Hudson River Park Debuts Pop-Up Mirage Shows

Pop into the park this summer to experience surprise music and dance shows by local artists

By Barbara Russo June 30, 2022

Do you like fun surprises? If so, you'll love Hudson River Park's new way of entertaining—through surprise performances! The park announced its series of surprise pop-up music and dance performances for park go-ers of all ages to enjoy as they explore Manhattan's West Side.

The park folks told us the dates and locations of the shows, but when it comes showtimes, mum’s the word. Visitors will need to keep their eyes and ears open as to when the shows pop up. It's all about the element of surprise!

“Hudson River Park has such a wide diversity of piers and landscape types, and we conceived this new pop-up series as a way to invite our visitors to explore the park and discover new music and dance in spaces that may not yet be familiar to them,” Noreen Doyle, president and CEO of the Hudson River Park Trust, said. “With each surprise performance taking place in a different location across the park’s four-mile footprint, the series will offer a wide array of experiences, from rock-and-roll to contemporary dance, with some of the most talented artists our city has to offer appearing and then disappearing, just like a mirage.”

Hudson River Park Pop-Up Performance Lineup

Curious as to what kinds of shows will pop up? Artists featured in the series represent a wide range of music and dance genres that reflect New York City’s thriving cultural scene, according to the park people. From singer-songwriters and dance showcases to drum lines and marching bands, the performance lineup features a diverse roster of talent with something for everyone to appreciate.

Here's the lineup:

Brooklyn United Marching Band — July 13 | Pier 81 at W 40 Street

The Brooklyn United Marching Band, popularly referred to as BU, is a Brooklyn United Music and Arts Program favorite. The southern collegiate-style band has a flair for unique and electrifying presentations.

Ariel Rivka Dance — July 27 | Clinton Cove at W 55 Street

Ariel Rivka Dance (ARD) is an all-female contemporary company founded by Artistic Director, Ariel Grossman. Its mission is to champion female creatives through original choreography, commissioned music, and family and educational programming.

Aviva Jaye — August 10 | Pier 26 at N Moore Street

Aviva Jaye is a performing artist and composer primarily wielding voice, piano, harp, guitar and ukulele. She often combines acoustic and electronic elements to unlock a portal for listeners to venture, exploring the dimensions of empathy, self-awareness, social justice and futurism.

Fogo Azul — August 24th | Pier 84 at W 44 St.

Fogo Azul NYC is a New York City-based all-women, trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line. The group was born at the intersection of founder Stacy Kovacs’ passion for Samba Reggae, her deep respect for its cultural roots as a music of protest and resistance, her belief and activism in support of gender equality and her sense of civic duty in the current environment to publicly awaken and inspire people to resist oppression and exercise their power to uplift society —loudly.

Exploring Hudson River Park

In addition to pop-up shows, there’s plenty for families to do and see in the park, so it's worth the trip to visit. From May-November, the park offers a jam-packed lineup of fun and family-friendly programming, from Wetlab Look-ins and tours of the Pier 26 Tide Deck to bike lessons for kids and Big City Fishing.

And if you’re into water recreation, the park is a great place to experience aquatic fun! A wide array of free boating and kayaking programs are offered throughout the park at four different boathouse locations. In fact, the park's longest-operating non-motorized boating organization, the Downtown Boathouse, announced this month it had launched its 500,000th kayaker from the Pier 26 Boathouse. That's a lot of kayakers for the boathouse, which was established in 1994.

What You Need To Know About Visiting Hudson River Park

Where is Hudson River Park located?

The park is located from Chambers Street to 59th Street along Manhattan's West Side.

When is the park open?

The park is open 6am to 1am, unless otherwise posted in the park.

How big is Hudson River Park?

The park is huge! It's a 550-acre riverfront park and estuarine sanctuary that spans four miles along the west side of Manhattan.

For more information, visit hudsonriverpark.org or follow the park on Facebook.

Main image: Max Guliani for Hudson River Park

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Hudson River Park Debuts Pop-Up Mirage Shows

Hudson River Park Pop-Up Performance Lineup

Exploring Hudson River Park