This volunteer-run series is one of the Upper West Side's best-kept summer secrets: free concerts on a riverside lawn beside NYC's only public red clay tennis courts, timed so the sun drops over the Hudson mid-set. The Riverside Clay Tennis Association has hosted these evenings for years as a gift to the park, and the crowd is all picnic blankets, wine cups and neighbors. For a low-effort, high-payoff summer evening, it's hard to beat.
What to expect
An evening of live music on the lawn by the clay courts, with picnickers spread across the grass and cyclists drifting past on the greenway. The Hudson sunset does the lighting design; bring a blanket and dinner and stay through dusk.
Good to know
- Take the 1/2/3 to 96th St and walk into Riverside Park toward the river at 97th–99th
- Free and open to all — no tickets
- Bring a picnic blanket; the lawn is the venue
- The Hudson River Greenway runs right past — easy to arrive by bike
- Sunset over the river hits mid-concert; bring a camera
- The neighboring red clay courts are the only public ones outdoors in NYC
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Common questions
Who puts on these concerts?
The Riverside Clay Tennis Association, the volunteer nonprofit that maintains the Oscar Hijuelos Red Clay Courts, hosts a free summer concert series on the adjacent lawn.
Do I need to play tennis to come?
Not at all — the concerts are free public events on the lawn beside the courts, open to everyone.
What should I bring?
A blanket, a picnic and a layer for after sunset; food options inside the park are limited at that stretch.
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