Free open-air traditions

The Mermaid Parade

Housing Works Open Air Street Fair
Grab a bag and stuff it. Seriously—that’s how this awesome outdoor vintage shopfest works. Buy a $20 bag and you can keep whatever you can cram into it; most nonclothing items, like CDs, books and records, are just $1 a piece. Proceeds benefit Housing Works, which takes care of homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. Entry is free—what you spend from there is entirely up to you and your ATM card. 126 Crosby St between E Houston and Prince Sts (212-334-3324, housingworks.org). Sat 6 10am–6pm (rain date Sun 7).

The Mermaid Parade
Even after all these years and the arrival of Thor Equities, this sea-creature-stuffed procession is still one of the highlights of Coney Island’s hot season. Expect sea-themed floats, mermaids and mermen, and all manner of marine oddities, with an extensive lineup of burlesque and sideshow acts as the after-party. Starts at Surf Ave and W 21st St, Coney Island, Brooklyn (coneyisland.com, 718-372-5159). June 20 at 2pm.

La Casita, “A Home for the Heart”
The ninth edition of this show—an exploration of the way oral traditions find expression in poetry, dance, spoken word and theater—will feature more than a dozen international acts ranging from hip-hop MCs to Sephardic folk musicians. It’s part of Lincoln Center Out of Doors, a three-week fest of music, dance and performance—all of which is free. Lincoln Center, Hearst Plaza, enter at Columbus Ave between 63rd and 64th Sts (lincolncenter.org, 212-875-5766). Aug 9 noon–5pm.

Moondance
Granted, this free dance party is no rave, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring a whistle and wiggle your wagon (or caboose). Like the not-so-free version at Lincoln Center, Hudson River’s weekly outdoor ballroom features a different type of music every Sunday, from tango to big band. Pier 54, 14th St at the Hudson River (hudsonriverpark.org). July 12–Aug 9. Sun 7pm; dance lessons 6:30pm.

The Museum Mile Festival
Every spring, a swank, 23-block section of Fifth Avenue morphs into a gigantic art- and performance-filled block party, as nine of the nation’s choicest museums—including the Met, the Guggenheim and the Museum of the City of New York—open their doors to the public free of charge. It’s always a mob scene, but it’s also always a bargain. Fifth Ave between 82nd and 105th Sts (museummilefestival.org). Tue 9 6–9pm.

Poetic City: Poets House Celebration
Poetry is sexier than you think, especially when it’s uttered on the tip of Manhattan at sunset. Test the theory at this second-annual gathering of poetry aficionados held in anticipation of the September opening of Poets House’s new home in Battery Park City. The evening offers readings by four accomplished wordsmiths, performances of voicecentric composer Meredith Monk’s work and literary tours of the neighborhood. The Pavilion at Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, enter at Battery Park City, Chambers St at Riverside Terr (212-431-7920, poetshouse.org). Wed 10 at 7pm; tours 6–7pm.

“Sex Cells” gallery opening
Opening night of this exhibition—featuring salacious photos, videos and texts created with the mobile phones of pervs across this grand country of ours—should be, um, interesting. C it w someone u fk. 3rd Ward, 195 Morgan Ave at Stagg St, Bushwick, Brooklyn (718-715-4961, 3rdward.com). June 12 7–10pm.

Rumble on the River
We can’t think of a better way to spend a hot summer night than watching our fellow New Yorkers pummel each other. Produced in tandem with Brooklyn’s famed Church Street Boxing gym, this outdoor amateur boxing night on a pier adjacent to the Intrepid draws fierce competitors from the city and beyond. Pier 84, 44th St at the Hudson River (212-627-2020, hudsonriver.org). July 30 at 7pm (rain date July 31).

—Lee Magill

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