nyccheaptravel.com

Tag: Central Park

  • New York Philharmonic Free Summer Concert in Central Park

    The New York Philharmonic in Central Park

    The New York Philharmonic has been performing free summer concerts in Central Park since 1965.

    You”ll get to enjoy an evening of classical music performed by one of the world’s finest orchestras, plus a fireworks show after the concert.

    The date for the 2017 concert in Central Park is Wednesday, June 14th. The concert is held on the Great Lawn and the performance begins at 8:00 p.m.. Entrances are at East 79th or 85th Street on the eastside and West 81st or 86th Street on the westside.

    This event gets crowded (very crowded, like 50,000 – 70,000 people), so come early to get a good spot. The Great Lawn is open all day. Bring a blanket to sit on (no lawn chairs). Picnics are encouraged, but no alcohol is allowed in the park.

    The Central Park Conservancy has a web page dedicated to the concerts in the park, with tips on getting there, what to bring, and how to get around.

     

    Additional Concerts

    In addition to the concert in Central Park, the Philharmonic also does free concerts in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Cunningham Park in Queens, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, and an indoor concert in Staten Island. There are fireworks after the concerts in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn.

    Visit the Philharmonic’s Concerts in the Parks website for details about these performances.

     

    History of the Concerts in the Park

    The New York Philharmonic has made a nice video about the history of the concerts in the park.

     

    [box]

    365 Free Things to Do in New York City

    Sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to receive Free Things to Do updates via email.[/box]




  • Rides Discount For Victoria Gardens in Central Park

    Each summer, the area that is occupied by the Wollman Rink ice skating in the winter is converted to an amusement park. The park is known as Victorian Gardens and features kid-sized rides.

    Victorian Gardens opens for the 2017 season on Mary 27th.

    Groupon is running a limited time offer with admission and unlimited rides for two (Monday – Thursday) for $28 or the same deal for four people priced at $54.

    The deal voucher is good Mondays through Thursdays, May 27th to August 30th, so you can buy it now for a visit later in the summer. Regular full-price for weekday admission and unlimited rides is $24.50 per person.

    See the Groupon offer details.

    ********

    Subscribe to the NYC Cheap Travel Newsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest NYC deals and money-saving travel information.

    Broadway Shows Discount List – Multiple discount offers for current shows, all in one place.

     

  • Central Park Conservatory Garden

    Central Park’s Formal Garden

    The Untermyer Fountain at Central Park’s Conservatory Garden. Copyright: kirkikis / 123RF Stock Photo

    The Conservatory Garden in the northern portion of Central Park is the park’s most formal garden space. The Conservatory Garden is six acres of formal gardens planted in three styles – Italian, French, and English. Each style is represented in a different section of the garden.

    The space is filled with beautiful garden beds, water features, and statuary. Benches provide places to relax and enjoy the views.

    The Conservatory Garden is designated as a “Quiet Zone” and is a perfect place to escape the bustle of New York City streets.

    Public restrooms are available near the Conservatory Garden Center Fountain.

    The gardens are at their most colorful in the spring, when the crabapple trees are blooming and the beds are full of tulips.

     

    Location

    The Conservatory Garden is located on the eastern side of Central Park, between 104th and 106th Streets. The closest park entrances are the Fifth Avenue entrances at 105th Street and 106th Street.

    Nearby attractions include the Museum of the City of New York City and El Museo Del Barrio, both located on Fifth Avenue between 103rd and 105th Streets.

    [box]

    365 Free Things to Do in New York City

    Sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to receive Free Things to Do updates via email.[/box]




  • Visit Belvedere Castle

    Belvedere Castle in Central Park

    Belvedere Castle in Central Park. Photo by Captain-tucker (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
    Climb to the top of Belvedere Castle for some great views of Central Park and the surrounding city.

    Belvedere Castle isn’t really a castle, but rather a small ornate structure built to add to the Central Park scenery.

    The castle was constructed in 1865 and is an example of what was known in the Victorian era as a “folly”, meaning a structure intended to provide views and a picturesque backdrop but without any use as a building. These days the castle has another purpose in addition to sitting up on the hillside and looking great; Belvedere now serves as a Central Park visitor center and gift shop. It’s one of the places where you can pick up a free copy of the official Central Park map.

