Sean Jamar for City Parks Foundation
Marcus Miller, Tank and the Bangas, The Soul Rebels at SummerStage
Rumsey Playfield serves as a cultural hub for music and performance in Central Park.
Rumsey Playfield, situated near the 69th Street and 5th Avenue entrance to Central Park, is home to many types of music, dance and performance arts. This iconic venue hosts a variety of events, including the SummerStage Festival and the GMA Summer Concert Series.
In recent years, Rumsey Playfield has seen significant upgrades. The Central Park Conservancy's 2016 restoration work focused on the surrounding landscape, rebuilding paths, restoring the eastern entrance plaza, and adding new plantings and turf. In 2019, City Parks Foundation completed a $5.5 million renovation of the SummerStage venue itself, adding a new stage with a larger canopy, upgraded lighting and audio systems, LED screens, expanded seating, a new VIP section, and improved dressing rooms for performers.
Rumsey Playfield has evolved from its origins as a restaurant in the 1920s, to a playground in 1937, to a sports field in the 1980s, and finally to a venue for music and performance in 1990, that today attracts talented artists from around the globe.
For more information about upcoming performances and festivals at Rumsey Playfield, visit our concerts and music page for details.