NYC events in July 2023

From the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show to parties on NYC's rooftop bars and cruising around on boat tours, we've got you covered on how to spend the perfect summer holiday with friends and family.

The beloved Movie Nights series back in Bryant Park this summer, and it’s got an exciting new partner: Paramount+. The streaming juggernaut has entered into a multiyear deal with Bryant Park to support its outdoor movie series, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this summer, making it the park’s longest-running program.

The newly dubbed "Paramount+ Movie Nights at Bryant Park" runs through Monday, August 14.

Here's the July lineup:

• July 3: School of Rock
• July 10: Roman Holiday
• July 17: Reality Bites
• July 24: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
• July 31: Swingers

Every summer, the Public Theater produces a beloved NYC democratic tradition and one of the best free things to do in NYC: Shakespeare in the Park, presented at the open-air Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

There’s nothing quite like hearing the Bard’s immortal words performed outside in New York, with a backdrop of natural splendor and the Belvedere Castle looming in the background like the world’s most impressive set decoration. 

In lieu of its usual two productions, Shakespeare in the Park's is staging only one this year, and it's a biggie: Hamlet, running through August 6, 2023. With few exceptions, performances are Monday through Saturday at 8pm. You can find more information here. 

One of the city’s most beautiful summer traditions is on its way, and you won’t want to miss this free viewing experience.

Manhattanhenge, the phenomenon when the sun sets along with Manhattan's grid, making it appear like the orange orb is sinking between the skyscrapers, occurs every summer. It's a special time when pedestrian traffic slows, and everyone's temporarily aware of their surroundings to observe the gorgeous natural occurrence.

It happens on July 12 at 8:20 pm (full sun) and on July 13 at 8:21 pm (half sun).

Here's when and where to observe Manhattanhenge. 

A quick trip to Europe is possible this summer for all New Yorkers, as long as you use a little imagination. The French Institute Alliance Franҫaise (FIAF) just announced the details of its annual Bastille Day celebration, the city's largest event for France's national holiday. 

The long-running event has taken place on the Upper East Side for over two decades and transforms several blocks with the tastes, sights, sounds and je nes se quois charm of summertime in France. 

On Sunday, July 16, from noon to 5pm, live music, rosé and bubbly tastings, a special film screening, French food vendors and more will take over Madison Avenue from 59th to 63rd Streets.

America’s first Black popular music icon is getting his due with a massive new center that’ll house a 60,000-piece collection and a venue for live music, lectures and screenings.

NYC’s Louis Armstrong House Museum is finally opening its new facility, the Louis Armstrong Center, on July 6—and it’s a big deal!

When it opens in July, it’ll act as a permanent home for the 60,000-piece Louis Armstrong Archive (the world’s largest for a jazz musician containing photos, recordings, manuscripts, letters & mementos) and a 75-seat venue for performances, lectures, films, and educational experiences, according to a release.

The Center and the historic house will be open to the public Thursdays through Saturdays starting July 6. Tickets can be purchased at louisarmstronghouse.org. Tours have limited capacity, so book in advance.

Nearly every artist has their fixation, and for two years, Vincent Van Gogh was possessed with the challenge of capturing the cypress trees that surrounded him in France toward the end of his life.

You’ll be able to see this glorious obsession firsthand at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s major summer exhibit, “Van Gogh’s Cypresses,” which runs through August 27.

And it is history in the making as it is the first exhibition to focus on the artist’s cypress trees, reuniting some of his most iconic paintings, including “Wheat Field with Cypresses” and “The Starry Night” and other rarely lent works.

Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace is back at Rockefeller Center through October. 

The rink offers smooth ride with plenty of space to get around other skaters. Being able to glide by Prometheus and in front of spectators visiting Rockefeller Center is quite a thrill. Before Flipper’s first opened last year, the last time anyone roller-skated here was in 1940!

Tickets start at just over $20 for a one-hour rink time.

The pickleball craze is continuing as CityPickle has arrived at Central Park's Wollman Rink—the largest pickleball installation in the Northeast. Fourteen courts are open from 7am-9pm daily through October 9 and all skill levels are welcome to play.

Each court at Central Park can accommodate four to eight people. Full-price court rental options range from $80-$120 total per hour, depending on if it’s an off-peak or peak reservation time. That translates to about $10 per person for an hour of play. 

In artist Beverly Barkat hands, discarded plastic bags, bottles and cups transformed into stained glass-like pieces that she fused together to create a giant globe. Her stunning yet jarring artwork is now on view in Lower Manhattan.

To create "Earth Poetica," Barkat worked with conservationists across the world who sent her locally sourced plastic waste. She used those to create 180 colorful panels portraying regions of the Earth whose continents and oceans are suffocating under growing masses of plastic waste. The sculpture be on view for free in the lobby of 3 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan through November. 

Spectacular food bazaar Smorgasburg typically spotlights about 100 vendors across its locations. Smorg has three spots in 2023, two in Brooklyn (in Williamsburg and Prospect Park) and one at the World Trade Center. 

The Times Square Alliance is back with its summer program, TSQ Live, New York City’s biggest free performance series and its largest open-air public programming funding the arts.

