August 2010 Free New York City Events!

Source: Julie Smith

(34 ratings)

It's already August (or for some of us, only August!). With hopes of enjoying more fun in the city, there is much to take advantage of on the great tropical island we call Manhattan! The following is a short list of upcoming New York City activities that we can all appreciate, perhaps even prompting us to hum the tune, "...start spreading the news...I'm leaving today..."!

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

Theme - Tall Tales
August 4: Big Fish
August 11: Stranger Than Fiction

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, 3pm: St. Vincent, tUneE-yArDs, Basia Bulat
August 7, 3pm: Clark Sisters and Kierra Kiki Sheard
August 8, 7pm: The xx, Chairlift, Jack Penate
August 14, 3pm: Bachata Fest featuring Andy Andy, Luis Miguel de la Amargue, Elvis Martinez and Alexandra
August 15, 3pm: Public Enemy, Blitz The Ambassador, The 7th Octave
August 21, 3pm: Chrisette Michelle, Mario and Tamia

River to River Festival
At downtown venues
212-835-2789

August 1, 3:30pm: Phil Soltanoff: SIT, STAND, WALK, LIE DOWN..., Governors Island
August 2-5, 12:30pm: SITELINES: Christopher Williams: The Voyage of Garbhglas (excerpt), Irish Hunger Memorial
August 4, 7pm: Tiempo Libre AND Julito Martinez: Una Noche Cubana, Trova con Timba, World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street
August 5, 7pm: Tremenda Rumba! Tiempo Libre with Roman Diaz, Rockefeller Park, River Terrace and Warren Street
August 11, 7pm: Nino Segarra and his Orchestra, Wagner Park, Battery Place and West Street
August 19, 8pm: Movie: The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street, between Broad and Williams Streets; tickets required: two free tickets first come, first served at the street level Water Street entrance

Shakespeare in the Park
August 1, performed in repertory. Distribution of free tickets are on the day of the performance beginning at 1pm at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park (and online lottery). 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.

The Winter's Tale (with Gerry Bamman, Francois Battiste, Linda Emond, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Bill Heck, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Byron Jennings, Heather Lind, Hamish Linklater, Jesse L. Martin, Nyambi Nyambi, Matthew Rauch, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Richard Topol, Max Wright)

The Merchant of Venice (with Gerry Bamman, Francois Battiste, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Bill Heck, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Byron Jennings, Heather Lind, Hamish Linklater, Jesse L. Martin, Nyambi Nyambi, Al Pacino, Lily Rabe, Matthew Rauch, Richard Topol, Max Wright)

Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
Behind the New York Public Library between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Lawn opens at 5pm, films begin at dusk (8-9pm).

August 2: Rosemary's Baby
August 9: The Goodbye Girl
August 16: 12 Angry Men
August 23: Bonnie and Clyde

Bryant Park After Work Music
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. 6-7pm, Fountain Terrace

August 4: Mia Riddle
August 11: Kevin Dorn and The Big 72
August 18: The Spring Standards
August 25: Jonah Smith

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

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

August 6: Train
August 13: Ke$ha
August 20: Daughtry
August 27: Katy Perry

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 1: Susan Pereira and Sabor Brasil (Brazillian Jazz)
August 8: Something Positive (Afro-Caribbean Dance and Music) Includes dance performance
August 15: Sumba Swing (Latin Jazz)
August 22: Dja Rara (Afro-Haitian)
August 29: Cocomama (Cuban Salsa)

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

Happy Summer!

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.