Summer is in full swing in New York City, and that means there’s plenty going on in the five boroughs. From the reopening of public pools and beaches to the return of outdoor concerts, here’s what you need to know to plan your summer in the city.  

Public pools

The city’s outdoor public pools reopened for the season on June 29. They are open daily from 11 a.m. through 7 p.m., with a break for pool cleaning between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Swimsuits are required to enter the pool area, according to the city's Department of Parks and Recreation. Coverups are permitted - but only white t-shirts are allowed inside pool areas. Free sunscreen is provided across all five boroughs.

Bronx

  • Claremont Pool (170th Street and Clay Avenue)
  • Crotona Pool (173rd Street and Fulton Avenue)
  • Floating Pool (Tiffany Street and Viele Avenue)
  • Foster Pool (East 164th Street, between Jerome and River avenues)
  • Haffen Pool (Ely and Burke avenues)
  • Mapes Pool (East 180th Street, between Mapes and Prospect avenues)
  • Thompson Pool (East 174th Street and Bronx River Avenue)
  • Van Cortlandt Pool (West 242nd Street and Broadway)

Brooklyn

  • Betsy Head Pool (Dumont Avenue and Thomas S. Boyland Street)
  • Bushwick Pool (Humbolt Street and Flushing Avenue)
  • Commodore Barry Pool (Flushing Avenue and North Elliot Place)
  • David Fox/PS 251 Pool (East 54th Street and Avenue H)
  • Douglass and DeGraw Pool (Third Avenue and Nevins Street)
  • Glenwood Houses Pool (Farragut Road and Ralph Avenue)
  • Howard Pool (Mother Gaston Blvd. and East New York Avenue)
  • Jesse Owens Pool (Lafayette Avenue and Malcolm X Blvd.)
  • Kosciuszko Pool (Dekalb and Marcy Avenues)
  • Lindower Park Pool (Strickland and Mill Avenues)
  • McCarren Park Pool (Leonard and Bayard Streets)
  • PS 20 Playground Pool (Clermont and Myrtle Avenues)
  • Red Hook Pool (Bay and Henry Streets)
  • Sunset Park Pool (Seventh Avenues and 44th Street)

Manhattan

  • Abe Lincoln Pool (Fifth Avenue and East 135th Street)
  • Asser Levy Pool (Asser Levy Place and East 23rd Street)
  • Dry Dock Pool (Avenue D and East 10th Street)
  • Frederick Douglass Pool (Amsterdam Avenue and West 100th Street)
  • Hamilton Fish Pool (Sheriff and East Houston Street)
  • Highbridge Pool (Amsterdam Ave. and West 173rd Street)
  • Jackie Robinson Pool (Bradhurst Avenue and West 146th Street)
  • John Jay Pool (Cherokee Place and East 78th Street)
  • Marcus Garvey Pool (Fifth Avenue and 124th Street)
  • Sheltering Arms Pool (Amsterdam Avenue and West 129th Street)
  • Thomas Jefferson Pool (First Avenue and East 111th Street)
  • Vesuvio Pool (Thompson Street, between Spring and Prince streets)
  • Wagner Pool (East 124th Street, between First and Second avenues)

Queens

  • Fisher Pool (99th Street and 32nd Avenue)
  • Fort Totten Pool (Shore and Story roads)
  • Liberty Pool(173rd Street and 106th Avenue)
  • Marie Curie Park Pool (46th Road and 211th Street)
  • PS 186 Playground Pool (72nd Avenue and Little Neck Parkway)
  • Windmuller Pool (39th Road and 52nd Street)

Staten Island

  • Faber Pool (Faber Street and Richmond Terrace)
  • General Douglas Pool (Jefferson Street and Seaver Avenue)
  • Lyons Pool (Pier 6 and Victory Boulevard)
  • Maggie Howard Pool (Tompkins Avenue, between Hill and Broad streets)
  • PS 46 Playground Pool (Parkinson Avenue and Kramer Street)
  • Tottenville Pool (Hyland Boulevard and Jolin Avenue)
  • West Brighton Pool (Henderson Avenue, between Broadway and Alaska Street)

Beaches

The city maintains 14 miles of beaches. They are open from Memorial Day through Sept. 10.

Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty, as well as in closed sections, which are marked.

As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rockaway Resiliency Project continues work at Rockaway Beach, the Parks Department expects 10 to 15 blocks will be closed at a time throughout the summer from Beach 116th Street to Beach 143rd Street.

All city beaches are free and open to the public.

  • Brighton Beach (From Ocean Parkway to Corbin Place in Brooklyn)
  • Cedar Grove Beach (From New Dorp Lane to Ebbits Street on Staten Island)
  • Manhattan Beach (From Ocean Avenue to Mackenzie Street in Brooklyn)
  • Midland Beach and South Beach (From Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field on Staten Island)
  • Orchard Beach (At the end of Orchard Beach Road in the Bronx)
  • Rockaway Beach (From Beach 9th Street to Beach 149th Street in Queens)
  • Wolfe’s Pond Beach (From Holton to Cornelia Avenues on Staten Island)

Bronx Night Market

This open-air food and drink festival takes place on the last Saturday of every month from May to October at Fordham Plaza.

The venue boasts over 50 rotating vendors representing more than 20 countries' cuisines, providing market-goers with an international experience. Plus, local performances and special guests will be featured all season long.

Queens Night Market

With more than 100 vendors, the market offers a wide variety of food, art and fun. There are also regular performances honoring the cultural diversity of Queens.

This market is open every Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight between April 15 and Aug. 19, and between Sept. 16 and Oct. 28, in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

Free summer movies

The city is once again hosting "Movies Under the Stars" at a variety of parks and other outdoor locations through Sept. 8. As always, viewings are free, and will span a variety of genres, including animation, romance, action, sci-fi and comedy.

Harlem Week

This annual celebration takes place in August, and promotes the rich cultural histories, art, cuisine and more of the various communities that make up Harlem’s rich history. The event began in 1974 as “Harlem Day” and expanded throughout the years as it gained popularity.

This year, it takes place from Aug. 9 through Aug. 20. 

Shakespeare in the Park

Shakespeare in the Park in New York City is a beloved summertime tradition, enchanting audiences with free outdoor performances of the Bard's timeless plays in the heart of Central Park.

Performances are held at the Delacorte Theater, just off 80th Street at the southwest corner of the Great Lawn.

Showings of “Hamlet” run weekly through Aug. 8, while “The Tempest” runs from Aug. 27 through Sept. 3. 

SummerStage

Once again, SummerStage is bringing nearly 80 free shows to Central Park and 12 neighborhood parks across the five boroughs. It began on June 10 and runs through Sept. 30.  

This summer’s season showcases both emerging and established artists from an array of musical genres, including salsa, jazz, hip-hop, reggae and more.

All performances will be free and open to the public, except for benefit concerts. Select shows will also be live-streamed.

West Indian American Day Carnival 

Immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of Brooklyn's Caribbean community as the lively beats of reggaeton and calypso fill the air during a day-long party and parade along Eastern Parkway.

This annual carnival pays homage to the rich culture and history of the city's Caribbean heritage. Festivities are set to take place from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4.