Fun on the Fourth of July: Events around New York City
New York is one of the best places to celebrate Independence Day - and while fireworks take center stage, there are fun options all around the city to take part in. Here's a sampling of free events that day from New York City's Parks department. And you can click to get more events from them, for fun all Fourth of July weekend!
Central Park Tour: Heart of the Park
at East 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Visit some of the park's most famous landmarks, including Conservatory Water, Bethesda Terrace, and the Lake, on this east-to-west tour led by Central Park Conservancy guides.
Category: History, Tours
Free!
Central Park Tour: Conservatory Garden
at Vanderbilt Gate (in Central Park), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Take a tour with Conservatory Garden staff and learn about the history of the only formal garden in Central Park, including its restoration by Central Park Conservancy.
Category: Nature, History, Tours
Free!
at Rockwood Drive Circle (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx This is an Accessible location
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
The Bronx Arts Ensemble's purpose is to nourish the arts in the Bronx by serving its diverse communities and developing audiences through arts education and musical performances.
Category: Concerts, Fourth of July, Free Summer Concerts
Free!
at Historic Richmond Town (in LaTourette Park & Golf Course), Staten Island This is an Accessible location
12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
It's an old-fashioned, patriotic celebration of the classic American holiday. Get your hand-churned ice cream and a pie-full of traditional fun!
Category: Education, Festivals, Games, History, Kids, Fourth of July, Food
Green Market at Grand Army Plaza
at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
At what other market can you do all your food shopping, sample local wine and explore Brooklyn's favorite park? Established in 1989, the Grand Army Plaza greenmarket is the 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Category: Markets
Free!flagship Brooklyn market. EBT/Food Stamps and WIC & Senior FMNP coupons accepted year-round.
at Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
This market serves the Long Island City and Astoria communities with farm-fresh fruits and vegetables and family-friendly activities every Saturday.
Category: Markets, Food, Waterfront
Free!
Central Park Tour: Northern Forts
at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan This is an Accessible location
2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Join Central Park Conservancy guides to visit sites that played important strategic roles in the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
Category: Education, History, Tours, Seniors
at 42nd Street Plaza (in Bryant Park), Manhattan This is an Accessible location
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Test your coordination and dexterity with free juggling lessons in the park. All skill levels are welcome to join in the fun. Equipment is provided.
Category: Games
Free!
at Urban Farm (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Come discover Randall's Island Urban Farm - all are welcome! You can discover a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, meet the chickens, and learn about the rice paddies.
Category: Education, Nature, Kids
Free!
at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn This is an Accessible location
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it's a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Category: Birding, Nature
Free!
at Imagination Playground (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Gather around Peter and Willy, the statue of two beloved Keats characters, for storytelling adventures brought to life by Tammy Hall. Sponsored by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.
Category: Kids
Free!
Art in the Garden: Nature & Science in Dialogue
at Queens Botanical Garden, Queens
8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Emily Barnett's exhibit of recent collages and installations integrates themes of nature and science using a vocabulary of forms including quantum corrals, snake skeletons, and more.
Category: Education, Nature, Art
at Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park), Bronx This is an Accessible location
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
Spanish-speaking adults will learn the basic structure of English from an ESL instructor.
Category: Education
Free!
Stories at the Statue of Hans Christian Andersen
at Hans Christian Andersen Statue (in Central Park), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Therese Plair will tell the Caribbean story "The Pumpkin Rider." Dovie Thomasen will tell the Lakota story "Iktomi Saves the People," and Laura Simms will tell the Romanian story "The Empress of Fairies".
Category: Kids
Free!
at Target East Harlem Community Garden, Manhattan This is an Accessible location
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Join us for yoga in the garden. All levels of experience are welcome. Mats are provided for one-time use during class.
Category: Fitness, Outdoor Fitness
Free!
at Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Yoga classes are free and designed for all experience levels. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and, for yoga, bring a mat or a towel. Kripalu Yoga is a system of Hatha...
Category: Fitness, Waterfront, Outdoor Fitness
Free!
at Beach 108th Street (in Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk), Queens
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
Join yoga instructor Helen Kilgallen from Elaine's Dance School in this beginner Hatha Yoga class.
Category: Fitness, Outdoor Fitness
Free!
at Garden of Hope, Brooklyn This is an Accessible location
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Join us for yoga in the garden. All levels of experience are welcome. Mats are provided for one-time use during class.
Category: Fitness, Outdoor Fitness
Free!
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics.
Category: Birding, Education, Nature
Free!
