It’s not summer in New York City without SummerStage. New York City is back and SummerStage 2021 is back from June 17 to September 21, 2021 (and maybe into October).
The focus this year is on artists connected to New York and the theme of renewal and resilience. The line-up is more inclusive of both gender and the many communities that make New York, New York.
The Festival’s visual design was created by Haitian New Yorker Lyne Lucien. 🇭🇹
This year’s venues are:
- Rumsey Playfield in Central Park
- Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem
- Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens
- Coney Island Amphitheater along the boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn
SummerStage 2021 Tickets
SummerStage is back to first-come, first-serve. We would enter the line one or two hours before doors open. Don’t bring anything because of security.
These are outdoor shows, the sound is almost as good around the venues. SummerStage picnics outside the venues are a special New York treat!
City Parks Foundation did a great job putting this together at the last minute. Thank you. We are so glad you are back!
Latin Culture at SummerStage 2021
There is something for everyone.
June Shows
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis opens the season at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 7pm (5pm doors). FREE 🇺🇸
JUNETEENTH
The new Searchlight/Hulu documentary Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) screens at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on Juneteenth, Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 5pm (3pm doors). FREE. This is a big deal. The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in 1969, but hasn’t been seen until now. It was the Black Woodstock. 🇺🇸
BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL
Chris Botti plays a jazz benefit concert at Rumsey Playfield on Sunday, June 20, 2021 at 3pm (1:30pm doors) and 8pm (6pm doors). From $75 🇮🇹
ROOFTOP FILMS
Monsoon Wedding and Falu are screening at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 8pm. FREE 🇮🇳
NYC’s own Louie Vega opens for the atomic dog himself, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 2:30pm (1pm doors) and 7:30pm (6pm doors). Benefit from $75 🇵🇷
July Shows
Bastille Day on 60th Street becomes a Bastille Day Celebration at Central Park SummerStage with a jazz band, DJ set and film screening on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 6:30pm (5pm doors). 🇫🇷
La India, “La Princesa de la Salsa,” plays the Coney Island Amphitheater in Coney Island, Brooklyn on Sunday, July 18, 2021 at 7pm. FREE 🇵🇷
Sun Ra Arkestra and Sistazz of the Nitty Gritty play experimental jazz at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 7pm. FREE 🇺🇸
Dance Is! is a contemporary dance show featuring outstanding dancers from some of NYC’s great dance companies at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 7pm (5pm doors).
The Originals brings hip-hop to Central Park SummerStage on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 7pm (5pm doors). There is a film screening at 6pm followed by the performance at 7pm. The crew includes DJ Stretch Armstrong, producer Clark Kent, Rich Medina (APT), Tony Touch and D-Nice.
August Shows
Tito Nieves, “El Pavarotti de la Salsa,” plays Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at 7pm. FREE 🇵🇷
The Metropolitan Opera presents a summer recital at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Sunday, August 8, 2021 at 7pm. FREE 🇮🇹
Antibalas plays Afrobeat jazz and funk with Cochemea and DJ Tara at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 7pm. FREE 🇺🇸
CHARLIE PARKER JAZZ FESTIVAL
The Donald Harrison Quartet and the Harlem Symphony Orchestra play a Charlie Parker with Strings concert at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 6pm. FREE 🇺🇸
CHARLIE PARKER JAZZ FESTIVAL
Willie Jones III leads a Charlie Parker Centennial Celebration featuring Sarah Hanahan, Godwin Louis, Justin Robinson, and Erena Terakubo with Donald Vega and Endea Owens at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at 6pm. FREE 🇺🇸
September Shows
BRAZILIAN FILM FESTIVAL 25th ANNIVERSARY
The Dom Salvador Samba Jazz Sextet plays a film screening of “Dom Salvador & Abolition” at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 7pm. FREE. This is a big deal because the Brazilian Film Festival has not been in New York City for several years. 🇧🇷
In “Reggae Gold Meets Soca Gold” Kevin Crown hosts DJ Puffy, Edwin Yearwood, Alison Hinds, Chromatic Sound, Noah Powa, Gyptian at the Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island, Brooklyn on Mon, Sep 13 at 7pm (5pm doors). Free 🇯🇲🇹🇹
Check the full lineup and request tickets at cityparksfoundation.org
See you at SummerStage 2021!