Summer Streets NYC 2019 takes place along Park Avenue for the first three Saturdays in August. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Summer Streets NYC, a 7-mile-long festival for anyone and everyone, returns to New York for the first three Saturdays in August. On Aug. 10 and 17, Park Avenue will be closed between the Brooklyn Bridge and East 72nd Street from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the public to walk, run, and bike and take part in a multitude of activities, all of which are free.
–> See the Summer Streets map
This annual event is put on by the New York City Department of Transportation, with help from numerous partners, many of whom sponsor events along the street. Last year, the festival welcomed nearly 300,000 people.
Things to Do at Summer Streets 2019
What is there to do at Summer Streets 2019? Plenty! There are five rest stops along the way, all of which feature activities, performances, and more. And while the popular water slide may not be returning this year, there are still plenty of other activities.
Zip Line Down Centre Street
This 165-foot-long, 30-foot-high zip line is one of the highlights at Summer Streets every year. Participants can zoom down Centre Street, taking in a bird’s-eye view of New York City. Since this is one of the more popular attractions at Summer Streets, participants should arrive before 8 a.m. to secure a time slot. The zip line can be found at the Foley Square rest stop.
Learn to Inline Skate
Also at the Foley Square stop is the Go! Sports USA booth, which will provide free inline skate rentals along with free learn-to-skate clinics at its Skate Station. If skating has always seemed cool but a bit too intimidating for you, now’s your chance!
Bring the Kids to an Obstacle Course
Stop by the Kid Fitness Zone at 51st Street between Park and Madison avenues for activities specifically designed for kids ages 2 to 12. On Aug. 10, the PopFit kid-friendly obstacle course will be set up to test strength, balance, focus, and speed. It’s complete with a New York-style game of Red Light, Green Light with lunges, runs, and jumps.
Free Samples!
At the Midtown rest stop between East 24th and 25th streets, there will be a “Food and Beverage Sampling Zone,” where visitors can try different drinks and snacks from various vendors. It’s a great way to get a little bit of food before continuing up or down Park Avenue.
Take a Walking Tour
There will be several historical walking tours along the route, showcasing the city’s architecture, parks and art. For example, on Aug. 17, the “Decked out on Park: Deco-Era Buildings and NY Glamour” tour held by the Municipal Art Society will take guests back to the 1920s on a tour of magnificent period lobbies, including the iconic Chrysler building and “30 Rock.” The tour begins at 11 a.m. from the Uptown Rest Stop at 51st Street and Park Avenue.
Bike Through NYC — Without Cars
There will be several free bike rental stations along the 7 miles of the route for bikes to be ridden – for free! For those who love biking but hate the hassle of NYC traffic, this is perfect. Check out the free bike rentals at 51st Street between Park and Madison avenues to ride. Bikes available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Watch a Performance
There will be many opportunities to catch a performance throughout Summer Saturdays. Performance stages are at the Uptown and Midtown stops, with pop-up performances happening at Foley Square. Music of all genres, dance, theatre, martial arts and more will be showcased on the stages.
The remainder of Summer Streets 2019 takes place on Aug. 10 and 17, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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