Labor Day in the city: the West Indian Day Parade steps off at 11am on Eastern Parkway, the free-music day stacks around it — jazz piano in Bryant Park at 12:30, solo violin at Grand Central this morning, the Wolfhound’s 5th annual block party in Astoria, Big City Folk in Greeley Sq at 6 — and the Met Opera HD Festival closes with La Bohème at 8 alongside the Public Theater’s Public Record at the Delacorte and a free comedy show in Williamsburg.

Live Music

  • 5th Annual Labor Day Block Party at The Wolfhound — TODAY from ~11am, 30th Ave between 38th St & Steinway, Astoria: the pub’s 5th annual Labor Day block party — 30 local vendors, a new DJ every hour from noon, $4/$5 drink specials, a tattoo artist and food trucks (Mom’s Momos), alongside the street fair running 29th St–Steinway.
  • Piano in Bryant Park — TODAY 12:30–2:30pm, Upper Terrace (Bryant Park): free lunchtime ragtime, stride and jazz — the daily series’ Labor Day edition.
  • Big City Folk in Greeley Square Park — TONIGHT 6–8pm, Greeley Square Park (32nd St): free singer-songwriter showcase of NYC’s finest, hosted by songsmith Niall Connolly.
  • Subway Series: Dr. Edward W. Hardy — TODAY (morning set) + again Thu 9/10 & Fri 9/11, Grand Central Terminal: free public solo violin under the MTA Music program — concert-level classical, jazz, Latin, rock and contemporary, no ticket needed.

Festivals & Culture

  • West Indian Day Parade / Carnival — TODAY (Labor Day) 11am, Eastern Parkway from Utica Ave to Grand Army Plaza: steel-pan and calypso bands in full costume, homestyle island food along the route — free, the biggest Caribbean celebration in North America.
  • Met Opera Summer HD Festival — Finale — closing TONIGHT 8pm, Josie Robertson Plaza, Lincoln Center: the 17th festival’s finale is Puccini’s La Bohème — free, ~2,500 first-come seats.

Theater & Comedy

  • Public Works: Public Record — TONIGHT 8–10pm, Delacorte Theater, Central Park (final night Tue 9/8): the Public Theater’s Public Works brings 100+ community musicians and dancers from all five boroughs to create a live album on stage in real time — free; the finished record is preserved by the NYPL for the Performing Arts.
  • Good Normal Show (No Gimmick) — TONIGHT 6:30–7:30pm, Easy Lover, 790 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg: free monthly comedy show — Bridget Foley, Dezzy, Nick Viagas, Laith Alsasa, Akshay Sampath and Caleb Theodore Sherman, hosted by Woodlief McCabe.
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