I love that New York is world-class city, with an endless number of attractions, restaurants, parks, and things to do.
If you like to be outside when it's warm to hot, weather-wise, August tends to run in low to mid-80s. Some days get into the 90s.
To help with your activity options, I've compiled this list. It will give you ideas as to what iconic attractions you can visit, what festivals and holiday events are happening, and what concerts and plays are taking place in June.
This post has been updated for 2024 and includes a top 10 list as well as sections on free events, family-friendly activities, and things to do at night.
For even more suggestions, see our comprehensive guide to things to do in NYC.
TOP 10 ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND ATTRACTIONS IN AUGUST
This is our list of the ten best events and things to do in NYC in August.
Several of the items below are already included for free with the purchase of a tourist discount pass.
For tips on the most popular activities in NYC, check out the following posts:
1. Attend a Sports Event
The season may almost be over, but there's still a chance to enjoy baseball in August in addition to other sports.
Baseball
To see New York's professional baseball teams in play check out the Mets and Yankees.
Note that the classic tour of Yankee Stadium is available with both the New York Pass and the Explorer Pass. For more information, check our post about New York tourist passes
Football
If you're interested in football, check out either a Jets or Giants preseason game.
Soccer (Football)
To catch the world's most popular sport, head to a game with the New York City FC or the New York Red Bulls.
Tennis
The U.S. Open Tennis Tournament runs from August 26th -September 8th, 2024.
Check out Stubhub for other sports events in August.
For additional things to do in New York City with the family, check out the family-friendly section below.
2. Attend a Concert
Music is all around the NYC area in August!
You can hear diverse music in a variety of settings -- from iconic Madison Square Garden to the outdoor Jones Beach Amphitheater.
Concerts
- Imagine Dragons | August 2, 4
- Green Day | August 5
- The Doobie Brothers | August 6, 7
- Journey and Ref Leppard | August 7
- Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls | August 20
Check out this list of other August performances in the New York City area with artists such as Train, Missy Elliott, New Kids on the Block, Creed, Air Supply, Jennifer Lopez, Stray Cats, Violent Femmes, and many more.
Festivals
- Sad Summer Festival 2024 | The Roodtop at Pier 17 | August 1
- Serpent Festival | The Rooftop at Pier 17 | August 4
- Summer Scream Festival | The Meadows | August 17
- TSQ Live | Times Square | August 20, 21, 22, 23
If you didn't already know, Madison Square Garden offers an All Access Tour where you can see behind the scenes.
3. Take in a Broadway Show
Seeing a performance on Broadway is a must-do activity when you're in New York City!
Here are a few popular musicals running in August 2024:
- & Juliet
- Aladdin: The Musical
- Back to the Future the Musical
- Book of Mormon
- Chicago
- Hamilton
- Hadestown
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- The Lion King
- Little Shop of Horrors
- MJ The Musical
- Monty Python's Spamalot
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- Six
- Shrek the Musical
- Stomp
- Sweeney Todd
- The Who's Tommy
- Wicked
- Search for the show here and you'll find performance dates and times, as well as tickets.
On a budget? Check out our post on how to get cheap tickets to Broadway shows.
TIP: Broadway lovers can take guided tours of Broadway (including Backstage Access)!
4. Take a Walking Tour
August is an excellent month to take a walking tour pretty much anywhere in New York City.
We offer pay-what-you-wish walking tours in several neighborhoods throughout the city, including:
For more ideas, check our schedule of pay-what-you-wish walking tours.
5. See a Free Performance of Shakespeare in the Park | On Hold until 2025
Every summer, the Public Theater puts on two Shakespeare plays at the outdoor Delacorte Theater in Central Park.
Tickets are entirely free but will require some work on your part to get one.
Be sure to check out our post explaining the 5 ways to get tickets to Shakespeare in the Park.
If you do get a ticket, or even if you don't, make sure to spend some time in Central Park while you're in the area.
Read our post about things to do in Central Park for some ideas.
NOTE: In 2024 the theatre is under construction so there won't be any Shakespeare in the Park. However, there will be a screening of Much Ado About Nothing in a few different parks in July. Check here for more information.
6. Check out a Live Comedy Show
New York is place many of today's best comedians got their start.
It's chock full of comedy clubs where well known and on-their-way-up comedians are entertaining the crowds.
