It’s official! Summer is here, and there’s no better way to celebrate its arrival than with these fun-in-the-sun events happening this week. Start off with an outdoor film screening in Bryant Park on Monday night. On Tuesday, make some music with Make Music New York and visit downtown Manhattan museums with Night at the Museums. Finally, end the week with two spectacular fests: the Harlem Arts Festival and the Swedish Midsummer Festival. Enjoy!
Beginning Monday, June 20
HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
Bryant Park
Lawn opens: 5pm; Films begin: 8pm
Keep the family entertained with a movie every Monday night this summer in Bryant Park. Though there are several great, family-friendly flicks in this year’s lineup (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Harvey,” and “Top Gun”), check the schedule before you go, because a few of the films (like “The Omen”) are R-rated. Don’t forget to pack a blanket and arrive early to ensure a good view! Runs Mondays through Monday, August 22. This event is free.
Tuesday, June 21
Make Music New York
Various locations throughout NYC
10am-10pm
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Make Music New York with more than 1,000 free outdoor concerts on the second day of summer! Some of this year’s exciting events include a performance by legendary composer Philip Glass in Riverside Park, a swinging Second Line Parade led by Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jason Olaine, a workshop for budding young electronic musicians at the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza, and the Gauntlet on the High Line, where 60 singers will engage in a musical dialogue as the public is invited to walk through and experience the piece at your own pace. This event is free.
Night at the Museums
Various museums throughout lower Manhattan
4-8pm
Spend an evening exploring the museums of downtown Manhattan for free during Night at the Museums. Participating museums include the Anne Frank Center USA, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the National September 11 Memorial Museum, the Skyscraper Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and many others. Plus, enjoy special programming and restaurant discounts at several participating establishments. This event is free. Some museums require advance ( free) ticket reservations.
Friday, June 24-Sunday, June 26
Harlem Arts Festival 2016
Marcus Garvey Park
3-8:30pm
On Saturday and Sunday, celebrate Harlem and its rich culture in Marcus Garvey Park at this free arts festival featuring music, theater, dance, and visual art. Performers scheduled to attend include The Movement Theatre Company, S.M.A. Dance Academy, Soul Steps, Jazz Ain’t Dead, and Shouthouse. Plus, check out the Opening Night Party on Friday evening at the National Black Theatre (tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door). This event is free.
Friday, June 24
Swedish Midsummer Festival
Wagner Park
5-8pm
This Friday evening, join the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy and the Consulate General of Sweden in New York for the Swedish Midsummer Festival in Robert F. Wagner Park. Families with children of all ages can decorate and dance around the midsummer pole, picnic, make flower wreaths, enjoy fiddle music, play games, and try out some Swedish food from top NYC restaurants. This event is free and will take place rain or shine.
