In fall and winter, world-class performances in the Big Apple might break the budget. Summer, now that's the time for free and breezy.

Whether you're searching for the soulful sounds of jazz, looking for cinema under the stars, or a fan of the Bard, New York's summer season has a freebie for you. And much of it takes place outdoors against the backdrop of iconic landmarks like Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge -- almost as right as the price.

A few tips:

• Plan ahead. These events are well known, and while you may be able to catch some performances on the fly, others require standing (or reading, picnicking or chatting) in line for tickets. Some happen every day for weeks; others are just one day of the week.

• If the event is in a park, you're likely to need a blanket or chairs for seating. (Central Park's Delacorte Theater, home to Shakespeare in the Park, has its own seating but you may want a perch while you're in line.)

• Alcohol policies vary; check them out.

• Events can get rained out, though if the skies are just drizzly the show may go on. In that case you'll want a waterproof jacket.

BROADWAY IN

BRYANT PARK

Broadway stars take center stage during lunchtime concerts in this midtown Manhattan park. The hour-long performances each feature numbers from several of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway plays.

Want a look at what goes on behind the scenes of a theater production? Attendees are welcome to arrive around 11 a.m. and watch rehearsals.

Tip: ''Get there early to grab a good piece of the lawn or the shade,'' advises Alice Cashman, Bryant Park's associate director of events. Chairs are provided.

When: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursdays, July 9-Aug. 13.

Details: Bryant Park, Sixth Avenue between 40th and 42nd streets; www.bryantpark.org. 212-768-4242.

CENTRAL PARK

SUMMERSTAGE

This annual extravaganza ''brings the world to the heart of New York City,'' says James Burke of the City Parks Foundation.

Artists from Argentina, France and the Ivory Coast are among the performers headlining 31 shows. This year's eclectic line-up ranges from music and dance to word and film, including a reading by bestselling novelist Wally Lamb and a concert with soul singer Bettye LaVette, who performed at President Obama's inaugural celebration.

Tip: Doors open one hour prior to show time, and attendance is limited to the first 4,500 people. Chairs are forbidden; blankets OK.

When: June 12-Aug. 16, days and times vary.

Details: At Rumsey Playfield; enter Central Park at 69th Street and Fifth Avenue or 72nd Street and Central Park West; www.summerstage.org. 212-360-2777.

JAZZMOBILE

For 45 years, Jazzmobile has rolled through the city bringing music to the masses. Leading jazz musicians entertain audiences during evening concerts at two Harlem parks, near the clubs where Duke Ellington and other greats once made music.

Tip: Jazzmobile also hosts other concerts as well as the Harlem International Jazz Festival and Great Jazz on the Great Hill, a celebration of the music of Charlie ''Bird'' Parker held in Central Park on July 11.

When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, July 8-Aug. 28.

Details: Wednesdays at Grant's Tomb, 122nd Street at Riverside Drive; Fridays at Marcus Garvey Park, 122nd Street and Fifth Avenue. www.jazzmobile.org. 212-866-3616.

LINCOLN CENTER