All events are free, for all ages and open to the public. Here's the schedule for July:

• Tuesday, July 4, 5pm: DJ Sets (Broadway & 43rd St)

• Wednesday, July 5, 5pm: Live Music with Pioneer Works | The Manhattan Review of Unnatural Acts or NYRoCS (Broadway & 43rd St)

• Thursday, July 6, 5pm: Live Music with Jazz at Lincoln Center | Winard Harper and Jeli Posse (Broadway & 46th St)

• Friday, July 7, 6pm: Live Music on Summer Fridays (Broadway & 46th St)
• Tuesday, July 11, 5pm: DJ Sets with Soul Summit (Broadway & 43rd St)
• Wednesday, July 12, 5pm: Live Music with Pioneer Works | Ciarra Black (Broadway & 43rd St)

• Thursday, July 13, 5pm: Live Music with Jazz at Lincoln Center | Mariel Bildsten Septet (Broadway & 46th St)
• 
Friday, July 14, 6pm: Live Music on Summer Fridays (Broadway & 46th St)
• Tuesday, July 18, 5pm: DJ Sets (Broadway & 43rd St)

• Wednesday, July 19, 5pm: Live Music with Pioneer Works | Brent Arnold: Solo Cello & Electronics (Broadway & 43rd St)
• Thursday, July 20, 5pm: Live Music with Jazz at Lincoln Center | Naledi Masilo [in honor of Nelson Mandela's Birthday Celebration] (Broadway & 46th St)

• Friday, July 21, 6pm: Live Music on Summer Fridays (Broadway & 46th St)
• Tuesday, July 25, 5pm: DJ Sets (Broadway & 43rd St)

• Wednesday, July 26, 5pm: Live Music with Pioneer Works | Soless Dialtone (Broadway & 43rd St)

• Thursday, July 27, 5pm: Live Music with Jazz at Lincoln Center | Roxy Coss Quartet (Broadway & 46th St)

• Friday, July 28, 6pm: Live Music on Summer Fridays (Broadway & 46th St)

If you can't make it to a tropical beach this sumer, Watermark Beach is now open and ready to help. 

This tropical takeover at Pier 15 features tiki decor, seasonal drinks and twinkling lights for when the party stretches into the nighttime hours.

Reservations are available here, so grab your Tommy Bahama shirt, slather on some sunscreen and party like you're in the Bahamas right here in Manhattan.

If you're a Barbie girl who's always dreamed of living in a Barbie world, now's your big moment.

The Malibu Barbie Café, an immersive pink-hued pop-up, is now open in the Seaport. Boasting fun photo opps, a menu from a Master Chef finalist, California vibes and, of course, actual Barbie dolls, this cafe feels like a spot Barbie herself would hang out with Ken, Midge and Skipper.

All ages are welcome to experience The Malibu Barbie Café, which is available for booking through September 15. Each reservation includes your choice of entree and side item, full access to the Barbie Cafe experience and a 90-minute table reservation. Early bird pricing ranges from $22-$30 for kids and $39-$49 for adults depending on the date and time. You can buy additional drinks, dessert and food. 

Summer nights, after work or a day out, will once again be alive with music and dance thanks to Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America.

Starting in June, the Picnic Performances will bring the best of NYC to the stage, including the New York City Opera, Jalopy Theatre, Carnegie Hall, the Classical Theatre of Harlem and the American Symphony Orchestra.

Best of all, all 26 performances are free and open to the public!

Here's the July schedule:

• July 7 — Carnegie Hall Citywide: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra at 7pm
• July 14 — Carnegie Hall Citywide: Tessa Lark + Michael Thurber at 7pm
• July 21 — Carnegie Hall Citywide: Magos Herrera featuring The Knights at 7pm
• July 28 — Carnegie Hall Citywide: Champe-Soukous Collective at 7pm

The Rooftop at Pier 17 is planning a packed summer of musical performances with more than 60 outdoor shows. 

For the fifth year of the venue's Summer Concert Series at the Seaport, they're going all out with an impressive schedule all summer long. This year's lineup includes Coheed and Cambria, Bebe Rexha, DJ Trixie Mattel, T-Pain, YUNGBLUD, Jenny Lewis, PUP, Tove Lo, Macklemore, Pixies and Modest Mouse, and many more.

Here's the Pier 17 lineup for July:

• July 6 - Rebelution: Good Vibes Summer Tour 2023
• July 7 - SiriusXM Presents Yacht Rock Revue: Reverse Sunset Tour
• July 8 - Yellowcard: Celebrating 20 Years of Ocean Avenue
• July 11 - T-Pain: Escape from Wiscansin – The Invasion
• July 12 - Barenaked Ladies: Last Summer On Earth 2023
• July 14 - YUNGBLUD: The World Tour
• July 15 - The Struts: Remember The Name
• July 18 - Jenny Lewis: JOY’ALL TOUR
• July 21 - An Evening with CAKE
• July 22 - An Evening with CAKE
• July 27 - Joe Russo’s Almost Dead

The Alliance for Coney Island is hosting the 2023 Summer Flicks on the Beach series at Coney Island Beach, with free biweekly movies every other Monday night all summer long. The outdoor screenings will be held on the beach at West 12th Street beginning at sunset, and attendees are welcome to bring their own blankets or chairs to plop down and enjoy the movies right in the sand. 

