Here’s What’s Happening (in order of appearance):

National Night Out / Chain Theatre Film Festival / NoMad Jazz Festival / Free Events at Chelsea Green Park / The Sweat Sessions / Free Programming from HYHK (Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance) / Music, Art, and More at Verdi Cannabis / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea

Local Precincts Observe National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5 | National Night Out is an annual outdoor event meant to promote police and community partnerships. In Chelsea, that usually translates into free grilled food and seemingly limitless time spent in the Bounce House that’s been plopped down in the middle of a closed street. Chelsea’s 10th Precinct invites you to West 17th Street (btw. 9th & 10th Aves.) from 2pm to 7pm (see the below flyer for details). Elsewhere in the area, the 13th Precinct offers their proceedings from 5pm to 8pm in the Playground at MS 104  (East 20th Street & 2nd Ave.). Midtown North Precinct is also scheduled for 5pm to 8pm, at Hell’s Kitchen Park (10th Ave. btw. W. 47th/48th Sts.). Catch the Midtown South Precinct’s proceedings from 5pm to 7pm at McCaffrey Playground (West 43rd Street btw. 8th/9th Aves.).

The 13th Annual Chain NYC Film Festival: August 7-17 at Chain Theatre (312 W. 36th St.) | Bold voices and original storytelling are hallmarks of this annual film festival, whose 2025 edition screens over 160 narratives, documentaries, and shorts. This Festival distinguishes itself by the special effort made to, organizers note, “curate each block of films by theme or genre. The collective voice of filmmakers from around the world rings out whether in escapist entertainment or heavier themes of the ‘new normal’ in a Covid society, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the continuing pursuit for equality in the LGBTQ community.” Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the door. To purchase tickets and access the screening schedule, click here. 

NoMad Jazz Festival 2025: Free, Saturday, August 9 & Sunday, August 10 in Madison Square Park | The NoMad Alliance in collaboration with Flatiron NoMad Partnership, The Jazz Gallery, and Madison Square Park Conservancy present a series of free performances across the NoMad District, culminating with the first-ever NoMad Jazz Festival on August 9-10 in Madison Square Park. The inaugural Festival, its organizers say, “will feature headliners like Lizz Wright, Ravi Coltrane, the Roy Hargrove Big Band, and more — plus dance-worthy sets, tap performances, morning kids’ programming, and pop-up cultural moments. Just bring a blanket — no tickets needed. Come spend an hour or spend the day.” Click here for the full lineup.

Free Events at Chelsea Green Park (140 w. 20th St. btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) |July 31 Music Event Postponed; New Date, August 6 | The Friends of Chelsea Green continue to bring free programming to the micro-but-mighty West Chelsea park. “The Honk Family Band is returning,” the Friends recently noted, of the July 31 gig. On that day, however, the event was postponed due to the expected stormy weather. Come what may, we’re sure the following Friends quote will be every bit as accurate on the rescheduled date of Wednesday, August 6: “They played our 2024 Spring Fling and we are so excited to bring them back. It is going to be a fun. rocking evening in the park.” Elsewhere on the calendar, free Chi Kung Movement Classes happen on Tuesdays through September 30, at 6:30pm. Laura Shapiro is your instructor.  To sign up for classes, click here.

The Sweat Sessions: Free Outdoor Fitness Classes / August Dates, in 14th Street Park (10th Ave. btw. 14/15th Sts.) | Brought to you by MEATPACKING (the Meatpacking District’s BID) and the Wellth Collective, these free, 45-minute fitness classes are held at 5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm on Tuesday,  August 15, 12, & 29. Yoga, dance cardio, boxing, and pilates are among the workouts offered. To learn more and reserve your space for any of these Sessions, click here.

Free Programming from HYHK (Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance)  | HYHK is back with another season of free and fun programming for all ages in Bella Abzug Park (524 W. 34th St.). Among the events offered–all of them free and open to the public–are a series of yoga classes from Bien Good Well (Mondays and Wednesdays at 6pm,  Saturdays at 10:30am). In the Music & Dance category: On select Thursdays and Saturdays through October, Vinyl Nights and DJ The Real offer one of the city’s best dance parties, powered by music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Wednesdays in July and August, enjoy free salsa and bachata classes, a live band, and dancing in partnership with Somos Latin Dance and Paradis in the Park. And for the kids, head to the playground at Bella Abzug Park on Tuesday mornings through October, for acoustic concerts with Mike Messer Music. For a full HYHK events schedule and to register for free classes, click here.

Events at Verdi Cannabis (158 W. 23rd St. btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) | Legal cannabis distributor Verdi Cannabis offers free arts programming via gallery-style displays of artwork on their walls, and a live Thursday night music series called The Green Room. In August (all times are 6:30pm-9:30pm unless otherwise noted), the series welcomes Dawoud Kringle on August 14 and TB&J on August 21. The musical guests for August 7 & 28 are TBA–as in, “To be Announced.” Check the Verdi events calendar for updates (to do so, click here.). As for special events: Having premiered in May, Wake and Bake Fridays with A-Roastia Coffee is a coffee cart pop-up that next takes place at 9am on Friday, August 8 & 29. “The goal is to always have something fun, interesting, and unique happening here at Verdi,” says Assistant GM and Events Coordinator Kenny Cunningham (featured in this Q&A segment). To keep up with what else is up with Verdi, click here to visit their website. To visit the EVENTS page of their website, click here. 

Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea | It takes place every Saturday, 9am to 2pm, West 23rd St. off 9th Ave.  For more info, click here. Down to Earth Markets brings together two kinds of vendors: local farmers and area food and crafts makers using locally sourced ingredients. Their mission is to ensure a future for small scale agriculture and food production in the New York area by creating vibrant marketplaces where community thrives, and shoppers connect directly to the local food system.

—Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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