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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 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
25 free things to do in New York City (NYC) today:
Monday, May 5, 2025
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Birdwatching | Spring Birdwatching in the Park
What birds live in your backyard? This event is a birdwatching outing ifor beginners, hobbyists, and lifelong birders alike. Together, the group will explore the park and see what makes this spot a hang-out for urban birds and marvelous migrators! Binoculars and field guides provided, or bring your own.
New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free
Free
Workshop | Start the Day with Morning Meditation
Start your day by balancing your mind, body, and spirit during instructor guided meditation. This renowned practice lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and strengthens the immune system.
New York City, NY; NYC
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9:45 am
Free
Free
Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors
In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would be serving as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning first with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Start times: 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
$10
$10
Tour | Bryant Park Tour
Discover how Bryant Park Corporation successfully transformed "Needle Park" of the 1970s into Manhattan's Town Square of today. The guides are loaded with expertise on the park's rich history, award-winning design, distinct amenities, and ongoing maintenance efforts. Tours will continue as scheduled in light rain, but will be cancelled in heavy rain or inclement weather. Bring an umbrella if needed!
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Free
Open Studios | Creative Climate Exhibition
This exhibition showcases visual and installation-based works that highlight community resilience, environmental justice, and our deep interconnection with nature. By sparking emotion and conversation, this exhibit aims to inspire individual and collective action for a just and livable future. Drop in anytime.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome
THis juggling class is ideal for a quick lesson, an extended practice session, or just enjoy watching jugglers put their skills to the test. They’re a friendly group and open to drop-ins, even if you catch them outside of the regular juggling lessons. All skill levels welcome. Equipment is provided.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors
In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would be serving as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning first with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Start times: 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
12:00 pm
$10
$10
Concert | Piano in the Park: Brazilian & American Jazz
A five, six, seven, eight... Come on down and swing along to the best ragtime, stride, and jazz the Big Apple has to offer. Performing at this event: Luiz Simas Brazilian/American pianist Luiz Simas is a versatile performer who feels totally at ease with both the music of his native Brazil and the American genres of jazz and ragtime. Keyboard magazine has described his playing as "sassy, clear and vibrant", and his music as "fresh, smart and witty". His latest CDs are Transparencias (Transparencies), a solo piano CD released by Lydjul Records, and Deuce, a CD of the Simas & Amorim Duo with guitarist Wesley Amorim.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Free
Jazz | Saxophonist Blends Jazz, Soul, and Blues
Saxophonist, vocalist, and composer Camille Thurman, a frequent collaborator with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performs virtuosic saxophone solos and soulful vocals.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
1:00 pm
Free
Free
Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors
In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would be serving as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning first with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Start times: 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
1:30 pm
$10
$10
Workshop | Walk and Creative Writing Session
This walk and writing session is led by Author and Poet Jon Curley. Participants will be encouraged to use observations as a way to enhance their writing styles in any preferred mode.
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
Staged Reading | Apple Bottom: Butt Seriously
Brazilian Butt Lifts are sweeping the wallets of the women in Miami, and the staff at the post-BBL recovery house, Apple Bottom Spa, hopes to ride on this wave. When a humble childhood neighbor and a high-strung Blackfishing social media influencer arrive post-surgery, the women who run Apple Bottom struggle to keep both patients and the house afloat. An intimate examination of female-to-female caregiving, body dysmorphia, and what it means when the brown/Black female body is both ostracized and commodified. Written by Karina Billini.
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Free
Gallery Talk | Tammy Nguyen Talks with The New Yorker's Naomi Fry
Naomi Fry, staff writer for The New Yorker and co-host of the Critics at Large podcast, joins artist Tammy Nguyen for a conversation on the occasion of Nguyen’s first major solo exhibition in New York, A Comedy for Mortals: Paradiso. Together, they will discuss Nguyen’s interdisciplinary practice, which explores the intersections of geopolitics, ecology, and history through painting and printmaking. The talk will take place directly before the exhibition’s opening reception.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Remembrance, Reflection and Resilience
A place of commemoration: exhibition, artifacts, photographs, stories and more.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Film | The Lodger (1944): Horror Film Based on Jack the Ripper
A Whitechapel landlady and music hall singer is fond of her eccentric lodger, but, when Jack the Ripper begins his killing spree, she and a Scotland Yard inspector gradually begin to suspect that he could be the notorious killer. DIrector: John Brahm Cast: Merle Oberon, George Sanders,
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Author Reading | Author/Photographer Launches New Memoir on Walking Japan's Coast: Things become Other Things
Writer and photographer Craig Mod launches his new book Things Become Other Things. Craig Mod's transformative 300-mile walk along Japan’s ancient pilgrimage routes and through depopulating villages inspires a heartrending remembrance of a long-lost friend, documented in poignant, imaginative prose and remarkable photography. Hosted by Matt Rodbard and recorded live, followed by a signing. Seating is limited and will be first come, first served. Doors open at 5:30 pm.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Discussion | Help Shape NYC’s First Urban Forest Plan – Bronx Kickoff
Be part of shaping New York City’s first Urban Forest Plan! Engage with neighbors, learn why trees matter for your community’s health and resilience, and share your ideas to help guide the future of our urban forest.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Hula Hooping Workshop for All Ages
Big Apple Hooping brings hooping fun to everyone. If you're looking to learn the fundamentals of hooping, work on refining your tricks, or meet fellow hoopers from the NYC area, this is the event for you. Hoopers of all experience levels, from beginner to advanced, are welcome, and all equipment is provided!
