Summer in the City: Free and Fun in August
For those who are budgeting their summer fun, fear not, here’s Elegran’s monthly roundup of free activities for the month of August!
Where: The Delacorte Theater, Central Park
When: Tuesday, August 9th, 8pm
Shakespeare in the park is a longstanding summer tradition in NYC, and the free tickets are an added bonus. Come out and see one of Shakespeare’s lesser known plays Troilus and Cressida while you can!
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
Where: Flushing Meadows Corona Park
When: Saturday, August 6th - Sunday, August 7th, 9am - 5pm
Combining food, culture, and entertainment, this dragon boat festival is fun for the whole family! Come out to this two-day only festival and witness one of the largest dragon boat racing events in the country, all while enjoying delicious traditional Chinese fare.
Labyrinth + Donny McCaslin Group
Where: Prospect Park Bandshell
When: Wednesday, August 10th, 7:30pm
For those still mourning the loss of David Bowie, there’s finally some good news! This event will include a showing of Labyrinth, the quirky Jim Henson movie starring David Bowie, as well as a performance by the Donny McCaslin Group, who backed Bowie on his last album Blackstar.
Where: TBA
When: Saturday, August 6th, 13th, and 20th, 7am-1pm
For three consecutive Saturdays in August, the city closes down 7 miles of NYC streets to block off room for a plethora of fun activities—think of it as the city’s longest street fair. The lineup for this year has yet to be announced, but last year featured a giant slide as well as a zip line.
Where: Bryant Park
When: Tuesday, August 16th, 10am-11am
Yoga classes can be expensive, not to mention intimidating, but this free day of yoga in Bryant Park is neither of those things! Presented by Athleta, it welcomes anyone, regardless of their level of yoga expertise.
Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park
When: Thursday, August 18th, 6pm
Bring yourself back to the days of drive-in theaters with this outdoor showing of the 1992 film, A League of Their Own.
Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest
Where: Coney Island Beach
When: Saturday, August 20th, time TBA
This summer will mark the 26th anniversary of the Coney Island sand sculpting contest, bringing together amateurs and professional sculptors of all ages in a competition for cash prizes.
Where: The High Line
When: Tuesday, August 30th, 6:30pm
End your August on a high note, by stargazing at the High Line with the the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York and their high-powered telescopes. It’s sure to be both an entertaining and educational experience for all ages!