The best things to do on Labor Day in NYC

New York’s biggest electronic music festival turns the urban jungle into a party animal’s playground. Experience the EDM madness as headliners Diplo, Armin van Buuren, Bijou, Afrojack and more perform amid epic stage effects and art. 

Grab the fam and head to Historic Richmond Town, a preserved museum-village dating from the late 17th century, for its 42nd annual county fair. Three stages of live music, puppetry, dance performances and entire sections of rides, a culture crawl, living history experiences as well as games and contests are sure to entertain this Labor Day Weekend. Proceeds from the fair directly support Historic Richmond Town in its mission to preserve and share local history.

Spend Labor Day Weekend at a series of concerts at Rockaway Bazaar. As part of its summer schedule, you can see DJ Lefty Hernandez on Friday, September 2, Wine w/ Sue on Saturday, September 3, Solshyne on Sunday, September 4, and DJ Mouse on Labor Day, Monday, September 5. All shows are free and for all ages. They begin at 4pm on the weekend (and the holiday) and at 5pm on Friday. Make sure to cool off with a drink from the Sand Shark Bar at Rockaway Bazaar.

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 Tobego while you indulge in jerk chicken and other delicacies.

This city tradition feels fresh every year when artists following in the footsteps of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning set up shop in the park. In its 92nd year, the sidewalk exhibit will attract over 40 artists, from NYU students to artists who remember the Village as a creative enclave, display their original paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry and woodcraft. All registered artists are eligible in several award categories by medium as well as a "Best In Show" award. University Place starting at E 13th St. 

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.

Vacations Bar and Rooftop, at 321 Starr Street in Bushwick, unites the lively Bushwick spirit and charm with the nostalgia and relaxation of that perfect vacation spot. Lightly tropical-themed, the venue is colorful and bright and decorated with postcards across three separate bars—each their own destination.  The bars are inspired by islands near and far (think Manhattan and Puerto Rico, and a few Caribbean destinations in between). It’s good in a pinch if vacation is actually a ways away.

Sun Sets, a weekly music series with a rotating lineup of DJs from the city’s dance music underground, ends with a show on September 3. The weekly music series has featured DJs such as Liondub, Kristin Barilli, the Brooklyn-based DJ collective Uklon, who are originally from Kyiv, Dominican-American DJ Toribio, and more. The last two events are Musclecars on Friday, September 2 and Analog Soul on Saturday, September 3.

Kick off your fall the right way with a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant…without paying the typical Michelin-starred price. It turns out that our very own city is actually home to three of the most affordable Michelin-starred eateries in all of the United States—The Clocktower on Madison Avenue, Oxalis, the new American restaurant right by Prospect Park in Brooklyn and Casa Enrique, a Mexican restaurant in Long Island City.

While you may not remember what you did on Labor Day Weekends past, take a swing and make this year memorable by seeing the champions slay it on the tennis court.

Mister Sunday is back for a Labor Day Weekend Special with Justin Carter and Eamon Harkin at Nowadays. Tickets are $20. Mister Sunday is an all ages event. Kids under 16 accompanied with an adult are free.

Take a trip on the water on a NYC Cycleboat—the only boat you can drink and cycle on in the city’s waters.  It’s completely BYOB so you can enjoy the beer, wine or hard seltzer of your choice (there’s ice, water coolers and cup holders on board) and take a seat on your respective pedal stations. You move your legs like you would on a bike and with your collective power, you help move the boat. It’s much like the pedal trolleys you might’ve seen moving through city streets across the world, but arguably cooler. While you pedal, you get a beautiful vista of the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty with your friends set to party music. It’s not a bad way to say “farewell” to summer.

For far too long people have looked down upon the unicycle, ridiculing riders for how silly they look perched up high above a single wheel. It’s time that one-wheel lovers unite and take over the streets of New York! That’s just what the NYC Unicycle Festival is planning to do. To kick things off, the fest will take over Manhattan, from Battery Park to Central Park, on September 1 (10:30am-3pm) and will move on to Brooklyn on September 2 (2-6pm) from Brooklyn Bridge to Coney Island, and then onto Queens on September 3 (noon-5pm) from Seven Gables Playground to Cunningham Park, Queens, where you can mountain unicycle, learn to ride, play unicycle basketball and more. It’ll finish up on September 4 (1-5pm) at Grant’s Tomb with a casual day of rolling. UniFest has something for everyone, from long-time unicycle enthusiasts to first-time thrill-seekers; and from unicycle basketball to scavenger hunts. It’s fun, it’s free and all ages and abilities are welcome to attend.

Finish off your summer with a visit to one of NYC’s best beaches, from Jacob Riis 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.