Stand Up Comedy
- Jared Freid | August 3
- John Oliver & Seth Meyers | August 18
Comedy Clubs
Note that there are tours of both Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden, each of them included on at least one New York City Tourist Passes.
7. Soar to the Top of a Skyscraper
In summer, the city's tallest observation decks stay open late.
The Empire State Building | Top of the Rock | One World Trade Center Observatory | and Summit One Vanderbilt all give you fantastic views of New York City.
If you aren't sure which view is best for you, read our post about the pros and cons of each of them.
There are also free options and you can find them in our post, where to get the best free skyline views of NYC.
8. Attend Free Outdoor Movie Screenings
Free, fun, and occurring almost every night of the summer!
The most well-known is Bryant Park Movie Night which usually runs on Mondays from mid-June to mid-August.
This is an especially popular event, so go early to grab a spot on the lawn. Bring a picnic basket too!
Some other places to see movies outdoors are:
- Movies Under the Stars - May - September nightly, outdoor movie screenings at parks all over the city!
- Central Park Film Festival - last week of August on the lawn near the Sheep Meadow in Central Park.
- Films on the Green - June-September. French films are shown in various parks throughout the city.
- Flicks on the Beach - July-August. Family-friendly screens at Coney Island Luna Park. Spend the day at Coney Island first!
For even more sites to visit, visit our post about a movie with a view.
Check out more free things to do, including more weekly outdoor movies, below!
9. View Great Street Art
New York City is undoubtedly one of the best cities in the world to see street art and murals.
You can see masterpieces for free if you know where to look.
We can help you discover the latest, greatest pieces of street art around NYC if you join us on one of our pay-what-you-like Street Art Tours.
We have tours in both Manhattan and Brooklyn, including a tour of Bushwick and its highly-regarded Bushwick Collective Street Art Gallery
If you can’t make it to one of our tours or prefer to move at your own pace, enjoy our Bushwick Collective self-guided tour to explore the area and find the best art.
10. Utilize a City Pass
If you're looking to see and do as much as possible, using a New York City tourist attraction discount pass can help you save money and time.
Attractions Available on Passes Include:
- Museum of Modern Art
- Empire State Building
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour
- Madame Tussauds
- 9/11 Memorial and Guided Tour
- The Met
- Madison Square Garden All-Access Tour
These passes save you money by bundling dozens of popular attractions and tours into one discounted ticket (up to 55% off).
They can also save you time by allowing you to skip the ticket lines and numerous locations. Read our post comparing your options.
Below are just a few of the hundreds of free things you can do in NYC during August. And be sure to read the other sections of this post for more ideas.
For year-round free things to do see our comprehensive post about free things to do in NYC.
Enjoy Free Music in Bryant Park
Each year Bryant Park presents Picnic Performances.
This free outdoor festival brings music and dance to the crowds.
Attire is casual, picnic blankets can be borrowed, and attendees may bring food or purchase it on-site.
If you miss these performances, find out how to get discount tickets for Broadway shows here.
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Harlem
This annual free event, now in its 32nd year, offers the public three evenings of free music featuring the music of jazz legend Charlie Parker.
Dates for 2024 haven't been released yet, but it's usually in late August. Events have taken place in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park in the East Village.
For more details click here.
Parker used to play jam sessions in Harlem. You might also find our post on things to do in Harlem or come along on our pay-what-you one of our Harlem Tours.
Note that Harlem Week, a celebration of the best of Harlem, takes place August 7th - August 18th, 2024.
Kayak Under the Brooklyn Bridge
Head over to Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO to enjoy a free 20-minute kayak ride. You can get an up-close look at the Brooklyn Bridge.
It's safe and unlike anything you have done before.
Click here for more information.
Find out about some other ways to get out on NYC's waters for free or cheaply, such as riding the Staten Island Ferry.
Summer Streets
Each August, on Saturdays, select streets are closed off from 7 am to 1 pm to vehicular traffic. This is Summer Streets!
While cars are not allowed, every other mode of transport is.
People can walk, run, bike, play, and generally enjoy nearly 7 miles (11 km) of Park Avenue between the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park.
There are an additional 13 miles of summer streets in the other boroughs as well!
2024 dates and events have not been posted yet, but details should be coming to their website soon.
Good Morning America Concert Series
Great for early birds and lovers of top pop stars! Many musical artists head to Bryant Park for the free GMA Summer Concert Series.
To see a taping of Good Morning America, see our post on how to attend a live TV show taping.
