The best things to do in New York City on Labor Day Monday, Sep 7 — hand-curated and refreshed weekly.
258 picks · checked Sep 2
Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, BrooklynDavid Berkowitz from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe 59th New York Carnival Parade takes over Eastern Parkway with mas bands, steel orchestras and soca trucks from 11am to 6pm. Free, enormous and the reason Labor Day belongs to Brooklyn.
Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, BrooklynDavid Berkowitz from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe 59th New York Carnival Parade takes over Eastern Parkway with mas bands, steel orchestras and soca trucks from 11am to 6pm. Free, enormous and the reason Labor Day belongs to Brooklyn.
Crown Heights, BrooklynDetroit Publishing Co. (w) , publisher. · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsThe pre-dawn Carnival tradition: steel bands, paint, powder and oil moving through Crown Heights before sunrise, hours ahead of the Eastern Parkway parade.
Crown Heights, BrooklynDetroit Publishing Co. (w) , publisher. · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsThe pre-dawn Carnival tradition: steel bands, paint, powder and oil moving through Crown Heights before sunrise, hours ahead of the Eastern Parkway parade.
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, Manhattan100-plus New Yorkers from all five boroughs record a live album onstage at the Delacorte — the Public's free season-closing pageant, five nights only.
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, Manhattan100-plus New Yorkers from all five boroughs record a live album onstage at the Delacorte — the Public's free season-closing pageant, five nights only.
Aqueduct Racetrack, South Ozone Park, QueensNew York City Transit Authority · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsNew York City loses its last racetrack after 132 years. Live racing ended in June; NYRA keeps the doors open for simulcast through Labor Day Monday and then that is it. Admission is free.
Aqueduct Racetrack, South Ozone Park, QueensNew York City Transit Authority · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsNew York City loses its last racetrack after 132 years. Live racing ended in June; NYRA keeps the doors open for simulcast through Labor Day Monday and then that is it. Admission is free.
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Cross Bay Boulevard, Broad Channel, QueensThe island community in the middle of Jamaica Bay closes Cross Bay Boulevard for its homemade-float Labor Day parade. Free, small and unlike anything else in the city.
Cross Bay Boulevard, Broad Channel, QueensThe island community in the middle of Jamaica Bay closes Cross Bay Boulevard for its homemade-float Labor Day parade. Free, small and unlike anything else in the city.
Historic Richmond Town, Richmondtown, Staten IslandA 25-acre country fair inside NYC's only living-history village, with 100-plus vendors, carnival rides and competitive eating contests.
Historic Richmond Town, Richmondtown, Staten IslandA 25-acre country fair inside NYC's only living-history village, with 100-plus vendors, carnival rides and competitive eating contests.
Saratoga Springs, Saratoga / UpstateJet Lowe · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsThe summer meet's final weekend, with the Grade 1 Spinaway the Grade 1 Hopeful and Grade 3 Prioress and closing day on Labor Day Monday.
Saratoga Springs, Saratoga / UpstateJet Lowe · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsThe summer meet's final weekend, with the Grade 1 Spinaway the Grade 1 Hopeful and Grade 3 Prioress and closing day on Labor Day Monday.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhotograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLa Boheme closes the Met's 17th Summer HD Festival on Labor Day, screened free on a giant outdoor screen above Josie Robertson Plaza with about 2,500 seats and no tickets required.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhotograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLa Boheme closes the Met's 17th Summer HD Festival on Labor Day, screened free on a giant outdoor screen above Josie Robertson Plaza with about 2,500 seats and no tickets required.
Wave Hill, Riverdale, BronxWave Hill normally closes Mondays but opens all day for Labor Day: 28 acres of gardens above the Hudson with the Palisades straight across the water.
Wave Hill, Riverdale, BronxWave Hill normally closes Mondays but opens all day for Labor Day: 28 acres of gardens above the Hudson with the Palisades straight across the water.
MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensFifty-three New York artists sprawl across every floor of MoMA PS1 with 150-plus works and admission is free in its final days.
MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensFifty-three New York artists sprawl across every floor of MoMA PS1 with 150-plus works and admission is free in its final days.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanOfficial Met exhibition on view June 12–September 8, 2026.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanOfficial Met exhibition on view June 12–September 8, 2026.
The William Vale, Vale Pool, Williamsburg, BrooklynSephora turned The William Vale's rooftop pool into a beauty-club cabana scene — SPF stations, a beauty library and skyline views.
The William Vale, Vale Pool, Williamsburg, BrooklynSephora turned The William Vale's rooftop pool into a beauty-club cabana scene — SPF stations, a beauty library and skyline views.
