May
16
12:00 PM12:00

Washington Square Chess Exhibition

Washington Square Chess Simul Returns for Our 5th Year!

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 12PM - 4PM

(rain day Sunday, May 17)

Washington Square Park Chess Plaza

This afternoon’s immersive chess event at the Washington Square Park Chess Plaza will kick off with a dynamic lecture by Grandmaster Joel Benjamin, a three-time U.S. Champion, former U.S. Grandmaster of the Year, and U.S. Chess Hall of Fame inductee who broke Bobby Fischer’s “youngest master” record at 13 and later helped train IBM’s Deep Blue for its historic victory over Garry Kasparov. The excitement will continue with a thrilling simultaneous exhibition in which GM Benjamin will take on 23 opponents at once.

Free to the public, all ages are welcome to participate in the simul, and five spots will be reserved for players 12 and under. 

  • Players must bring their own chess set (pieces and board)

  • GM Benjamin will donate a free lesson to anyone who draws, and two lessons if checkmated. 

Register To Play or Volunteer

  • Spots fill up quickly so be sure to register soon! 

  • Volunteers for part or all of the event are always appreciated, just let us know you’re interested here

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2025 Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling
Dec
24
5:00 PM17:00

2025 Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling

Christmas Eve, December 24 at 5 pm is the traditional time to celebrate
the holiday with carols near the Washington Square Arch. The Rob Susman Brass
Quartet, song leader, and the revelers from all over the city will lustily sing out the
familiar tunes. The words are in the songbooks distributed by the Washington
Square Association, but many will know them by heart. “Peace on Earth, Good Will
to Men” will ring out and is especially meaningful this season

View Event →
2025 Washington Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dec
11
6:00 PM18:00

2025 Washington Square Tree Lighting Ceremony

On Thursday, December 7th at 6 pm, the Rob Susman Brass Quartet and
children and grown-ups alike will sing holiday songs. The sparkling lights on the
resplendent tree will be turned on to mark the beginning of festive winter evenings.
Santa Claus himself has promised to appear, candy canes in hand, and lead the
children in the illumination countdown. The Washington Square Association
provides songbooks.

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100th Anniversary Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling
Dec
24
5:00 PM17:00

100th Anniversary Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling

Christmas Eve, December 24 at 5 pm is the traditional time to celebrate
the holiday with carols near the Washington Square Arch. The Rob Susman Brass
Quartet, song leader, and the revelers from all over the city will lustily sing out the
familiar tunes. The words are in the songbooks distributed by the Washington
Square Association, but many will know them by heart. “Peace on Earth, Good Will
to Men” will ring out and is especially meaningful this season

View Event →
DATE MOVED TO FRIDAY! 100th Annual Washington Square Tree Lighting - Join Us This Special Year
Dec
13
5:00 PM17:00

DATE MOVED TO FRIDAY! 100th Annual Washington Square Tree Lighting - Join Us This Special Year

On Friday, December 13th at 6 pm, the Rob Susman Brass Quartet and
children and grown-ups alike will sing holiday songs. The sparkling lights on the
resplendent tree will be turned on to mark the beginning of festive winter evenings.
Santa Claus himself has promised to appear, candy canes in hand, and lead the
children in the illumination countdown. The Washington Square Association
provides songbooks.

View Event →
2023 Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling
Dec
24
5:00 PM17:00

2023 Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling

Christmas Eve, December 24 at 5 pm is the traditional time to celebrate
the holiday with carols near the Washington Square Arch. The Rob Susman Brass
Quartet, song leader, and the revelers from all over the city will lustily sing out the
familiar tunes. The words are in the songbooks distributed by the Washington
Square Association, but many will know them by heart. “Peace on Earth, Good Will
to Men” will ring out and is especially meaningful this season

View Event →
2023 Washington Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dec
6
6:00 PM18:00

2023 Washington Square Tree Lighting Ceremony

On Wednesday, December 7th at 6 pm, the Rob Susman Brass Quartet and
children and grown-ups alike will sing holiday songs. The sparkling lights on the
resplendent tree will be turned on to mark the beginning of festive winter evenings.
Santa Claus himself has promised to appear, candy canes in hand, and lead the
children in the illumination countdown. The Washington Square Association
provides songbooks.

View Event →
Washington Square Park Chess Simul
Oct
21
12:00 PM12:00

Washington Square Park Chess Simul

  • Washington Square Association (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

We couldn’t be more pleased to announce our third annual Chess Simul on October 21st (with a rain day on October 22nd). This afternoon immersion in chess strategy in the Washington Square Park Chess Plaza will commence with a lecture by International Master Farai Mandizha, and will be followed by a simultaneous exhibition during which Mandizha will play 25 players at once. Free to RSVP, details to come.

