Summer on the Hudson is Riverside Park Conservancy's free waterfront season, running May 3 through September 30, 2026 along the Hudson from West 59th to 181st Street. More than 400 events — concerts, outdoor movies, dance parties, yoga, tai chi and kids' programming — and every one of them is free with no registration unless a listing says otherwise.
Verified August 24 · updated as details are announced
The programme splits into evening events and daytime wellness. Concerts, movies and dance parties cluster on Pier I at 70th Street and at the West Harlem Piers, mostly Thursday through Sunday evenings. The fitness and horticulture programming — yoga, tai chi, bodyweight classes, garden tours — runs on weekday mornings and early evenings further north, around 145th and Sakura Park. If you want the big crowd, go to a Pier I evening; if you want the park to yourself, go on a weekday morning.
The 1 train runs the length of the park: 66th Street for Pier I, 125th for the West Harlem Piers, 145th and 157th for the northern lawns. The park sits below street level along most of its length, so use the marked pedestrian overpasses rather than trying to cross the highway. Events at Pier I are a flat ten-minute walk from the 72nd Street station.
Yes — every event in the series is free, and no registration is required unless a specific listing says otherwise.
May 3 through September 30, 2026, along Riverside Park's Hudson River waterfront from West 59th to West 181st Street.
They spread along Riverside Park. Evening concerts and films concentrate at Pier I (70th Street) and the West Harlem Piers (125th); daytime fitness and garden programming runs on the northern lawns near 145th Street and at Sakura Park.
A blanket or low chair for the lawn events, and a layer — the waterfront runs noticeably cooler and windier than the streets a few blocks inland.
22 picks · checked Aug 25
Riverside Park: Lawn-145th Street West-RSP, ManhattanFree pilates on the Riverside Park lawn at 145th Street, mats out with the Hudson and the Palisades in front of you.
Riverside Park: Lawn-145th Street West-RSP, ManhattanFree pilates on the Riverside Park lawn at 145th Street, mats out with the Hudson and the Palisades in front of you.
Riverside Park South: Waterfront Overlook at 66th St. Lower Level, ManhattanFree riverside yoga on the Riverside Park South waterfront—roll out a mat with Hudson views as part of Summer on the Hudson.
Riverside Park South: Waterfront Overlook at 66th St. Lower Level, ManhattanFree riverside yoga on the Riverside Park South waterfront—roll out a mat with Hudson views as part of Summer on the Hudson.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza, ManhattanAmateur astronomers set up telescopes on Pier I over the Hudson — a free look at Saturn's rings from the middle of Manhattan.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza, ManhattanAmateur astronomers set up telescopes on Pier I over the Hudson — a free look at Saturn's rings from the middle of Manhattan.
West Harlem Piers: Excursion Pier, ManhattanFree outdoor Zumba on the West Harlem Piers—dance-cardio with river views as part of NYC Parks' Summer on the Hudson.
West Harlem Piers: Excursion Pier, ManhattanFree outdoor Zumba on the West Harlem Piers—dance-cardio with river views as part of NYC Parks' Summer on the Hudson.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza, ManhattanHigh-intensity fitness on the Hudson—a workout class with river views and motivation to match.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza, ManhattanHigh-intensity fitness on the Hudson—a workout class with river views and motivation to match.
Riverside Park: Promenade Lower - 79th-95th Streets, ManhattanWaterside creativity unfolds as instructors guide artists through techniques against the Hudson's backdrop and morning light.
Riverside Park: Promenade Lower - 79th-95th Streets, ManhattanWaterside creativity unfolds as instructors guide artists through techniques against the Hudson's backdrop and morning light.
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
West Harlem Piers, West Harlem, ManhattanFree partner ballroom and Latin dancing on a Hudson River pier in West Harlem, taught by Ballroom Basix teaching artists.
West Harlem Piers, West Harlem, ManhattanFree partner ballroom and Latin dancing on a Hudson River pier in West Harlem, taught by Ballroom Basix teaching artists.
Riverside Park: Soliders & Sailors Monument, ManhattanFree morning tai chi by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Riverside Park—slow, calming movement with Hudson views.
Riverside Park: Soliders & Sailors Monument, ManhattanFree morning tai chi by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Riverside Park—slow, calming movement with Hudson views.
Riverside Park: Grants Tomb South Allee and Lawns, ManhattanA free afternoon dance for seniors on the south allee at Grant's Tomb, under the plane trees on Riverside Drive.
Riverside Park: Grants Tomb South Allee and Lawns, ManhattanA free afternoon dance for seniors on the south allee at Grant's Tomb, under the plane trees on Riverside Drive.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza, ManhattanOutdoor films on the Hudson at Pier I, where the screen goes up on a Riverside Park pier and the sunset does the opening credits.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza, ManhattanOutdoor films on the Hudson at Pier I, where the screen goes up on a Riverside Park pier and the sunset does the opening credits.
