Things to Do in NYC This Weekend: September 25 to September 27

Late September is when New York finally remembers how to operate at full speed. The humidity drops, the summer lethargy burns off, and everyone decides to go out at the exact same time. This weekend brings the 100th anniversary of the city's most famous street feast, the opening of the New York Film Festival, and Lauryn Hill playing Central Park. You are going to be tired on Monday. That is the point.

Friday

64th New York Film Festival Opening Night

Upper West Side · Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center · $$$

New York's preeminent film festival opens with James Gray's Paper Tiger. Shot in 35mm, the crime drama stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson getting tangled up with the Russian mob in 1980s Queens. You come to NYFF for the heavy hitters, and this one sets the tone for a two week sprint of serious cinema across the Lincoln Center campus. The theater itself serves as the cultural anchor of the Upper West Side, offering sharp acoustics and a crowd that takes movies very seriously.

Go for: The first look at the fall's most anticipated local movie. Know before you go: Rush tickets sometimes drop at the box office right before showtime.

Sasha and John Digweed

Maspeth · Knockdown Center, 52-19 Flushing Ave · $$

The British progressive house legends take over the massive industrial room at Knockdown Center for an open to close set. They laid the blueprint for modern DJ culture in the nineties, and they still know how to pace a six hour journey. The sound system here is built exactly for this kind of heavy electronic music, pushing air through a former glass factory. It is a massive room that swallows crowds whole.

Go for: A marathon session with the masters. Know before you go: The set starts at 11 PM and runs straight through to 5 AM.

New York Philharmonic with Gustavo Dudamel

Upper West Side · David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center · $$$

The Philharmonic takes the stage at the newly renovated Geffen Hall under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel. A Friday night at Lincoln Center remains one of the great New York flexes. The recent renovation stripped away the muddy acoustics, leaving behind a pristine wall of analog sound. The crowd usually dresses up, making it a proper night out before grabbing a martini nearby.

Go for: A completely analog wall of sound. Know before you go: Curtains rise at 7:30 PM sharp.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Hell's Kitchen · Terminal 5, 610 W 56th St · $$

The indie rock band brings their massive tour to the West Side. Expect thousands of people singing along to every word. It is loud, it is sweaty, and it is exactly what you want from a Friday night rock show in a multi level venue. The band has built a massive cult following, and their live shows are pure catharsis.

Go for: Screaming the lyrics with three thousand strangers. Know before you go: Doors are at 8 PM, but you will want to get there early to secure a good sightline on the balconies.

Saturday

Global Citizen Festival

Central Park · The Great Lawn · Free or ticketed

The annual massive charity concert takes over the Great Lawn. This year brings Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Fugees album The Score. The lineup also packs in Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, and Shaboozey. Hearing live music bounce off the Manhattan skyline as the sun goes down is a quintessential fall experience.

Go for: Hearing "Ready or Not" played live in the middle of Central Park. Know before you go: You have to earn access by completing actions on their app, or buy a ticket to bypass the process.

ALIVE: NYC Sober Festival

Brooklyn Heights · Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 3 · Free

Daybreaker is throwing a massive sunrise to sunset sober festival right on the water. From 6 AM to 8 PM, they are offering movement classes, cold plunges, saunas, and dance floors. It is a highly curated alternative to the usual weekend drinking circuit, set against sweeping views of the downtown skyline.

Go for: Waking up at dawn to dance by the river. Know before you go: It is free, but you need to RSVP on their site first to secure entry.

Smorgasburg x Threes Brewing NYC Beer Fest

Williamsburg · 90 Kent Ave · Free entry, pay for food

The outdoor food market teams up with Threes Brewing for a massive beer festival in the park. It brings together dozens of local food vendors selling everything from burgers to dumplings, paired with excellent local craft beer. The lines move fast if you arrive early, and eating outside looking at the East River is an ideal Saturday plan.

Go for: A perfect afternoon of eating outside. Know before you go: It runs from 11 AM to 6 PM.

BLOND:ISH

East Williamsburg · Avant Gardner, 140 Stewart Ave · $$$

Vivie-Ann Bakos brings her melodic house and techno to the sprawling Avant Gardner complex. She is known for building high energy sets that border on spiritual experiences. The lighting rigs are massive, the bass rattles your teeth, and the crowd is there for the long haul.

