Courtesy of the Museum Mile Festival

Museum Mile Festival
Tues, June 14

Now celebrating its 33rd year, the annual Museum Mile Festival takes place rain or shine from 6 to 9 pm. Fifth Avenue between 82nd and 105th Street shuts down to traffic to make way for performances and art workshops while nine of New York City’s finest cultural institutions open their doors for free admission.

Governor’s Ball Music Festival
Governors Island
Sat, June 18

The Governor’s Ball Music Festival is a one-day, two-stage event presenting some of the biggest and best live acts in electronic, dance, hip-hop and indie music. This year features Girl Talk, Empire of the Sun, Outkast’s Big Boi, People Under the Stairs, Das Racist and more.

Still from Charlie Ahearn's documentary Jamel Shabazz Street Photographer (June 26). Courtesy of BAM

BAMcinemaFest 2011
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
Thurs, June 16–Sun, June 26

The best in recent independent cinema from festivals in the US and around the world is brought to New York audiences at BAMcinématek’s annual festival. This year the festival presents 26 feature films, including 20 New York premieres and one world premiere, as well as 24 short films, an outdoor screening, parties, live music, a photo exhibition and more.

Make Music New York’s Punk Island
Governors Island
Sun, June 19

In advance of its summer solstice celebration across the city on Tuesday, June 21, Make Music New York transforms Governors Island into Punk Island with dozens of punk rock performances throughout the day.

Courtesy of the Mermaid Parade and Coney Island USA

Mermaid Parade 2011
Coney Island USA
Sat, June 18

Founded in 1983, the Mermaid Parade pays homage to Coney Island’s forgotten Mardi Gras, which lasted from 1903 to 1954. Today, costumed mermaids and Neptunes, marching bands and celebrity parade marshalls make for a wonderful and wacky art event that is unique to Coney Island.

River to River Festival
An NYC ARTS Special Feature

Running through September, Lower Manhattan’s largest free summer arts festival features music, film, dance, theater, art and play elements in a variety of public venues canvasing Downtown New York—from Chambers Street to Battery Park and across the island from the Hudson River to the East River. The festival kicks off this Sunday, June 19 with the free, 12-hour Bang on a Can Marathon at the World Financial Center, a super-mix of genre-defying music featuring over 150 musicians and composers from around the world.