While summer doesn’t officially end until September, August in New York City feels like a last hurrah. Humidity aside, you’ll want to get out there and partake in as many activities as you possibly can.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of events across the city this month, from Governors Island’s Jazz Age Lawn Party, where vintage vibes meet waterfront views, to US Open tennis, where champions take the court while spectators sip refreshing pink Honey Deuce cocktails. More than 400 typically frenetic city streets will even shut down and let pedestrians take over for what is essentially one giant summer block party.

You can go whale watching in Brooklyn, or pick up produce straight from the farm at GrowNYC’s Greenmarket at Rockefeller Center, and either bring ingredients home for your next barbecue or snack on fresh fruit and vegetables under a black and white umbrella at The Rink. Summer at The Rink is a time to savor — it’s your chance to relax in the shade beneath the iconic gold Prometheus statue while enjoying food truck eats ranging from tacos to ice cream. If you’re looking for more things to do in Midtown, take a look at the full list of Rockefeller Center events and programming here.

Keep reading for the best things to do in New York City in August—and for the latest announcements and happenings at Rockefeller Center all year long, sign up for The Center Newsletter.

Cold seafood platter from Le Rock at Rockefeller Center

1. NYC Restaurant Week

July 21–August 17

Put down the spatula, because this isn’t the time of year to cook over a hot stove at home. During Restaurant Week, foodies can snag a seat — and a cheaper bill — at a Michelin-starred restaurant, a celebrity chef’s hotspot, or a legendary city favorite that’s long been on their list. Eateries of all stripes throw their doors open, and multi-course menus are fixed at $30, $45, and $60 per head. Hundreds of places are participating this year, and diners can enjoy lunch, dinner, or both. At Rockefeller Center, dig into a two-course $45 French brasserie-style lunch at Le Rock or go for a $60 three-course prix-fixe Korean dinner at NARO.

Large group of New Yorkers walking in the middle of the street during Summer Streets

Courtesy of NYC Department of Transportation via Flickr

2. Summer Streets

July 26-August 23

This year marks New York City’s 400th anniversary, and to celebrate, more than 400 blocks are participating in Summer Streets — the largest number of blocks ever to close to cars and open to pedestrians for pure summer fun. There are five Saturdays in August this year, and the first four will have streets to explore, with fitness classes, art, cultural programming, music, giveaways, and more. Some will walk, some will bike, and some will dance, but all will enjoy the freedom of taking over a city street on foot. The month of August brings these beloved block parties to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, and you can find the ones closest to you here.

3. Harlem Week

August 1-17

Harlem Week is an annual festival that celebrates one of New York’s most vibrant neighborhoods and all the cultures that come together to form its unique identity. Despite its name, what started as a single-day event 51 years ago now runs for two weeks of in-person and virtual programming that celebrates the history, food, art, and spirit of the uptown neighborhood. Attendees can enjoy an impressive range of activities from jazz performances and dance parties to running races and even a climate conference and career fair. Local organizations like the Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture and Riverside Church also get involved, and it all kicks off this year with Senior Citizens Day followed by a Summer Streets block party. For the full line-up of events, watch this space.

4. Jazz Age Lawn Party

August 9-10

The Roaring ‘20s return to Governors Island for the 20th anniversary of the beloved Jazz Age Lawn Party on August 10 and 11. Guests will be transported back to the days of Prohibition, with themed events like Charleston dance lessons, a pie-baking contest, a children’s parade, and more. But we couldn’t embrace the Jazz Age without a little music, of course. Performances will happen across both days, with live sets from Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra, one of the world’s premier Jazz Age dance orchestras, and Queen Esther, a songwriter and vocalist known for jazz and Black Americana. Dust off your bowler hat or your garçonne dress, and grab your tickets today.

Kailei Sin dancing during the Battery Dance Festival

Photo by Steven Pisano; courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

5. Battery Dance Festival

August 9 and 12-16

Beginning August 9 in Robert F. Wagner Park and continuing on August 12 for five days in Rockefeller Park, New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival returns to Battery Park City. Drawing over 12,000 in-person attendees and 35,000 virtual viewers year after year, the festival is a testament to the uniting power of dance. This year’s lineup includes local NYC companies as well as touring groups from all over the world, including Taiwan, the Netherlands, Romania, Indonesia, and more. Spectacular special events will return to the stage, including Dances of Kerala, which presents Indian dance in styles rarely seen in the U.S. Register today for free event reminders and bonus content, and let yourself be moved.

An FAO Schwarz toy soldier standing next to a fruit stand at the GrowNYC Greenmarket at Rockefeller Center

6. GrowNYC’s Greenmarket

August 13-October 29

In an urban environment, a farmers’ market feels like a breath of fresh air. To celebrate harvest season, select farmers will gather on Center Plaza at Rockefeller Center every Wednesday beginning August 13 and running through October. Weather permitting, they’ll stay all day, from 8 am to 5 pm, greeting visitors and hawking their best produce and treats, from fruits and chutneys to cheeses and wines. In addition to enjoying fresh products and a pleasant open-air shopping opportunity, those who stop by will find cooking demonstrations, kid-friendly activities, recipe exchanges, and more. Farmers will rotate, but you can check which stands are attending every week here to help plan your shopping trip.

Crowd of people watching athletes play tennis at Arthur Ashe Stadium

Photo by Sudan Ouyang via Unsplash

7. US Open Tennis

August 24-September 7

The fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year takes to the courts in Flushing Meadows in Queens on August 24. Each summer, the famous US Open serves up world-class tennis at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home to Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis venue in the world, seating more than 23,000 fans. Tennis fanatics and casual spectators alike will be delighted by the level of play, rowdy night matches, and signature Honey Deuce cocktails. The play continues rain or shine (thanks to the retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium), so grab a seat on the 7 train and make your way to one of the greatest sporting events of the year.

A whale's tail above the surface of the Atlantic Ocean

Photo by Haoxi Wang via Unsplash

8. Whale Watching with American Princess Cruises

Ongoing

American Princess Cruises kicked off its 16th whale-watching season in 2025 after a more than 90 percent sighting success rate in 2024. The 3.5-hour tours run through November from Pier 8 in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, and often include guest appearances by peregrine falcons and bottlenose dolphins. But humpback whales are the star of the show in New York Harbor, weighing in at about 40 tons. Pack a camera and binoculars so you don’t miss a moment. The kid-friendly trips on the water encourage children to take part in official whale and dolphin counts, and they run Wednesdays to Sundays in August, with double outings on Saturdays.