10 Things to Do in New York in August

New York in August offers a great opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities. During this month, temperatures rise and everyone wants to cool off while having a good time. That's why many events are held in parks or other outdoor venues. This allows people to enjoy their surroundings to the fullest and get to know the more natural side of the city.

For these reasons and many others, I am dedicating this article to informing you about all the activities you can enjoy in the Big Apple during the month of August.

August is one of the months when baseball games are played by teams from all over the United States. Many of the games are played in New York, so you can go see the Mets or the Yankees. Which of these two is your favourite team? Here are both options:

• Buy your ticket to see the Yankees.
• Buy your ticket to see the Mets.

Baseball games are just like you see them on TV, so they're full of excitement, cheering fans and much more. You can enjoy fast food at the games, which is part of the experience. If you're a fan of this sport, this is the perfect option for you.

During one of the first two weeks of August, the residents of New York's Harlem neighbourhood organise a big event. The following activities take place:

• Street fairs.
• Performances.
• Activities that showcase their way of life and how they have fun.

Harlem Week celebrates the cultural diversity and other characteristics of this iconic neighbourhood. If you visit New York in August, around the time this event takes place, attending is a great choice.

An event for children too

If you are travelling to New York with children, this is a great place to take them, as special events are planned for kids. I recommend wearing cool clothes and enjoying a walking tour of the Harlem neighbourhood. Even if you visit the city during another week in August, you can still take tours of Harlem.

For more information about Harlem Week and the dates when you can attend, visit the website. You can also book a tour of Harlem to get a feel for the neighbourhood beforehand.

The Jazz Age Lawn Party: what is it all about and what can you expect? This party is planned for a few days in the first two weeks of August and is one of the most eagerly awaited events in the Big Apple. Why?

It is inspired by the 1920s, so it focuses on the era when Prohibition was in force. Even so, you can still drink alcohol, as it is legal, and the experience you will have at the Jazz Age Lawn Party is unique.

Don't think that drinking is the only thing to do at this festival; the organisers make sure there are activities for everyone. The party also features performances and you will even see many people dressed in typical 1920s costumes.

How to get to the Jazz Age Lawn Party

The event is held on Governors Island, so you'll need to take the ferry to get to the island and start having fun. As with the Metro, I've put together a guide for the New York ferry.

The party has a website where the dates and planned activities are announced. If you're left wanting more after attending this event, I recommend checking out this article on the best places to hear music in Harlem.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival begins in mid-August and is one of the most popular events in New York in August. Admission is free and the aim is to promote Hong Kong culture. The boat races are the main attraction of the festival.

In addition to the sporting event, the following performancestake place during the annual event :

• Dance
• Music
• Martial arts.

The annual event takes place in Flushing-Meadows Corona Park, located in northern Queens. When you attend, you will find food stalls selling delicious Asian dishes. And if you enjoy this experience, be sure to check out this article on where to eat in Chinatown, an ideal plan after a tour of Chinatown.

The best time to visit New York's beaches is in summer, when the weather in August is perfect for enjoying the sun, water and sand. Coney Island and Boardwalk have more than 5 kilometres of beaches.

When you want to escape the heat of the city, heading to one of these beaches is the best option. They feature boardwalks, fairground attractions and much more. To get to these beaches, you can take a taxi or book a tour of Coney Island from Manhattan.

Throughout the summer, people have the opportunity to attend Summer on the Hudson. This is a festival featuring all kinds of activities and shows, including:

• Concerts.
• Dance
• Dance parties with DJ music.
• Movies under the stars.
• Children's shows.
• Pilates.
• Karaoke.
• Yoga
• And much more.

The festival is located in Riverside Park, which runs from 59th Street to 153rd Street. Admission is free and you don't need to register to attend the events, unless otherwise indicated. Find more information on the Summer on the Hudson website.

Shakespeare in the Park is one of the most anticipated events in the Big Apple. It takes place in the summer, which obviously includes August. Renowned plays are performed, but what makes it so special? Admission is free and the performances take place in a wonderful setting.

How much do you like New York? If you are eagerly awaiting your trip to the city, you have probably done a lot of research on the best places to visit. Have you seen pictures of the Delacorte Theatre or had the opportunity to visit it? If you have, I'm sure you were impressed.

Shakespeare in the Park takes place at the Delacorte Theatre, which is an open-air theatre. Tickets for the plays are available at the box office on the day of the performance.

Shakespeare in the Park schedule

Tickets for the plays are in high demand in August, so the queues are long. If you want to get one or more tickets, keep in mind thatthe box office opens at 12 noon, but the queues start earlier.

If you want to make sure you get your free ticket, it's a good idea to go at 9 or 10 in the morning. You can find the performance schedule and themes on the Central Park website.

