Amy Ellison

If you want fantastic fresh fruits, veggies, meats and cheeses, NYC's close proximity to sustainable, family-run farms in the tri-state area has got you covered. The city's farmers markets are teeming with just-picked fruits and vegetables, along with freshly made bread and other artisanal products. Whether you’re on a mission to find the perfect premade picnic baskets to take to your favorite NYC parks or just simply looking for fun things to do outside, these seasonal or year-round farmers’ markets are sure to showcase the best our fertile Eastern Seaboard has to offer. With so many excellent alfresco options like these, you won’t be stepping foot in those garden-variety grocery stores anytime soon. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do outside in NYC

As much as New Yorkers love their city, they want to be transported to another space and time — at least that's the trend museums, companies and artists are capitalizing on. Immersive exhibits, events and experiences are popping up all over NYC these days. From theatrical experiences to trippy digital art taking over massive spaces, there's no shortage of ways to be immersed in a different reality. With so many ways to be immersed, we decided it was high time to round up all the cool, immersive events, exhibits and experiences happening in NYC now and coming up soon so you won't miss the chance to experience something new and potentially mind-blowing. RECOMMENDED: The best museum exhibitions in NYC right now

Francophiles can celebrate Bastille Day—NYC’s annual celebration that usually includes street fairs, dance events, live music, and performances (the cancan!)—through a number fun events this year. There are two major Bastille Day events you won't want to miss, and we've got the rundown on all the details below. So don your beret and red, white, and blue outfit and settle in for some French-themed fun. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do in the summer in NYC When is Bastille Day? The holiday is always held on July 14 to celebrate French National Day (July 14, 1789). This year, many celebrations are on Sunday, July 13. What is Bastille Day? Bastille Day, also known as French National Day, is a holiday celebrating the beginning of the French Revolution and the Storming of the Bastille. Where is Bastille Day? There are two major Bastille Day celebrations to bookmark this year, one on Madison Avenue in the Upper East Side and the other in Central Park. Keep scrolling for the full details. 

New York City is full of free outdoor art that you don't even have to go to a museum to see. Sculptures, murals and photographs can be found in its parks, sidewalks and on its buildings! Locations such as the High Line, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn, Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens and other NYC locales all have a wide variety of pieces awaiting you, from massive sculptures to eye-popping murals and graffiti. Best of all, it costs you nothing to pay a visit. Below, find the best outdoor art in NYC to stroll by for a DIY walking tour. RECOMMENDED: The best art shows and exhibits in NYC

Everyone watches women's sports, so go enjoy at laugh at this WNBA comedy show hosted by Defector Media. The show, hosted on Tuesday, July 15 at Littlefield in Brooklyn, celebrates the upcoming WNBA All-Star break. Hosted by Nora Jefferies and Jasper Wang, expect WNBA-themed games and giveaways, plus a lineup of comics including Devon Walker of Saturday Night Live, Julia Shiplett of Overcompensating, and Joey Dardano from Wild 'N Out. The fun starts at 7:30pm and tickets are $20, but use the code LETSGOLIBS for 10% off. 

Celebrate the art of being funny at the new Grand Street Comedy Festival from July 10-13. Venues include Flop House (known as NYC's "friendliest comedy club"), Brooklyn Art Haus, Fred's Dog House, and St. Mazie Bar & Supper Club. The lineup will feature comics seen on Netflix, HBO, and Comedy Central. Shows start at 8pm each night and end at 12:30am. Comic headliners include Jared Freid, Dan Toomey, Judah Friedlander, Sienna Hubert-Ross, Monroe Martin, Austin Nasso, Caitlin Peluffo, Yvette Segan, Natalie Cuomo, Fabrizio Copano, Liz Miele, Myq Kaplan, Keegan Tindall, Lea'h Sampson, and more. Tickets start at $17.85 for general admission. 

Don't miss out on the return of renowned Austrian artist Gustav Klimt in a new captivating exhibit this summer, Gustav Klimt: The Immersive Experience. From July 15 until August 31, the Hall Des Lumières in Lower Manhattan will host a rare opportunity to step inside of Gustav Klimt's legendary work brought to life through music, color and intricate visuals. The show is one-hour long, and tickets start at $29, with an opportunity to buy a family pack for $78, or reduced rates of $19 per ticket for youth, senior, veterans, or those with disabilities. Guests are welcomed daily from 11am to 5pm, except for Mondays. "This space breathes new life into Klimt's masterpieces, surrounding visitors with history, light, and the bold spirit of artistic revolution," per Harley Hendrix, managing director of Hall des Lumières.  

Head to Dumbo for live music and interactive art at this weekly summer series on Thursday evenings starting at 6pm. Live at the Archway features a headlining concert, plus an art exhibit on the Art Wall, where anyone can contribute to a collaborative piece—all totally free. While it's free to attend, you can buy drinks and food from pop-up vendors. If the weather is iffy, don't worry: the event takes place under the cover of the Manhattan Bridge and goes on rain or shine. Here's the full schedule: — July 10: Brasil Summerfest presents American Samba band Os Clavelitos with art wall by 20x200 in collaboration with Joan LeMay — July 17: A concert by Brooklyn’s Kaleta & Super Yamba Band with art wall by Dumbo artist Cara Lee Sparry — July 24: A concert by folk, rock and alt soul singer-songwriter Sug Daniels with art wall by Jenn MackSoud

Join Pioneer Works this Sunday, July 13, for a free community day featuring live music, artist studio visits and interactive programs. Explore Pioneer Works' new artists-in-residence studios and check out several newly opened exhibitions: "Legendary Looks by Felix Rodriguez" with video exploring New York’s house ballroom community and "I Think, I Draw, I Am," a major exhibition of over 300 works by Daniel Johnston.  Also check out hands-on activities like a solar viewing with the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York, a comic-making workshop inspired by Daniel Johnston, and fungi explorations with the New York Mycological Society.