    Belvedere Castle is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

     

    Location

    Belvedere Castle is located in Central Park, mid-park, near the 79th Street Transverse.

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art and American Museum of Natural History are nearby on the east the west sides of the park, so if you’re visiting either of those, a visit to Belvedere Castle is a fairly short walk.

     

    [box]

    365 Free Things to Do in New York City

    Sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to receive Free Things to Do updates via email.[/box]




  • Winter Jam NYC in Central Park

    Winter Jam NYC

    This free winter sports festival in Central Park features skiing, snowboarding, sledding, Arctic golf, shuffleboard, and more.

    The activities available will depend on the weather. If there’s no snow, snow-makers may be used, but those aren’t very effective at higher temperatures. Frozen ice activities such as an ice slide and ice sculpture carving provide entertainment and activities for just about any chilly weather.

    The event also includes music at the bandshell, and food will be available at a Taste NY Winter Market/Warming Hut.

    The event is open to the public and admission is free.

     

    Date and Location

    The 2017 Winter Jam NYC takes place January 28th, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Bandshell Area of Central Park.

    Visit the Winter Jam page at the NYC Parks website for updates and details.

     

    [box]

    365 Free Things to Do in New York City

    Sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to receive Free Things to Do updates via email.[/box]




  • Free Guided Walking Tours of Central Park

    Free Tours Offered by the Central Park Conservancy

     

    central-park-from-aboveThe Central Park Conservancy regularly offers free guided walking tours of Central Park. No pre-registration is required for the free tours, just show up in the specified meet-up location at the specified start time.

    The Central Park Conservancy is the organization responsible for keeping Central Park the beautiful place to visit that it is today. They’re a not-for-profit organization that has contracted with New York City since the 1980s to manage the park. That’s a big job, because Central Park in huge, as in 843 acres huge!

    Because the park is so large, it’s fairly easy to get yourself turned around and a little lost without a guide. The folks with Central Park Conservancy probably know the park better than anyone else, making them a great choice for guided tours. Conservancy tour guides give both free and paid tours. To see the full list of tours available, please visit the Central Park Conservancy website.

     

    Free Central Park Tours

     

    The Southern Welcome Tour – An introductory tour of the southern portion of the park including Grand Army Plaza, the Chess and Checkers House, Wollman Rink, Gapstow Bridge, The Pond, and the Dairy Visitor Center.

    Mid-Park Welcome Tour – An introductory tour of the middle portion of the park including the Lake, Belvadere Castle, the Ramble, Oak Bridge at Bank Rock Bay, and Balcony Bridge.

    Northern Welcome Tour –  An Introductory tour of the northern portion of the park including Harlem Meer, the Conservatory Garden, and the North Woods.

    Secrets of the Southwest Park – Explore and learn little-known facts about one of the most-visited sections of the park. Highlights include the Maine Monument, the Children’s District, Sheep Meadow, Tavern on the Green, and Strawberry Fields.

    Heart of the Park Tour – This tour through the middle of the park includes Bethesda Fountain, Cherry Hill, The Lake, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, Conservatory Water, Loeb Boathouse, and Strawberry Fields.

    Visit the tours section of the Central Park Conservancy’s website for a current list of available tours.

    The free tours last 60 to 90 minutes and start at various meeting places throughout the park. Check the individual tour descriptions and schedule for tour length and meeting places.

    Tours take place rain or shine, except in extreme weather conditions (heavy rain, sustained winds of 30 mph or more, heavy snowstorms, wind chill below 25 degrees F, or heat index above 95 degrees F.  Cancellations will be noted on the online calendar at the Conservancy’s website, so if the weather seems iffy, check there.

     

    Free Self-Guided Tours

     

    If you’d rather explore on your own, the Conservancy has a nice selection of self-guided walking tours available for free download in PDF format. Tours available for download include a North End Tour, Mid-Park Tour, South End Tour, and Woodland Tour, plus a Monthly Mile Tour that covers a different mile-long walk in the park each month, and a series of Tree Walks that help you learn about the many types of trees in Central Park while you explore the Great Lawn, the Bethesda Terrace area, 59th Street, the East Meadow, or the Upper West Side. Download self-guided walking tours of Central Park here.

