June, July, August Festivals & Fairs NYC
Summer in NYC is packed with Festivals, Fairs, Parades and more free programming, arts & culture than any other time in NYC. We have Pride, Film Festivals, Museum Festivals, Music Festivals, Performance Festivals and many more! Get your party on at Governors Island, Downtown, Times Square, Lincoln Center, Bryant Park, Central Park and celebrate summer in true New Yorker style.
You may also want to check our June Events, July Events, and August Events top picks, along with our guides to 100+ FREE Things to do in NYC in Summer and NYC Parades.
Add your NYC Festival and Fair to the New York City Events calendar.
NYC Pride, Parade and Festival
Pride Island, PrideFest, The March
June 17-25, 2023
Hudson St (Abingdon Sq. & W 14th)
Come see NYC turn into the world’s largest rainbow @ Pride, the city’s premiere LGBTQIA+ celebration for over 50 years. There’s a ton of events including The Rally, The March & Pride Island. The 2023 theme is “Strength in Solidarity” and Christina Aguilera is headlining NYC Pride Island on Sunday, June 25th at Brooklyn Army Terminal.
Filled with a series of fabulous and fun events, the festivities begin with Family Night and the Rally and culminate with PrideFest & The March. Other events include Pride Island and the annual Dance on the Pier, following the parade wrapping up Pride Week in a grand fireworks display. Every landmark, attraction, sign, just about everything in NYC is covered in rainbows all week/month and it is glorious!
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NYC Pride Cruises & Tours
New York City LGBT Hotels
It almost seems ridiculous to write specifically about LGBTQ+ friendly hotels in NYC, because all of our hotels welcome everyone and NYC takes great pride (pun intended) in our diversity and inclusiveness (have you seen the new Mayor's campaign against Florida???). There was actually a very popular ad once that read, "NYC: Tolerant of Your Beliefs, Judgmental of Your Shoes," which is pretty true! However, there are some hotels that really shine when welcoming the LGBTQIA+ community and we highlight a few of those properties here.
- Dream Downtown - right by Union Square and the Meatpacking District, the Dream Downtown has a huge outdoor swimming pool surrounded by sand and often hosts beach parties, filled with models of all types (photo - private jacuzzi room)
- The High Line Hotel - proud member of IGLTA who welcomes same sex weddings in its historic Refectory and the chapel at the General Theological Seminary.
- Chelsea Pines Inn - gay-owned in NYC's premier gay neighborhood, consistently rated a best value hotel in NYC, a top pick on misterbandb and self proclaimed as "NYC’s premier urban bed and breakfast."
- See More: Hotels in Chelsea NYC
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Times Square TSQ
May 2-September 29, 2023
Every summer in Times Square, NYC, TSQ LIVE showcases hundreds of artists, performers and cultural producers and this summer 80 free events hosting over a dozen incredible New York-based institutions and collectives, including Pioneer Works, NEW INC, Children’s Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Ailey Extension, New York Live Arts, OTA Entertainment, Soul Summit, Rash Bar, and Elsewhere.
More Info: Times Square TSQ Live
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Juneteenth in NYC Festival
June 16-18, 2023
Various Locations
Juneteenth is a celebration of June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, which declared the ending of slavery in the USA. The three day Juneteenth in NYC festival kicks off Friday with a virtual summit, Friday night is the Celebration of Black Kings, Saturday is Festival Community Day and the festival culminates Sunday with a Parade, Fashion Show, Food trucks Field Day and more. Monday, June 19th, is a national holiday, with government, banks and post offices closed. More Info: Junteenth NY
There are dozens more Juneteenth celebrations throughout all 5 Boroughs, including BBQs, the NYC Parks Department, Seneca Village, Broadway, Lincoln Center, concerts, shows, theater and more.
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Lincoln Center Summer for the City
June 14 - August 12, 2023
Touted as the "The Ultimate New York Festival," Lincoln Center is back this year with a bang - hosting over 300 events all summer long. Dancing Under the Stars (formerly Midsummer Night Swing), free outdoor movies, dancing, singing, readings, celebrations, flamingos, disco ball, poetry, Mozart, concerts, crafts, Juneteenth and much more!
More Info: Lincoln Center Summer for the City
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Governors Ball Music Festival
June 9-11, 2023 @ Citi Field
Governors Ball Music Festival – The contemporary music festival for music lovers by music lovers. With 60+ artists of all genres across 4 stages, there is something for everyone, including delicious restaurants, food trucks and menus.
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Tribeca Film Festival
June 7-18, 2023
The multi-week Film Festival, held every April, is now held annually in June. Each year they add venues, showcasing every film genre while attracting blockbuster global celebrities, second only to the annual Met Gala.
Download Free Tribeca Neighborhood Guide
Robert De Niro and colleagues founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001, following the the World Trade Center attacks to spur the revitalization of lower Manhattan. The Festival’s mission focuses on assisting filmmakers to reach the broadest possible audience, enabling the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promoting New York City as a major film making center. More Info: tribecafilm.com
Tribeca Film festival tickets are usually on sale first to American Express cardmembers, then the public, closer to the opening. Tickets range in price, depending on the event, but some screenings are even lower than a regular priced movie ticket.
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River to River Festival
June 9–18, 2023
Founded in 2002, following September 11, 2001, the River to River Festival is a world-class performing arts festival originally intended to help revitalize Lower Manhattan. Now the Festival is the largest summer-long free arts festival in New York City’s history and has not only assisted in renewal, but transformed Downtown into a major cultural destination during the summer.
