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.
La Excelencia Plays New York Salsa for Dancing for Carnegie Hall Citywide at Bryant Park
BRYANT PARK, Garment District, Manhattan. 🇨🇴
Michael Olatuja Lagos Pepper Soup Plays His Unique Broadway Afrobeat for Carnegie Hall Citywide at Bryant Park
BRYANT PARK, Garment District, Manhattan 🇳🇬
Tania León Conducts the Harlem Chamber Players in a Bryant Park Picnic Performance for Carnegie Hall Citywide
Tania León, Harlem Chamber Players new classical music 🇨🇺 🇺🇸
New York City Opera Celebrates Puccini at Bryant Park
BRYANT PARK, Garment District, Manhattan 🇮🇹
Shakespeare in the Park 2024 Goes Mobile with Free Streaming, a Mobile “Comedy of Errors,” a Block Party, and a Movie in the Parks
MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN, QUEENS, THE BRONX, STATEN ISLAND 🇦🇷 🇨🇺 🇲🇽 🇵🇷
Bryant Park Dance Party 2024 Free Dance Lessons and Live Music for Dancing Salsa, R&B, Hustle, Bachata, Swing, and Motown
BRYANT PARK, Midtown, Manhattan 🇺🇸 🇨🇺 🇩🇴 🇵🇷
Bryant Park News
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. 🇺🇸 🇨🇺
About The 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
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Facebook @bryantparknyc
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Threads @bryantparknyc
Artists & Events
Most events are free and do not require tickets, but check to be sure. Many performances can be streamed from Bryant Park’s website.
Bryant Park Dance Party, hosted by Talia Castro-Pozo, gives free dance lessons followed by live music for dancing.
Nélida Tirado traditional flamenco. 🇵🇷
New York City Opera is “The People’s Opera.”
Visit Bryant Park
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.
Subways
(B)(D)(F)(M) to 42nd St – Bryant Park
(7) to Fifth Ave – Bryant Park
(N)(Q)(R)(W) to Times Sq – 42nd St
(S) to Times Sq – 42nd St
(1)(2)(3) to Times Sq – 42nd St
(4)(5)(6) to Grand Central
Recent Events
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. bryantpark.org 🇺🇸 🇵🇷
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. 🇺🇸