Central Park Walking Plans: Jul 13–19 — shade routes & a free-concert week

Hi walkers — this is a week to walk in the shade and time your outings around the heat, with a lovely run of free evening music to walk toward once the sun drops. One standing note: Bethesda Terrace and Fountain remains closed, so route around it and take your Bethesda photos another week.

Weather this week

A heat wave peaks at 98°F on Wed 7/15, stays in the low 90s Thu–Fri, then breaks with Saturday showers. Walk early or in the evening this week, and favor the shaded routes — the Ramble, North Woods, the Bridle Path, and the tree-lined Mall — over the exposed lawns and Reservoir track when the sun is high.

Mon Jul 13 — Bethesda closed, shade routes

85°F. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is closed — swing your Bethesda-Bow Bridge loop up through the Ramble instead, where it’s cooler and quieter. A calm start to the week.

Tue Jul 14 — Puppet theater at the Bandshell, 6 PM

Warmer at 92°F, so save your walk for the evening. The Magic Raven Theater Company performs a family puppet show at Bandshell Plaza at 6 PM — a pleasant on-route pause if you’re strolling the Mall as it cools down.

Wed Jul 15 — 98°F, dawn or skip

The hottest day of the summer. A short dawn walk through the shaded Ramble or North Woods, or wait it out. Nothing worth braving midday heat for.

Thu Jul 16 — Free concert on the Great Lawn, 7 PM

Still hot at 91°F, but the evening rewards you: a free concert on the Great Lawn at 7 PM. Walk up as the light goes gold, find a spot on the grass, and let the crowd-watching be the walk. Expect the mid-park paths to fill from late afternoon.

Fri Jul 17 — Salsa at the Bandshell, 5 PM

Cooling to 89°F. Carlos Konig brings salsa to Bandshell Plaza at 5 PM — a lively, danceable stop on an evening Mall stroll. The Columbus Circle food market at Merchants’ Gate (from 9:30 AM) is a nice grazing start if you begin at the south end.

Sat Jul 18 — Storytelling, model boats & tango

The best walking day — cooler ahead of afternoon showers — and the busiest for gentle programming. Morning: storytelling at the Hans Christian Andersen statue (10 AM) and model-yacht racing on Conservatory Water at Kerbs Boathouse (9 AM), both charming to wander past. Evening: tango at the Shakespeare statue (6 PM). Aim to walk before the mid-afternoon storms roll in.

Sun Jul 19 — Folkdancers at King Jagiello, 11 AM

Cooler and unsettled with lingering shower chances. The Central Park International Folkdancers gather at King Jagiello Plaza (near the Turtle Pond) at 11 AM — color and movement worth timing a late-morning walk around. Skip the Columbus Circle corner early: FIFA World Cup bus staging clogs Merchants’ Gate from 6 AM.

Quick recap

• Bethesda Terrace & Fountain closed — route through the Ramble instead.
• Free music to walk toward: puppet theater Tue, Great Lawn concert Thu, salsa Fri, tango Sat, folkdancers Sun.
• Best walking day: Sat 7/18 morning, before afternoon showers.
• Heat: Wed 7/15 peaks at 98°F — dawn and evening only; favor shaded routes all week.

Enjoy the walk (in the shade), The Central Park Guide