A Local’s Guide to August in NYC

The best things to do in the city all come from what the locals are doing, in our opinion. We have lived in the city our whole lives and are true New Yorkers. During the summer months, it can be difficult to keep cool outside. We’ve found several different options for activities and things to check out throughout the month of August. These include free events, an immersive experience, live shows and so much more! We hope everyone finds something they are looking forward to checking out this month. Here is everything to do in the month of August, from a local!

Walking Tour

The US Open is back and starts August 19th and runs through September 7th! It’s truly an amazing experience to go to a match and watch the greatest tennis players in their element. Tickets are on sale and they offer several different seating options to purchase from. With daily events, there are tons of opportunities to have a good time as sports enthusiasts but it is one of the most popular events in the country. Tickets are always expected to fly with prices increasing the closer to the final games we get, so grab yours now!

The annual Jazz Age Lawn Party is back for the 19th year! You don’t even need to be a huge jazz fan to enjoy this because it’s an event that is always phenomenal. Tickets are on sale now and they include 1920’s photo opportunities and gourmet drinking and dining options. Dress in your best jazz age gear and head on over! It’s taking place August 9th and 10th.

Pier 17 is hosting some really great concerts this summer. Not only are the performances phenomenal, but you’ll also get some of the best views in town! Seaport also has a ton of great spots to grab drinks or a bite to eat beforehand. With happy hour specials and even a movie theater over there, you can make the most of your day.

CityPickle is at the Wollman Rink!. With 14 state-of-the-art courts ready for play, reservations will be available daily from 8AM- 9PM. This season will feature expanded kids’ programming, private event spaces, coaching sessions, and open play, making it even better than before. Check out their camp programs here if you are looking for camp options this summer for your kiddies.

This experience brings the joy of New York’s twice-yearly spectacle indoors in true Color Factory style. Colorscopes is the newest installation this season. It blends astrology and color to create a personalized experience for everyone. Developed with astrologer Michele Bernhardt, this vibrant exhibit assigns a unique hue and birthday insight to each day of the year. You can take home their color horoscope card, offering playful guidance and meaningful connections beyond your visit.

August is a hot mont here! There’s no better outdoor activity this summer than a day at Luna Park in Coney Island, now open 7 days a week! From iconic coasters like the Cyclone to family-friendly rides, games, and boardwalk treats, there’s something for everyone. As a family, we love the mix of legendary roller coasters and more gentle rides, so it’s good for all ages!

If you haven’t tried this yet, it’s so fun with friends! The boat trips are an hour and a half and it is a communal table where you pedal around Manhattan to help propel to boat for fun. You can book one seat or rent the whole boat for 26 people and the best part is it’s BYOB so you can bring whatever you’d like to sip on! There’s a deckhand and master captain there, so you know you’re in good hands. Your group can connect to the bluetooth sound system to play music!

Every Thursday this summer through this month, Union Square will have Summer in the Square! This will feature kids programs, live performances, children’s activities and live Jazz music. This is a great family friendly option. Live entertainment in warm weather is my kind of night. These are free concerts!

Located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this over 16,000 square foot space is for members-only and upscale fitness center actually has 4 full size courts to play on. It’s $150/month for a membership, but if you don’t have one, it’ll cost $55/hour and you can play 3x a month. This is definitely one of the more fun things we’re getting this month!

Have a Disney-Themed Day

From August 19th–28th, the Brookfield Place Open returns for its 10th year, transforming the Waterfront Plaza into a pop-up tennis court, perfect for some friendly matches with stunning river views. While you’re there, explore BFPL’s best-in-class dining, from waterfront favorites like Seamore’s and PJ Clarke’s to Hudson Eats newcomers like Daily Provisions and Milu, ideal for outdoor dining or a picnic at Portside. Don’t forget to check out the incredible on-site art, including AEROGLYPH by Reuben Wu and Michelle Hoogveld’s colorful mural Heart: Portals of Connection, both on view through summer and fall.

This summer, GITANO at Pier 17 is the ultimate escape without leaving Manhattan, blending tropical glamour with downtown edge on its newly opened terrace overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. From the team behind the original Tulum hotspot, the space is lush with palm trees, bold seasonal dishes and vibrant mezcal cocktails. Perfect from golden hour through late night, GITANO offers a transportive, open-air dining experience at the Seaport.

