[title]
Get ready for the celestial party of the season. To celebrate the final Manhattanhenge of 2026, the American Museum of Natural History is shutting down 79th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues for an epic, free outdoor block party this Saturday, July 11.
The afternoon fun kicks off at 3pm with the "From Stoops to Stadiums" festival, transforming the street into a lively playground of classic city traditions. You can watch Brooklyn’s Jazzy Jumpers skip some high-energy Double Dutch, challenge a neighbor to a game of chess or learn how extreme heat impacts global sports. Speaking of sports, soccer fans can duck inside the museum to catch the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal matches on the big screens, including highly anticipated face-offs between Norway vs. England and Argentina vs. Switzerland.
If you’ve ever wondered why our concrete jungle aligns so beautifully with the heavens twice a year, AMNH astronomer Jackie Faherty has the answers. At 7pm, she'll lead a ticketed 3D presentation in the LeFrak Giant-Screen Theater. Using the museum’s cutting-edge visualization software, she’ll break down the cosmic math behind the magic—including how Manhattan's 29-degree clockwise rotation sets the stage for this spectacular phenomenon.
But the true crown jewel of the evening happens back out on the pavement. As the sky turns into a fiery canvas of sunset splendor, the Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra will supply a brassy, live soundtrack to get the Upper West Side grooving. Then, at exactly 8:20pm, the full sun will lock perfectly into the canyon of buildings, bathing the street in a glorious golden glow.
Be sure to arrive well before sunset to snag a prime viewing spot. The block party is set to be the ultimate New York summer moment—and your last chance to catch the glow until next year.