2011: a cornucopia of free summer events in new york city (UPDATED)

summer is upon us and that means the parks, plazas and waterfronts become venues for more music, theater, and dance than you can shake at stick at, but it's always fun to try.   here's a compiled list of the more major festivals that grace our fine city, like city parks summerstage, celebrate brooklyn,  the river to river festival, take me to the river festival,  the bryant park and brooklyn bridge park film festivals and a large list of free outdoor theater festivals and venues. 

the main factor is that everything is free!

the full list after the jump...



CITY PARKS SUMMER STAGE
http://www.summerstage.org

CENTRAL PARK MAINSTAGE


July 15   8:00pm Dance: Armitage Gone Dance / Dance Grand Moultrie
July 16   8:00pm Dance: Armitage Gone Dance / Dance Grand Moultrie
July 17   7:00pm Music: Pink Martini
July 23   8:00pm Dance: Keigwin + Company / Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn
July 24   3:00pm Music: Marcello D2 / Pitty / DJ Nuts
July 27   7:00pm Music: Wanda Jackson / Imelda May
July 30   8:00pm Dance: Forces of Nature Dance Theatre / Cecilia Marta Dance Company
Aug 6     7:00pm Music: Shelebration! A Tribute to the Works of Shel Silverstein
Aug 7     3:00pm Music: Friendly Fires / The Naked and Famous / Cults
Aug 10   7:00pm Music and Film: Joe Bataan / Johnny Colon / "We Like It Like That"
Aug 13   3:00pm Music: Henry Santos
Aug 14   3:00pm Music: Donald Lawrence and special guests
Aug 17   8:00pm Theatre: "Sangre"
Aug 20   3:00pm Music: Tiken Jah Fakoly / Meta and The Cornerstones
Aug 21   3:00pm Music: Rakim / EPMD / Funkmaster Flex
Aug 28   3:00pm Music: Jagged Edge / Avant / Melanie Fiona

QUEENS QUEENSBRIDGE PARK
July 19  7:00pm Music: Kool Moe Dee
July 20  7:00pm Music: Harold Melvin's Blue Notes
July 21  7:00pm Music: Funkmaster Flex plus special guests
July 22  7:00pm Dance: Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Broolklyn / Waheed Works
July 24  3:00pm Queen's Family Dance

QUEENS SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK
July 26  7:00pm Music: The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital

QUEENS SPRINGFIELD PARK
July 26  7:00pm Music: Donell Jones / Oliva
July 27  7:00pm Music: Hezekiah Walker
July 28  7:00pm Music: Chrisette Michelle
July 29  8:00pm Theater: "Tunde's Trumpet"
July 30  8:00pm Theater: "Tunde's Trumpet"

MANHATTAN JACKIE ROBINSON PARK
July 28  7:00pm Music: The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital

STATEN ISLAND TAPPEN PARK
Aug 2   7:00pm Music: Sugarhill Gang
Aug 3   7:00pm Music: The Budos Band
Aug 4   7:00pm Music: Andy Cooney

MANHATTAN MARCUS GARVEY PARK
Aug 5   8:00pm Theatre: "Henry V"
Aug 6   8:00pm Theatre: "Henry V"
Aug 7   8:00pm Theatre: "Tunde's Trumpet"
Aug 8   8:00pm Theatre: "Tunde's Trumpet"
Aug 9   7:00pm Music: Rob Base / Funkmaster Flex
Aug 10 7:00pm Music: Vashawn Mitchell
Aug 11 7:00pm Music: Ryaan Leslie
Aug 12 7:00pm Dance: Forces of Nature Dance Theatre / Dash Ensemble
Aug 13 7:00pm Dance: Celilia Marta Dance Company / Francine E Ott / The Walk

MANHATTAN HIGHBRIDGE PARK
Aug 16  7:00pm Music: Bachata Heightz
Aug 17  7:00pm Music: Henry Santos
Aug 18  7:00pm Music: Andy Andy

