An NEA Jazz Master and 10x GRAMMY winner, the legendary Eddie Palmieri kicks off Harlem Stage’s 2024/2025 season at Bryant Park with his fiery 13-piece Salsa Orchestra. A longtime member of the Harlem Stage family of artists, Palmieri is known as one of the finest pianists and innovators, as well as a bandleader, arranger, and composer of the highest order of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythms of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, and McCoy Tyner, as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri. Born in Spanish Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Palmieri closes out the summer with a giant dance party for his beloved city.
Harlem Stage is the performing arts center that bridges Harlem’s cultural legacy to contemporary artists of color and dares to provide the artistic freedom that gives birth to new ideas.
For more than 40 years their singular mission has been to perpetuate and celebrate the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American culture. Harlem Stage provides opportunity, commissioning, and support for visionary artists of color, make performances easily accessible to all audiences and introduce children to the rich diversity, excitement, and inspiration of the performing arts.
Additional media support for this performance is provided by WBGO.
Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America is a free outdoor festival that welcomes all New Yorkers to experience the city’s vibrant arts and culture. The series provides a platform for extraordinary artists and serves as a vital outdoor venue for a wide array of New York’s cultural institutions.
Bring your own picnic or purchase food and drinks from tents on the east side of the lawn. Attendees can enjoy cuisine from the five boroughs with a rotating line-up of artisanal vendors curated by Hester Street Fair.
Stout NYC also offers giant pretzels, gourmet popcorn and other light bites as well as a selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.
Featured Vendors:
Thursday, September 5:
- Panda Eats World - Street food of Northern China
- Chaat Dog - Desi American street food
- Chocolate on Tap - Belgian Chocolate and strawberries
- Tacos El Guero - Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more
- Stop Drop N Roll - Gourmet egg rolls
- Bel-Fries - Artisan fries and sauces
Friday, September 6:
- Chic Treatz - Confectionary delights
- Chocolate on Tap - Belgian Chocolate and strawberries
- Tacos El Guero - Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more
- Enfes - Handmade Turkish food
- Bel-Fries - Artisan fries and sauces
Thursday, September 12:
- Charles Pan-Fried Chicken - Harlem's finest fried chicken
- Chocolate on Tap - Belgian Chocolate and strawberries
- Stop Drop N Roll - Gourmet egg rolls
- Pinche Vegana - Modern, vegan Mexican
Friday, September 13:
- Chocolate on Tap: Belgian Chocolate and strawberries
- Tacos El Guero: Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more
Bryant Park lends out hundreds of free blankets on a first-come, first-served basis, or bring your own cotton or fleece blanket. To protect the lawn, please do not sit on waterproof materials such as plastic tarps, yoga mats, or inflatable chairs.
Take a seat in one of the pre-set chairs on the lawn or grab a chair from the gravel. You can use a chair anywhere in the park except for the center lawn "blanket zone".
Find jugglers, hula hoops, giant Jenga, and more fun on the east side of the lawn at select events.
We love dogs, but dog urine can leave the lawn with bald spots. Dogs are welcome on the gravel and bluestone, but please do not bring dogs on the lawn.
Performances are cancelled when it is unsafe to be outdoors. In some cases, the lawn may be too wet to open but the performance may continue. Follow @bryantparknyc on Twitter and Instagram for day-of event updates. You can also check the lawn status on the bryantpark.org homepage.