For More Free Things to Do
For year-round free things to do see our comprehensive post about free things to do in NYC.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN AUGUST
Many of the activities included in our other sections can be enjoyed at night as well, but here are a few more ideas on how to spend a great night in August in NYC.
For even more ideas, see our post, Things to Do in New York City at Night.
Take a Night Bus Tour
A night tour on an open-top double-decker bus is a wonderful way to see more of the city while giving your feet a break from all that walking!
With so many tours out there, you may want to read our post comparing New York City bus tours as you might decide this is a good way to spend your night in New York.
Many tourist passes include a night tour by bus, so you may want to look at our post comparing NYC Tourist Passes before buying tickets.
Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge can be walked over 24 hours a day, although we definitely do not recommend you take a 4 am stroll.
For those who want some guidance to enjoy the Bridge when the sun goes down, join us for our combined 911 Memorial and Brooklyn Bridge Night Tour.
Enjoy an Evening Concert
Head to Bric Celebrate Brooklyn! to enjoy an annual festival of free concerts
The concerts are held at the Bandshell in Prospect Park in Park Slope.
The 2024 season line-up hasn't been announced as of May, but to be just as exciting as previous years.
For even more things to do in New York at might, see our New York City Summer Guide.
Stargaze with an Astronomer
Every Tuesday in August, head to the one-of-a-kind High Line Park to gaze at the stars, planets, and moon through high-powered telescopes.
The activity is free, and experts are on hand to answer any astronomical questions.
Click here for more information.
You could go early and take a free High Line Tour!
Learn more about the High Line, with our guide to the High Line or our GPS audio tour.
Enjoy a Movie on the Intrepid
For a view unlike any other, head to the Intripid, an aircraft carrier whose exhibits include a Concorde, a submarine, a space shuttle, and much more.
They have a Free Friday and Movie Night Seriest on August 23, 2024.
This is a fun way to spend an evening in NYC. This is also a kid-friendly activity. Plan your visit and learn about additional discounts.
For even more ideas, see our post, Things to Do in New York City at Night.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN AUGUST
Many things in the other sections of this post are certainly family-friendly. Below are a few more things to do with kids in August in NYC.
Check out our posts Top 10 Things to Do with Kids in New York City or our 3-day itinerary for families.
Summer Fun at Coney Island
Visit Coney Island and find out just how much there is to do at this legendary New York seaside spot.
Head to Luna Park, one of the best amusement parks in the NYC area to ride the Thunderbolt. This 115-foot-tall roller coaster reaches up to 55 miles per hour!
Don't worry there are plenty of rides for kids and those weak of heart.
Afterward, walk along the Boardwalk to the New York Aquarium, where you can see penguins, harbor seals, otters, and more.
TIP: Luna Park is included with the NY Pass, while both Luna Park and the Aquarium are included in the Sightseeing Pass.
Get out on the water!
Cool off with cool views of New York City. It doesn't cost much to get out into the beautiful NYC Harbor.
Xheck out the many New York Boat Tours and Excursions you can take, such as the Circle Line and other affordable, fun cruises.
Consider taking a ride on the East River Ferry which costs the same as a subway ride but with a much nicer view.
Visit Little Island
In Hudson River Park, near the Meatpacking Districk, you'll find Little Island Park.
This park sits on 132 "tulip-like" concrete piles in the Hudson river and is described as "a lush, seasonal, landscape with rolling hills, winding pathways, and dazzling views, coupled with programming that includes music, dance, theater, poetry, comedy and art workshops for all ages."
Items in the playground include spinning chairs, dance chimes, and a Sing for Hope piano.
Tickets for performances gains you entry to the park so no additional tickets are needed.
There are also free performances Wednesday-Sunday in The Glade.
Take a Bike Tour
With expanded bike paths and a bicycle-friendly attitude, NYC is a great place for kids to ride a bike and explore the city.
Consider joining us for a pay-what-you-wish bike tour!
See our post about New York Bike Tours + Rentals.
Visit a Farm
You'll find all sorts of four-legged friends at the Queens County Farm Museum, on land which has been farmed since 1697!
The farm offers free admission to the general public (except on special admission days).
They also offer hayrides from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm on weekdays, and 11:00 am - 4:00 pm on weekends.
You can stroll the fields and gardens, feed the animals, and enjoy a picnic. They also have a seasonal farmstand, an apiary, a farm store/welcome center, and more.
Visit their website to plan your visit.
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