Central Park, Aug 17–23: Chance the Rapper Tuesday, Angélique Kidjo Sunday, and a Saturday with something on every lawn

Two of SummerStage’s biggest nights of the season land this week — Chance the Rapper Tuesday and Angélique Kidjo Sunday — with a Saturday in between that has salsa, tango, chess, model yachts, storytelling and a race all running at once. It’s the fullest week the park has had in a while.

Weather this week

Monday is wet, Tuesday and Wednesday go clear and hot at 85° and 87°, then thunderstorms Thursday and a showery, mid-80s weekend. The two big outdoor nights sit on the right side of the weather — Tuesday is dry and clear, and Sunday’s showers should be scattered rather than settled.

Mon Aug 17 — Bill Popp at the Bandshell

Bill Popp and the Tapes plays Bandshell Plaza 5–7 PM. A wet day otherwise, and the only thing on the calendar.

Tue Aug 18 — Chance the Rapper at Rumsey

Chance the Rapper brings the Coloring Book 10-year anniversary tour to Rumsey Playfield at 7 PM, with La Reezy opening. Clear and 85° — the best evening weather of the week for it. Expect the Fifth Avenue side around 72nd to be busy from late afternoon.

Wed Aug 19 — Simple Plan, 3OH!3 and Bowling for Soup

Rumsey again at 6 PM for a three-band pop-punk bill. The hottest day of the week at 87°, so it will be a warm one standing on the field.

Thu Aug 20 — nothing scheduled

No one-off permits anywhere in the park. Storms and 81°. The quietest day of the week if you want the place to yourself.

Fri Aug 21 — pollinators, a festival and a picnic at the Delacorte

• 11 AM — Summer Pollinator Walk, meeting at Boys’ Gate. The Conservancy’s walk through the park’s secret butterfly garden.
• 3–8 PM — Rubyboo Entertainment Music Festival takes Bandshell Plaza for the afternoon and evening.
• 5:30–8 PM — the Public Theater’s picnic at the Delacorte, on the Great Lawn’s southwest edge.

Sat Aug 22 — the full day

Saturday has something on nearly every lawn. The morning belongs to the NYRR Grete’s Great Gallop 10K, 7:30 AM to noon on the park drives — a members-only race, sold out, closing NYRR’s Member Week with a festival at the Bandshell. Good to watch, not to enter, and the drives are busy until midday.

After that it opens up:

• 9 AM–3 PM — Model Yacht Racing at Kerbs Boathouse on Conservatory Water
• 9 AM–5 PM — Chess Lecture Simul Series with beginners’ workshops at the Chess and Checkers House
• 10 AM–1 PM — Storytelling at the Hans Christian Andersen statue
• 11 AM — Ramble Woodland Walk from Belvedere Castle, and the Conservatory Garden Tour at the north end
• 12–6 PM — That Guitar Man From Central Park at Hernshead
• 2–7 PM — Central Park Skate Circle at Dead Road
• 5–8 PM — Carlos Konig Salsa at Bandshell Plaza
• 6–9 PM — Tango at the Shakespeare Statue

East Meadow is closed all day for restoration, and again Sunday.

Sun Aug 23 — Kidjo closes the week

Angélique Kidjo headlines Rumsey at 7 PM with Cimafunk and DJ Freshy K — Afrobeat, jazz, reggae and West African rhythm from one of the great live performers working. Before it, at 4:30 PM, Voices of Power runs as a free pre-show panel on African women in media and diplomacy (RSVP required).

Elsewhere Sunday: Central Park International Folkdancers at King Jagiello Plaza 11 AM–8 PM, the Ray Delgado Project at the Dana Discovery Center at 2 PM, the Skate Circle again 2–7 PM, and the Summer Pollinator Walk repeating at 11 AM.

Quick recap

• Chance the Rapper, Tue 7 PM at Rumsey — clear and 85°, the week’s best concert weather.
• Angélique Kidjo, Sun 7 PM at Rumsey, with a free Voices of Power panel at 4:30.
• Saturday is the full day — race in the morning, then model yachts, chess, storytelling, two Conservancy tours, salsa and tango.
• Summer Pollinator Walk, Fri and Sun 11 AM at Boys’ Gate.
• Thursday has nothing on it — the quietest day of the week.

Enjoy the last stretch of summer, Central Park Guide