Get us in your inbox

Search
West Indian American Day Carnival
Photograph: Syd LondonWest Indian American Day Carnival

The best things to do on Labor Day in NYC

Make the most of your three-day weekend by checking out the best things to do for Labor Day!

Shaye Weaver
Written by
Shaye Weaver
Advertising

Labor Day Weekend in NYC is the last summer hurrah. It’s our last chance to truly enjoy all the good things summer has brought us—rooftop bars, beaches, pristine pools, beautiful parks and more.

To help you take advantage of the best of the city, we have a list of the best things to do on Labor day and other related Labor Day events right here. Go crazy at a summer music festival, celebrate Caribbean culture at the annual West Indian American Day Carnival, cheer hard at the U.S. Open and make your day extra sandy by hitting our favorite New York beaches. Whether you’re an indoor type or looking for things to do outside, we have the perfect itinerary for Labor Day weekend.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Labor Day in NYC

The best things to do on Labor Day

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.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Festivals

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.

  • Movies
  • Movies

You can see a movie for just $3 this weekend at dozens of theaters around the city in honor of National Cinema Day. On Saturday, September 3, participating movie theaters will show all movies in all formats at all showtimes for $3. Plus, you’ll see special in-theater promotions and sneak peeks of upcoming titles from A24, Amazon Studios, Disney, Focus Features, Lionsgate, Neon, Paramount, Sony Pictures Classics, Sony, United Artists Releasing, Universal and Warner Bros. 

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • City Life

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.

  • Restaurants
  • Drinking

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.

Advertising
  • Restaurants
  • Eating

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.

Advertising
Dance at Mister Sunday
Photograph: Erez Avissar

10. Dance at Mister Sunday

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.

Advertising
  • Restaurants
  • Drinking

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.

Do Labor Day brunch at Loreley Beer Garden
Photograph: Courtesy of Loreley Beer Garden

12. Do Labor Day brunch at Loreley Beer Garden

Have your last summer hurrah with brunch, frozen drinks and a “Margarita Beach Club” all weekend at Loreley Beer Garden. Its Labor Day Brunch (noon-4pm) Friday-Monday will be held in a beachy haven with a tropical plant and floral wall, large tent to keep things cool and a lifeguard tower from Montauk Brewery perfect for a beachy photo-op or the outdoor patio converted into beach cabanas with white drapes and teal and white striped bench cushions. On Labor Day, enjoy a happy hour from 5-10pm with $16 Liter Steins, $2 off drafts and wines, $25 craft pitchers, plus half-off Frozen Margaritas.

Advertising
  • Things to do

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.

Need a break from the city?

Recommended
    You may also like
    You may also like
    Advertising

    The best things in life are free.

    Get our free newsletter – it’s great.

    Loading animation
    Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

    🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

    Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!