Picture a lawn full of people dancing hard in near-total silence, each wearing wireless headphones and flipping between channels, with the Hudson and the Palisades as the backdrop. Cloisters Lawn sits in Fort Tryon Park just below the medieval-style Met Cloisters, one of the most dramatic green spaces in Manhattan. If you want an early-evening dance party that doubles as an uptown park outing, this is an easy one to say yes to.
What to expect
Expect headsets handed out at the edge of Cloisters Lawn and a crowd spread across the grass, dancing, swapping channels and laughing at the out-of-sync moves around them. From outside the headphones it looks like a silent flash mob; put them on and the lawn turns into a full dance floor. Check the organizer's listing for how headsets and entry are handled.
Good to know
- Take the A train to 190 St (use the elevator up to Fort Washington Ave) or to Dyckman St, then walk into the park; the M4 bus also stops at the Cloisters.
- The lawn is grass and can be uneven or damp in the evening, so wear shoes you can dance in outdoors.
- It's an outdoor event in fall, so bring a layer; it gets breezy on the ridge above the Hudson.
- Arrive early to beat the line for headphones and to catch the river views before dark.
- Silent discos are great for groups and all comfort levels: nobody hears you sing along except the people on your channel.
- Pair it with a walk through Heather Garden or along the Linden Terrace overlooks nearby.
Going? Keep it.
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Common questions
How does a silent disco work?
Everyone wears wireless headphones tuned to one of several music channels. You can switch channels at any time, so people dancing side by side may be hearing completely different songs.
Where exactly is Cloisters Lawn?
It's the central lawn in Fort Tryon Park, just south of the Met Cloisters museum and facing the Hudson River. It's a short walk from the A train at 190 St.
Do I need to bring my own headphones?
Silent discos normally run on their own wireless headsets, since the music is broadcast on dedicated channels. Check the organizer's event listing for how headsets are handed out.
