The best things to do on Labor Day in NYC

For some, Labor Day is just another Monday off, but the costumed gods and goddesses of this wild parade spend the whole year hot-gluing feathers and stones to their magnificent outfits.

Party all the way down Eastern Parkway and enjoy technicolor floats representing countries like Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago while you indulge in jerk chicken and other delicacies.

While you may not remember what you did on Labor Day Weekends past, take a swing and make this year memorable by seeing the champions slay it on the tennis court. The U.S. Open takes place from August 26 through until September 8 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens.

If you haven't caught Smorgasburg yet, use the extra time this holiday weekend to check out the food bazaar spectacular.

With more than 70 vendors, it's the largest Smorgasburg lineup since 2018! Vendors this year are serving up fragrant Ethiopian stews, Hawaii-style street comforts, explosive pani puri, potato puff poutine, and lots more.

Smorgasburg WTC runs on Fridays; Williamsburg is on Saturdays; and Prospect Park is on Sundays. Each location is open from 11am-6pm and operates weekly through October. 

If you can't travel to a tropical location for the long wekeend, no worries. Watermark Bar has transformed into the tropically-themed Watermark Beach. Expect Instagram-ready tiki decor, seasonal drinks and twinkling lights for when the party stretches into the nighttime hours.

The al fresco experience includes new cabanas and a curated new cocktail program, in addition to large-format Cooler Packages, which allow guests to have their canned and bottled drinks ready on ice as they visit. 

Torch & Crown Brewing Company's summertime pop-up is back at Union Square Pavilion. 

Along with new and returning draft options (from their flagship Almont Famous to crisp lagers like Tenement), the beer garden features a revamped food menu overseen by Executive Chef Michael Citarella. Expect bar-food staples like homemade pizza, fried chicken sandwiches, and burgers. The seasonal venue will feature both indoor and outdoor dining, so you can enjoy beers and bites rain or shine. 

If you didn't get enough of outdoor movie season this summer, don't worry: It's not over yet. Rooftop Cinema Club is keeping the fun going with a packed slate of films. The experience offers a chance to watch a movie on a Midtown rooftop with vegan popcorn, classic theater candy, and craft cocktails.

Labor Day weekend screening include Encanto, Top Gun, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Notebook, The Sandlot, Dirty Dancing, and Goodfellas. 

Ice cream is at the center of this 20,000-square-foot museum that'll make the cold treat even more fun (who knew it'd even be possible?). Across 13 multi-sensory installations, visitors to the museum will be able to interact with fun elements like a three-story indoor slide, the all-pink Celestial Subway, and a new add-on where guests can build their own edible slime.

Even better: The sweet treats along the way. Yes, we're talking about unlimited ice cream throughout the museum. For adults, check out some fun themed cocktails as well.

Finish off your summer with a visit to one of NYC’s best beaches, from Jacob Riis to Rockaway. Make sure to plan ahead so as to spend your precious hours off wisely!

If you’re looking for something a little bit more adult, hanging poolside with a cocktail in hand is the answer. Several of New York’s finest hotels offer day passes for their rooftop pools, most of which include chaises and cabanas for lounging in addition to a full-service bar.

If it's too hot or too rainy to be outside over the weekend, head to a movie theater. Whether you want something flashy and new or a classic from another era, there’s bound to be something you love—and that applies to choice of movie and venue.

The 172-acre island, partially made from the cast-off rocks from the Lexington Avenue Subway, is the verdant backyard that New Yorkers desperately need.

It’s completely car-free so cycling is a breeze, the views of the harbor, the city and the Statue of Liberty are breathtaking and its acres of open land give beleaguered city residents a chance to spread their limbs without clobbering the person next to them. It’s perfect for the last hurrah of summer.