MANHATTAN EAST RIVER PARK
Aug 19  7:00pm Dance: Dre. Dance / White Wave Young Soon Kim Dance Company
Aug 20  7:00pm Dance: Step Afrika / Border Crossing Collective
Aug 23  7:00pm Music: Tito Rojas
Aug 24  7:00pm Music: The Cold Crush Brothers
Aug 25  7:00pm Music: Wavves
Aug 27  8:00pm Theater: "Henry V"
Aug 28  8:00pm Theater: "Henry V"
Aug 29  8:00pm Theater: "Henry V"
Aug 30  8:00pm Theater: "Oedipus Rex"
Aug 31  8:00pm Theater: "Seven Against Thebes"
Sept 1    8:00pm Theater: "Oedipus Rex"
Sept 2    8:00pm Theater: "Seven Against Thebes"


CELEBRATE BROOKLYN
Prospect Park
http://www.bricartsmedia.org/cb

July 14   7:00pm Music: Frankie Gavins & De Dannan / Liam O Maonlai
July 15   7:30pm Music: Shirley Caesar / Vy Higginsen's Gospel for Teens Choir
July 16   4:00pm Music: Dan Zanes w The Brooklyn Youth Orchestra
July 21   8:00pm Film and Dance: West Side Story Dance & Sing-Along
July 22   7:00pm Music: Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 / Faaji Agba
July 23   7:00pm Music: The Feelies / Real Estate / Times New Viking
July 28   8:00pm Dance: Mark Morris Dance Group w Brooklyn Philharmonic
July 29   7:30pm Music: Oumou Sangare / Bassam Saba
July 30   6:30pm Music: Dr John & The Lower 911 / Chuck Brown / Red Baraat
Aug 4     7:00pm Music and Film: The Complete Metropolis w Alloy Orchestra / Marika Hughes
Aug 5     7:00pm Music: Ra Ra Riot / Delicate Steve / Buke and Gass
Aug 6     8:00pm Dance: Ailey II Revelations


CONEY ISLAND SEASIDE SUMMER CONCERTS
Concerts moved from Asser Levy Park to West 21st Street and Surf Avenue (previously occupied by Barnum & Bailey circus).
http://www.brooklynconcerts.com/seaside.html
July 14  7:30pm  Joan Jett and The Blackhearts / Girl In A Coma
July 21  7:30pm  The Monkees / Jay Black
July 28  7:30pm  Mary Wilson (of the Supremes) / The Spinners
Aug 4    7:30pm  Mystery Night (TBA one week before show)
Aug 11  7:30pm  Annual Latino Music By The Sea  TBA / Maria Torres Dancers
Aug 18  7:30pm  Cheap Trick / Newyorkestra


CENTRAL PARK NAUMBURG BANDSHELL
http://naumburgconcerts.org/
July  26     7:30pm  The Matt Herskowitz Trio
Aug 9        7:30pm  Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players
Aug 22      7:30pm  The Knights


CENTRAL PARK HARLEM MEER
http://www.centralparknyc.org/
Sundays  2:00 pm - 4:00 pm 
July 17      The Ebony Hillbillies (String Band) 
July 24      Pucci Amanda Jhones with the J.B.E.R. Quartet (Jazz Vocals) 
July 31      Willie Villegas y Entre Amigos (Classic Salsa) 
Aug 7        The Steven Kroon Sextet (Latin Jazz) 
Aug 14      Charansalsa (Salsa) 
Aug 21      Sounds of Deliverance (Gospel) 
Aug 28      The Dennis Day Ensemble (Soul Jazz) 
Sept 4       The Pedrito Martinez Group (Afro-Cuban Percussion)


SUMMER IN THE OVAL
Peter Cooper Village / Stuyvesant Town
http://www.pcvst.com
July 16   4:00pm World Music and Food Fair
July 23   4:00pm Theater: Theatre On The Oval
July 30   4:00pm Music: Music Festival
Sept 7    7:00pm Movie: Cabaret
Sept 14  7:00pm Movie: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Sept 21  7:00pm Movie: The Devil Wears Prada


MADISON SQUARE PARK CONSERVANCY
http://www.madisonsquarepark.org
July 15   7:00pm Music: Christian McBride & Inside Straight
July 27   7:00pm Music: David Wax Museum
Aug 3     7:00pm Music: Pedrito Martinez Group
Aug 10   7:00pm Music: Davell Crawford Tribute to Ray Charles


BRYANT PARK FILM FESTIVAL
http://www.bryantpark.org
Lawn opens at 5:00pm; movie at sunset.
July 18   In The Heat of the Night
July 25   The Lady Eve
Aug 1     Cool Hand Luke
Aug 8     Airplane!
Aug 15   High Sierra
Aug 22   Dirty Harry


BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK FILM FESTIVAL
http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org
Pier 1 Harbor View LawnMusic at 6:00pm; movie at sunset.
July 14   Ghostbusters
July 21   Sweet Smell of Success
July 28   Basquiat
Aug 4     An American Tail
Aug 11   Breakfast at Tiffany's
Aug 18   Crooklyn
Aug 25   Rosemary's Baby


EPIX MOVIE FREE-FOR-ALL
http://www.epixhd.com/freeforall

EAST VILLAGE TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK
July 14   Film: The Warriors
July 21   Film: Star Trek
July 28   Film: Arthur
Aug 4     Film: The Pope of Greenwich Village
Aug 11   Film: Kick-Ass
Aug 18   Film: Rosemary's Baby
Aug 25   Film: The Godfather
Sept 1    Film: Stake Land

CONEY ISLAND LUNA PARK
July 18    Film: Rango
July 25    Film: Top Gun
Aug 1     Film: Iron Man 2
Aug 8     Film: Annie Hall
Aug 15   Film: Moonstruck
Aug 22   Film: Justin Beiber: Never Say Never
Aug 29   Film: How She Move
  
BROOKLYN MCCARREN PARK
July 20    Film: Ghost World
July 27    Film: Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Aug 3     Film: Clueless
Aug 10   Film: Jurassic Park

QUEENS SOCRATES PARK
July 20    Film: Caramel
July 27    Film: The Good, The Bad, The Weird
Aug 3      Film: The Straight Story
Aug 10    Film: At The Edge of Russia
Aug 17    Film: Biutiful
Aug 24    Film: Backyard Band w/ Silent Film Festival


BROOKLYN WILLIAMSBURG WATERFRONT
http://www.osanb.org
July 26   5:30pm Eugene Mirman and Pretty Good Friends w/ They Might Be Giants


TAKE ME TO THE RIVER FESTIVAL
http://www.hudsonriverpark.org
http://www.riverrocksnyc.com
http://www.riverflicksnyc.com

PIER 45
July 15   7:00pm Music: David Ippolito
July 19   6:30pm Classical: Mannes College The New School for Music
July 22   7:00pm Music: David Ippolito
July 26   6:30pm Jazz: The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music
July 29   7:00pm Music: David Ippolito
Aug 2     6:30pm Classical: Mannes College The New School for Music
Aug 5     7:00pm Music: David Ippolito
Aug 9     6:30pm Jazz: The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music
Aug 12   7:00pm Music: David Ippolito
Aug 16   6:30pm Classical: Mannes College The New School for Music
Aug 19   7:00pm Music: David Ippolito

PIER 46
July 15  8:30pm Movie: Despicable Me
July 22  8:30pm Movie: The Princess Bride
July 29  8:30pm Movie: Toy Story 3
Aug 5    8:30pm Movie: How To Train Your Dragon
Aug 12  8:30pm Movie: Shrek Forever After
Aug 19  8:30pm Movie: Tangled

PIER 63
July 20  8:30pm Movie: The Kids Are All Right
July 27  8:30pm Movie: The Other Guys
Aug 3    8:30pm Movie: The Fighter
Aug 10  8:30pm Movie: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Aug 17  8:30pm Movie: The Town

PIER 54
July 14  6:00pm Music: tUnE-yArDs with Austra
July 28  6:00pm Music: Metronomy with Class Actress
Aug 11  6:00pm Music: Deer Tick

PIER 84
July 17  7:00pm Moondance: Los Hermanos Colon
July 24  7:00pm Moondance: Octavio Brunetti's Apeadero Sur Tango Orchestra
July 31  7:00pm Moondance: Nu D'Lux Salsa
Aug 7    7:00pm Moondance: George Gee Swing Orchestra


RIVER TO RIVER FESTIVAL
http://www.rivertorivernyc.com

WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER
July 14   12:30pm Dance: Third Rail Projects, Looking Glass
July 14     6:00pm Dance: Michael Moschen Triangle / STREB / Australia's Strange Fruit
July 15   12:00pm Dance: Michael Moschen Triangle / STREB / Australia's Strange Fruit
July 15    6:00pm Dance: Michael Moschen Triangle / STREB / Australia's Strange Fruit
July 16    2:00pm Dance: Michael Moschen Triangle / STREB / Australia's Strange Fruit
July 16    4:00pm Dance: Michael Moschen Triangle / STREB / Australia's Strange Fruit
July 16    6:00pm Dance: Michael Moschen Triangle / STREB / Australia's Strange Fruit

