Temperatures are heating up-we've rounded up here the biggest upcoming outdoor festivals-food, music, markets, and more, in NYC. Updated for 2024.

Upcoming NYC Festivals: May

Hester Street Fair kicked off weekend of May 1, with the site listing weekend events currently through June 2024, at its new location at The Seaport (special alternating events are also offered at Bryant Park.) Shop for clothes, baked goods and other hand-selected items, while soundtracked to all-day live DJs spinning vinyl. May 11 at The Seaport is a Mother's Day Market, and there's a Memorial Day Market May 25. 

Loreley Beer Garden in LES will be celebrating its NYC Summer Rosé Festival, May 3-June 30.  No cover-enjoy a host of rosé cocktails, Strawberry Frosé , and more. 

The Rooftop at Pier 17 kicks off its sixth summer concert series season May 4, with Bad Religion and Social Distortion. Check out dozens of concerts throughout the summer!

• The 31st New York African Film Festival takes place at Lincoln Center May 8-30.
• Japan Parade NYC , a parade and street fair, takes place May 11, on 72nd Street, between Central Park and Columbus Ave. This year's Grand Marshall is Wheelchair tennis star and four-time Paralympic gold medalist Shingo Kunieda.
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  • Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health comes to Brooklyn May 18, headlined by Mister Wives and Kevin Morby. The street fair is FREE, all day long; ticketed dance parties continue at night at House of Yes.  
  • Ninth Avenue International Food Festival takes place May 18-19. 
  • Fleet Week New York 2024 takes over with multiple events throughout the city May 22-May 28. Special festivities will be taking place at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum May 24-27.

  Upcoming NYC Festivals: June

  

  •  Central Park Summerstage returns for its 2024 season, with a lineup of dozens of performances, many free and some ticketed.  The 51st anniversary season begins June 1, with Andra Day. June 13, Kim Gordon (formerly of Sonic Youth, pictured above) plays.
  • Blue Note Jazz Festival kicks off with Soulive (May 30-June 2), and Andra Day on opening day, June 1. Participating venues include Sony Hall, Brooklyn Bowl, Town Hall, Central Park, and special collaborations with Jazz at Lincoln Center.Photo: Ryan Muir
  • Bryant Park Picnic Performances are back! Their 2024 lineup of programming begins June 1, with a New York City Opera Puccini Celebration.
  • Tastes of Park Slope is June 1, get tickets here.
  • New York Rum Festival takes place at 100 Sutton St, in Brooklyn, June 8. 
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  • Little Island has announced its second annual series of summer programming, including concerts, comedy, dance, and more, from June 1-Sept. 22, including Twyla Tharp's newest full length dance, and Anthony Roth Costanzo's one man Marriage of Figaro. 
  • Sponsored by the Downtown Alliance, Dine Around Downtown on June 4 at Fosun Plaza will features dozens of local vendors, live music and more, from 11am-3pm. With special guest, author Rocco Di Spirito.
  • The Tribeca Film Festival returns June 5-16.
  • The Governors Ball Music Festival returns to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, June 7-9, with Post Malone, The Killers, Sza headlining, and many other acts.
  • Jazz Age Lawn Party returns to Governors Island, this year marking its 18th anniversary, with two weekend celebrations, June 8-9, and again August 10-11. Get ready to head back to the Roaring Twenties!
  • Lincoln Center's Summer in the City Festival returns June 12-August 10, featuring hundreds of FREE events-social dancing, orchestra performances, film screenings, silent discos and much more! 
  • The Porch Stomp Festival returns for its 10th anniversary on Governors Island on June 15.
  • Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Street Festival returns to The Museum at Eldridge Street in LES June 16, now in its 23rd year. The festival fills Eldridge Street with a medley of Jewish, Chinese, and Puerto Rican tastes, sights, sounds, and crafts for folks of all ages to enjoy! 
  • Museum Mile Festival, an annual street festival where you can visit museums along Fifth Ave including the Metropolitan Museum of Art,  Museum of the City of New York, The Guggenheim and others for FREE from 6pm-9pm, happens this year on June 18. 
  • Solstice in Times Square returns for its 22nd year, on June 20. Experienced yogis and first-timers alike are invited to join for one of the free yoga classes taking place throughout the day on the Broadway pedestrian plazas, finding calm once again within the chaos of life in New York City.
  • Swedish Midsummer Festival takes place in Rockefeller Park, June 21. Lawn games, dancing, a food court, and more!
  • Coney Island's colorful, 42nd annual Mermaid Parade returns June 22. Painter, performer, and sideshow historian Joe Coleman, with his wife and muse, artist/photographer Whitney Ward, will reign as King and Queen.
  • Dear Summer BBQ Festival returns, this year at the Under the K Bridge in Coney Island June 22.
  •  PrideFest , part of NYC's Pride Week, takes place in Greenwich Village June 30.

        Upcoming NYC Festivals: July

  Pokémon GO Fest NYC will take place the weekend of July 5-7, on Randall's Island, as well as throughout the five boroughs. Niantic expects tens of thousands of Pokémon GO Trainers (players) from around the world to head to the Big Apple to meet up with fellow Trainers in person, enjoy exclusive gameplay, receive special bonuses and much more.

  

            The NYC Poetry Festival takes place on Governors Island July 13-14.

        Upcoming NYC Festivals: August 

  

  • Celebrate Chinese culture at Dragon Fest,  next on May 25, at Astor Place. More than 100 varieties of traditional, popular, and rare Chinese foods, including soup dumplings, dan dan noodles, sugar painting, candied hawthorn sticks, stinky tofu, and bowl pudding cake, will be available. There's also Han-style clothing and Miao embroidery and jewelry on display. Dragon Fest will continue throughout the summer into October, at various locations in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.
  • Battery Dance Festival returns for its 43rd year, August 11-17. 
  •  Harlem Week celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, running from August 7-18. 
  • US Open Fan Week is August 19-25. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds are open to the public with free admission.

  Upcoming NYC Festivals: September 

•  Feast of San Gennaro returns to Little Italy Sept. 12-22.

• Brooklyn Book Festival returns Sept. 24-30, with Children's Day Sept. 28.

• Brooklyn's Atlantic Antic Festival will return this year September 29.

Watch this space for more September Fest updates!