FREESPIRIT
No money? No problem! Experience endless summer entertainment in the city — while leaving your wallet at home
IT’S expensive to live in New York. But we big spenders get our money’s worth every summer — with hundreds of free outdoor activities. From movies to fireworks, there’s something to see and do every day that won’t cost you a dime. Here are our picks of this summer’s can’t-miss freebies.
Movies
Grab a blanket and popcorn for some outdoor movie watching.
See Madonna and Rosanna Arquette meet and bond in 1980s East Village in “Desperately Seeking Susan,” which unspools at Brooklyn Bridge Park after the sun goes down. Smorgasburg will sell food and drinks while DJ Isis Swaby spins tunes before the movie (July 12, music starts at 6 p.m.; BrooklynBridgePark.org).
Catch more NYC-focused cinema in Bryant Park, which is screening “When Harry Met Sally” — and maybe head to Katz’s deli afterward and have what she’s having (July 30, sunset; BryantPark.org).
Fans of military movies — and Harry Styles — can watch the gripping World War II epic “Dunkirk” aboard the USS Intrepid, an actual WWII ship (July 27, deck opens at 7 p.m.; IntrepidMuseum.org).
What’s the summer without a superhero movie? One of the hottest flicks of the year,
“Black Panther,” leaps onto the big screen at Rockaway
Beach (Aug. 10, 8 p.m.; NYCGovParks.org). Believe it or not, Eddie Murphy’s
“Coming to America” turns 30 this year. Catch it at Oculus Plaza, where you can make like Murphy’s African prince by chowing down on regional specialties for sale nearby. And there’ll be live music (Aug. 10, doors 5 p.m.; TribecaFilm.com). Also on the big screen: Dive into the fantastical “Big
Fish” at Rockaway Park and Boardwalk (July 14, 8 p.m.; NYCGovParks.org). Recent animated Oscar winner
“Coco” comes to Randall’s Island Park (Aug. 5, 8:15 p.m.; NYCGovParks.org).
Feminist classic and Oscar winner “Thelma and Louise” shows at Bryant Park (Aug. 13, seating at 5 p.m.; BryantPark.org).
See Tom Hanks get “Big” at Brooklyn Bridge Park (Aug. 30, 6 p.m.; BrooklynBridgePark.org).
Concerts
Acts from all genres take the mike this summer as the Big Apple turns into one open-air concert hall. Legendary bluesman John
Hammond, who’s jammed with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan, will strum up some thrills at Battery Park (July 19, 7 p.m., Wagner Park; BPCA.NY.gov).
Early birds can camp out at Central Park’s Rumsey Field for the “Good Morning America” summer concert series, with big names like
Camila Cabello and the Chainsmokers (July 20 and Aug. 3, respectively, 7 a.m.; CentralPark.com).
Leave it to Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors festival to bring the stars to Damrosch Park. This summer’s lineup features R&B crooner
Raphael Saadiq and pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen (July 25 and Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m.; LincolnCenter .org). Also on tap: A Capella group Backtrack Vo
cals takes its harmonies to Union Square (July 19, 5 to 6 p.m.; Sum- merInTheSquare.NYC).
Chicago rapper Noname hits Prospect Park Bandshell (Aug. 3, 7:30 p.m.; BricArtsMedia.org). Blues-rock legend Gary Clark Jr. performs at Prospect Park Bandshell (Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m.; BricArtsMedia.org). Emerging Music Festival showcases prominent up-andcomers at Bryant Park (Aug. 17, 5 p.m. and Aug. 18, 4 p.m.; BryantPark.org). Charlie Parker Jazz Festival brings young musicians to Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park (Aug. 23 to 26; CityParksFoundation.org).
Theater
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” In case you don’t recognize that line already, you’ll hear it at two stagings of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth
Night,” a delicious comedy of mistaken identity and mayhem.
The Public Theater’s doing a version with music for its second offering in its legendary Shakespeare in the Park series. Just don’t forget the bug spray (July 17 to Aug. 19, Tuesdays through Sundays, 8 p.m., Central Park; PublicTheater.org).
