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Free NYC Summer Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals for Families

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Start the summer with musical entertainment on the waterfront! Bring a blanket and a picnic. Photo courtesy of Hudson River Park
5/19/24 - 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, so this list is 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, and BRIC: Celebrate Brooklyn 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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Free Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals in NYC All Summer Long

Naumburg Orchestral Concerts

Central Park
Tuesdays from Tuesday, June 11-Tuesday, August 6, 2024
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: Story Time at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Wednesdays from Wednesday, June 12-Wednesday, August 7 , 2024
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, 2024
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 Archway in Dumbo

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Thursdays from Thursday, June 20-Wednesday, August 7, 2024
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-Friday, June 28, 2024
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, 2024
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, 2024
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

SummerStage in Central Park

Central Park – Mostly FREE
Select dates from Saturday, June 1-Thursday, October 3, 2024
The City Parks Foundation SummerStage returns in 2024 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, 2024
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, 2024
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, 2024
The New York City-based, all-women, trans, and non-binary Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line performs a summer concert series at Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 6. READ MORE

BRIC: Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Select dates from Saturday, June 8-Saturday, August 17, 2024
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

Hippo Playground Summer Concert Series

Riverside Park
Wednesdays, July 24 - August 28
The Hippo Playground Summer Concert Series provides free kid-friendly jam sessions on selected Wednesdays in July and August. Bring a blanket and a picnic! READ MORE

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, 2024
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-Thursday, June 27, 2024
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-Friday, June 28, 2024
Start the weekend with musical entertainment on the waterfront! Bring a blanket and a picnic. READ MORE

Ants on a Log on the PAC NYC Lobby Stage

Financial District
Saturday, June 1
Ants on a Log perform a special concert, as part of Ants on a Log’s Pride Month Tour! The Ants’ Pride show features themes of inclusion, self-expression, community, and allyship. READ MORE

Blues by the Boardwalk at Pier 97

Midtown West
Thursdays from Thursday, June 6-Thursday, June 27, 2024
Break up the week with some blues at the newly renovated Pier 97. READ MORE

Kids Rock for Kids at Barclay Center Plaza

Boerum Hill/Prospect Heights
Friday, June 7
Kids from all over the world convene for a free rock concert in Barclay Plaza, including Innerjoyce (NYC), Archy and the Astronauts (UK), NERiMA (Canada), and more.  READ MORE

Brooklyn International Music Fest at Jalopy Theatre

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Friday, June 7-Saturday, June 8, 2024
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

Hila the Earth on the PAC NYC Lobby Stage

Financial District
Saturday, June 8
Hila the Earth is an Eco-Rapper, comedian and content creator who performs as Planet Earth and writes songs and makes videos about ecological topics, such as trees, vegetables, compost, soil health, water, mushrooms, reducing plastic waste, and the list keeps growing. READ MORE

Scandinavian Music Festival in Fort Tryon Park

Inwood
Sundays June 9 and 16, plus Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Now in its 20th year, NY Scandia Symphony treats Washington Heights and Inwood to outdoor music programs in Fort Tryon Park. Bring a blanket and enjoy these free performances with views of the Hudson River as the backdrop. READ MORE

New York Philharmonic Concerts In the Park: Van Cortlandt Park

Riverdale, the Bronx
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
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: Central Park

Central Park
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks have become an iconic New York summer experience since they began in 1965, 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, 2024
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

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

Upper West Side
Thursday, June 13, 2024
More than 1,000 singers from the Young People's Chorus of New York City raise their voices in song to celebrate our great city and the world around us. READ MORE

Summer Music Family Concert Series in Washington Market Park

Tribeca
Thursdays June 13 and 20, 2024
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

New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Park: Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Friday, June 14, 2024
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

Upper West Side
Saturday, June 15, 2024
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

Joanie Leeds on the PAC NYC Lobby Stage

Tribeca
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Joanie Leeds performs on the Vartan and Clare Gregorian Stage in the PAC NYC lobby.   READ MORE

Porch Stomp on Governors Island

Governors Island
Saturday, June 15, 2024
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

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

St. George, Staten Island
Sunday, June 16, 2024
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

Opera in the Garden at the West Side Community Garden

Upper West Side
Wednesdays, June 19 & 26, and July 10
On Site Opera, New York’s pioneering opera company rooted in site-specific storytelling and the immersive experience, returns to the West Side Community Garden for three evenings of free outdoor concert performances. READ MORE

The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Thursday, June 20, 2024
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, 2024
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

Chelsea Music Festival: My Super Awesome Brain at Pier 57

Chelsea
Saturday, June 22, 2024
Explore the connection between the brain and the body with performances led by WindSync, fun activities, and treats from the Market Food Hall. READ MORE

Create-a-thon with Nona Hendryx at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Saturday, June 22, 2024
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, 2o24
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

Upper West Side
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Côte d’Ivoire's Dobet Gnahoré, a 2010 Grammy winner, performs modern Afropop. READ MORE

Family-Friendly Free Concerts in NYC in July 2024

Staten Island Philharmonic: Happy Birthday America at Conference House

Tottenville, Staten Island
Sunday, July 7
Conference House Association presents a FREE outdoor concert from the Staten Island Philharmonic—a 40-piece wind ensemble. READ MORE

The Big Busk in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Saturday, July 13
Citizen Cope leads an open busk performance, inviting members of the public to join. Musicians of all ages and abilities are invited to participate by helping select the songs to be performed and participating in a massive sing- and play-along! READ MORE

Broadway by the Boardwalk In Clinton Cove

Midtown West
Mondays from Monday, July 15-Monday, August 5, 2024
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, 2024
Multi-Grammy winning artists Los Lobos performs its signature blend of Tejano, son jarocho, and norteño with folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll, and punk. READ MORE

2024 Waterfront Concerts in Astoria Park

Astoria, Queens
Thursdays, July 11 - August 1
Spread a blanket out on the great lawn, crack open a picnic dinner, and bask in Astoria's summer concert series. READ MORE

Kiran Ahluwalia at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Saturday, July 13, 2024
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

Upper West Side
Saturday, July 20, 2024
The 79rs Gang melds modern hip-hop sensibilities with traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian music to produce a joyful celebratory concert for all ages. READ MORE

Summer Arts Institute Chamber Music Showcase at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Saturday, July 27, 2024
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 2024

Yacouba Sissoko & SIYA at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Saturday, August 3, 2024
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, sharing 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

Upper West Side
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Performer, composer, and author Sara Curruchich subtly mixes folk, rock sounds, and elements of her indigenous roots in this performance, which is part of her "Indigenous Woman" world tour. READ MORE

OperaCades in Riverside Park

Upper West Side
Saturdays, August 24 & August 31, 2024
Opera on Tap brings a family-friendly, immersive opera experience to Pier I with performances, sing-alongs, photo opportunities with the mermaid performers, and 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
Old Stone House at JJ Byrne Playground
Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)
Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)
Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)
West Side Community Garden
Brooklyn Bridge Park - Pier 1
Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park
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