10 NYC Moments to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

By Ella Neve

No more breaking your head on what to do this summer. NYC is a summer paradise. Here are the top things to do in NYC for an epic summer!

Bryant Park Outdoor Movies

Up until August 15th Bryant park is showing free movies beginning at sundown. Bring your favorite snacks and picnic blankets for movies ranging from Grease to Scream II. The lawn opens at 5:00 and the movie starts at 8:00. Hester Street Fair will be selling food and drinks if you're looking for something more luxurious, or the perfect date idea.

Location: Bryant Park main lawn

Dates: July 11, July 18, July 25, August 1, August 8, August 15

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Stranger Things: The Experience - Unlock Your Power!

If you've been binge-ing the final volumes of Stranger Things then this exhibit is perfect for you and your favorite Netflix Binge-ing Buddies. For one hour this summer, immerse yourself in the Upside Down where you can be the hero of your own story. Checkout the Hawkins Lab amidst the 80’s music and paraphernalia with all your favorite characters by your side. Merch, food and drinks, special performers, and photo-ops, are just a few of the features you’ll see.

Location: Flushing, Brooklyn

Open for a limited time until August

Time slots available every half hour.

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Fridays: 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m July 8 and 15: 12:00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays: 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

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Tacos and Tequila Festival

For $65 each, you and your friends can head to 230 Fifth ave for free tacos and five tequila tastings. This rooftop view will host a live DJ, plenty of photo-ops, and a panoramic view of NYC with the Empire State Building close by.

Location: 230 Fifth Ave Rooftop

Date: July 16th & August 13th from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

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The Brooklyn Museum Virgil Abloh exhibit

The Brooklyn Museum is hosting an exhibit in remembrance and celebration of Virgl Abloh’s work. The exhibit features two decades worth of his work, along with the impact his work had on the ways we view fashion in culture. Never-seen-before archived works of his will be shown, along with his collaborations with Kanye West, Takashi Murakami, and more. Special guest talks from those remembering Abloh will be given on every Saturday from 10:00 am - 11:00 am, until January 29th when the exhibit closes.

Location: The Brooklyn Museum

Dates: July 1, 2022 - January 29, 2023

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Hudson River Park Free Pop Up Performances

Hudson River Park, known for its many free summer events, has launched a new performance series to last through August that features bands of every genre. 250+ other free events like yoga classes, festivals, dances, barbecues, and more, are hosted by Hudson River Park this summer.

Locations and Dates:

June 29: Better Fires – Pier 64 Rock Garden at W 24 St.

July 13:  Brooklyn United Marching Band – Pier 81 at W 40 St.

July 27: Ariel Rivka Dance – Clinton Cove at W 55 St.

August 10: Aviva Jaye – Pier 26 at N Moore St.

August 24: Fogo Azul – Pier 84 at W 44 St.

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Kayak for free at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday through August Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse offers 20 min free kayaking sessions. With all equipment provided and stunning views of the Harbor to lookout on, it's the perfect item on your summer bucket list! Reservations are required so book now!

Location: Pier 2, Brooklyn

Date & time: 

Wednesday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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Bronx Night Market

The perfect way to support local small businesses, with 40+ global cuisines, 100+ local artists, and 50+ vendors featuring different foods, beverages aimed to celebrate the vibrant diversity and culture in New York City. Free entry, reservation is recommended!

Location: Fordham Plaza, The Bronx

Date: July 30th, 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm

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Discoasis

Located in the heart of Central Park, DiscOasis is a garden full of the grooviest music, art, food, dancing, roller skating, and live performances. All music curated by the Grammy winning producer and Hall of Fame Indicted, Nile Rodgers. You can choose to “Skate in the Sunshine” 10:00 am - 4:30 pm with a 1 hour ($29) or 3 hour pass ($39). To experience the dazzling lights, live roller skating performances, and DJ, you can “Disco After Dark” from 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm with a general ($65) or vip access pass ($119).

Location: Wollman Rink  830 5th Ave New York, NY 10065

Date and Time: Open Wednesday through Sunday until October 1, 2022, 10:00 am - 10:00 pm.

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Williamsburg Mini Golf Course

This 18-hole mini golf course is located right on the water and is perfect for your day off or a relaxing weekend activity. Reopening May 16, the golf course features a climate change theme to enlighten visitors about pollution in a creative way. Each hole has a theme whether it be emissions or animal endangerment, and each is designed by a different climate activist. Tickets are $10 for adults, tickets are first come first serve.

Location: River St & North 1st, Williamsburg

Date & Time: 

Monday - Friday: 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

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Pick Your Own Sunflower Farm

Located in New Jersey an hour and a half from the city, Happy Day Farm has reopened their sunflower picking hour from July through late August. Cool down from the city heat with a day trip to Happy Day Farm where you can pick your own flowers for $17 a person and $2.50 for every stem you take home. The perfect place for a photo op and if that isn't enough to convince you, they sell home made lemonade and shaved ice, and you get a free tractor ride to the field included in your purchase!

Location: 106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, New Jersey 07726

Date & Time: July 9 through late-August

Wednesday to Sunday, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Last entry at 2:30pm sharp

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