THE SEAPORT

July 15   7:00pm Music: The Radio Dept. with Asobi Seksu
July 17   2:00pm Music: Hospitality

CASTLE CLINTON
July 14   7:00pm Music: Patti Smith and Her Band



LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS
http://www.lincolncenter.org
Jul 27 Afternoon Billy Bragg: The Big Busk; Various outdoor locations
Jul 27 7:30pm  Billy Bragg: The Big Busk; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Jul 27 9:30pm  Eiko & Koma: Water; Paul Milstein Pool, Hearst Plaza
Jul 28 7:30pm  3 Pianos / Taylor Made; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Jul 28 9:30pm  Eiko & Koma: Water; Paul Milstein Pool, Hearst Plaza
Jul 29 7:30pm  Don Byron New Gospel Quintet; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Jul 29 9:30pm  Eiko & Koma: Water; Paul Milstein Pool, Hearst Plaza
Jul 30 1:00pm The Ponderosa Stomp: Girl Talk (symposium); David Rubenstein Atrium
Jul 30 4:30pm  Double Dutch Divas; Josie Robertson Plaza
Jul 30 5:00pm  Ponderosa Stomp: She's Got the Power! A Girl Group Extravaganza; 
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Jul 30 9:30pm  Eiko & Koma: Water; Paul Milstein Pool, Hearst Plaza
Jul 31 2:00pm  Family Day Rhythm and ROOTS 360; Hearst Plaza
Jul 31 3:30pm  Family Day Stax Music Academy; Hearst Plaza
Jul 31 5:00pm  Family Day Vy Higginsen's Gospel for Teens; Hearst Plaza
Jul 31 7:00pm  Mavis Staples / The Relatives; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Jul 31 9:30pm  Eiko & Koma: Water; Paul Milstein Pool, Hearst Plaza
Aug 3 6:30pm  Asphalt Orchestra; Plazas throughout Lincoln Center
Aug 3 7:30pm  Trey McIntyre Project and Preservation Hall Jazz Band; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Aug 4 6:30pm  Raya Brass Band; Broadway Plaza
Aug 4 7:30pm  Malkit Singh / Dengue Fever; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Aug 5 7:30pm  Mujeres de Agua by JAVIER LIMÓN; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Aug 6 12:00pm La Casita Music and spoken word performances; Hearst Plaza Stage
Aug 6 6:30pm  Natural Expression Rhythm Band; Josie Robertson Plaza
Aug 6 7:30pm  Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquiño / François Ladrezo & Alka Omeka; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Aug 7 1:00pm  Heritage Sunday: Desconocido: El Otro Lado del Colombia / Unknown: The Other Side of Colombia; Hearst Plaza Stage
Aug 7 7:30pm  Live from the Continent / Blitz The Ambassador / Spoek Mathambo; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Aug 10 6:00-7:30pm  Spike's Side Show; Plazas throughout Lincoln Center
Aug 10 7:30pm  Laurie Anderson and Friends; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Aug 11 6:00pm MarchFourth Marching Band; Josie Robertson Plaza
Aug 11 7:00pm  David Dorfman Dance featuring The Family Stone; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Aug 12 7:30pm Tan Dun conducting the Metropolis Ensemble; Damrosch Park Bandshell
Aug 13 -  Aug 14
28th Annual Roots of American Music Festival; Plazas throughout Lincoln Center


METROPOLITAN OPERA IN THE PARKS SUMMER RECITALS
July 11, 8:00 pm   Central Park SummerStage, Manhattan
July 13, 7:00 pm   Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn
July 19  7:00 pm   Crotona Park, Bronx
July 21, 7:00 pm   Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island
July 26  7:00 pm   Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens
July 28  7:00 pm   Jackie Robinson Park, Manhattan


GOOD MORNING AMERICA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Central Park Rumsey Playfield
Park opens 6:00am; concert during show taping.
July 15    Brad Paisley
July 22    Goo Goo Dolls
July 29    Debbie Gibson and Tiffany
Aug  5     Nicki Minaj
Aug 12    American Idol Top 11
Aug 19    Taio Cruz
Aug 26    TBD
Sept 2     Mary J Blige


