The best things to do on Labor Day in NYC

For some, Labor Day is just another Monday off, but the costumed gods and goddesses of this wild parade spend the whole year hot-gluing feathers and stones to their magnificent outfits.

Party all the way down Eastern Parkway and enjoy technicolor floats representing countries like Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago while you indulge in jerk chicken and other delicacies.

It should take you about a week to recover from your three-day party weekend, by which time you can actually honor the national holiday at this joyous parade held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 10am. The AFL-CIO hosts the annual event. Whether you’re marching with actors, nurses, engineers and organizers or are just there for support, you’re certain to leave feeling proud of the city.

It steps off from Fifth Avenue and 44th Street and marches north toward 64th Street.

Opera fiends rejoice! The Metropolitan Opera announced the return of its beloved Summer HD Festival to Lincoln Center Plaza this summer, with free nightly screenings through Monday, September 1. 

For ten nights, the Met will project both classics and new works from its Live in HD series onto a screen on the facade of the opera house: Verdi’s Aida, Beethoven’s Fidelio, Strauss’ Salome, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Jeanine Tesori’s Grounded, Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas, Puccini’s Tosca, Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West are all on the lineup. 

Over 2,500 seats will be available on a first‑come, first‑served basis, with no tickets required, for the 8 p.m. screenings (7:30 p.m. on select nights). You can get more information on The Met Opera's website.

The U.S. Open—New York’s exhilarating summer sports event—is one of the most exciting things to do in Queens each year, and it's coming back soon. Let the games begin!

The U.S. Open runs from August 18-September 7, beginning with qualifying matches, then moving onto mixed doubles, quad wheelchair matches, and men's and women's singles. The main draw runs from August 24–September 7. 

Here's the full schedule of events.

Smorgasburg, the food bazaar spectacular, is back with dozens of great local vendors across three locations. Smorgasburg WTC runs on Fridays; Williamsburg is on Saturdays; and Prospect Park is on Sundays. Each location is open weekly through October. 

For its 15th year of outdoor food and fun, Smorgasburg will showcase more than 70 vendors. The food festival will be filled with fragrant Ethiopian stews, Hawaii-style street comforts, explosive pani puri, potato puff poutine and lots more.

Rooftop Cinema Club takes movie-going to a whole new level—literally. This rooftop film series at a midtown skyscraper offers stunning views and an impressive lineup of films. 

In addition to the movie magic, the venue also offers movie snacks, a full bar and cute photo opps. Ticket prices range from $23-$29/person depending on your seating preference and movie time.

Grab a beer at Torch & Crown Brewing Company's summertime pop-up in Union Square. Torch & Crown Beer Garden. For its third season in a row, the brewery is serving its lineup of locally-made beers and bites to the square until early November.

Commandeering the historic Union Square Pavilion and the square surrounding it, the indoor-outdoor space welcomes all (even dogs!) to enjoy the festivities no matter the weather. The seasonal venue is the brewery's only offshoot outside of its operation in SoHo.  

Watermark—the 10,000-square-foot bar and restaurant in the Seaport—has gone tropical for summer. Colorful umbrellas, towering palm trees, and surf-inspired decorations have taken over the outdoor terrace, making the space feel more like Saint Lucia than the Seaport. Keep an eye out for the playful presence of flamingos for a photo opp. Twinkling overhead lights will keep the party going even after the sun sets.

The menu offers a tropical twist as well with oysters, crispy coconut shrimp, lobster rolls and more. As for drinks, there's a long list of boozy beverages served pouches—like the Kiwi West, BeachSide Bourbon, and Suavemente. If margaritas are more your style, there are a bunch of options, including the "mega fishbowl." Or if shots are your thing, there's a whole list of options called "The Shot Clinic."

As always, Watermark at Pier 15 is known for its views of the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge. If you squint, you can pretend the East River is the ocean instead. 

Make a reservation in advance here.

Don’t bother with Orlando. Coney Island is its very own magical kingdom, setting off free, sensational fireworks every Friday night all summer long. Grab a frank and get yourself a comfortable spot on the boardwalk to celebrate the end of the work-week every week.

Friday Night Fireworks run through Labor Day. Fireworks begin at approximately 9:45pm and launch in front of Deno's Wonderwheel Park providing a breathtaking backdrop to the iconic boardwalk and amusement parks.

The spectacular show is presented by the Alliance for Coney Island. 

Ice cream is at the center of this 20,000-square-foot museum that'll make the cold treat even more fun (who knew it'd even be possible?). Across 13 multi-sensory installations, visitors to the museum will be able to interact with fun elements like a three-story indoor slide, the all-pink Celestial Subway, and a new add-on where guests can build their own edible slime.

Even better: The sweet treats along the way. Yes, we're talking about unlimited ice cream throughout the museum. For adults, check out some fun themed cocktails as well.

Finish off your summer with a visit to one of NYC’s best beaches, from Coney Island to Rockaway. Make sure to plan ahead so as to spend your precious hours off wisely!

If you’re looking for something a little bit more adult, hanging poolside with a cocktail in hand is the answer. 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.

If it's too hot or too rainy to be outside over the weekend, head to a movie theater. Whether you want something flashy and new or a classic from another era, there’s bound to be something you love—and that applies to choice of movie and venue.

The 172-acre island, partially made from the cast-off rocks from the Lexington Avenue Subway, is the verdant backyard that New Yorkers desperately need.

It’s completely car-free so cycling is a breeze, the views of the harbor, the city and the Statue of Liberty are breathtaking and its acres of open land give beleaguered city residents a chance to spread their limbs without clobbering the person next to them. It’s perfect for the last hurrah of summer.