Have you ever been to a place that made you feel as free as a bird soaring through the sky?
New York City is filled with constant movement and the summer is an idyllic time of warmth and freedom.
Harmonious sounds, youthful laughter and the smell of BBQ brim the air.
In fact, as one of the most diverse and evolving boroughs in the city, Queens offers a plethora of activities for you to enjoy this July.
Don’t miss out! Escape this scorching heat with a night of quiet clubbing, robotics workshop and much more!
P.S. Don’t forget to also check out our Queens summer guide for more ideas.
1. 2nd Annual Queens NYC Lit Fest - LIC Landing (July 16th and 17th)
Are you a poetry or spoken word lover?
Good news...InspiredWordNYC and PoetryTeachersNYC in collaboration with Hunters Point Parks Conservancy and COFFEED will be presenting a two-day summer weekend celebration of the literary arts.
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Enjoy live poetry, prose and spoken word at LIC Landing for FREE from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Check here for more details.
2. Pokémon Go bar crawl in Astoria (July 17th)
What’s better than Pokémon and booze on a Sunday? Absolutely nada! (Just don’t let your religious abuela find out).
Players of Pokémon GO on IOS and Android who live in Astoria and Long Island City might just get lucky this Sunday by catching some rare pokemons.
According to the Meetup event, the organizer will drop a lure at the bar in order to attract Pokémon to certain PokeStops.
The Pokémon Go bar crawl is set to start at Sweet Afton at 1 p.m. and then continue to the following bars: Judy and Punch, Dominies, and Diamond Dogs.
3. QED’s Crafts Bazaar - 27-16 23rd Avenue (July 17th)
Kick off your summer celebrations with the inaugural QED Bazaar. Crafts Bazaar, is a curated marketplace showcasing some of the neighborhood’s most creative makers in Astoria.
Shop local with one-of-a-kind vintage finds, jewelry pieces, collectibles, treats, art and more. Come for FREE and enjoy $5 draught beer, wine and mimosas. Now doesn’t that sound great? We bet it does!
Don’t miss out in QED’s first ever Crafts Bazaar! It all goes down this Sunday from 1 - 6 p.m.
4. Thinking Like a Machine - 39-31 29th Street (July 20th - July 21st)
Are you a huge fan of robots? If you are, then perhaps a robot-making workshop and exhibition in Long Island City could be right up your alley.
Create artificial intelligence at a Robot-Making Workshop, plus enjoy an evening of robotic performances.
The exhibition and robotics workshop will be held with Austrian artist Niki Passath. In his artistic creation, Passath searches for answers to the mystery of life by incorporating robotics, artificial intelligence and physics.
During the workshop participants will work with Passath to create a robot from scratch. The reception and exhibition will feature the robots made during the workshop.
Interested? Then RSVP here.
5. Quiet Clubbing Sunday Funday - Hunter’s Point South Park (July 24th)
Perhaps clubs are not your scene. Want to escape the city’s pestering clubs? No worries. We have the solution for you, quiet clubbing.
Similar to dancing in your bedroom, you can transport yourself to having your own private party. The only difference is that you’ll be dancing all night long amongst friends and strangers, but don’t let that deter you from having a good time!
Honestly, you can cancel out the world, or get social. You’ll receive a pair of special wireless headphones and you can adjust the volume and choose up to three live DJs with just a flip of a switch.
Each headset has a color LED that shows what you are listening to, so dance to your own beat as three live DJs battle for your attention, or jam out all night long to your favorite one.
Also, see someone who catches your interest? Easy! Just take your headphones off, and ta-da — you can actually have a conversation.
Enjoy amazing views of the city with a waterfront dance floor — along with wine, beer and burgers, and some dope glow in the dark gear.
This is one of the those parties that you’ll regret not going to after seeing everyone’s Snapchat and Instagram photos, so what are you waiting for? Snag your tickets here for an ultimate nightlife experience on July 24th at Hunter’s Point South Park. Ticket prices range from $10 to $25.
6. Socrates Outdoor Film Series - Socrates Sculpture Park (July 20th till August 24th)
Catch some amazing cinema this summer for FREE with Socrates Outdoor Film Series. The films begin at sundown.