Bryant Park’s putting its own spin on the classic, with a colorful, contemporary version that takes its cue from Andy Warhol (July 27 at 7 p.m., July 28 at 7 p.m., July 29 at 3 p.m.; BryantPark.org).
The Bard abounds elsewhere, with the Drilling Company’s allwomen production of “Hamlet” at its famed Shakespeare in the Parking Lot series (parking lot behind La Plaza @ The Clemente, 107 Suffolk St., July 12 to 28, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.; DrillingCompany.org).
Meanwhile, in Marcus Garvey Park, the Classical Theatre of Harlem is mounting an Afropunkinspired interpretation of Sophocles’ “Antigone” (July 7 to 29, Tuesdays through Sundays, 8:30 p.m.; CTHNYC.org).
Dance
Companies from around the country will strut their stuff in the city this summer. San Francisco’s Alonzo King LINES Ballet brings what reviewers call “gripping, urgently beautiful choreography” — some of it set to jazz — to
its first SummerStage performance since 2003 (July 25, 8 p.m., Central Park; CityParksFoundation.org).
Bombazo Dance Co., a highenergy Bronx drum and dance group, performs at St. Mary’s Park, along with Latin dance troupe the Sabrosura Effect. Together they bring the flavors of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Bronx to life through movement (July 27, 7 p.m.; CityParksFoundation.org). The Battery Dance Festival is the longest-running free public dance fest in New York City. In its 37th installation, it brings choreographers and dancers from Europe, Africa, Asia and elsewhere to the tip of Manhattan (Aug. 12 to 17, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wagner Park; BatteryDance.org).
There’ll be two treats in one at this event — a live performance by Brooklyn’s contemporary group Gallim, plus a screening of “Mr. Gaga,” the documentary about ground-breaking director Ohad Naharin, of Israel’s Bat- sheva Dance Company (Aug. 22, 8 p.m., Central Park; CityParksFoundation.org).
Culture
Celebrate the wide-ranging diversity of New York through the many cultural festivals this season. Start by honoring North Africa at the 16th annual ArabAmerican & North African
Street Festival, featuring food and live music from the region (July 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Great Jones Street; NAAPOnline.org).
Take a trip south of the border when the Carnaval de la
Cultura Latina fills Bronx streets with dance and music (July 15, Southern Boulevard near East 163rd Street; CarnavalCulturaLatina.com).
The folklore of Oaxaca, Mexico, will take over the Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens with traditional music, dance and crafts from its eight distinct regions (July 29, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; SocratesSculpturePark.org).
Watch the India Day Pa-
rade make its way down Madison Avenue in a colorful commemoration of its 1947 liberation from England (Aug. 19, noon; FIAnynjct.org).
Happenings
In this town, the fireworks don’t end on the Fourth of July. Coney Island’s shooting up rockets every Friday night (9:30 p.m; ConeyIsland.com). Another Coney highlight is the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating
Contest on July 4. Women’s competition starts at 10:50 a.m.; first bite for men at noon (NathansFamous.com).
One of the most buzzed-about events this summer is the High
Line’s Honey Harvest, where more than 100 pounds of honey will be gathered from rooftop hives in the neighborhood. There’ll be Instagramable flower walls and educational talks, too (July 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; TheHighline.org). More than 120 dragon boat teams will take to the water at the 28th annual Hong Kong
Dragon Boat Festival, competing for cash, trophies and prestige. On land, look for art, martial arts demonstrations and food (Aug. 11 and 12, Flushing Meadows Park; HKDBF-NY.org). But look, there’s more: Take the kids to Come Out &
Play in DUMBO, Brooklyn (July 21, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m; Come- OutAndPlay.org).
Get creative on Governors Island at the New York City
Poetry Festival (July 28 and 29, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; NewYorkCityPoetryFestival.com). Take to NYC’s Open
Streets on three summer days when cars are forbidden (Aug. 5, 12 and 19, Lafayette Street and Park Avenue, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; NYC.gov).