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Author Reading | Long-Time CEO Speaks about His New Book: Surviving Wall Street
Long-time CEO Scott Bok, in conversation with Professor Liz Magill of the Penn Carey Law School, as he discusses his coming of age story—and the dramatic transformation of the investment banking industry—that he captures in his new book Surviving Wall Street: A Tale of Triumph, Tragedy, and Timing. This book portrays the dramatic transformation of the investment banking business in recent decades through the tumultuous saga of one firm (Greenhill & Co., a specialist in mergers and acquisitions) and one man (Scott Bok, the longtime CEO of that firm). Written in the style of an adventure tale, this book is also a "coming of age" story for a naive young man who came to Wall Street―as thousands like him do each year―and managed to grab a front-row seat for a period of epic change. A firsthand account of deals and dealmakers told from inside the boardroom, Surviving Wall Street will captivate those wanting to understand the dramatic evolution and expansion of Wall Street, as well as younger readers hoping to chart their own path to success in this Darwinian industry.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Celebrating the Launch of A Handbook of Latinx Art with Contributors and Editors (In Person AND Online!)
This conversation celebrates the publication of A Handbook of Latinx Art, a curated selection of key texts and artists’ voices exploring US Latinx art and art history from the 1960s to the present. Co-editors Rocío Aranda-Alvardo and Deborah Cullen-Morales along with contributors Joiri Minaya, Chon Noriega, and Yasmin Ramirez discuss the book’s intervention into the diverse field of Latinx art and its relationship to the history of art in the United States. A Handbook of Latinx Art is the first anthology to explore the rich, deep, and often overlooked contributions that Latinx artists have made to art in the United States. Drawn from wide-ranging sources, this volume includes texts by artists, critics, and scholars that reflect the diversity of the Latinx experience across the nation, from the West Coast and the Mexican border to the Midwest, New York, and Miami. The anthology features essential writings by Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban American, Dominican American, and Central American artists to highlight how visionaries of diverse immigrant groups negotiate issues of participation and belonging, material, style, and community in their own voices. These intersectional essays cut across region, gender, race, and class to reckon with different histories, geographies, and political engagements and, ultimately, underscores the importance of Latinx artists to the history of American art.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Discussion | Let's Talk Democracy: Is Privacy Under Threat?
Privacy, a cornerstone of liberal democracies, faces increasing challenges in today's world. From issues surrounding data protection in the digital age to its intersection with rights like free speech and reproductive freedoms, privacy shapes our lives as citizens, consumers, and individuals. In this conversation, Prof. Alexander Görlach, journalist and adjunct professor for democratic theory at NYU Gallatin School, and Prof. Martin Eiermann, postdoctoral fellow at Duke University, explore the evolving role of privacy in the U.S. and Germany, highlighting key differences. How have legal frameworks, cultural values, and historical contexts shaped personal freedoms across the Atlantic?
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Staged Reading | Apple Bottom: Butt Seriously
Brazilian Butt Lifts are sweeping the wallets of the women in Miami, and the staff at the post-BBL recovery house, Apple Bottom Spa, hopes to ride on this wave. When a humble childhood neighbor and a high-strung Blackfishing social media influencer arrive post-surgery, the women who run Apple Bottom struggle to keep both patients and the house afloat. An intimate examination of female-to-female caregiving, body dysmorphia, and what it means when the brown/Black female body is both ostracized and commodified. Written by Karina Billini.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Play | Award-Winning Italian Play about Dangerous Migration by Sea: Lampedusa Beach
Nadia Kibout is Shauba, an African migrant who drowns near the shores of the island of Lampedusa. In that inexorable time Shauba recounts minute by minute the chronicle of her end. The actress thus brings to life the "Theatre of the Shipwreck." She fulfills her mythical function of giving body to those who are not there and name to those who do not have it. Before her is the audience, facing its responsibilities. The narrative represents the very current issue of migrants. Having set out for Europe, driven by the dream of her beloved Aunt Mahama who wants Africa's children free from the blackmail of capitalism, Shauba faces her journey on a sea cart crammed with migrants, capsizing after a fight between boatmen intent on vying for the young woman's body. The sea is innocent, the narrative suggests; the man, on the other hand, is at fault. The performance is accompanied by the soundscapes of Maestro Daniele Onorati and his oodoo, very special ceramic musical instruments. Playwright: Lina Prosa Director: Nadia Kibout Cast: Nadia Kibout and Daniele Onorati In English
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:15 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Gluck Fellowship String Quartet Performs Works by Haydn, Debussy, and More (In Person AND Online!)
Prometheus Quartet performs a trio of pieces by composers of various musical periods. Program Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5 Claude Debussy (1862-1918) String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10 (L.91) Lei Liang (1972) Gobi Gloria
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Free
Jazz | Live Jazz & Open Jam Night
Experience the soul of the city underground at this free weekly jazz night where spontaneity and swing collide. A powerhouse house band sets the tone before opening the floor to an open jam session welcoming musicians of all levels. From seasoned pros to bold newcomers, the energy flows and the creativity never stops. An intimate, vibey setting makes this one of New York City's best-kept secrets for live music lovers.
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Free
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Classical Music | Sacred Choral Works at a Landmark Venue
Regular Price: $50CFT Member Price: $0.00
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