    The Free Official Central Park App is also useful for self-guided explorations. The GPS-enabled app provides an interactive map that will show you where you are located with in the park and what is nearby. The app also includes the Celebrity Audio Guide.

    There’s also a free audio guide that provides celebrity commentary of some of the park’s most famous locations. You can access the audio guide with the Official Central Park App or via a special phone number. Lean more about the audio guide here.

     

    Paid Tours

     

    The Central Park Conservancy pays for 75% of the park’s annual operating budget plus all maintenance and capital improvement costs, so if you enjoy Central Park and want to help support its continued maintenance, you might consider taking one of the paid tours or becoming a Central Park Conservancy member.

    Paid tours provide in-depth explorations of specific areas of the park or about specific topics. See a full list of available tours here.

     

    [box]

    365 Free Things to Do in New York City

    Sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to receive Free Things to Do updates via email.[/box]




  • Global Citizen Free Concert in Central Park Sept 24, 2016


    Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Selena Gomex, Major Lazer, and Metalica will perform at a free ticketed festival on the Great Lawn in Central Park on September 24, 2016.

    The concert is part of a movement to encourage people to take action to end extreme poverty.

    Sets of tickets will be given away to people who sign up for the Global Citizen Movement and earn entries to the ticket drawing by taking certain actions to help end poverty.

    It’s all spelled out at the Global Citizen website.

    ********

    Subscribe to the NYC Cheap Travel Newsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest NYC deals and money-saving travel information.

  • Central Park Great Jazz on the Great Hill


    Enjoy an afternoon of free jazz, swing, and blues in Central Park on August 13th, 2016, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m..

    Great Jazz on the Great Hill 2016 takes place on Central Park’s Great Hill (enter the park at 106th Street and Central Park West).  The Great Hill is an open hilltop surrounded by trees. It’s located in the upper western side of the park.

    There will be music by the The Jimmy Heath Big Band with Special Guests, Antonio Hart and Jeb Patton, Alyson Williams, and Sheila Anderson.

    A variety of food trucks will be on hand.

    The event is free and there are no tickets required.

    Visit the Central Park Conservancy website for details.

    ********

    Subscribe to the NYC Cheap Travel Newsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest NYC deals and money-saving travel information.

  • New York Philharmonic Free Concerts in the Parks

    June 15 – 22 – New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks – Each summer the New York Philharmonic puts on a series of free concerts in city parks. This year’s concerts are in Central Park (June 15 & 16), Prospect Park in Brooklyn (June 17), Cunningham Park in Queens (June 20), Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx ( June 21), and at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens Music Hall on Staten Island ( June 22).  All concerts begin at 8:00 p.m.. There will be fireworks following the concerts in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx.

    The program for the concerts includes Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, with Principal Clarinet Anthony McGill; Richard Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben; and music by Beethoven, Wagner, and Rossini. And Staten Island audiences will enjoy Concertmaster Frank Huang as soloist in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Vivaldi-inspired tango music.

    See more free and inexpensive June 2016 NYC events.

    ********

    Subscribe to the NYC Cheap Travel Newsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest NYC deals and money-saving travel information.

    Broadway Shows Discount List – Multiple discount offers for current shows, all in one place.

  • Free Shakespeare in the Park 2016

    The 2016 Free Shakespeare in the Park shows are The Taming of the Shrew May 24 – June 26 and Troilus and Cressida July 19 – August 14.

    Shakespeare in the Park is an annual event, with free plays produced by The Public Theater staged at the outdoor stage at Central Park’s Delacort Theater.

    There are three ways you can get tickets.  You can wait in line (often a long line) at the Delecorte Theater on the day of the performance. The tickets are distributed at noon. Each person age 5 and older can get up to two tickets, while supplies last.  There will also be ticket vouchers distributed at certain other locations throughout the season. These alternative distribution sites change daily. See the boroughs ticket distribution schedule.  Or, you can enter the virtual ticket lottery online to try to get tickets. You enter the lottery between midnight and noon on the day of the performance and you’ll receive an email after noon letting you know if you were selected to receive tickets.

    See the “Tickets” page at the Shakespeare in the Park website for details.

    ********

    Subscribe to the NYC Cheap Travel Newsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest NYC deals and money-saving travel information.

    Broadway Shows Discount List – Multiple discount offers for current shows, all in one place.