Things to do on a Sunday in New York

Williamsburg smells like sausage and peppers again, which can only mean one thing: the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast is back, and it's bigger, louder and more delicious than ever.

Now in full swing through Sunday, July 20, this 12-day celebration is one of the city’s most vibrant and historic street festivals—a dazzling mashup of old-world tradition and neighborhood block party. At the heart of it all is the Giglio: a 70-foot wooden tower adorned with angels, flowers and saints, carried through the streets by more than 100 men to the soundtrack of live brass bands. (And yes, there's also a boat. Long story.)

Chinese food lovers, start prepping your stomach linings now: Dragon Fest, New York's largest Chinese food and cultural festival, is coming back this year for multiple days of limitless food and entertainment across Manhattan and Queens. 

Every year, Dragon Fest brings Chinese vendors, chefs, artists and culture to one place. For a full slate of events, visit Dragon Fest's Instagram or website. You can RSVP for tickets here. Here are all the dates and locations for this year's festival.

This weekend, on July 20, is a special Panda Day-themed event with adorable panda-themed food, art and photo-ops, perfect for families and diehard panda aficionados on 7th Ave, 56th–57th St. 

One of the hottest events of the summer is the aptly named MoMA PS1 Warm Up, and it's back for 2025 with an impressive lineup. This party turns the museum's courtyard into a dancefloor with DJ sets and live performances on six Friday evenings in July and August.

Every year since 1998, the summer-long music festival at this Long Island City art museum explores how music can be a work of art, and this year is no exception. Think Ballroom icons, spoken word artists, dystopian Darkwave producers, and techno legends. The lineup features innovators in electronic music and celebrates new sounds from New York City and around the world. A few can't-miss names include MikeQ, John Glacier, Sarz, OK Williams, Special Request, and DJ Stingray 313; here's the full lineup. 

Tickets cost $25-$30 for general admission.

EdFest, a new theater festival debuting this year, will provide New York audiences the chance to take in a series of one-night-only preview performances before they head across the pond to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

For the uninitiated, the best way to describe the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest performing arts event taking place each August, is: all performance, all the time, always, everywhere.

Taking place from Monday, July 14 through Sunday, July 20, EdFest will mount a dazzlingly different twelve shows (out of 25 applicants), ranging from Fulbright-awarded drag to searing explorations of family history. Tickets and more information are available on The Tank’s website.

New York City has a glorious history of offering high-quality art and culture for rock-bottom prices. “Rock bottom” may not be what it once was, but at least the culture remains at the same high standard. And this summer, you can confirm that for yourself when Lincoln Center hosts concerts for as little as $5 from Saturday, July 19 through Saturday, August 9.

Or rather, $5 is the minimum amount for the “Choose-What-You-Pay” fee structure. The concerts comprise the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center series, part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City. Highlighting musicians from across the world who routinely perform with Lincoln Center, you might better know the Festival Orchestra from its previous iteration as the Mostly Mozart Festival. 

Shop 'til you drop at FAD Market, a curated fashion, art and design pop-up marketplace, which is back for 2025. Expect to see your favorite makers plus brand new creatives to help you live smarter, gift better and support local businesses. 

FAD—which stands for Fashion, Art and Design—takes over different venues with a horde of independent vendors and creators. Admission is free and dogs are welcome!

Here's the upcoming FAD Market schedule:

• July 19-20: Governors Island market
• July 26-27: Summer Market in Cobble Hill
• August 9-10: Summer Market at Empire Stores in Dumbo
• August 16-17: Governors Island market

Only people in the know go to these secret jazz speakeasy shows, but don't worry, we're about to let you in on the secret. These underground live jazz performances called Daddy Rabbit are the epitome of cool.

Musician extraordinaire Misha Piatigorsky launched Daddy Rabbit a few years ago, and the series has gained a well-earned following. Audiences are delighted by the immersive musical experience; you won't just be tapping your toes, you'll even be singing along with incredible performers from across the globe. It all makes for a memorable, only-in-NYC experience.

Grab a ticket here for upcoming shows at LOULOU in Chelsea. Here's the lineup:

— Friday, July 18: Featuring Benny Benack III
— Friday, August 1: Featuring Steve Nelson and Rudy Royston
— Friday, August 29: Daddy Rabbit featuring Jackie Ribas 

The first flat track roller derby league in the metropolitan New York area, Gotham Roller Derby is celebrating its 21st year with a season of hard-hitting games featuring the league's four home teams: the Manhattan Mayhem, the Queens of Pain, the Brooklyn Bombshells and the Bronx Gridlock. On one Saturday night each month (July 19, August 16, September 20 and October 4), you can head to the Lefrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park for back-to-back match-ups of rockin,' rollin' fun courtesy of some of NYC's best up-and-coming derby talent. ️

Gotham Roller Derby, New York City's only skater-operated roller derby league for cisgender, transgender and intersex women and gender non-conforming participants.

If Pokémon interests you in the slightest, you've gotta catch BALLS: The Monster-Catchin' Musical Comédy. This musical, located at Caveat on the Lower East Side, is an improv battle based on the popular Pokémon franchise that includes great laughs and an even greater immersive Splash Zone. Stuart Zagnit, the original voice of Professor Oak from "Pokémon," leads the cast through this hilarious tribute.

Shows are Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, as well as a later show on Tuesday, August 5. Livestream tickets are also available.