Verdi Square is one of the odder public spaces in Manhattan — a wedge of park with a Verdi monument in it, hemmed by the Ansonia, the 72nd Street subway headhouse and the Broadway traffic — and a festival is the one time of year it is used as a stage rather than a shortcut. The late-afternoon slot means you catch it as the light drops behind the West Side. If you are already on the Upper West Side, it is the easiest outdoor stop of the afternoon.
What to expect
A city-permitted outdoor event held in Verdi Square from 2pm to 7pm. The square itself is a small triangular park between Broadway and Amsterdam at 72nd Street, wedged between the Ansonia, the landmarked subway headhouse and the Verdi monument. Everything takes place in the open air on that footprint.
Good to know
- Take the 1, 2 or 3 to 72nd Street — the station exits directly into the square.
- Verdi Square is small, so plan it as a stop on an Upper West Side afternoon rather than a whole outing.
- It is a fully outdoor city-permitted event with no rain shelter on the site.
- Riverside Park and Central Park are both a short walk from the square.
- The permitted hours are 2pm to 7pm, so the later end of it runs into dusk in October.
Going? Keep it.
More festivals that weekend
Common questions
Where is Verdi Square?
At Broadway and West 72nd Street on the Upper West Side, beside the 72nd Street subway station.
What are the hours?
2pm to 7pm on October 4, 2026.