Go for: Losing track of time under heavy bass. Know before you go: The party starts at 10 PM and goes very late. Find more late options in our guide to where to dance in New York.

Roya

Williamsburg · Baby's All Right, 146 Broadway · $

If massive clubs are not your speed, head to one of our favorite small music venues. Roya plays the back room at Baby's on Saturday night. It is loud, close quarters rock and roll with cheap drinks and the famous light up stage backdrop. You can grab a smash burger at the front bar before walking into the noise.

Go for: A raw rock show in a tight room. Know before you go: The set starts at 7:30 PM.

ClimateFest at AMNH

Upper West Side · American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West · Free with admission

Part of Climate Week NYC, the museum is running a massive Saturday festival focused on sustainability and the future of the city. You get access to the Climate Learning Lab, plus a new installation extending the Arthur Ross Terrace indoors with live native trees and a birdsong soundscape.

Go for: Learning how the city plans to survive the next century. Know before you go: Programming runs from noon to 5 PM.

Sunday

Brooklyn Book Festival Day & Literary Marketplace

Downtown Brooklyn · Brooklyn Borough Hall · Free

New York's largest free literary festival takes over Borough Hall and the surrounding plazas. You get dozens of author panels, a massive outdoor book market, and enough canvas totes to fill a landfill. The programming is dependably smart and highly diverse. You will find small indie presses setting up tables right next to the major publishing houses.

Go for: Seeing your favorite authors argue on a panel. Know before you go: The market runs from 10 AM to 6 PM. You can retreat to the best independent bookstores later if you still need more reading material.

Taking Back Sunday

Downtown Brooklyn · Brooklyn Paramount, 1 University Plaza · $$

The Long Island emo legends play the beautifully restored Brooklyn Paramount. A Sunday evening screaming along to "MakeDamnSure" is a specific kind of therapy. The venue recently reopened after serving as a university basketball court for decades, and its ornate rococo ceilings are completely at odds with the mosh pit happening below.

Go for: The sheer nostalgia. Know before you go: The show starts at 6 PM.

Two Door Cinema Club

Midtown · Madison Square Garden · $$$

The indie pop band takes on the biggest room in the city to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their debut album Tourist History. Expect a polished, hyper energetic set list filled with tracks that defined early 2010s indie sleaze. MSG is the room every band wants to play, and the sound is surprisingly sharp for a sports arena.

Go for: Dancing in the aisles of MSG. Know before you go: Curtains rise at 7 PM.

All weekend

The Armory Show

Chelsea · Javits Center, 429 11th Ave · $$$

The fall gallery season officially opens with this massive contemporary art fair at the Javits Center. Hundreds of international galleries set up booths showing the biggest names and most hyped newcomers in the art world. The sheer volume of work is overwhelming in the best way possible.

Go for: Seeing what the global art market cares about right now. Know before you go: Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking on concrete all day. Plan your follow up visits with our New York art galleries guide.

Feast of San Gennaro

Little Italy · Mulberry Street · Free entry, pay for food

This is the big one. The 100th anniversary of the San Gennaro festival takes over downtown. Yes, it is crowded. Yes, it is loud. The smell of fried dough and sausages hangs in the air for blocks. Walking down Mulberry Street with a pepper hero is a mandatory New York ritual.

Go for: The sheer scale of the 100th anniversary celebration. Know before you go: The festival wraps up this Sunday, September 27. Escape the crowds by slipping into the edge of the neighborhood using our Chinatown guide.

All Things Go Festival NYC

Forest Hills · Forest Hills Stadium · $$$

The massive indie and pop festival takes over the grass courts of Forest Hills. This year features heavy hitters like Brandi Carlile and Zara Larsson. It is a perfectly sized festival that feels far less exhausting than the multi stage fields on the islands, set inside a historic tennis club in a quiet residential neighborhood.

Go for: A highly curated lineup in a gorgeous outdoor stadium. Know before you go: The festival runs all three days, so check the daily schedules before you commute to Queens.

The Shout NY take: Do not try to hit all of these. Pick one borough per day, stay hydrated, and leave the party while you are still having fun.