For four decades, some of the most memorable nights of a New York summer have cost nothing at all. SummerStage, the free performing arts program that has turned parks across the five boroughs into open-air concert halls, reached its 40th anniversary this season, and on Thursday, September 10, City Parks Foundation marked the milestone with its annual gala on the SummerStage grounds in Central Park.
A birthday on home turf
The foundation billed the evening, held from 6:30 to 10 p.m., as “a dinner & concert at SummerStage” celebrating the program’s 40th anniversary. The musical lineup announced for the night was headlined by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, with performances from Black Thought, Robert Randolph and St. Vincent, under the musical direction of Steve Jordan. Kenan Thompson was named master of ceremonies, and the foundation promised surprise guests.
The gala’s honorees were Joe Killian and Alex Blavatnik, according to City Parks Foundation. Its lengthy roster of co-chairs and sponsors included Live Nation Worldwide, Citi, Capital One and Warner Music Group.
Why the gala matters
Unlike many benefits on the fall calendar, this one funds something New Yorkers can hear from the other side of a park fence. According to the foundation, the event generates approximately $1.3 million a year for free concerts and community programs. Tickets were offered at $1,750 to $7,500, with tables for 10 to 12 guests at $20,000 to $100,000 and non-attending donations starting at $1,000, per the gala page.
City Parks Foundation, an independent nonprofit founded in 1989, now works in more than 400 parks and facilities across the city. SummerStage presents over 100 free shows across all five boroughs each season, and its Central Park venue underwent a $5.5 million renovation completed in 2019, according to Wikipedia.
Seasons worth remembering
The program’s reach is broad by design. City Parks Foundation’s programs serve roughly 285,000 New Yorkers a year; the 2023 SummerStage season alone presented nearly 80 performances across 13 parks, and the 2018 season paid tribute to hip-hop’s legacy with artists including Big Daddy Kane and Talib Kweli, according to Wikipedia.
The long view
The anniversary lands at a moment when free, large-scale cultural programming is a genuine civic asset. By taking free shows well beyond Central Park and into all five boroughs, SummerStage has become one of the city’s most democratic stages. The foundation has used milestone galas before: it celebrated its own 30th anniversary with a Central Park gala in September 2019, and during the 2020 pandemic moved its benefit online with a virtual concert featuring artists including Sting and Norah Jones, according to Wikipedia.
A 40th birthday on the grass, with proceeds aimed squarely at next summer’s free shows, is a characteristically New York way to honor a stage that belongs to everyone.
See all sources
- City Parks Foundation Gala 2026, City Parks Foundation, 2026-09-10
- SummerStage / City Parks Foundation, Wikipedia, 2026-09-15
Lead image: illustrative photo by Barney Goodman on Unsplash.