West Harlem Piers: Marginal Street Between 125th 123rd St., ManhattanSummer on the Hudson brings Harlem Moves to the West Harlem Piers, dancing on the waterfront with the river right there.
West Harlem Piers: Marginal Street Between 125th 123rd St., ManhattanSummer on the Hudson brings Harlem Moves to the West Harlem Piers, dancing on the waterfront with the river right there.
Riverside Park South: 71st St South-Soccer-04, ManhattanTots soccer on the Riverside Park South lawn at 71st Street, a free morning session for very small players.
Riverside Park South: 71st St South-Soccer-04, ManhattanTots soccer on the Riverside Park South lawn at 71st Street, a free morning session for very small players.
Riverside Park: Lawn-145th Street West-RSP, ManhattanA free outdoor movie on the Riverside Park lawn at 145th Street, with the Hudson on one side and the Hamilton Heights bluff on the other.
Riverside Park: Lawn-145th Street West-RSP, ManhattanA free outdoor movie on the Riverside Park lawn at 145th Street, with the Hudson on one side and the Hamilton Heights bluff on the other.
West Harlem Piers: Marginal Street Between 125th 123rd St., ManhattanR&B singer Ilana Morris closes the free Summer on the Hudson jam series at West Harlem Piers, the river going pink behind her.
West Harlem Piers: Marginal Street Between 125th 123rd St., ManhattanR&B singer Ilana Morris closes the free Summer on the Hudson jam series at West Harlem Piers, the river going pink behind her.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza , ManhattanLaugh by the river at Summer on the Hudson's free Comedy Night — stand-up on the 70th Street Pier with sunset over the water.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza , ManhattanLaugh by the river at Summer on the Hudson's free Comedy Night — stand-up on the 70th Street Pier with sunset over the water.
Pier I, Riverside Park South, Upper West Side, ManhattanNat Towsen hosts free stand-up on a Hudson River pier — real New York comics, no drink minimum, sunset over Jersey behind them.
Pier I, Riverside Park South, Upper West Side, ManhattanNat Towsen hosts free stand-up on a Hudson River pier — real New York comics, no drink minimum, sunset over Jersey behind them.
West Harlem Piers Park, West Harlem, ManhattanThe Jazz Foundation of America brings Marcus Persiani & Trio Cachimbo to the Hudson for a free 75-minute sunset set. West Harlem Piers, no ticket needed.
West Harlem Piers Park, West Harlem, ManhattanThe Jazz Foundation of America brings Marcus Persiani & Trio Cachimbo to the Hudson for a free 75-minute sunset set. West Harlem Piers, no ticket needed.
Riverside Park: Lawn-116th Street-RSP, ManhattanEvening guided walks spotting birds and wildlife along the Hudson River.
Riverside Park: Lawn-116th Street-RSP, ManhattanEvening guided walks spotting birds and wildlife along the Hudson River.
Riverside Park: Lawn-99th Street-RSP, ManhattanRiverside Park closes out movie season with a free film on the 99th Street lawn — blankets, river breezes and the Hudson glowing at dusk.
Riverside Park: Lawn-99th Street-RSP, ManhattanRiverside Park closes out movie season with a free film on the 99th Street lawn — blankets, river breezes and the Hudson glowing at dusk.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza, ManhattanThree DJs, three channels, one pier over the Hudson — the free Quiet Clubbing party at Pier I where headphones replace the sound system.
Riverside Park South: 70th Street Pier Plaza, ManhattanThree DJs, three channels, one pier over the Hudson — the free Quiet Clubbing party at Pier I where headphones replace the sound system.
Riverside Park South: Locomotive Picnic Area, ManhattanDance companies pop up along Riverside Park South's waterfront — free performances by the old locomotive with the Hudson as the backdrop.
Riverside Park South: Locomotive Picnic Area, ManhattanDance companies pop up along Riverside Park South's waterfront — free performances by the old locomotive with the Hudson as the backdrop.
Little Red Lighthouse, Fort Washington Park, Washington Heights, ManhattanManhattan's last lighthouse opens for a handful of ranger-led tours under the George Washington Bridge, with live music and book readings on the lawn.
Little Red Lighthouse, Fort Washington Park, Washington Heights, ManhattanManhattan's last lighthouse opens for a handful of ranger-led tours under the George Washington Bridge, with live music and book readings on the lawn.
Get next week's board in your inbox before it publishes — one email, every Thursday.
This list covers the weekend of Aug 29–30, 2026, and it refreshes automatically every week.
Stumblday curates and re-ranks NYC events each week from official venue and city sources — so you get a short, vetted shortlist instead of an endless calendar.
