free things to do in New York City
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, May 11, 2025!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York City (NYC), Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
May 11, 2025. Free shows, free concerts, free movies, free tours, free readings, worshops, lectures, etc. are New York's best kept secret! Learn all about it and do not miss the unique opportunities that only New York provides: NYC never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment whether it's day or night, weekday or weekend, summer or winter, spring or fall, January or June, May or September. If you are looking for inexpensive things to do and where to go in Manhattan today, tonight, tomorrow, or any other time, or any other day of any week - you came to the right place: just click on any day on the calendar dispayed on the every page of our site and you will see how many events you can attend in Manhattan free of charge on that very day.
New York's cultural scene is at its busiest in October and March (and the same goes for free events, free things to do), but other months of the year still offer incredible amount of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away! So if you looking for something to do in April or November, December or February, you will find tons of free things to do, free events to go to. (In June, July and August lots of those free events take place outdoors, of course).
So start using these unique New York City opportunities today, May 11, 2025!
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, May 11, 2025!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
Free things to do, free events that take place in New York City every day of the year are truly amazing. So if you're looking for something interesting to do today (May 11, 2025) or on any other day of the year don't miss those free-of-charge opportunities that only New York provides! You can find lots of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York City (NYC), Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
Join the Club!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
Let New York City surprise, stimulate, entertain and excite you! Read More
Don't miss the unique opportunities that only New York provides:
- free concerts in NYC
- free movies in NYC
- free jazz in NYC
- free poetry readings in NYC
- free tours/hikes in NYC
- free city walks in NYC
- free Yoga /Tai Chi in NYC
- fairs and parades in NYC
- free theater in NYC
- free tickets to concerts, theater and dance performances in NYC
'New York is abuzz with so much culture that they're giving it away.' (The New York Times article about Club Free Time).
Editor's Picks
35 free things to do in New York City (NYC) today:
Sunday, May 11, 2025
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Workshop | Tai Chi in the Park for All Fitness Levels
Join Silvana Pizzuti to learn and practice Tai Chi, a slow moving martial art with health benefits for all fitness levels. Space is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled.
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 am
Free
Free
Museums | History, Culture, and Arts of Indigenous Peoples
This cultural institution showcases a vast collection of Native artifacts, such as objects, photographs, archives, and media.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Fair | Street Fair on Broadway
Celebrate community, creativity, and culture at this vibrant street fair! Discover a colorful mix of artisan goods, local eats, live entertainment, and educational activities. This lively outdoor event highlights the diversity and spirit of the neighborhood while supporting local nonprofits, merchant associations, and community organizations.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Park Walk | Guided Tour through Park on the Water
Docents lead a walking tour to learn about the history of the Brooklyn waterfront, the area's sustainable design and ecology, and how the park came to life!
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free
Free
Museums | Sunday Funn at an Iconic Art Museum
Enjoy art, drinks, special programming, music, city views, and more! Activities include: all-ages artmaking related to art on view, storytimes from The New York Public Library, tours...
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free
Free
Museums | Family Fun at a Historical Site: Sailor Adventures
Enjoy interactive activities and engagement stations for visitors of all ages. Incorporate 19th-century maritime craft traditions into your handmade Valentine's Day cards and unique trinkets for the holiday. You can also browse galleries and learn about ships, life at sea and more.
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
$1, registration required
$1, registration required
Museums | Tiffany Glass and Other Exhibitions
The museum is dedicated to showcasing the history, art, and culture of its area with a permanent collection of 10,000 items. One of the exhibitions includes famous Tiffany's leaded glass objects and a valuable insight into the development of the inuctry in the US at the turn of the 20th century.
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Museums | Sunday at a Unique Art Museum
Candid, genuine, and unexpected, this is New York City's only museum dedicated to folk & self-taught artists. The Museum celebrates the creativity of individuals whose singular talents have been refined largely through personal experience rather than formal artistic training. The museum's collection includes more than seven thousand works of art from four centuries and nearly every continent--from compelling portraits and dazzling quilts to powerful works by living artists in a variety of mediums. From critically acclaimed exhibitions and publications to inspiring educational programs and robust community outreach, the museum's mission is to be the leading forum shaping the understanding and appreciation of folk and self-taught art across time and place.
