic Performances in Bryant Park

Midtown West
Select dates from Friday, May 31- Friday, September 13
Picnic Performances are the perfect way to spend a summer evening, with 25 live and in-person music, dance, and theatrical shows. Bring a blanket and a picnic (of course). READ MORE

Sounds at Sunset in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park
Fridays from Friday, June 21-Friday, August 2
Some of NYC’s finest musical talents share their vision of the present and future in music. Bring a blanket and a picnic READ MORE

City Park's SummerStage in Central Park

Central Park–Mostly FREE
Select dates from Saturday, June 1-Thursday, October 3
City Parks Foundation SummerStage returns in 2023 with free performances in Central Park, and a few more costly shows as well. READ MORE

Mozart for Munchkins at Hudson Yards

Midtown West
Third Saturdays from Saturday, May 18-Saturday, October 19
Mozart for Munchkins puts on free Saturday morning concerts that focus on a different style of music each week—classical, jazz, bluegrass, and more—performed by first-rate artists who have played the stages of Carnegie Hall, Broadway, Lincoln Center, and other top venues. READ MORE

Summer on the Hudson Play Dates in West Harlem Piers Park

Harlem
Second Saturdays through Saturday, August 10
Head to West Harlem Piers Park for a fun family-friendly event featuring a children’s entertainer, grab-and-go arts and crafts kits, and neighborhood fun! Each month brings a new performance. READ MORE

Open Studios: Fogo Azul in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Second Sundays, from Sunday, July 14-Sunday, September 8
The New York City-based all-women, trans, and non-binary Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line perform at Pier 6. READ MORE

BRIC: Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Select dates from Saturday, June 8-Saturday, August 17
BRIC: Celebrate Brooklyn is a free summer-long outdoor concert and performance series that has been presenting talent from around the world and around the block for more than 40 years. Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy! READ MORE

Forest Park Summer Concert Series

??? Forest Park, Queens
Thursdays, July 6 - August 17
Bring a blanket and a picnic and settle back to hear tributes to some of the world's most iconic Broadway shows, musicians, and bands. READ MORE

Live at the Gantries Concert Series

??? Long Island City, Queens
Tuesdays, July 11-August 15
Concerts at the Gantries provide free outdoor summer entertainment featuring Queens-based musicians of diverse backgrounds, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the borough through different genres of music.  READ MORE

Summer in the Square: Kids

??? Union Square
Thursdays from Thursday, June 15-Thursday, August 3
The Union Square Partnership’s Summer in the Square returns this year with more family fun than ever, including arts and crafts, musical performances, interactive story times, big yard games, and a bubble garden. READ MORE

3rd Annual Summer Music Series

?? ? Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Thursdays, June 22- July 27
Enjoy a series of concerts on the North Brooklyn waterfront, showcasing local musicians playing a wide variety of musical genres, including jazz, Latin, and traditional folk. READ MORE

Live at Culture Lab's Free Outdoor Concerts

??? Long Island City, Queens
Select dates through Sunday, October 29
Culture Lab hosts a series of free outdoor concerts all summer long. Community members are invited to discover new sounds and bask in good vibrations. READ MORE
The Queens International Children’s Festival is a mixture of indoor and outdoor performances and educational activities. Photo courtesy of the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning
The Queens International Children’s Festival is a mixture of indoor and outdoor performances and educational activities. Photo courtesy of the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning

Free Concerts and Summer Music Festivals in NYC in June 2024

Locomotive Lawn Live in Riverside Park

Upper West Side
Thursdays from Thursday, May 2-Thursday, June 27
Moosiki Kids Musical Storytime fosters a love of reading at a young age with musical stories and sing-along encouragement on the comfy and danceable turf lawn by the big locomotive. READ MORE

Lalo-Palooza in Washington Park

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Thursdays from Thursday, May 23-through Thursday, June 27
Tap your toes at Lalo-Palooza, a free outdoor music series where families can groove to tunes from award-winning children's performer Suzi Shelton and participate in fun, kid-friendly activities. READ MORE