THE TODAY SHOW SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3041478/
Concert during show taping; must get fan passes.
July 17    Chris Brown
July 22    Ce-Lo Green
July 29    Journey
Aug 5      Maroon 5
Aug 12   Zac Brown Band
Aug 19   Enrique Iglesias
Aug 26   Train
Sept 2     Lenny Kravitz


HUDSON SQUARE MUSIC AND WINE FEST
http://www.citywinery.com/hudsonbbqTuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 in the City Winery parking lot.
July 19    Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra
July 26    Forro in the Dark
Aug 2     CCB Reggae All-Stars
Aug 9      Nicole Atkins
Aug 16    The Wood Brothers


OUTDOOR THEATER FESTIVALS AND VENUES

Boomerang Theater Company
http://www.boomerangtheatre.og
"Much Ado About Nothing" in Central Park near the Bridle Path.
June 18 - July 18

Classical Theater of Harlem
http://www.classicaltheatreofharlem.org
"Henry V" in Mount Morris Park, Harlem.
Aug 5 - Sept 4

Faux-Real Theatre Company
http://www.fauxreal.org
Aeschylus' "Seven Against Thebes" and Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" in East River Park.
Aug 30 - Sept 2

Hip-Hop Theater Company
http://www.hiptohop.org
"Much Ado About Nothing" and "Othello" in eight Queens parks.
Aug 2 - Aug 30

Hudson Warehouse
http://www.hudsonwarehouse.net
Chekhov's "The Seagull"
July 7 - July 31
"The Taming of the Shrew"
Aug 4 - Aug 28
all at the North Patio of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Riverside Park.

Inwood Shakespeare Festival
http://www.moosehallisf.org
"Othello"
July 20 - Aug 6
at the Inwood Hill Park Peninsula.

Manhattan Shakespeare Project
http://www.manhattanshakes.org
"Henry V" (all female cast)
June 16 - July 17
at Summit Rock, Central Park; Sunset Park, Brooklyn; St Nicholas Park, Harlem.

New York Classical Theater
http://www.newyorkclassical.org
"Henry V"
July 6 - July 24
at Battery Park and Governor's Island with boat transportation provided.

Piper Theater
http://www.pipertheatre.org
"The Miser"
July 7 - 22
"Endure"
July 9 and 16
at The Old Stone House, Park Slope Brooklyn.

Pulse Ensemble Theater
http://www.pulseensembletheatre.org
"As You Like It"
July 14 - Aug 6
at Riverbank State Park, Harlem.

Shakespeare In The Park
http://www.shakespearinthepark.org
"Measure For Measure" and "All's Well That Ends Well"
June 6 - July 30
at the Delacorte Theater, Central Park.

Shakespeare In The Parking Lot
http://www.shakespeareintheparkinglot.com
"The Comedy of Errors"
July 7 - July 23
"Hamlet"
July 28 - Aug 13
in a Lower East Side parking lot.

Theater 2020
http://www.theater2020.com
"Romeo and Juliet"
July 30-31
at Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Xoregos Performing Company
http://xoregos.tumblr.com
"Antigone"
July 23 - Aug 13
at 13 locations in 4 boroughs.


THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY  SUMMER STREET TOUR
http://theaterforthenewcity.net
Aug 6    2:00pm  Manhattan, E10th St  at 1st Ave
Aug 7    2:00pm  Bronx, St Mary's Park 147th St at St Ann's Ave
Aug 13  2:00pm  Manhattan, Jackie Robinson Park, W147th at Brahurst Ave
Aug 14  2:00pm  Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy, Marcy Ave at Tompkins
Aug 19  8:00pm  Brooklyn, Coney Island Boardwalk at W 10th St
Aug 20  2:00pm  Manhattan, W 90th St at Columbus Ave
Aug 21  2:00pm  Manhattan, Central Park Bandshell
Aug 27  2:00pm  Brooklyn, Sunset Park 44th St and 6th Ave
Aug 28  2:00pm  Queens, Jackson Heights 34th Ave at 77th St
Sep 10   2:00pm  Manhattan, Tompkins Square Park, E 7th St at Ave A
Sep 11   2:00pm  Manhattan, Washington Square Park
Sep 17   2:00pm  Staten Island, Tompkins Ave at Broad St
Set 18    2:00pm  Manhattan, St Mark's Church, E 10th St at 2nd Ave