The Harlem Meer Performance Festival has been putting free live music on the plaza at the north end of Central Park since 1993, and the 33rd season keeps the formula: jazz, Latin, soul and contemporary acts playing at 2 p.m. with the Meer behind them and Harlem over the trees. Before the set, the Conservancy sets out lawn games and Art in the Park runs hands-on activities, so it works as a whole afternoon rather than a concert you show up for. If you have never been to the top of the park, this
What to expect
Lawn games are out from around midday and Art in the Park runs an art activity in the early afternoon, then the concert takes the Dana Discovery Center plaza at 2 p.m. Sets include a short intermission where Conservancy staff talk about the work of maintaining the park. Catch-and-release fishing at the Meer and the surrounding paths fill out the rest of the day.
Good to know
- Take the 2/3 to 110th St–Central Park North and walk into the park at Malcolm X Blvd
- Free — no tickets and no registration
- Bring a blanket or a folding chair; plaza seating is limited
- Concerts land on select Sundays across the summer season
- Great for families — lawn games and art activities run before the music
- Catch-and-release fishing gear is loaned at the Dana Discovery Center in season
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Common questions
Is the concert series free?
Yes — the Harlem Meer Performance Festival is free, in its 33rd year, presented by the Central Park Conservancy.
Who is playing in 2026?
The season lineup includes Casa Mantequilla, The Grace Young Experience, Kobie Dozier, Uptown Royalty, the M.A.R. Quintet and the Ray Delgado Project.
Where is the Dana Discovery Center?
On the north shore of the Harlem Meer at the top of Central Park, closest to the 110th Street and Lenox Avenue entrance.
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