On July Monday, July 10, you can settle in for a screening of the Tom Cruise juggernaut Top Gun: Maverick, and hang out with Mario and Luigi and the rest of the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom during a showing of The Super Mario Bros. Movie on July 24.

This year, SummerStage will bring New Yorkers nearly 80 free and benefit shows to Central Park and 12 neighborhood parks across the five boroughs, including at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, Von King Park and The Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, Crotona Park in the Bronx, Stapleton Waterfront Park in Staten Island, and its “flagship” venue at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.

Featured artists include Indigo Girls, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Grandmaster Flash, The Metropolitan Opera, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Garbage, Kool and the Gang, DJ Rekha, Regina Spektor and much, much more. All shows are free except the benefit concerts, which are noted below.

Here's what's on for July:

• July 1: Andy Shauf, Leith Ross, Yves Jarvis in association with the Consulate General of Canada in NY at Central Park
• July 2: Marisa Monte, Joana Amendoeira & Fred Martins, Music from the Sole, DJ Lara Gerin in Association with the Consulate General of Brazil in New York and Arte Institute at Central 
• July 8: Catalan Sounds On Tour: Queralt Lahoz, Marala, Lia Kali with DJ sets by DJ Trapella in association with the Institut Ramon Llull at Central Park
• July 9: Skip Marley & Friends at Coney Island
• July 10: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Garbage, Metric at Central Park (benefit)
• July 12: Juanes, Conexion Divina in association with LAMC at Central Park
• Jul 13: Bastille Day: Joachim Garraud & Marie Berson, Passi, Bénabar, Adèle Castillon in association with the Consulate General of France at Central Park
• July 13: Works & Process at SummerStage: The Masterz at Work Dance Family with Courtney Washington at Von King Park
• July 14: Nick Hakim, June McDoom, Evan Wright at Von King Park
• July 15: TRUENO, Villano Antillano, Dawer x Damper, KEXP’s El Sonido with Albina Cabrera ft. Camola DJ set in association with LAMC at Central Park
• July 15: MIKE’S Young World III: Noname, Georgia Anne Muldrow, 454 at Von King Park
• July 16: dead prez, th1rt3en, Large Professor DJ Set at Von King Park
• July 16: GOLDEN OLDIES ON THE BOARDWALK 2023 feat. The Duprees, The Coasters, Charlie Thomas’ Drifters w/ Jeff Hall, Bobby Wilson, Stan Zizka’s Del Satins, Vito Picone & The Elegants, The Chiclettes and more hosted by Joe Causi with DJ Vinnie Medugno in association with Fever Productions and Brian Rosenberg at Coney Island
• July 19: Julia Jacklin, Y La Bamba, Black Belt Eagle Scout at Central Park
• July 20: Horsegirl, Iceage, Water From Your Eyes, Lifeguard at Central Park
• July 22: Michael Brun presents BAYO at Central Park
• July 22: Kool and the Gang at Flushing Meadows Corona Park
• July 23: Taiwanese Waves: Waa Wei, The Dinosaur’s Skin, Mandarin Homework (DJ Mr. Skin) at Central Park
• July 23: DJ Rekha’s Basement Bhangra Bacchanal: DJ Rekha, Malkit Singh with live band, DJ Ana, Sikh Knowledge, Rolex Rasathy, Param Singh, Dholi Anuradha and guests
  Flushing Meadows Corona Park
• July 24: Cafe Tacvba at Central Park (benefit)
• July 26: Works & Process at SummerStage: Dorrance Dance at  Central Park
• July 29: Mdou Moctar, Meg Baird and Mary Lattimore, Rough Francis at Central Park

For New Yorkers, there are several annual markers that summer has officially arrived: the return of Warm Up, the long-running outdoor music and art series held in MoMA PS1's courtyard, is one of them. 

Back for its 25th season, Warm Up will bring electronic music and DJ sets to Long Island City from 5pm to 1pm on Friday evenings from July 21 through August 25.

Forest Hills Stadium in Queens has released its lineup for its 2023 Centennial season, and it includes some must-see acts like Kevin Hart, Dave Matthews Band, Soccer Mommy, Fall Out Boy, Arctic Monkeys, Duran Duran, Weezer, Future Islands, The Strokes, Angel Olsen and more. 

The new season will feature 30 music and comedy performances, representing the “most diverse and exciting list of performances yet,” according to a press release. 

Here's the lineup.

We certainly have our pick of options as there are more than 60 public swimming pools scattered around New York’s five boroughs. Here's our comprehensive list of the squeaky clean—and totally free—swimming pools in NYC.

Several of New York’s finest hotels offer day passes for their rooftop pools, most of which include chaises and cabanas for lounging in addition to a full-service bar. The combination of two of New York's favorite things—swimming pools and rooftop bars—creates an elevated summer oasis worth throwing down some cash for. Make sure to cross one, if not all, of these pool off your things to do in the summer bucket list.