Sunset on the Hudson at Pier 45

Greenwich Village
Fridays from Friday, May 31- through Friday, June 28
Start the weekend with musical entertainment on the waterfront! Bring a blanket and a picnic. READ MORE

Blues by the Boardwalk at Pier 97

Midtown West
Thursdays from Thursday, June 6-Thursday, June 27
Break up the week with some blues at the newly renovated Pier 97. READ MORE

Brooklyn International Music Fest

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Friday, June 7-Saturday, June 8
The Brooklyn International Music Festival is a celebration of the music and culture from the diverse ethnic communities of New York City, offering dance, music, workshops, and lectures to explore an array of international and diasporic musical traditions. READ MORE

New York Philharmonic Concerts In the Park: Van Cortlandt Park

Riverdale, the Bronx
Tuesday, June 11
The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks return, transforming parks throughout the city into a patchwork of picnickers and providing music lovers with an opportunity to hear the best classical music under the stars. Stay after the show for the fireworks! READ MORE

Summer for the City: La Manga at Lincoln Center

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Saturday, June 15
La Manga honors the legacy of Afro-Colombian women songwriters in the cultural manifestations of cumbia, bullerengue, and tambora. Take a virtual journey across Colombia's Caribbean Coast, guided by the powerful sounds of gaitas and tambores. READ MORE

New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Park: Central Park

Central Park
Wednesday, June 12
The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks return, transforming parks throughout the city into a patchwork of picnickers and providing music lovers with an opportunity to hear the best classical music under the stars. Stay after the show for the fireworks! READ MORE

New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Park: Cunningham Park

Fresh Meadows, Queens
Thursday, June 13
The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks return after two years, transforming parks throughout the city into a patchwork of picnickers and providing music lovers with an opportunity to hear the best classical music under the stars. Stay after the show for the fireworks! READ MORE

Young People's Chorus of New York: Red Light, Green Light at Lincoln Center

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Thursday, June 13
Over 1,000 singers from the Young People's Chorus of New York City's Schools Program raise their voices in song to celebrate our great city and the world around us. READ MORE

New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Park: Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Friday, June 14
The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks return, transforming parks throughout the city into a patchwork of picnickers and providing music lovers with an opportunity to hear the best classical music under the stars. Stay after the show for the fireworks! READ MORE

New York Philharmonic Concerts In the Park: Indoor Concert on Staten Island

St George, Staten Island
Sunday, June 16
The New York Philharmonic performs Clarke’s Prelude, Allegro, and Pastorale for clarinet and viola; Mozart’s Oboe Quartet; and Prokofiev’s Quintet. READ MORE

Summer Music Family Concert Series in Washington Market Park

Tribeca
Thursday, June 13 & Thursday, June 20
Bring a blanket and a picnic supper, then set up on the lawn. Lively, family-friendly concerts fill the air for your entertainment. READ MORE

Porch Stomp

Governors Island
Saturday, June 15
Porch Stomp invites dozens of folk bands, artists, and performing arts organizations to use the historic porches of Nolan Park as a space for performance and education, highlighting artistry ranging from traditional folk to old-time blues, roots, bluegrass, and Americana. READ MORE

The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Thursday, June 20
The Met’s free concert series in New York City parks returns to Brooklyn Bridge Park with an evening of favorite arias and duets, featuring three of today’s most exciting young stars—soprano Leah Hawkins, tenor Mario Chang, and bass-baritone Michael Sumuel. READ MORE

Make Music New York

Citywide
Wednesday, June 21
Make Music New York puts the beat under city feet as musicians of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, physical capabilities, and skill levels represent New York City’s remarkable creativity and diversity. READ MORE

Create-a-thon with Nona Hendryx at Lincoln Center

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Saturday, June 22
Learn how to make Afro-futurist sound and light-activating wearables and contribute to an exciting new musical and visual event at 4pm in Bina48’s Garden at the David Rubenstein Atrium. READ MORE

