7. Enjoy Live Music At The Lower East Side Festival Of The Arts

The Lower East Side Festival of the Arts is an annual event at the Theater For The New City. The festival offers guests a view into the cultural life and history of the Lower East Side. Last year the festival was held fully virtual, but will take place this year in-person over the course of Memorial Day weekend. The theme will aptly be “LES is home again,” in celebration of the city’s reopening this upcoming summer. For attendees there will be an eclectic range of theatre groups, artists, painters, sculptures, dancers, actors, puppet makers, poets, musical comedy stars, kid performers, and street performers showcasing their work. 

Each day from 6:00 p.m. to 11 p.m. various performances will be held in the Johnson and Cabaret Theatre. Some notable artists in attendance will be jazz musician David Amram, performance artist Penny Arcade, and members of the Rod Rodgers Dance Company. On Saturday May, 29th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. cultural festival events, performances, food, and vendors will be located outside the Theatre for the New City on East 10th Street. In addition, the Community Space Theatre will be hosting poetry readings from 4:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 31st.