25 Free 'Picnic Performances' Coming To Bryant Park This Summer

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Bryant Park on Wednesday announced a packed schedule for its 2021 "Picnic Performances" series, a summer tradition that will feature 25 music, dance and theater events — all for free.

The series, which has ticketed entry, will begin June 9 with a four-night performance by the New York Philharmonic.

Other standouts include an annual LGBTQ Pride concert by the New York City Opera, a salsa-jazz concert by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, a tribute night to the performer Sun Ra organized by his trombonist Craig Harris, and a closing night show by the mandolinist and radio host Chris Thile.

Here's the full lineup, courtesy of the Bryant Park Corporation:

June and July:

• The New York Philharmonic: Four Nights in Bryant Park (6/9 to 6/12)
• New York City Opera: Pride in the Park (6/18) and Carmen (7/2)
• New York Chinese Cultural Center (6/25) Joe’s Pub: Mykal Kilgore (6/26)
• Carnegie Hall Citywide: Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely (7/9)
• Spanish Harlem Orchestra (7/16)
• The Knights (7/23)
• Adrienne Warren & Friends (7/30)
• Greenwich House Music School: Riley Mulherkar and Ella Bric (7/31)
• Carnegie Hall Citywide: Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective with the Turtle Island Quartet (8/6)
• Harlem Stage: Craig Harris’s Nocturnal Nubian Ball… - A Tribute to Sun Ra (8/12)
• Jazz at Lincoln Center: Evenings with Dizzy’s Club (8/13 + 8/14)
• Limón Dance Company and Music from the Sole (8/16)
• Paul Taylor Dance Company and Elisa Monte Dance (8/20)
• New York City Opera: Now That’s What I Call Opera! (8/21)
• Rigoletto (9/3)
• Classical Theatre of Harlem (9/10)
• National Sawdust: Allison Loggins-Hull’s Diametrically Composed (9/17)
• The Town Hall: Celebrating 100 Years with Chris Thile and more (9/20)

Free tickets for each event will be available to reserve on Eventbrite about 10 days before each event. Most shows will also be available to livestream on Bryant Park's social media accounts.

"We’re thrilled to be able to host live events again, and Bank of America’s support for the livestreams will deliver these remarkable performances to so many who cannot attend due to capacity limitations or distance," said Dan Biederman, President of the Bryant Park Corporation, in a statement. "We encourage viewers around the country to picnic in their own park while watching along."

Find out more at bryantpark.org/picnics.