Metropolitan Opera Summerstage in Socrates Sculpture Park

Long Island City, Queens
Friday, June 28
The Metropolitan Opera’s free summer recital tour stops at Socrates Sculpture Park! This iconic series of opera throughout NYC is presented outdoors and features rising young stars and musicians.  READ MORE

Summer for the City: Dobet Gnahoré at Lincoln Center

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Saturday, June 29
Côte d’Ivoire's Dobet Gnahoré, a 2010 Grammy winner, performs modern Afropop. READ MORE
The popular Big Umbrella Festival takes over the Lincoln Center campus for one day only on Saturday, July 1. Photo by John Altdorfer
The popular Big Umbrella Festival takes over the Lincoln Center campus for one day only on Saturday, July 1. Photo by John Altdorfer

Family-Friendly Free Concerts in NYC in July 2024

Broadway by the Boardwalk In Clinton Cove

Midtown West
Mondays from Monday, July 15-Monday, August 5
When Broadway’s dark, the waterfront is alive! Mondays in July, stop by Hudson River Park’s Clinton Cove to see the greats perform. READ MORE

River & Blues: Los Lobos in Rockefeller Park

Battery Park City
Thursday, July 11
Multi-Grammy winning artists Los Lobos perform their signature blend of Tejano, son jarocho, and norteño with folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and punk. READ MORE

Kiran Ahluwalia at Lincoln Center

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Saturday, July 13
Two-time Juno winner Kiran Ahluwalia performs new music from her long-awaited album, Comfort Food, with her five-piece band. READ MORE

79rs Gang at Lincoln Center

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Saturday, July 20
The 79rs Gang melds modern Hip-Hop sensibilities and traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian music for a joyful celebratory concert for all ages. READ MORE

Summer Arts Institute Chamber Music Showcase at Lincoln Center

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Saturday, July 27
New York City Public Schools Summer Arts Institute (SAI) student artists perform chamber music selections in the David Geffen Hall Lobby. READ MORE

Summer Music Festivals and Free Concerts in NYC in August 2023

Yacouba Sissoko & SIYA at Lincoln Center

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Saturday, August 3
Master kora player Yacouba Sissoko and his band SIYA highlight West African history and culture in this mix of traditional Malian and contemporary western instrumentation and share with audiences of all ages the enchanting sounds of the kora—a 21-stringed plucked instrument whose distinctive sound is quickly associated with West Africa. READ MORE

Sara Curruchich at Lincoln Center

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Saturday, August 10
Performer, composer, and author Sara Curruchich subtly mixes folk, rock sounds and elements of her indigenous roots; part of her "Indigenous Woman" world tour. READ MORE

Hudson River Park's Blues Barbecue

Midtown West
Saturday, August 10
The 23rd annual Hudson River Park Blues Barbecue Festival returns to Hudson River Park's Pier 76 for a day filled with smoky goodness and great music. Local pit powerhouses like Blue Smoke, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Jase’s BBQ, Kimchi Smoke, and Big Papa Smokem fire up their smokers while you take in live blues and roots performances. READ MORE

OperaCades in Riverside Park

Upper West Side
Saturdays, August 24 & August 31
Opera on Tap brings a family-friendly, immersive opera experience to Pier I, with performances, sing-a-longs, photo opportunities with the mermaid performers, as well as free giveaways (stickers, shells, and reusable straws!). READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Central Park - Naumburg Bandshell
Hudson Yards Public Square and Gardens
Hudson Yards - Public Square and Gardens
Brooklyn Bridge Park
George Seuffert Bandshell
Bushwick Inlet Park - Soccer Fields
Old Stone House at JJ Byrne Playground
Brooklyn Bridge Park - Pier 1
Lincoln Center - David Geffen Hall
Lincoln Center - David Geffen Hall
Lincoln Center - David Geffen Hall
Lincoln Center - David Geffen Hall
Lincoln Center - David Geffen Hall
Hudson River Park - Pier 76