As quickly as it began, summer is already approaching its finish. Labor Day weekend is the bittersweet unofficial end to the season. There are plenty of things to do in New York City during the holiday weekend. If you’re staying in town, we’ve got you covered with the following seven ways to have festive fun in the city.
1. The Electric Zoo festival returns to Randall’s Island for its 11th year. The theme for this year is “Evolved,” which centers on the next phase of Electric Zoo after last year’s 10 year anniversary. Headliners include Diplo, Zedd, and AfroMath. Tickets are still available online, and the festival will be a cashless event with ATMs available on site.
2. Head to the Brooklyn Museum for the annual West Indian American Day. The event brings hundreds of marchers in bright feathered costumes, vendors selling authentic Caribbean cuisine and live music throughout the day. It draws a huge crowd, so get there early for a good view.
3. The free Unicycle Festival is scheduled to bring one-wheel madness to the city. Events include long distance rides, unicycle hockey and an area for people interested in learning how to ride. The festival’s main event takes place Sept. 1 and 2 at Governor’s Island.
4. See exhibitions from artists all over the world at the Washington Square Outdoor Art exhibit. The twice-a-year event dates back to 1931 when Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning set up their works on the sidewalk in a last-ditch attempt to pay the rent. Now, artists present their work for the opportunity to win cash prizes in various categories.
5. Join the Green Team at Brooklyn Bridge Park this Labor Day weekend. Head to Pier 1 to join the park’s weekly, gardening meet-up and help mulch, remove invasives or otherwise help keep the park beautiful. The program runs from 10AM-12PM and requires participants to sign a waiver.
6. Experience Brazilian culture during the Brazilian Independence Day celebrations on Sunday September 1st. Held in Little Brazil (West 46th St.), the festival includes live music, dancing and food vendors. Expect a huge crowd to join in the celebrations.
7. With everyone out of the city, it might be the time to finally be a tourist. City Sights NY offers a boat tour with amazing views of the NY skyline & iconic landmarks. There are convenient hop-off stops, allowing you to explore different areas of city.
Photo credit: j-No
Jayson Goetz a freelance writer living in Phoenix, Arizona. A graduate of Arizona State, he is a die hard Sun Devils fan. In his free time, he enjoys hiking & travelling. He has visited 21 countries & would like to explore all continent by age 40.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram