1. Museum Mile Festival
This annual street party is usually held on the second Tuesday in
June. Along with some lively entertainment, visitors get free
admission to the great museums along Fifth Avenue's "Museum Mile".
This stretch of museums starts near 82nd Street and runs to 105th
Street.
Participating museums include the following: El Museo del Barrio,
the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the
Jewish Museum, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, Neue Galerie,
and the Museum of the City of New York. The block party-style events
begin at 6 p.m. rain or shine.
2. Summer Concerts Series
Nowhere else would you be able to see free live performances by
the hottest names in music other than Rockefeller Center and Central
Park in June. From May until September, the TODAY show sponsors free
early morning concerts on most Fridays. It is recommended to get
there as early as 5 a.m. to get a good for viewing. Past performers
have included big names like Miley Cyrus, New Kids on the Block, and
Shania Twain.
Not to be outdone, Good Morning America has their own Summer Concert
Series also on Friday mornings running May through August. Their
free concerts are held at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.
Concert-goers should use the 72nd Street entrance on Fifth Avenue.
The free concerts don't end there. Central Park's SummerStage has
its home base at Rumsey Field, but the Summer Series features free
concerts in parks around all of New York's five boroughs.
Participating SummerStage artists span all genres including music,
dance, comedy, Broadway, and more.
3. New York Street Festival
You will find a variety of lively street festivals scheduled in New
York City in June. Most of them celebrate certain cultures and ethnic
groups, and they all feature food, music, and lots of fun.
For a taste of Southern fare along with rock, blues, and soul music
look for the Big Apple Block Party in Madison Square. Barbecue,
beer, wine, sides, and desserts are available for purchase.
An Irish Fair is held on a weekend in June on Staten Island. It
features two stages of music and dancing along with food and an
Irish Market. This is a great way for visitors to combine a festival
with a visit to Staten Island's historic landmarks and museums.
The Taste of Jewish Culture Annual Street Festival is always
filled with dozens of purveyors featuring traditional Jewish food
and displays for learning the Jewish Culture. It's usually held in
mid to late June.
4. Gay Pride Parade
The Gay Pride Parade is one of the city's most popular June events.
Thousands come to celebrate the LGBTQ community for a historic march
followed by a host of Gay Pride events. The parade begins at 36th
Street and Fifth Avenue. It ends in the West Village, and plenty of
partying follows. Everyone is welcome.