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free
Free
Museums | American Masterpieces on View: Day Two
Discover paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from across centuries of American art at this unique Art Fair. Now in its 18th year, the fair brings together premier specialists showcasing over 400 works.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
City Walk | Annual Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk, Featuring 125+ Local Artists
This spring, Brooklyn will come alive with creativity with over 125 local artists exhibiting their work at 70 local businesses for the Annual Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk. This vibrant,self-guided, 1.5-mile art event will showcase the diverse talents of emerging and established artists at galleries, salons, boutiques, restaurants, and home decor shops. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience a diverse collection of art ranging from paintings, drawings, three-dimensional art, mixed media, and photography. While enjoying Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk, people are encouraged to take time to visit and support the local, small businesses and restaurants in the area. They can grab a cup of coffee for their stroll, sit and eat, pick up a unique gift, or a new spring outfit, and explore new services- all of which help to keep the businesses that make up the fabric of the neighborhood thriving.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Tour | Explore Downtown Manhattan with a Whitney Museum Educator
The Whitney's building may be new, but its surrounding neighborhood's past is long and storied. From the many Greenwich Village artists who came through the museum's first home on 8th Street, to the varied artistic projects along the Hudson River Piers: the history of the Whitney brings together the creative communities that shaped it. Attendees will a Whitney Museum Educator or Teaching Fellow to learn about the vibrant and varied cultural highlights within just a few blocks of the Whitney. The meeting place will be marked with physical signage. Outdoor events are weather dependent and subject to cancellation or being moved indoors should conditions require. Any changes to event plans will be noted online.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Festival | Greek Jewish Festival
First launched in 2015, the Greek Jewish Festival has grown into an international event that brings together the Greek Jewish community as well as the broader Greek and Jewish communities from across the US and around the world. The festival cuts across religious, cultural, age, and geographic lines. Situated within the historic immigrant neighborhood of the Lower East Side, the Greek Jewish Festival celebrates centuries of cultural exchange that occurred in Greece and the Balkans.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
1:00 pm
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Performance | Playing with Social Codes through Performance Art: The Pin
Artist Pilvi Takala presents The Pin, a new performance that continues her work playing with social codes. Takala's work is set in motion by actors--identifiable only by a pin fastened to their shirts--who canvass the park, blending in with the public until they spontaneously approach unsuspecting passersby. Each performer is trained to improvise based on a script written by the artist, following the responses of the participating public. The seemingly happenstance interactions expose our preconceived expectations of how we engage with others in public spaces, and what might bring strangers to either connect or disengage. In setting up these exchanges, Takala makes visible how we grapple with polite contact, inclusion, and exclusion, while blurring the line between reality and fiction. Pilvi Takala's practice is centered on poking, prodding, and questioning conventions and codes in an effort to lay bare the social frameworks of our offices, parks, shopping malls, and other public spaces. The artist disrupts the experience of daily routines, using performative interventions as a means to push the audience to confront its own assumptions and behaviors. Often humorous--and almost always perplexing--her actions and interactions reveal our inherent discomfort with discomfort.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
2:00 pm
Regular: $91.50
Member: $0
Regular: $91.50
Member: $0
Join the Club!
2:00 pm
Regular: $64
Member: $0
Regular: $64
Member: $0
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Classical Music | Relationships & Comparisons in Music: Curated Piano Pairings
Classical music often sets itself up to be heard in relationships and comparisons: a prelude with a fugue, a theme with its return, the past with the present. At this event, pianist Anne Lovering Rounds presents an evocative afternoon of curated musical pairings from the Baroque to the contemporary. Program J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Prelude and Fugue in C minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Prelude and Fugue in F minor, WTC Book II Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Impromptu in C minor, Op. 90 no. 1 Claude Debussy (1862-1918) "Suite Bergamasque" Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) "Danza del viejo boyero," Op. 2 no. 1 John Adams' (1947-) "China Gates" Doors open at 1:45pm.
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Works from Baroque through Contemporary Composers for Piano
Anne Lovering Rounds, piano, performs evocative musical pairings from the Baroque period through today.
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Violin Works by Dvorak and More (In Person AND Online!)
Sungmin Choi, violin, performs two pieces by Romantic composers. Program Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880) Fantasia on Themes from Gounod's 'Faust', Op. 20 Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904) Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Free
Play | New Original Play: Cankersore Paradise
Honey’s got mouthsores. Beau’s got bourbon. A love story. Playwright: Leah Plante-Wiener
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free
Free
Tour | Explore Downtown Manhattan with a Whitney Museum Educator
The Whitney's building may be new, but its surrounding neighborhood's past is long and storied. From the many Greenwich Village artists who came through the museum's first home on 8th Street, to the varied artistic projects along the Hudson River Piers: the history of the Whitney brings together the creative communities that shaped it. Attendees will a Whitney Museum Educator or Teaching Fellow to learn about the vibrant and varied cultural highlights within just a few blocks of the Whitney. The meeting place will be marked with physical signage. Outdoor events are weather dependent and subject to cancellation or being moved indoors should conditions require. Any changes to event plans will be noted online.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
4:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Music on the Water: NYT-Featured Musicians Perform Modern Piano Quartets
Emilie-Anne Gendron, violin, Laura Sacks, viola, Chris Gross, cello, and Steven Beck, piano, perform a series of three string quartets by 20th-Century composers. Program Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) Piano quartet op. 417 Pierre Boulez (1925-2016) Incises (1994/2001) Ernest Chausson (1855-1899) Piano quartet in A major, op. 30
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Free
Jazz | World-Class Jazz with Legendary Bassist Buster Williams
This concert features renowned bassist, composer, and bandleader Buster Williams, whose profound influence has shaped the genre for more than six decades. Born in Camden, New Jersey, Williams began his career in the early '60s, quickly rising to prominence with his impeccable technique, deep tone, harmonic innovation, and lyrical sensitivity. He has performed and recorded with a long list of jazz greats, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Nancy Wilson, Art Blakey, Chick Corea, and Mary Lou Williams. A cornerstone of Herbie Hancock's groundbreaking Mwandishi band and a first-call bassist for both traditional and avant-garde giants, he bridges eras with elegance and power. Williams's ensemble, Something More, showcases his visionary spirit and brilliance as a bandleader and composer. Event organizers suggest arriving 45 minutes before start time. Admission is first-come, first-served, with ticket holders receiving priority (although not guaranteed entrance if the venue reaches capacity).
