New York's summer festivals

Article by: Sarah Gilbert, July 2008

New York City loves a summer festival. The last crackle of a Fourth of July firework over the Hudson signals the start of festival season and New York City's parks, plazas, piers, even its pools start to fill up with crowds enjoying live - and often free - entertainment, all the way through to Labor Day in early September.

'It's this great combination,' says Sara Stewart, feature writer at the New York Post. 'You get to be outside in the hot weather, we get the best calibre of musical acts and you get to see places like Central Park and Prospect Park and other sites around the city.'

In Williamsburg, the disused McCarren Park Pool becomes an unexpected venue for some of Brooklyn's best rock bands and DJs.

Indeed, each summer the number and variety of festivals appears to increase, giving visitors to the city even more opportunities to discover its neighbourhoods and landmarks. The River to River Festival showcases a huge range of free events, including music, art and dance. In Williamsburg, the disused McCarren Park Pool becomes an unexpected venue for some of Brooklyn's best rock bands and DJs. This year's line-up includes Black Lips, MGMT and Ting Tings. 'The music's really loud and there's tons of people, but you still feel like you've got enough space,' says Sara Stewart, who saw gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello as part of the Jelly NYC Pool Party series, which runs until late August. 'There are plenty of beer carts and an ice cream truck. It's a really nice place to see a show!'

In Queens, the Warm Up series is a combined arts and music festival. Each year a new massive art installation is commissioned to transform the bare space into a unique setting for a party. The beat is provided by an impressive parade of DJs and bands (including NYC's own Scissor Sisters), who perform each Saturday through to September 6.

The Celebrate Brooklyn festival takes place in Prospect Park, a chunk of greenery nestled amongst Brooklyn's historic brownstone neighbourhoods. You can take in a host of free shows, including English singer-songwriter Beth Orton and New York's famed Mark Morris Dance Theatre. Back in Manhattan, Central Park's Summerstage remains one of the city's top summer events, with everyone from hip-hop legend Afrika Bambaata to Mexico's Julieta Venegas and Crosby, Stills & Nash taking to the stage in July and August.

Can't resist a dance floor? Get into the Midsummer Night Swing at the nearby Lincoln Center, where dancers crowd the platform built over the Met's famous fountain until 26 July.

If you like the idea of lounging in an expansive park while Radiohead's otherwordly sounds wash over you in the sunset, then hop, skip and jump over to Liberty State Park in New Jersey for the All Points West Music and Arts Festival. The line-up also features Kings of Leon, Ben Harper, Cat Power and more; it runs from 8-10 August.

Back in Manhattan, Central Park's lovely bandshell, on the west side, is a gorgeous spot to see musicians play. On 22 July, a collection of flamenco artists from around the city will perform there. For those in the mood for something classical, the Naumberg Chamber Orchestra will be playing Dvorak, Bartok and tangos by Astor Piazzola on 5 August.

Can't resist a dance floor? Get into the Midsummer Night Swing at the nearby Lincoln Center, where dancers crowd the platform built over the Met's famous fountain until 26 July. Live bands belt out salsa, tango and rock'n'roll and the free lesson beforehand ensures that even novices can join in.

But maybe you like your summer festivals nice and easy. If so, the free outdoor film festival in Bryant Park is your ticket. Pack a picnic, get down there early to stake out a spot and enjoy the long summer evening, then settle in for sundown screenings of classics like Arsenic and Old Lace, as well as Christopher Reeve in 1978's now charmingly low-tech Superman.