Free Outdoor Summer Music Festivals and Concerts in New York City

The great thing about New York City's outdoor festivals is that everyone can enjoy them. At outdoor concerts, grown ups can enjoy being outdoors on a lovely day or evening, relaxing, even if the music is for kids. And, generally, kids will put up with an adult performance much better if they can run around, dance, play and picnic while you enjoy a little grown up entertainment for once. While you might not think of a classical music concert as a great kids event, it really can work. The people that are serious about listening to the music sit right up front, as you move toward the perimeter it's more about picnicking just with great music in the background.

This summer's line-up includes everything from a They Might Be Giants kids concert to the NY philharmonic to great reggae, folk and avant garde music. Seriously, something for everyone. We've rounded the free outdoor music festivals that, while not kids festivals, are the most family friendly with nice locations for picnicking and/or kid-friendly music. Also make sure to check our post on Children's Summer Music Concert Series for concerts just for kids.

Celebrate Brooklyn is considered by many to be NYC's best summer festival. Located at the Prospect Park bandshell, Celebrate Brooklyn is a great venue with a diverse range of excellent performances. This year's lineup includes music, dance, films and more including a They Might be Giants concert for Kids, a benefit event with MGMT, Robert Cray and the Sweet Divines, Animal Collective and many more.

Lower Manhattan's River to River Festival has such a breadth and depth of events we can't even do it justice in a summary. Everything from Children's Day Festival to cool alternative music and dance, plus dozens of children's workshops, story times, fairs, singing and dancing and more. One of the great things about this festival is that we often just stumble upon the many outdoor performances as we walk around downtown and are always surprised by some fun culture added to our day. Check out the calendar for the full list of events.

Everyone is familiar with Central Park's SummerStage. Many of the Central Park SummerStage events will be enjoyed by children, but for sure kids will love the Summer Stage Global Family Day on July 12th, 2009. There will be the Puppeteers from the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, Nickelodeon's The JumpArounds, Iza Trapani, dancing and a kid-friendly DJ.

With over 100 performances this summer The City Parks Foundation is in parks throughout the city and if you pay attention you can catch some seriously impressive performers in your own neighborhood for free. It’s like stumbling into a Bjork concert at your local bar. The seriously long list includes Naughty by Nature, Chrisette Michele, Sugar Hill Gang, Chico DeBarge, Frankie Negron and a ton more. You can search for events by your zip code to see what is closest to home. There are also dance performances, theater and will be kids concerts too (which haven't been announced yet).

The NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks Festival travels to all five boroughs plus Long Island and New Jersey, making classical music from the oldest philharmonic in the United States available to all for free. While there are no children performances, classical music under the stars, followed by fireworks is sure to be enjoyed by the entire family. Or it's a least a good way to sneak a little classical music into your children's repertoire. If you like opera, you might try the Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series (same deal, free concerts in the parks in each of the five boroughs.)

Lincoln Center Out of Doors takes place from August 5-23, 2009 and includes free music, dance and special events. They always have lots of great kid programming as well as adult events you will want to bring your kids to anyway. Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival is one of the spoils of living in New York City that you really just have to take advantage of. Where else are you going to have world class music and art performances for free like this?

Roosevelt Live is not just an opportunity for free music, but a whole excursion. This concert series on Roosevelt Island on Saturday afternoons gives you an excuse to take the tram (you can take the F train too, but why?) to visit perhaps the best kept secret in summer music concert series. Although most of the performances are not kids acts, many of them will be fun for kids, like Dance Live Brazil: Nation Beat to Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Orchestra with Ingrid Lucia and the Flying Neutrinos. There's also a real kids concert, Steve Bernstein's Baby Loves Jazz. Saturdays at noon through September 5th.

Another relative secret is Waterside Plaza's Music Under the Stars concerts which take place on Wednesday nights. Waterside Plaza is in the 20s on the FDR and a bit of a trick to get to on a weeknight, but if you make it there, you'll be treated to free music and, sometimes, free salsa or swing dancing lessons. Wednesdays from July 9-August 13, 2009.

WIth the Governor's Island Folks on the Island Folk Music Festival, the journey is it's own reward. Take the free ferry to bucolic Governor's Island and enjoy an afternoon of music in a beautifull setting that feels miles away from the city. It's like a mini vacation from New York.

Also in Central Park, but far less well known than Summer Stage is the Harlem Meer Performance Festival where you can catch local emerging and established Latin, Jazz, World, and Gospel artists as well as Swing, Latin and African Dance workshops. The concerts are on Sundays from June 21 to September 6th from 2-4pm. It doesn't hurt that there's a playground and of course the Harlem Meer to entertain little kids too.

Where can you enjoy a free concert, while watching the sun set over the Hudson River and go kayaking, all for free at at the same place? The Clinton Concert Series at Hudson River Park's Pier 84 and Clinton Cove Park, the perfect sites for you to take in a sunset and the sounds of an eclectic mix of bands including lots of bluegrass and jazz. All concerts are FREE, one hour long and begin at 6pm.

The R & B Festival at Metrotech is not the most bucolic of settings since it's in downtown Brooklyn, but the concerts are on a grassy strip with trees and the series is organized by BAM so you'll be treated to some wonderful musicians, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo (July 30th) and many others. Concerts are on Thursdays at noon from Jun 4th through August 6th and all the outdoor concerts are free.

In our Children's Summer Music Concert Series post we talk about Madison Square Kids, but Madison Square Park also has an adult music series, Madison Square Music, from July 17th to August 5th on Wednesday nights. Performers include Jazz, Bluegrass, Folk, R&B, Soul, and Pop performers and the park is a lovely setting for an evening picnic.

In a completely un-bucolic twist, you might be interested in checking out the early morning show concert series where your kids can catch the Jonas Brothers and other favorites. Keep in mind that seeing these concerts is a serious commitment, requiring arriving before dawn to get a spot. See the TODAY show schedule here. And Good Morning America's Concert schedule here.

For more Summer Fun like this, check out our Free New York City Kids Summer Fun Activity Guide.