August 2009 Events in New York City

Events and Things to Do in New York City in August

Get more information about can't-miss events in New York City this August (also see our monthly event listings for June, July, and September).

• August Street Fairs in New York City -- Enjoy the street fairs of New York this August. Check out our guide to where to find a street fair near you this weekend.



• Free Morning Concerts Sponsored by The Today Show and Good Morning America -- Get up early for free morning concerts featuring some of the hottest names in the music industry. Performers in August will include Jason Mraz, Kenny Chesney, and Reba McEntire.



• Central Park SummerStage 2009 -- Don't miss the summer's hottest concerts in Central Park. August's SummerStage offerings include nights devoted to film, dance, and soul music.



• Summer Streets 2009 -- For three Saturdays this August, New York City will close Park Avenue to traffic all the way from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park for Summer Streets 2009. You'll find lots of fun activities on the traffic-free Park Avenue -- including free exercise classes, free bike rentals, live music, and more.



• New York International Fringe Festival -- Enjoy 10 days of great theater in New York City. FringeNYC features 200 performance companies from around the world at venues all over the city.



• Shakespeare in the Park -- See The Bacchae in Central Park from August 11-30.



• Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center -- Take your pick of more than 35 concerts and performances. This annual festival is in its 43rd year and not just about Mozart anymore.



• Central Park Film Festival -- Celebrate movie making in Central Park during this August film festival. The first film shot in Central Park was Romeo & Juliet (1908). Since then, 250 films have used the Park as a backdrop. You can see a great one every night from August 18th through 22nd at 8pm -- Sex and the City, Shaft, Ocean's 11, Twilight and a surprised viewer's choice selection on August 22nd.



• River to River Festival -- Head downtown this summer for a full schedule of free concerts, performances, and other events.



• 2009 Bryant Park Film Festival -- Spend Monday nights this summer enjoying classic movies under the stars in Bryant Park. This August's flicks include Kramer vs. Kramer, The Magnificent Seven, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.



• Summer on the Hudson -- Celebrate summer in Riverside Park. Enjoy movies under the stars, Shakespeare in the park, kayaking, yoga, pilates, and much more.



• Great Brewers Beer Festival -- On August 18th, Southern Hospitality and GreatBrewers.com are hosting the first annual Great Brewers Festival, featuring 20 of the world's best beers from 10 top brewers (plus lots of Memphis-style BBQ).



• Play Week at the Bronx Zoo -- From August 17-23, little ones can visit the Bronx Zoo's own toyland. Kids can try out the coolest new toys from Fisher Price, hear stories, and see the Bronx Zoo animals at play.



• Barney's Warehouse Sale -- Save big on fall fashion during the biannual Barney's Warehouse Sale from August 20-September 7, 2009. You'll find savings of 50% to 75% on designer clothing, shoes, and accessories for men and women.



• Wish You Were Here (London on the LES) -- Visit London's Newburgh Quarter on the Lower East Side. The pop-up shop at 186 Orchard Street (between Houston and Stanton, open from August 22-September 13) will feature Brit fashions and goodies including Sienna and Savannah Miller's Twenty8Twelve line. On August 22, you can sample London-Style fare at the Taste of London event on Broome Street (between Ludlow and Essex). There's also a fashion show on August 29, a blowout Labor Day weekend sale, and a big wrap party on Orchard Street on September 13.



• Charlie Parker Jazz Festival -- On August 29 and 30, 2009, some of the world's finest jazz musicians will celebrate Charlie Parker’s musical genius with two days of free concerts in neighborhoods where Parker lived and worked -- Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park and the Lower East Side's Tompkins Square Park.