New York City is a multicultural hub with dozens of museums, hundreds of parks and millions of people. The number of potential things to see and do can feel overwhelming, but NY1 has you covered with some of the highlights taking place this weekend across the five boroughs.
NYC Unicycle Festival
- Aug. 31 from noon to 7 p.m. and Sept. 1 from noon to 5 p.m.
- Hudson River Park Pier 76
- Free and open to the public
The "largest one-wheel festival in the Northeast" offers interactive demonstrations, learn-to-ride classes and family-friendly games for unicyclists of all ages.
Richmond County Fair
- Aug. 31-Sept. 2 from noon to 8 p.m.
- Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island
- Ticket information here
Hosted by Historic Richmond Town over the past 44 years, "NYC's Original Fair" features rides, games, live music and the chance to see living Staten Island history.
Riverside Park Birding Club
- Aug. 31 from 8 to 9:30 a.m
- 116th Street and Riverside Drive
- Free and open to the public
This morning walk is led by staff at Riverside Park Conservancy and takes nature enthusiasts through some of the city's birding hot spots.
Met Opera’s Summer HD Festival
- Aug. 31, Sept. 1 and 2
- Lincoln Center
It's an end-of-summer tradition at the Lincoln Center — a free, outdoor festival featuring multiple evenings of classic and contemporary operas. "Bizet’s Carmen" is the show set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday at 7:30 p.m., attendees have the chance to catch "Verdi’s La Forza del Destino." Finally on Monday, "Puccini’s Madama Butterfly" will begin at 8 p.m.
Goldfish Adoption Day
- Sept. 1 from noon to 6 p.m.
- Bed-Stuy Aquarium at Hancock Street and Tompkins Avenue
- Free food and drink provided
Free backpacks and school supplies will be handed out at the Bed-Stuy Aquarium in Brooklyn. Students will also be given a goldfish from the community pond that formed from a leaky fire hydrant in a tree pit. Limited to the first 100 recipients.
According to a longtime neighborhood resident - the “Bed-Stuy Aquarium” was vandalized last night - seems like the fish are okay - it’s a puddle with a dripping fire hydrant #BedStuyAquarium #Brooklyn #NYC pic.twitter.com/0NkrRphSdQ
— Roger Clark (@RogerClark41) August 27, 2024
J'Ouvert and the West Indian American Day Parade
- Sept. 2: J’Ouvert is from 6 to 11 a.m. The parade starts at 11 a.m. and continues until 6 p.m.
- J’Ouvert begins at Grand Army Plaza. The parade starts at Lincoln Terrace Park in Crown Heights, then moves west along Eastern Parkway and ends in front of the Brooklyn Museum.
J’Ouvert is French for “day break” and signals a start to the festivities of Carnival. The West Indian American Day Parade is an annual Brooklyn staple, featuring representatives of all Caribbean nations donning vibrant costumes dancing to cultural music of the region.