This June NYC festival takes place in a variety of public venues that canvas all of Downtown New York – from Chambers Street down to the southern tip of Manhattan, across the island from river to river and now on Governor’s Island.
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Bryant Park Movie Nights (Summer Film Festival)
June 12 – August 14, 2023
Every Monday night throughout the summer, Bryant Park shows free classic movies. You can bring your own picnic or order food from any of the dozens of local vendors, even sometimes in advance. It used to be called the Bryant Park Summer Film Festival is now Bryant Park Movie Nights (see schedule).
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Annual Museum Mile Festival
Fifth Ave, 82nd to 105th Streets
Usually held the second Tuesday in June, eight of the world’s greatest Museums, spread along 23 city blocks, allow free access to over 50,000 attendees. Fifth Ave is closed to traffic and lined with live bands, art & entertainment.
More Info: Annual Museum Mile Festival
July 4th in New York City | Fireworks, Hotels, Cruises
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks®
Tuesday, July 4, 2023, 9pm
Technically not a summer festival or fair, but there is no greater American celebration than NYC’s Macy’s July 4th Fireworks. The fireworks displays have been HUGE the last few years, and booking a cruise ensures you always have a front row spot to the fireworks no matter where they are!
Check out the complete NYC Insider Guide to July 4th in New York City. Best hotels, cruise options, viewing spots, vacation packages, BBQs, picnics, hot dog eating contests, baseball and more.
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Little Island NYC
Pier 55 & Hudson River Park Greenway, NY 10014
Roughly 14th St, West of Chelsea Market
NYC’s new Little Island in the Hudson River resembles a leaf floating on water with a base of tulip-shaped pots and seating lawns, gentle slopes, winding pathways leading to dazzling views, and a variety of spaces for performances, play rest and relaxation. The island is open daily and for 2023, no reservations or tickets are required to visit or attend any of the programming.
Perform in the Park, Events in the Amph ++
June - September
Beginning Wednesday, June 7 join Little Island for another summer of free programming including intimate performances from Tony and Grammy Award winners in The Glade, late night djs, drag bingo, and dance parties in The Play Ground, weekly artmaking activities for all ages and Teen Night every Friday.
More Info: Little Island
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Metropolitan Opera – Summer HD Festival FREE
End of August, early Sept
The popular Summer HD Festival features thrilling performances from the Met’s Live in HD series of cinema transmissions, and usually a special film screening co-presented with Film at Lincoln Center to kick off the event. No tickets are required for the festival in NYC. More than 3,000 seats are available each night, plus space for overflow crowds on the plaza.
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Annual Central Park Film Festival
August – © Photo Central Park Conservancy
Every year in August, Central Park hosts a week of evening film screenings in the landscape just north of Sheep Meadow and south of the 72nd St. Cross Drive. Attending the Central Park Film Festival is free, the gates open at 6:30pm and movies start at 8pm. Make sure to bring your picnic and blanket!
See the Line Up Here: Outdoor Movies NYC
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Battery Dance Festival
Mid-August
The Battery Dance Company celebrates the annual Battery Dance Festival (formerly the Downtown Dance Festival) each evening, at the glorious Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park in The Battery. In recent years, it was 56 Performances, 32 Premieres, 14 Countries.
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Harlem Week NYC
August 10-20, 2023
Harlem Week, an annual celebration of the best of Harlem since 1974, promotes its rich African-American, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and European history, as well as arts, culture, religion, business, entertainment, and sports. What started as a 1 day celebration is now 10 full days, filled with live music, shows, fairs, food, fashion, movies, dancing, exhibitions and much more.
Learn More: Harlem Week NYC.
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NYC Parades
NYC Parades are some of the most famous and popular in the world. There is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York Halloween Parade and more than enough fun and festivities to go around in New York City. Here’s a look at our top NYC Parades, such as Lunar (Chinese) New Year Parade, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Coney Island Mermaid Parade, National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Pride NYC, West Indian Parade, African American Day Parade, Columbus Day, Halloween Parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and more.
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Up Next: NYC Festivals, Fairs and Parades Fall
Fall is chock full of Festivals, Fairs and Parades in NYC, so many, that we’ve created a whole guide just for Festivals, Fairs and Parades in New York City. Some of the awesome events include:
- Annual Feast of San Gennaro
- African American Day Parade
- New York Film Festival
- New York City Wine and Food Festival
- New York Television Festival
- New Yorker Festival
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Fun Things to do in New York in Summer
- 100 FREE things to do in NYC in Summer
- Things to do in NY in June
- Things to do in NY in July
- Things to do in NY in August
- July 4th in New York City
- Volleyball in New York City
- Tennis in New York City
- Biking in New York City
- Insider Guide to Central Park
- Best NYC Hotel Rooftops
- Labor Day Weekend in NYC
- Free Things to Do in New York City
New York City Events Calendar
Things to Do in NYC by Month
Our Event Calendars show you exactly which events occur by day, but our Things to Do monthly guides highlight seasonal tours, bike rides, best time for boat cruises, when to buy tickets, the biggest sales and all the optimal times to do activities by month. Check out our Monthly Things to do in NYC Guides.
- Things to do in New York in March
- Things to do in New York in April
- Things to do in New York in May
- Things to do in New York in June
- Things to do in New York in September
- Things to do in New York in October
- Things to do in New York in November
- Things to do in New York in December
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