Taqueria El Califa de Leon, Flatiron, ManhattanThe Mexico City taqueria that became the world's first Michelin-starred taco counter lands in Flatiron with five tacos and nothing else.
Taqueria El Califa de Leon, Flatiron, ManhattanThe Mexico City taqueria that became the world's first Michelin-starred taco counter lands in Flatiron with five tacos and nothing else.
Bryant Park Lawn, Midtown, ManhattanAnother Believer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTim Allen and Sigourney Weaver spoof Star Trek on the Bryant Park lawn, where the 33rd season of free blanket cinema winds toward its finale.
Bryant Park Lawn, Midtown, ManhattanAnother Believer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTim Allen and Sigourney Weaver spoof Star Trek on the Bryant Park lawn, where the 33rd season of free blanket cinema winds toward its finale.
Prospect Park, BrooklynKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMolière in the Park stages a free Don Juan in Prospect Park — the infamous seducer's single day of defiance, with live original music.
Prospect Park, BrooklynKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMolière in the Park stages a free Don Juan in Prospect Park — the infamous seducer's single day of defiance, with live original music.
The Met Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, ManhattanMay S. Young · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Met's 250th-anniversary installation puts rarely seen prints of the Boston Massacre and revolutionary news on the wall.
The Met Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, ManhattanMay S. Young · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Met's 250th-anniversary installation puts rarely seen prints of the Boston Massacre and revolutionary news on the wall.
New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, Upstate NYAmerica's oldest state fair, 13 days of butter sculpture, midway and free concerts, closing Labor Day.
New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, Upstate NYAmerica's oldest state fair, 13 days of butter sculpture, midway and free concerts, closing Labor Day.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanShane Fleming · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsZu, Don't Play with Fire, Knock Off and Time and Tide play Metrograph in an 11-film Tsui Hark survey — two of them on 35mm prints.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanShane Fleming · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsZu, Don't Play with Fire, Knock Off and Time and Tide play Metrograph in an 11-film Tsui Hark survey — two of them on 35mm prints.
New World Stages, Stage 3, 340 West 50th Street, Hell's Kitchen, ManhattanThe Tony-winning spelling bee musical that pulls four audience members onstage to compete against the cast, live and unrehearsed.
New World Stages, Stage 3, 340 West 50th Street, Hell's Kitchen, ManhattanThe Tony-winning spelling bee musical that pulls four audience members onstage to compete against the cast, live and unrehearsed.
Kirbee's, Greenpoint, BrooklynTwo of Texas's most decorated pitmasters bring a smokehouse to Greenpoint. After a limited first day, Kirbee's opens in full across Labor Day weekend.
Kirbee's, Greenpoint, BrooklynTwo of Texas's most decorated pitmasters bring a smokehouse to Greenpoint. After a limited first day, Kirbee's opens in full across Labor Day weekend.
Lyceum Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMeg Stalter plays a boozy, cabaret-obsessed Mary Todd Lincoln in Cole Escola's comedy, in her final stretch before Bowen Yang takes over.
Lyceum Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMeg Stalter plays a boozy, cabaret-obsessed Mary Todd Lincoln in Cole Escola's comedy, in her final stretch before Bowen Yang takes over.
Ugly Baby, Williamsburg, BrooklynBrooklyn's most feared Thai kitchen returns after nearly two years dark, in a Williamsburg space with double the seats and a full bar.
Ugly Baby, Williamsburg, BrooklynBrooklyn's most feared Thai kitchen returns after nearly two years dark, in a Williamsburg space with double the seats and a full bar.
New Paltz, Hudson ValleyDetroit Publishing Co. (w) , publisher. · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsQuail Hollow Events fills the Ulster County Fairgrounds with hundreds of juried makers across more than ten media categories, plus craft demonstrations, a children's area and Hudson Valley wine, cider and beer.
New Paltz, Hudson ValleyDetroit Publishing Co. (w) , publisher. · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsQuail Hollow Events fills the Ulster County Fairgrounds with hundreds of juried makers across more than ten media categories, plus craft demonstrations, a children's area and Hudson Valley wine, cider and beer.
Marquis Theatre, 210 West 46th Street, Theater District, ManhattanThe Hawkins prequel staged with flying bodies, a burning house and illusions that make the Marquis feel structurally unsafe.
Marquis Theatre, 210 West 46th Street, Theater District, ManhattanThe Hawkins prequel staged with flying bodies, a burning house and illusions that make the Marquis feel structurally unsafe.
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