NYC Labor Day Weekend 2026: Reggae Festival, Broadway Subway Set, and the 86th Floor View

Reggae on the old Street of Ships

The South Street Seaport spent centuries as the busiest port on the Eastern Seaboard, earning the nickname Street of Ships. This Labor Day weekend, Pier 15 is hosting a four-day reggae beach festival in that space, according to Secret NYC. The cargo ships are gone, replaced by sightseeing cruises and waterfront bars. If you go, expect a festival crowd, not a quiet harbor walk. Plan your route to the seaport and give yourself extra time to move around. Secret NYC

Broadway on the platform, and a 1931 view

The cast of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) sang one of the show's own ballads inside the 42nd Street subway station as part of MTA Sessions, Playbill reports. You do not need a ticket to hear Broadway songs in the subway, but if you want the full show, the musical is playing in Manhattan. Playbill

A few blocks south, the Empire StateEmpire State BuildingThe 1931 Art Deco skyscraper whose 86th floor open-air deck remains the classic New York observation experience. Building's 86th floor observation deck remains the same open-air platform that opened in 1931. Railings and the wraparound layout are intact, according to Secret NYC, and a 2020 upgrade added modern visitor facilities. The wind at that height is real, so bring a layer even in September. Go early to beat the queues and check the official site for timed entry. Secret NYC

Tennis in Queens

The U.S. Open is back in Queens this year at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The tournament began at a private club in Newport, Rhode Island, moved to Forest Hills' West Side Tennis Club, and later settled in Flushing MeadowsFlushing Meadows Corona ParkThe Queens park built for two World's Fairs, home of the Unisphere, the US Open and Citi Field., as 6sqft details. 6sqft If you are attending a match, our Queens guide is a reasonable place to start for getting around the borough.