Labor Day Weekend is a great time to be in New York City. The weather is still warm, summer traditions are in full swing, and the long weekend gives you a little extra time to explore.
There’s a little bit of everything, from one of the city’s biggest annual celebrations to baseball, tennis, waterfront views, and enough good food to keep you busy between it all. Whether you’ve got all three days or just one afternoon, it’s easy to build a weekend you’ll remember.
Experience One of NYC’s Biggest Traditions
If you’ve never been to the West Indian American Day Carnival, Labor Day Weekend is the perfect excuse to change that.
The celebration takes over Brooklyn every year, with the main parade happening along Eastern Parkway on Monday, September 7th. It’s loud, colorful, and unlike anything else happening in the city that weekend.
The festivities actually begin much earlier with J’Ouvert before sunrise on Monday morning. It’s a longtime tradition for many in the Caribbean community and offers a completely different atmosphere from the afternoon parade.
Spend Some Time Outside
NYC weather can be unpredictable, but if it’s cooperating, it’s the perfect weekend to spend time outside.
Governors Island is an easy choice if you want to slow the pace down for a few hours. Catch the ferry, rent a bike, grab lunch, or stretch out in one of the hammocks with views of Lower Manhattan. If you’ve never been, Labor Day Weekend is a pretty good introduction. The island keeps its extended summer hours through the holiday weekend.
If you’d rather stay on the mainland, you really can’t go wrong with Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, or a walk along the Hudson River. None of those require much planning, and sometimes that’s exactly what a long weekend calls for.
Catch a Game
The Mets host the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series at Citi Field from Friday, September 4th through Sunday, September 6th. Friday’s game includes a Francisco Lindor bobblehead giveaway, Saturday features a Mrs. Met tennis bobblehead, and Sunday is Family Sunday, so there’s a little extra reason to pick one game over another.
New York City FC also opens the weekend at home, taking on Nashville SC at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 4th at 7:30 PM.
And yes, the US Open is still in full swing. The tournament reaches its final weekend during Labor Day, so if you already have tickets, or just want to be part of the energy around Flushing Meadows, it’s a great time to go.
Make Time to Eat
Smorgasburg is always a good place to start. Whether you head to Williamsburg or Prospect Park, you’ll find dozens of local vendors serving everything from barbecue and dumplings to pastries and desserts. Go hungry.
The Queens Night Market is also worth adding to your weekend plans. Open Saturday evenings, the popular outdoor market features dozens of vendors serving affordable dishes from around the world, so it’s easy to try a few different flavors in one visit.
Save One Evening for the Skyline
Labor Day Weekend usually brings those late summer evenings when it’s still comfortable enough to sit outside after dinner. Grab a drink at a rooftop bar, book a sunset cruise around Manhattan, or find a restaurant along the waterfront and stay awhile.
The city feels a little different over Labor Day Weekend. Summer isn’t quite over, but everyone knows it’s getting close. That’s exactly what makes it such a good time to visit.
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