And if you like these performances, get ready to be amazed by the best Broadway musicals during your visit to New York. Don't hesitate to book your ticket for a Broadway musical, it's a unique experience.

Can you imagine the streets of the Big Apple free of cars, trucks, taxis and public transport? This is possible thanks to NYC Summer Streets, an original event that closes the streets to vehicles on three Saturdays in August and encourages New Yorkers and tourists to make the most of them. It's the perfect time to book a tour of New York.

One of the things that most characterises New York is its traffic. Whenever we see films set in the city, the streets are full of cars. It's normal to assume that the level of traffic increases when there are more tourists in the city, and that's absolutely true. Summer Streets has the following benefits:

• It allows visitors to enjoy the city to the fullest.
• The atmosphere is free from the pollution caused by the large number of vehicles in the city for a few hours.

The streets that are free of vehicles are those between the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park. That's more than 11 kilometres where you won't find a single car! It's definitely worth taking part if you get the chance.

NYC Summer Streets hours

Traffic stops from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. What can you do during that time? Residents take advantage of the opportunity to play in the streets and even eat. Anyone can ride a bike, walk and enjoy all the free space.

Here's a tip! During the days of this event, it will be even more convenient to take a walking tour of New York. Take advantage of it!

During the summer in New York, there are many free concerts, one of which is SummerStage. It starts in August and ends in early September, so there are plenty of shows to attend.

Although the main stage is in Central Park, specifically at Rumsey Playfield, there are performances in other New York parks. In addition to bands and solo artists, there are dancers, actors for plays, and even poets. All of this makes it a great show for everyone in New York.

Location of SummerStage

As I mentioned before, it takes place at Rumsey Playfield. How can you get there? The area is located at 72nd Street, on the famous Fifth Avenue. Before you go, you'll probably want to know who's performing. You can find this information on the SummerStage website.

If you want to do other things in the park while the show is starting, I'll tell you what to see and do in Central Park in another article. My favourite plan is to rent a bike in Central Park and explore the park at my own pace while enjoying nature.

During the summer, specifically the first two weeks of August, Lincoln Center offers free performances. They focus on music, dance and theatre. Everything takes place outdoors, and the venue is responsible for creating a welcoming and safe environment for everyone in attendance.

The performances are put on by various New York organisations, such as community arts venues and more. How can you get tickets? They are distributed through a lottery. Once you have your tickets, head to Lincoln Center and find the perfect spot to watch each performance.

How and when to get to Restart Stages at Lincoln Centre

At the entrance, you will see when the show is at Lincoln Center. Want to make sure you get a good seat? In that case, I recommend arriving a little early, as access to the event area is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Lincoln Center is located between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. If you are travelling around the city by subway, how do you get there? Ideally, take Line 1 to 66th Street Station. If you are not yet familiar with this type of transport, here is a guide to the New York subway.

To find out more about this event, I encourage you to visit the Lincoln Center website.

August days are some of the hottest in the New York summer. The minimum temperature is 19°C (which can occur at night) and the maximum is 28°C. It rarely exceeds 30°C. The weather this month has the following characteristics:

• It is hot and humid.
• There are 7 to 10 days of rain.
• On average, only 3 of these are significant.
• The weather is hot most of the time, which is why the citizens of the Big Apple prefer outdoor activities.

All the things to see and do in New York make it a city with many visitors throughout the year. One of the largest tourist influxes is in August, and in fact, for many, summer is the best time to visit New York, so if you go during this time, you will see many tourists.

However, don't worry about hotels or restaurants, as places like these are used to catering to large numbers of people. And although many city residents decide to travel elsewhere in August, you won't feel like the streets are empty. So you'll still have the opportunity to experience life as a New Yorker.

It's true that prices in the city tend to rise in summer due to the influx of tourists. However, compared to July, prices in August are lower, and as the end of the month approaches, prices will drop even further.

Therefore, it will be possible to find good accommodation, restaurants, tickets and tours at reasonable prices.

Packing is an important part of any trip. You want to make sure you have everything you need and that it's appropriate. You don't want to bring clothes or items that you later discover you don't need. To avoid that, here is a list of the most important things to bring on a trip to New York in August:

• Comfortable, lightweight clothing and footwear.
• Sun protection: sunglasses, a hat and, most importantly, sunscreen.
• Water bottle to take with you wherever you go.
• Umbrella to protect you from the sun or, in case of rain.
• Light jacket, as it can get hot and some places have low air conditioning temperatures.

The plans I'm about to tell you about are ideal if it's too hot, the sun is too strong or it rains during your trip to the Big Apple:

• Friends The Experience: a New York exhibition where you can see iconic locations from the series Friends, from Monica and Rachel's apartment to Central Perk.
• Visit some of New York's best museums.
• Discover the New York Public Library.
• Spend hours in one of the cafés.
• Get tickets to a Broadway musical.