JAPAN CUTS—the largest Japanese film festival in North America—is back from through July 20 at Japan Society.  See major premieres or check out their other 30+ films across 11 days. If you like seeing major blockbuster films, supporting up-and-coming filmmakers, weeping over indie films, or checking out documentaries (or anime, experimental and short films, or restorations, they really do have it all), browse their lineup and secure yourself a ticket before it’s too late. Among the festival’s lineup is a special screening of Yasuhiro Aoki's ChaO in collaboration with GKIDS and the presentation of the 2025 CUT ABOVE Award to Kiyoshi Kurosawa. And don't miss the North American Premiere of A Girl Named Ann, the U.S. Premiere of She Taught Me Serendipity, along with a special appearance from Japan Academy Film Prize Best Actress Winner, Yuumi Kawai. 

Treat your ears to the beautiful sounds of poetry this weekend in an equally beautiful setting. The annual New York City Poetry Festival takes over Colonel's Row on the picturesque Governors Island on July 12 and 13. With more than 100 literary organizations participating, the free festival is much more of an epic than a haiku. Along with readings from many poets, the festival includes visual art, an open mic, clowns, local vendors hawking literary-themed goods and a plethora of delicious food and drink. This year's headiners include Naomi Shihab Nye, Eileen Myles, Anne Waldman, Sam Sax, and Andrew Whiteman.  Whether you're a poetry superfan or new to the genre, this all-ages festival promises to be accessible for all. It's free to attend, be sure to register here; you can add a drink ticket or get VIP access.

Break out those cowboy boots because Molly & June's Honky Tonk is taking over the legendary music venue SOB's in the West Village every Monday night this July. Dinner and drinks are available all night, along with a Southern cocktail happy hour special, line dancing lessons, cowboy hat giveaways, and live country music from Shotgun Shack Band with other surprise guests. Each week features a different line dance, designed for dancers of all experience levels. Every event begins at 6pm, with free entry from 6-6:30pm with an RSVP. Or you can grab an all-access pass to get into every single week's activities for $30.

If you haven't been to the Perelman Performing Arts Center in Lower Manhattan yet, this weekend is your chance to go and explore new cultural center. The venue near the World Trade Center is hosting first-ever Family Day on Saturday, July 12 from 10am to 4pm—and it's totally free to attend. Families and artists of all ages can enjoy a day of indoor and outdoor performances, workshops, dance battles, live music, food, facepainting, balloons, and more. Family participation is encouraged through interactive parades throughout the day. Performances include hip-hop theater artist and poet Baba Israel, the Puerto Rican dance company Bombazo Dance, bubble fun from Bubble America, and a contemporary performance from the Broken Box Mime Theater. 

If you’re looking to skip the museum lines and crowds this summer, Marya Triandafellos' art installation, "Happy to See You," is on display in Tribeca's Washington Market Park now until August 31. The exhibit features colorful 4' x 5' prints displayed around the park at Greenwich Street and Reade Street, brought to you by NYC Parks' Art in the Parks program and Friends of Washington Market Park organization.  Marya Triandafellos, known for her playful and vivid abstract, says this installation was first formed because of her deep fascination with AI, which she used as a muse to inspire and guide her interest in digital innovation and creative expression. 

Calling all Francophiles! Matthew Rosenstein, a.k.a. "a bagel who dreamed of being a croissant, will be performing a one-man cabaret show about his descent into the world of France. His story chronicles seeing Le Mis for the first time on Broadway, learning the language, making fake phone calls to Air France as a teenager, and eventually making the move to Paris. Rosenstein will be joined with a four-piece band and backup singers as he shares the lessons and hard truths he learned on his journey to becoming authentically French. Don't miss out on seeing his show, "Make Me French," at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Bastille Day, Monday July 14. Doors open at 5:30pm. 

Streeeetch out with Prospect Park Yoga, a new open-air yoga studio bringing high-quality, professional classes to all corners of Prospect Park through October. Launched this spring, PPY offers daily, outdoor yoga classes throughout Prospect Park with "the belief that New Yorkers need more reasons to inhabit public space and be outside." Classes run in areas near to the park's main entrances, making yoga accessible for New Yorkers on all sides of the park. You can buy a single class, a class package, or a monthly membership for classes this summer and fall. Register in advance here.

Step into the memories of iconic football player Lionel Messi—literally. The famous digital artist Refik Anadol has teamed up with Messi and the non-profit UNICEF to create his latest work, "Living Memory: Messi-A Goal in Life," a fully immersive experience showcasing the moment of Messi's (and football's) most iconic moment—his header in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final.  The exhibit is presented through a Christie's sale that will be open for bidding July 8 to 22, with the free immersive experience at Christie's New York in Rockefeller Center July 12 to 22. Tickets are available on-site at Christie's each day, while supplies last. RECOMMENDED: FIFA Club World Cup 2025 guide This unprecedented artwork from Anadol isn't simply a visual experience, but a multi-sensory memory for the audience and Messi. To create the installation, Anadol used data-driven artificial intelligence and open-source motion-tracking framework to map 17 points of Messi's body to reconstruct his body and expressions. Layered with biometric voice data, breathing rhythms and heartbeats, the tone and tempo is set for connecting with Messi in revisiting the goal. The experience is an eight-minute long, captivating "memory temple" according to Anadol.  "This isn't about nostalgia," Anadol said in a press release, as the reason for creating this art is to relive the depth of that split-second moment with Messi and to feel what the crowd and the world felt. Anadol has figured out how to c