August 2009 Free New York City Events!

Source: Julie Smith

(76 ratings)

If August weather is anything like July, it'll be a hard-to-beat summer in the city! Without the scorching heat, there's no better time to enjoy all the city has to offer. Once again, I've pulled together a grouping of wonderful activities that are well worth the wander...

Movies Under the Stars
Riverside Park South, Pier 1, Hudson River at 70th St.; 8:30pm shows.
212-428-0219

August 5: Drums Along the Mohawk
August 12: Sweet Smell of Success

Central Park Summer Stage
At Rumsey Playfield, enter Central Park at 69th St. and 5th Ave. on the east side or 72nd St. and Central Park West on the west side.

August 1, 7pm: M. Ward, Mike Watt & Nels Cline + Yuka Honda and Dougie Bowne
August 2, 7pm: CineFest Brasil, If I Were You 2 (Se eu fosse voce 2), directed by Daniel Filho, Silvia Machete
August 3, 7:30pm: Music & Film, Bela Fleck, Toumani Diabate
August 5, 7pm: Music & Film, I Am Cuba directed by Mikhail Kalatozov, The Pedrito Martinez Project
August 6, 7:30pm: Asbury Shorts: An Evening of the World's Best Short Films, Mingus Dynasty Quintet
August 7, 8pm: Dance, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, nathantrice/RITUALS dance theater
August 8, 3pm: Boys Noize, Drop the Lime and Special Guests, Canyons
August 9, 3pm: Jazmine Sullivan, Chrisette Michele, Jon B.
August 14, 8pm: Dance, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company with musical guest Martha Wainwright
August 15, 8pm: Dance, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company with musical guest Martha Wainwright

Naumburg Orchestral Concerts
At the Naumburg Bandshell, in Central Park, south of 72nd St. cross-drive; 7:30pm performances.

August 4: Grammy-nominated Imani Winds

River to River Festival
At downtown venues, including: South Street Seaport, the Battery Park Esplanade, Castle Clinton, and the World Financial Center.
212-835-2789

August 2, 7pm: The Flatlanders, Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park
August 3, 7pm: A Night of Billie Holiday Remixed and Reimagined, South Street Seaport, Pier 17
August 4, 1pm: In The Pocket - Music Lands on Governors Island, Governors Island, 10 South Street, Slip 7
August 6, 7pm: John Kelly Sings The Joni Mitchell Songbook: "Songs for a Shiny Hot Night" Four Nights of Peace, Love & Music: A Castle Clinton Tribute to Woodstock, Castle Clinton
August 7, Sunset (typically 8-9pm): Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: The Fountainhead (114 minutes, 1949), Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street
August 11, 1pm: In The Pocket - Music Lands on Governors Island, Governors Island, 10 South Street, Slip 7
August 14, Sunset (typically 8-9pm): Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: Breakfast at Tiffany's (120 minutes, 1960), Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street
August 16, 7pm: 8 y Mas, Wagner Park
August 18, 1pm: In The Pocket - Music Lands on Governors Island, Governors Island, 10 South Street, Slip 7
August 21, Sunset (typically 8-9pm): Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: On the Waterfront (108 minutes, 1954), Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street
August 23, 7pm: The Jimmy Bosch Bank, Battery Park City, Wagner Park
August 25, 1pm: In The Pocket - Music Lands on Governors Island, Governors Island, 10 South Street, Slip 7
August 27, 7pm: LMCC SITELINES: States and Resemblances by Dean Moss and Ryotaro Mishima, Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street
August 28, Sunset (typically 8-9pm): Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: The Apartment (120 minutes, 1960), Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street
August 28, 7pm: LMCC SITELINES: States and Resemblances by Dean Moss and Ryotaro Mishima, Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street
August 29, 7pm: LMCC SITELINES: States and Resemblances by Dean Moss and Ryotaro Mishima, Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street
August 30, 7pm: Charansalsa, Battery Park City, Wagner Park
August 31, 7pm: Battles, South Street Seaport, Pier 19

Shakespeare in the Park
Distribution of free tickets are on the day of the performance beginning at 1pm at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The closest entrances are at 81st Street and Central Park West or 79th Street and Fifth Avenue. There is a limit of 2 tickets per person.

August 11 - September 6: The Bacchae, Directed by Joanne Akalaitis, Music by Philip Glass, Translated by Nicholas Rudall

Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
Behind the New York Public Library between 40th and 41st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Lawn opens at 5pm, films begin at dusk (8-9pm).

August 3: Kramer vs. Kramer
August 10: The Magnificent Seven
August 17: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Broadway in Bryant Park
Behind the New York Public Library between 40th and 41st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Check the website link above for current schedule and information.

August 6, 12:30pm: Wicked, Burn The Floor, The Lion King, The Marvelous Wonderettes
August 13, 12:30pm: Billy Elliot, South Pacific, Mamma Mia!, Altar Boyz

Good Morning America Concert Series
At Rumsey Playfield, enter Central Park at 69th St. and 5th Ave. on the east side or 72nd St. and Central Park West on the west side; opens to public at 6am. Check the website link above for current schedule and information.

August 7, 8:30am: David Cook, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert
August 14, 8:30am: Kenny Chesney
August 21, 8:30am: Reba McEntire

NBC Rockefeller Plaza Concerts
At 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza; 7am performances.

August 7: Jason Mraz
August 14: Flo Rida
August 21: Natasha Bedingfield
August 28: Mariah Carey

Hudson River Park Events
Most events take place at Pier 45 (Hudson River and Christopher St.), Pier 46 (Hudson River and Charles St.), Pier 54 (Hudson River and 14th St.) and Pier 84 (Hudson River and 33rd/34th St.)

An event almost every day (and then some!). Check the website link above for current schedule and information.

Harlem Meer Performance Festival
At the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues, inside the Park); 2-4pm performances.
212-860-1370

August 9: Osei (African), Co-presented by the Music For African Art, preceeded by an African Dance workshop with Yao Ababio at 1pm
August 16: New Amsterdam Musical Association (Jazz), Co-presented by the Museum for African Art
August 23: Retumba! (Aftro-Caribbean)
August 30: I.S. 143 Performance Ensemble (Salsa)

Most events are weather permitting and all should be checked for schedule changes prior to the event.

Happy August!

Julie Smith is a native New Yorker and Senior Vice President with Halstead Property, one of the largest and most visible residential real estate brokerage firms in New York City.