In honor of their 30th anniversary, Socrates Sculpture Park is featuring international films that celebrate the borough’s diversity. Along with their theme of culture and diversity, music and food will also be available.
For the month of July, you’ll be able to enjoy two films, a middle eastern film entitled Sonita, or Rivers and Tide. Check out the full lineup here.
7. Acroyoga + Ice Cream - 23-10 41st Avenue (July 20th)
Brooklyn Boulders Queensbridge is a dedicated rock climbing facility and dynamic creative community. Enjoy a 30 minute yoga warm up followed by an hour-long, beginner-friendly acroyoga class led by Joy Chen.
Cool down afterwards with some delicious ice cream courtesy of Astoria locals, Sweet Jane. Vegan and dairy-free options will also be served. Tickets for members are $8, while non-members pay $15.
8. Brazilian: Live Art Event featuring Mag Magrela at Beija Flor - 38-02 29th Street (July 23rd)
Experience Brazilian street artist Mag Magrela paint a permanent mural depicting the struggles of life in her homeland at Beija Flor. This event will take place on Long Island City next Saturday, on July 23rd from noon until 5 p.m.
The well renowned artist made her mark in NYC during 2014, when she painted six murals in Brooklyn and Manhattan over two weeks. Her works achieved to bring awareness to a drought that was devastating in Brazil at the time.
Magrela has returned this time to Queens launching her second NYC tour. Brazilian restaurant Beija Flor will provide live music and drink specials, including caipirinha's, wine and beer while she paints the mural.
9. Alley Pond Adventure Course - (July through August 22nd)
Have the ultimate fun this summer and hit the adventure course at Alley Pond Park!
Get ready to get physical this season because Alley Pond Adventure Course offers low and high-ropes course activities for everyone. That's right! Have a daring and thrilling escapade with a rock climbing wall, zip lining, swings, nets, balance platforms and a trust fall station.
The Alley Pond Park Adventure Course is the first challenge course in NYC and one of the largest challenge courses in the metropolitan region.
The free course is open on Sundays, and online registration is required in July and August.
10. Free Summer Concerts - (July through August)
Summertime is made for concerts and nothing quite beats live music in a park for FREE. Enjoy different genres of music including: rock, folk, jazz, classical and world.
Go back in time with classic rock band Plastic Soul in Forest Park, or enjoy an evening of Gospel music performed by James Dale at Springfield Park. There’s plenty of styles and performances for you to choose from this season.
You can check out more great shows lined up for the summer near you here.
11. Free Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It, Flushing Meadows Park (July 27th - August 28th)
Voted as the “Best Theatre Group” in Queens, Hip to Hip is celebrating their 10th anniversary of Free Shakespeare in the Park, a production of the best action-packed plays, complete with political intrigue, civil war, a wrestling match, and hilarious romantic misadventures.
The theme of their 10th season explores love and liberty. Make sure to bring a blanket or low chair, plus picnic fare to enjoy a Shakespeare play in the open air. Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy about love, family and identity is full of wit, music and summer fun.
All performances are FREE and open to the public. Each play starts from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Flushing Meadows Park.
12. Free Outdoor Movies (July through September)
It’s true, the best in things in life are free -- especially when it includes entertainment. It’s that time of year to enjoy free movies outside again, so instead of lounging around at home -- head outdoors and bask in the beauty of nature.
Enjoy the cool breeze as the sun sets with some of your favorite classics this summer. View the full lineup of free movies in Queens this summer here.
13. Free Kayaking and Canoeing - LIC Boathouse
Enjoy some #views this summer with LIC Boathouse!
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LIC Boathouse offers the opportunity for free recreational kayaking and canoeing to the waterways around Long Island City and Astoria. Check out their calendar for scheduled outings and guided tours.
14. Queens Beer Festival - 5-25 46th Avenue (July 30th and July 31st)
Mark your calendars because it’s about to go down! The first annual Queens Beer Festival is coming to LIC Flea & Food from July 30th to July 31st.
The Queens Beer Festival will offer you the opportunity to sample beers from some of the best breweries in Queens. Participating breweries include Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, Queens Brewery, Big Alice Brewing, Singlecut Brewery, and more!
Grab your tickets here.
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