Enjoy a chic afternoon tea bus experience through the city, complete with treats and views, followed by the dazzling Great Gatsby musical. Tickets for this two part experience can be purchased separately but it’s incredibly fun to opt for both back to back.

Summer Streets is back and it’s a way to use up the space in the city for fun things like activations, walks free from cars, workshops, fitness classes and more! The full schedule is on the nyc.gov site for all 5 boroughs but it’s truly a great way to get outside here and enjoy the day. It’s happening August 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd.

The Summer Stage Festival is put on by The City Parks Foundation. They partner with Capital One to bring live performances to the city. It’s a fun festival and they have every genre of music you can imagine. Summer Stage is the largest, most accessible, free admission outdoor festival in NYC! Something cool they do is sometimes there are free digital performances you can view. You’ll want to check them out this month!

For those that want to stay active in the summer and keep cool, you can actually go kayaking for free. Several places in the city offer this amazing deal and you can view them here. It’s fun to do with friends or even a day date option.

I love to shop as much as the next girl, but what’s even better about sample sales is the prices. Some items are 80% off sometimes and my favorite place to shop for sample sales is 260 Sample Sale. They have a few locations in the city as well as online sales and several take place a week. This is a great place to get holiday gifts ahead of time, too! Follow their Instagram to stay up to date on all the latest brands they are hosting sales for.

Check Out Rooftop Bars

We have a ton of information on the blog about my favorite rooftop bars and rooftop restaurants! Views are a huge factor, but the food and cocktails need to be worth it, as well! Make a whole day out of it and check out little island, walk the high line and then finish the night at a rooftop bar!

Pools

It’s hands down the hottest month of the year and that means we need to do whatever we need to do in order to keep cool through the end of the season. Here is a list of all the best free outdoor pools located here in the city, so you can bring your family or friends and relax in a cool pool. Our biggest advice is to pack your own water and snacks to enjoy throughout the day in the summer heat.

Grab Brunch

There are so many great brunch spots in the city, it’s nearly impossible to narrow in on a place to book a reservation. I have a few blogposts with great recommendations that I will link here! If you can find a rooftop for brunch, that is bonus points! The West Village and Greenwich Village are some of the best places for brunch and they’re easily accessible via public transportation.

Collective Retreats has so much to offer, such as their glamping accommodations and a phenomenal restaurant! They have stunning luxury camping with several tent options, as well as the opportunity to take culinary classes and enjoy a special tasting menu. Even if you don’t stay overnight, you can book reservations for their farm to island menu on OpenTable. Although, they do allow walk ins for brunch and lunch, so if you’re visiting Governors Island for the day, this is the best option!

Smorgasburg is the largest open air food market in NYC! With locations in Brooklyn Manhattan and Jersey City, there’s plenty of opportunity to find a spot close to you to check out! They have everything from BBQ to sandwiches to cookies and back! It’s also a really fun place to bring your kids to try out new bites! Check out their site for hours and days of operation, as well as a full list of their vendors.

Rooftop movies are in season! The Seaport Cinema screens films on their open rooftop in the summertime and it’s another great outdoor movie option. Views alone from the roof make it worth it! It’s free to go but space is limited so you will want to get there earlier than the 6:30 start time. I recommend bringing water because it’s pretty hot out this summer.

There really aren’t many drive in movie options here, so finding fun outdoor movie choices for summer nights is not an easy task. Movies with a View is located at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Not only is this free but it’s running until October 24th, so check the schedule to plan out a date night!

It’s back! Running through August 17th, the most delicious event of the summer is here! Reservations are already open, so jump on them because it’s a popular activity to participate in. If you’re unfamiliar with this few week event, it is when restaurants have running deals where you can get a trio of pricing options normally $30, $45 and $60 for prix fixe lunch and dinners. This is a great idea for a date night or a night out with friends!

Mini Golf

 Another great outdoor activity is mini golf. We live by Pier 25, so we often go over there! A few great other spots are Putting Green at Two Trees, Swingers and Shipwrecked. Add these to your August calendar to try out! It’s a great opportunity to practice your putting skills and a must-do activity in the last full month of summer.

Enjoy the Beach

Finally, the beach is most likely where you will find us this month! We love to take advantage of the warm weather and being near a great beach to make memories together as a family. Check out all of our beach content to see what we are making for beach snacks, taking as beach gear and which beaches are our favorite near the city!

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