Have you missed out on Coachella, Ultra, or South By Southwest this year and feel like you need to get in touch with your Woodstock side? We’ve gathered the best festivals NYC has to offer so you can get cultured and go crazy.
SummerStage
PC: Central Park
You know it’s summertime if SummerStage is on again. The annual concert series happens all over the five boroughs, with concerts in Queens, Brooklyn, and of course Central Park.
Not only that, but the tickets are inexpensive, and sometimes free! This year’s lineup includes Denzel Curry, Khalid, and George Clinton with Parliament Funkadelic.
Governor’s Ball
PC: Downtown Magazine NYC
Governor’s Ball is New York’s answer to Coachella. Enjoy a lineup that includes Childish Gambino, Wiz Khalifa, Galantis, Chance The Rapper, Lorde, Flume, and much more, while getting a beer and watching the sun set over NYC’s skyscrapers. Also, check out the array of tents with different events, such as silent disco or mini golf.
Electric Zoo
PC: Businesswire
Electric Zoo, or as attendees call it E-Zoo, has been experiencing a renaissance since the tumultuous and controversial 2013 and 2014 festivals. The festival features the best of the best in EDM, and some of the most interesting set designs, like last year’s massive psychedelic snake which loomed over the main stage.
If you go this year, you can look forward to seeing DJ Snake, Deadmau5, and Yellow Claw take the stage.
Summer Jam
PC: Billboard
Taking place over the course of one day, the annual hip-hop fest organized by radio station HOT 97.1 is the definitive hip hop concert for the east coast. This show has been controversial and iconic, so if you’re a fan of rap and hip hop then you can’t miss it. DJ Khaled, Young M.A., D.R.A.M., and Lil Yachty will all rock Met Life stadium this year.
Northside Festival
PC: Billboard
Founded in 2009, Brooklyn’s Northside Festival is a celebration of food, music, and much more. There’s a lot to experience at this festival, as it takes place over the course of four days and multiple locations. There’s a block party that consists of temporary installations from local artists, VR/AR stations that will turn Brooklyn into a playground, and a bunch of speakers centered around innovation.
Panorama Festival
PC: The Source
Created by the same people that organized Coachella, Panorama gives Governor’s Ball a run for its money in the fight for best NYC music festival. The 3-day festival, held on Randall’s Island (the same location as Governor’s Ball), boasts a unique lineup with Frank Ocean, 6lack, and A Tribe Called Quest headlining this year’s show.
Additionally, there’s a state-of-the-art experiential art space called The Lab that includes a 360 degree dome for an out of this world experience.