8 Can’t-Miss Outdoor Events In NYC As Summer Winds Down

NEW YORK CITY — Summer is winding down in New York City, but there are still some good opportunities to make the most of warm days and long nights before cooler weather sets in and the calendar fills up with fall activities.

The "end-of-the-summer scaries" is a real term for the anxiety and dread that people may feel as the season comes to a close, and they realize they didn’t pack in as much fun as they intended.

Fear not, dear readers. As a prescription for end-of-summer malaise, Patch rounded up eight mostly-free things to do outside to enjoy the last bits of summer weather.

Are you planning an event this fall? Feature it so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Here are some upcoming outdoor events you shouldn’t miss:

Silent Disco at John Jay Park

• What: Join NYC Parks and Council Member Julie Menin for an outdoor Silent Disco event. Perfect for dance enthusiasts and anyone looking for a fun night out.
• Where: John Jay Park, FDR Dr., E. 76 St. to E. 78 St., New York, N.Y. 10021
• When: Aug. 22 at 5 p.m.

We’re Outside Art Exhibit in Marcus Garvey Park

• What: An outdoor art exhibit featuring 22 Harlem artists, performance art and live jazz music.
• Where: Marcus Garvey Park, 6316 Mt Morris Park W, New York, NY, 10027
• When: Aug. 23, 3 p.m.

Twelfth Night- Free Shakespeare in the Park 2025

• What: An annual free Shakespeare performance in Central Park. This year, stars of the free show include Lupita Nyong’o, Sandra Oh, Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Junior Nyong’o. You can learn more about the show here.
• Where: Delacorte Theater, 81 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
• When: Select nights until Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.

Live Music In Elizabeth Street Garden

• What: Live music every other Sunday in the Elizabeth Street Garden in SoHo. This week will feature artists including Miriam Elhajli, Blums, and Heather Beau.
• Where: 211 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY, 10012
• When: Aug. 24 at 5 p.m.

Little Caribbean Last Lap Garden Fête

• What: Celebrate Brooklyn’s West Indian community with a Tuesday Night Fête at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden featuring live DJs. Dance along to Caribbean beats while enjoying a curated cocktail and special food menu, plus take a free tour of tropical and Caribbean plants.
• Where: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11225
• When: Aug. 26, 6 p.m.

The 2025 West Indian Day Parade

• What: The parade will feature two legendary contests — the steel pan drum band contest and the costume contest. The parade is a dazzling array of floats, sequins, skin, feathers and body paint. Two people will also be crowned king and queen of the parade. Thousands of people attend every year, including politicians and leaders from all over the borough.
• Where: The parade will make its way west on Eastern Parkway from Lincoln Place to Grand Army Plaza.
• When: Sept. 1, kick off at 6 a.m.

South Street Seaport Museum Announces Soka Tira Osoa: Highwire Performance

• What: See an incredible acrobatic high-wire performance in the sky over Seaport Square and Pier 16 downtown. Hosted by the Seaport Museum, the breath-taking circus performance is part of the Down to Earth International Festival of Multidisciplinary Performance in Public Spaces.
• Where: Pier 16, Peck Slip, NY, 10038
• When: Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.

Queens Night Market

• What: The Queens Night Market is a large, family-friendly open-air night market featuring more than 100 independent vendors selling merchandise, art, and food and featuring live music and art.
• Where: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Queens, NY, 11368
• When: Sept. 13- Oct. 25, from 4 p.m. to midnight every Saturday

Want Patch to feature a newsworthy event? Email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.