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. 

Beaches

The city maintains 14 miles of beaches. They opened for swimming on Memorial Day weekend, and stay open through Sept. 8.

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.

All city beaches are free and open to the public.

  • Cedar Grove Beach (At Ebbitts Street and Cedar Grove Avenue on Staten Island)
  • Coney Island and Brighton Beach (From W. 37th Street to Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn)
  • Manhattan Beach (Oriental Boulevard, from Ocean Avenue to Mackenzie Street in Brooklyn)
  • Midland Beach and Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk (From Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field on Staten Island)
  • South Beach (From Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field on Staten Island)
  • Orchard Beach and Promenade (In Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx)
  • Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk (From Beach 9th Street to Beach 149th Street in Queens)
  • Wolfe’s Pond Beach (From Holton Avenue to Cornelia Avenue on Staten Island)

Public pools

The city’s outdoor public pools reopened for the season on Thursday, June 27. 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)
  • Edenwald Houses Pool (Schieffelin Avenue and East 229th Street)
  • 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 Boulevard)
  • 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 Avenue 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 Avenue 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

  • Astoria Pool (19th Street and 23rd Drive)
  • 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)

Brooklyn Night Market

Industry City comes alive with more than 50 vendors serving up a culinary experience unlike any other on the last Monday of each month from May through October.

The event spans two city blocks and draws in more than 6,000 guests each time.

Bronx Night Market

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

The venue boasts more than 40 local 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 4 p.m. to midnight between April 13 and Aug. 17 and between Sept. 14 and Oct. 26, in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Uptown Night Market

The Uptown Night Market is a celebration of community, cuisine and culture in the heart of Harlem. With more than 50 vendors and more than 15,000 guests at each event, this marketplace aims to support local businesses and showcase the talents of Harlem.

It opens at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month from June through October on West 133rd Street at 12th Avenue. 

Free summer movies

The city is once again hosting "Movies Under the Stars" at a variety of parks and other outdoor locations from May 24 through Sept. 6. As always, viewings are free, and will span a variety of genres, including animation, romance, action, sci-fi and comedy.

Harlem Week

This year, Harlem Week is celebrating its 50th anniversary from Aug. 7 through Aug. 18. The annual event aims to promote the rich cultural histories, art and cuisine of the various communities that make up Harlem. The event began in 1974 as “Harlem Day” and expanded throughout the years as it gained popularity.

GO PUBLIC! A Festival of Free Shakespeare in the Park

Central Park’s annual “Shakespeare in the Park” summertime tradition will not take place in 2024 as the Delacorte Theatre undergoes renovations.

However, The Public Theater will still be offering free performances of “The Comedy of Errors” at multiple locations throughout the city from May 28 through June 30. Ticketing information is available at publictheater.org.

There will also be free screenings of “Much Ado About Nothing” from June 29 through Sept. 6 at various parks. More information is available at publictheater.org.

SummerStage

Once again, SummerStage is bringing 85 free and benefit shows to Central Park and 12 neighborhood parks across the five boroughs. It began May 17 and runs through Oct. 20.

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 livestreamed.

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 population. Festivities are set to take place from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2.