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Free
5:00 pm
Regular: $25
Member: $0
Regular: $25
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Movie in a Park | Identity, Migration, and Memory: Three Short Documentaries Exploring American Chinatowns
Luka Yuanyuan Yang is a visual artist and filmmaker whose practice, characterized by interwoven documentary and archival materials, addresses themes of identity, migration, and memory, challenging conventional historical narratives and amplifying overlooked voices. During a year-long research trip across the US in 2018, Yang was captivated by the rich history of migration and adaptation in America's Chinatowns. From 1882 until the 1950s, due to the Chinese Exclusion Act and racial discrimination, Chinese Americans were largely confined to Chinatowns. During this same period, Yang began researching the stories of Chinese women in 20th-century American performing arts, seeking to uncover the experiences of Chinese women performers whose stories have been forgotten or misunderstood by history. Yang's exploration of these neighborhoods, the Chinese diaspora, and performing artists has become the central focus of her short films and feature film Chinatown Cha-Cha, and her recently published artist book Dance in Herland. In a time of rising threats to America's Chinatowns, the artist brings generations together through film, dance, and dialogue. For this screening, Yang presents Tales of Chinatown, an exhibition of three of her short films: Cantonese Tunes on Mott Street (2022), The Lady From Shanghai (2019), and Tales of Chinatown (2019). By following her protagonists on the streets, through their communities, and into their homes, Yang amplifies the voices of those often denied the chance to share their own stories--individuals who have been forgotten, silenced, or misinterpreted.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Piano Works by Haydn, Schubert, Ravel, and More (In Person AND Online!)
Yunqing Huang, piano, and Sarah Tuan, piano, play pieces by composers of various time periods from all over the world. Program Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Piano Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI/33, L. 34 Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Impromptus, D. 899 Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Valses nobles et sentimentales, M. 61 Joaquín Turina (1882-1949) Tarjetas Postales, Op. 58
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
7:00 pm
Regular: $91.50
Member: $0
Regular: $91.50
Member: $0
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7:00 pm
Regular: $52
Member: $0
Regular: $52
Member: $0
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Theater | The Imaginary Invalid: Moliere's Comedy-Ballet Starring Broadway Actor
Argan is ill. But is he? Argan is dying. But aren't we all? Argan wants absolute control. But is that ever achievable? After a series of upside down attempts to snap him out of it, a solution is found. But will it save him? The Imaginary Invalid is the last play that legendary French playwright Moliere wrote and was originally conceived as a Comedy-Ballet where theater, dance, and music are intertwined. It explores the fear of disease and the exploitation it breeds through infinitely humorous dialogue and in-your-face satire. This production will feature original choreography by FlexN dancer Cal Hunt, original music by cellist Johnathan Moore, and stars Tony and Olivier Award nominee Sahr Ngaujah. Director and Translator: Lucie Tiberghien Choreographer and Dancer: Cal Hunt Composer and Cellist: Johnathan Moore Cast: Dante Bonner, Mary Bacon, Rory Furey-King, Doron JePaul, Naomi Lorrain, Sahr Ngaujah, Shayvawn Webster
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Free
8:00 pm
Regular: $25
Member: $0
Regular: $25
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Play | New Original Play: Cankersore Paradise
Honey’s got mouthsores. Beau’s got bourbon. A love story. Playwright: Leah Plante-Wiener
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
8:00 pm
Free
Free
8:30 pm
Regular: $50
Member: $0
Regular: $50
Member: $0
Join the Club!
8:30 pm
Regular: $39
Member: $0
Regular: $39
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Staged Reading | Staged Reading of a New Play
Regular Price: $By invitation onlyCFT Member Price: $0.00
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