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WSMF Free Concert June 13 -  Ahmed Alom Conducting The Festival Chamber Ensemble
Jun
13
8:00 PM20:00

WSMF Free Concert June 13 - Ahmed Alom Conducting The Festival Chamber Ensemble

The Washington Square Music Festival is made possible with public funding through Councilmember Christopher Marte, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency. Generous grants from The Earle K. & Katherine F. Moore Foundation, Washington Square Association, Music Performance Trust Fund, The Margaret Neubart Foundation Trust, New York University Community Affairs & NYU Community Fund, Salamon-Abrams Family Fund, Con Edison, and the Washington Square Park Conservancy, are deeply appreciated, as is invaluable help from NYC Parks & Recreation

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2022 Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling
Dec
24
5:00 PM17:00

2022 Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling

Christmas Eve, December 24 at 5 pm is the traditional time to celebrate
the holiday with carols near the Washington Square Arch. The Rob Susman Brass
Quartet, song leader, and the revelers from all over the city will lustily sing out the
familiar tunes. The words are in the songbooks distributed by the Washington
Square Association, but many will know them by heart. “Peace on Earth, Good Will
to Men” will ring out and is especially meaningful this season

View Event →
2022 Washington Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dec
7
6:00 PM18:00

2022 Washington Square Tree Lighting Ceremony

On Wednesday, December 7th at 6 pm, the Rob Susman Brass Quartet and
children and grown-ups alike will sing holiday songs. The sparkling lights on the
resplendent tree will be turned on to mark the beginning of festive winter evenings.
Santa Claus himself has promised to appear, candy canes in hand, and lead the
children in the illumination countdown. The Washington Square Association
provides songbooks.

View Event →
Free Washington Square Music Festival Holiday Concert
Dec
4
4:00 PM16:00

Free Washington Square Music Festival Holiday Concert

We are pleased to present the latest concert for the Washington Square Music Festival, a holiday concert that is free to all.

Sunday, December 4 at 4 pm

St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery

131 East 10th Street at 2nd Avenue

 

Lutz Rath, conductor

David Whitwell, countertenor and trombone

https://www.davidwhitwelltrombone.com/

Festival Chamber Ensemble

Programming

“Gloria -Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris ” from Mass in B minor, BWV 232

Johann Sebastian Bach

For Countertenor and ensemble

Arranged by Edoardo Dinelli

 

“O Lord Whose Mercies Numberless” George Frideric Handel from Saul

George Frideric Handel

For Countertenor and ensemble

Arranged by Edoardo Vella

 

Eight songs for a Drag Queen

Girolamo Deraco, music and stage direction, John Palladino, lyrics

For trombone, countertenor, and ensemble

 

Septet in E-minor

Erzherzog Rudolph von Ősterrech

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Free WSA Chess Simul In Washington Square Park
Oct
22
12:00 PM12:00

Free WSA Chess Simul In Washington Square Park

  • Washington Square Association (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

THE EXHIBITION

This afternoon immersion in chess strategy in the Washington Square Park Chess Plaza will commence with a lecture by chess Grandmaster, John Fedorowicz, and will be followed by a simultaneous exhibition during which Fedorowicz will play 23 players at once. Free to the public, all ages are welcome to participate.

View Event →
2021 Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling
Dec
24
5:00 PM17:00

2021 Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling

Christmas Eve, December 24 at 5 pm is the traditional time to celebrate
the holiday with carols near the Washington Square Arch. The Rob Susman Brass
Quartet, song leader, and the revelers from all over the city will lustily sing out the
familiar tunes. The words are in the songbooks distributed by the Washington
Square Association, but many will know them by heart. “Peace on Earth, Good Will
to Men” will ring out and is especially meaningful this season

View Event →
2021 Washington Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dec
8
6:00 PM18:00

2021 Washington Square Tree Lighting Ceremony

On Wednesday, December 8th at 6 pm, the Rob Susman Brass Quartet and
children and grown-ups alike will sing holiday songs. The sparkling lights on the
resplendent tree will be turned on to mark the beginning of festive winter evenings.
Santa Claus himself has promised to appear, candy canes in hand, and lead the
children in the illumination countdown. The Washington Square Association
provides songbooks.

View Event →
Washington Square Music Festival Presents Classical Treats And Surprises - Free Concert
Nov
7
4:00 PM16:00

Washington Square Music Festival Presents Classical Treats And Surprises - Free Concert

Treats and Surprises end the Washington Square Music Festival season and celebrate the beginning of the winter holidays. Composers Johann Hummel, W.A. Mozart, Astor Piazzolla, and Pēteris Vasks are featured on November 7, 4 pm in St. Mark’s Church-in the-Bowery, 131 East 10th Street. Lutz Rath will conduct the Festival Chamber Ensemble, and the celebrated performing soloists are: violinist Mayuki Fukuhara, cellist Sara Sant'Ambrogio, pianist David Oei, and baritone Kenneth Overton.

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