14 free things to do at US Open Fan Week (Aug 23-29)

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New YorkUS OpenFan Week

From front-row seats and dance parties to sponsor giveaways, this free week is packed with things to do.

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It’s that time of year again, when thousands of people—tennis fans, social media hopefuls and everyone in between—descend on a small corner of Queens for three weeks of sporting spectacle known as the U.S. Open Tennis Championships.

Across your social feeds you’ll no doubt spot people who have paid hundreds of dollars for a ticket, dressed up for photos around the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center, relaxed in exclusive suites, splurged on overpriced food and picked up this year’s signature cap. Scroll long enough, though, and you’ll also catch some people who simply love tennis and the athletes on court.

Before the US Open main draw kicks off, a week-long stretch of festivities lets you experience much of what makes the tournament great. It’s called Fan Week—and it’s completely free.

Here’s what you can enjoy at the storied grounds from August 23 to 29 without emptying your wallet, plus a few high-priced add-ons if you feel like splurging.

US Open Fan Week: Free Events and Experiences

Displays of dance

The Chinatown Young Lions Dance Group opens this performance series with a Lion Dance meant to bring the tournament good luck, followed by a Japanese Folk Dance, a Filipino Kinding Sindaw Dance and a Thai dance highlighting Thai life. Also on the bill are Bollywood Axion Dance, the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, NAITA Recognition + Redhawk Indian Arts Council, and Steppaz In Command, a Brooklyn-born step team grounded in scholarship, sisterhood/brotherhood and community service. Learn salsa and bachata with Somos Latin Dance, or take a line-dancing crash course with Scuff. A fusion of Irish dance, Afrobeat and Dancehall also hits the stage.

Featured Player Practice

Fan Week visitors can watch Main Draw competitors practice on the iconic courts inside Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums. Check the Fan Week schedule for who is practicing, when and where.

Mixed Doubles Championship Qualifying

Watch duos like Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, and Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud compete for the mixed doubles title on the Grandstand court.

Heineken Happy Hour

Heineken hosts happy hours Monday through Friday of Fan Week from 5 to 7pm, with live music, DJs and two-for-one drink specials on the grounds.

Silent Disco

Head to the Fountain Plaza Stage from 7 to 9pm on Monday for a silent disco led by DJs Jasmine Solano, Curly Nez and Whutever, spinning Top-40 hits, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s throwbacks and Latin tunes.

Family Festival of Activities

There’s something for all ages during Fan Week, from face painting and airbrush tattoos to entertainers and games aimed at young fans. Don’t miss Drag Queen Family Storytime on Thursday at 4pm on the Fountain Plaza Stage.

Marvel Comic Book Giveaway

Grab an exclusive comic book made just for tennis fans. This year’s storyline follows Queens-native Spider-Man as he chases the supervillain Scorpion across all five boroughs to reach the US Open. The catch: you have to be among the first 1,000 fans through the gates, but with the giveaway running August 24 to 28 you get five chances.

US Open Qualifying Tournament

Qualifying is a rare chance to catch talent that might not make the main draw this year—but could become household names by next season. This year features 128 men and 128 women competing for one of the final 16 spots in the US Open Singles Main Draw, up close on the outdoor courts.

Double Dutch

The Fountain Plaza Stage hosts an interactive Double Dutch jump-rope performance on Tuesday at 3pm.

Magic with Nicole Cardoza

Magician and storyteller Nicole Cardoza brings whimsical, narrative-driven performances to the Fountain Plaza Stage on Thursday at 3:30pm.

US Open Media Day

Hear from some of the biggest names on the WTA and ATP tours as they’re interviewed live inside Arthur Ashe Stadium from 1 to 4pm on Friday. There’s no play during this session, but plenty of commentary.

Fan Feud: A Divine 9 Showdown

Watch the nine historic, nationally recognized Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities face off in a Family Feud-style game show—and test your own tennis and organization knowledge alongside them.

US Open Block Party

Fan Week’s big festivities wrap up Friday at 7pm with a massive Fountain Plaza party featuring DJ D-Nice and opener Natasha Diggs.

Paid add-ons

Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York

Tickets are pricey, but you can elevate your Fan Week experience with this one-night-only match alongside legends Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and, of course, five-time consecutive US Open champion Roger Federer himself.

Mixed Doubles Championship on Arthur Ashe

Watch 16 two-person teams of the sport’s top players compete for the title Tuesday from 11am to 6pm. You’ll need tickets for the Arthur Ashe matches, but your general Fan Week grounds pass gets you into Louis Armstrong for free.

Food Village

Plenty of restaurants and vendors are open during Fan Week, though prices are often steep (we’re talking more than $20 for a sandwich). Bring your own food if you’d rather not pay up—or treat it as a chance to sample some of NYC’s buzziest bites with a convenience tax attached.

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