Shakespeare in the Park: Free Theater in Central Park

There are plenty of free summer events in New York, and many are seriously good. The Shakespeare in the Park theater festival is one New Yorkers look forward to most.

The festival has been staging William Shakespeare's plays since 1962, running from early June through the first half of August.

It takes place at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, with the Victorian Belvedere Castle as a backdrop. It's a neo-Gothic, medieval-style building that's one of Central Park's landmarks. Remember it from the movie Enchanted? (Take a look at this piece on other movies filmed in Central Park.)

Belvedere Castle was originally built in 1869 as a weather station, perched on the highest hill in the park. Today it's an information center about the history and nature of Manhattan's most famous park. And of course, it's the perfect set for the Shakespeare in the Park theater festival.

Which plays are showing in 2025, and when?

The play at the 2025 Shakespeare in the Park Festival is Twelfth Night. It's a comedy in five acts, full of mix-ups, comic characters and a delightful ending.

The festival will be held at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, after a couple of years of renovation work to remodel the venue and improve its infrastructure.

The renovation modernized this longtime open-air theater in Manhattan. They fixed leaks, built seating and access for people with limited mobility, expanded the restrooms and installed more comfortable seats, among other improvements.

For more details on dates and casting, I'd check the official Public Theater page: See more details here.

Tickets for Shakespeare in the Park 2025

(Keep an eye out for how tickets will be distributed in 2025.)

What follows is my own experience trying to get tickets before the pandemic. Check the official site for how it works this year, since it's likely changed.

At the Delacorte Theater, tickets are handed out starting at noon on the day of the performance.

You have to get there early to line up!

In my case, I showed up at 11 am and the line was already enormous, so I didn't get tickets. That's where I learned that people arrive before dawn to queue up. It's a kind of hipster festival, and some folks were even camped out with sleeping bags 🫢.

So to pull it off you'd have to spend a whole morning in line, which doesn't work great for travelers. But if you're a repeat New York visitor like me, I'm sure it'll work out eventually!

More free summer activities in New York

Read up on what to do in New York in summer. Besides the Shakespeare in the Park Festival, there are plenty of other free activities, like outdoor film festivals and concerts, plus you can visit several museums in New York for free.

There are also several free tours in Spanish, and they're great. Just book ahead and tip your guide appropriately at the end. They're an excellent starting point for getting to know other New York neighborhoods:

You can sign up for all the free tours! The key is reserving your spot in advance (they fill up fast):

🏙️ Free tour of Downtown Manhattan

🇮🇹 Free tour of Chinatown and Little Italy

🍎 Free tour of Midtown Manhattan

🏢 Free tour of Manhattan's Village

⛲ Free tour of Central Park in Spanish (it's new!)

How to get to the Delacorte Theater

The closest entrance to the Delacorte Theater is at 81st Street and Central Park West, or 79th Street and Fifth Avenue.

You can take the B or C subway lines (81 St-Museum of Natural History station) or the 6 line (77 St station).