Bryant Park is a great lawn built over the New York Public Library Main Branch’s underground book stacks. The home of the Bryant Park Dance Party in spring, Picnic Performances and Movie Nights in summer, and Winter Village in fall and winter, is one of the world’s busiest public spaces.
Bryant Park Concerts and Events
SEPTEMBER
Puerto Rican Salsa
Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra play a free concert of Puerto Rican salsa for dancing; for Harlem Stage at Bryant Park in Manhattan’s Garment District; on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 7-8:30pm. FREE and you can livestream it on bryantpark.org 🇵🇷
Afro-Cuban Jazz
Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra with special guests trumpeter Steven Bernstein, guitarist Nels Cline, and Dominican guitarist Yasser Tejeda; play a free concert of Latin jazz for dancing; for The Town Hall at Bryant Park, in Manhattan’s Garment District; on Friday, September 13, 2024, from 7-8:30pm. FREE. 🇨🇺 🇩🇴
OCTOBER
Holiday Market
Bryant Park Winter Village usually runs from October through February.
JUNE
Bryant Park Picnic Performances present all kinds of dance, music, and theatre for free. The 2024 Season ran June 1 – September 13, 2024.
Bryant Park Tickets
Most Bryant Park events are free on a first-come, first-serve basis. Go and hour or two early because free events fill up fast. Many performances can be livestreamed from Bryant Park’s website.
Bryant Park is in Manhattan’s Garment District, which is sometimes called Midtown South.
42nd St
Sixth Ave | Bryant Park | Fifth Ave
40th St
The Park’s main entrance is on Sixth Avenue at 41st St. From Fifth Avenue, the Park is behind the New York Public Library.
About Bryant Park
During the U.S. Revolutionary War (1775-1783), George Washington fought the British here. Like many open areas that later became parks, it was once a potter’s field where poor people and unclaimed bodies were buried.
In the mid-1800s, the Croton Reservoir (1837-1842) held the city’s water supply. In 1853, the New York Crystal Palace was built for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations. It was inspired by London’s Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. The New York Crystal Palace burned down in 1858.
During the U.S. Civil War (1860-65), Union troops drilled here.
During The City’s decline in the 1980s, the park was a scary place. It’s nickname was “Needle Park” because there were hypodermic needles all over the ground. But the community got together and cleaned it up. It’s a beautiful park now and an example of what can be done when people work together.
Today Bryant Park is the home of Le Carrousel, a carousel made in French classical style. There is a statue of Mexican founding father Benito Juárez.
Social Media
X @bryantparknyc
Facebook @bryantparknyc
Instagram @bryantparknyc
Threads @bryantparknyc
Latin Artists
- Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Cuban jazz. 🇨🇺
- Arturo O’Farrill, Cuba jazz. 🇨🇺
- Bryant Park Dance Party, hosted by Talia Castro-Pozo, gives free dance lessons followed by live music for dancing. 🇵🇪
- Eddie Palmieri, Puerto Rican salsa and Latin jazz. 🇵🇷
- La Excelencia, Colombian-led New York salsa dura. 🇨🇴
- Michael Olatuja, Broadway-influenced Nigerian afrobeat. 🇳🇬
- Nélida Tirado, Puerto Rican traditional Spanish flamenco. 🇵🇷
- New York City Opera is “The People’s Opera.” 🇮🇹
- Shakespeare in the Park, free Shakespeare by the Public Theater. 🇬🇧
- Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Puerto Rican salsa. 🇵🇷
- Tania León, Pulitzer Prize-winning, Cuban new music composer and conductor. 🇨🇺
- Yasser Tejeda, Afro-Dominican Latin alternative. 🇩🇴
Recent Latin Programming
JULY
Classical Music
Tania León, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Cuban composer, conducts The Harlem Chamber Players with violin soloist Josh Henderson, and dancers from the Harlem School of the Arts choreographed by Leyland Simmons, hosted by WQXR’s Terrance McKnight; in a Carnegie Hall Citywide Bryant Park Picnic Performance in Manhattan; on Friday, July 5, 2024 at 7pm. FREE. 🇺🇸 🇨🇺
JUNE
Italian Opera
New York City Opera celebrates Puccini’s 100th anniversary with a Picnic Performance at Bryant Park in Manhattan’s Garment District; on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 7-8:30pm. FREE. 🇮🇹
Contemporary Dance
Ayodele Casel dances tap, Sidra Bell presents her unique concept of illustrated movement, It’s Showtime NYC! dances street, and National Dance Institute children perform; in a Bryant Park Picnic Performance in Manhattan’s Garment District; on Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 7-9pm. FREE. 🇺🇸 🇵🇷
Contemporary Dance
David Dorfman Dance dances contemporary; Soles of Duende dances their African American Tap, Spanish Flamenco and Bengali Indian Kathak fusion; and the Joffery Concert Group dances contemporary ballet; in a Bryant Park Picnic Performance in Manhattan’s Garment District; on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 7-9pm. FREE. 🇧🇩 🇮🇳 🇲🇽 🇵🇷
Contemporary Dance
Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE dances contemporary African, Robin Dunn’s “Shout” dances hip hop gospel, and the dance community tributes Kevin Wynn (Limón); in a Bryant Park Picnic Performance in Manhattan’s Garment District; on Friday, June 14, 2024, from 7-9pm. FREE. 🇺🇸