free things to do in New York City
Free events for Monday, 05/20/24
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

May 20, 2024. Free shows, concerts, movies, tours are New York (NYC) best kept secret! New York City 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 do not wot till tomorrow, start using these unique New York City opportunities today, May 20, 2024!

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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 20, 2024!

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Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.

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Free things to do, free events that take place in the City every day of the year are truly amazing. So if you're looking for something interesting to do today (May 20, 2024) 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!

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In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York, 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!

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Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!

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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
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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 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

free events nyc October 7th, 06:29AM: An Immersive Exhibition on Nova Music Festival Massacre
free events nyc Tour of New York City Hall
free events nyc Salsa Social in the Park
free events nyc Garment District Tour: Factories, Gangsters, Labor Unions and More
free events nyc Lower East Side Festival of the Arts
All Editor's Picks ...
        

23 free  things to do in New York City (NYC) today:
Monday, May 20, 2024

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Tour | 13 Tours, All City Neighborhoods, Any Time Of The Day, Choose One Tour Or Many


These free tours take place at various times during the day, all day long. You can make reservations for as many tours as your schedule allows. SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights + DUMBO 3 Hour Lower Manhattan Harlem Chelsea and the High Line 6 Hour Downtown Combined Greenwich Village Central Park Lower Manhattan Midtown Manhattan Grand Central Terminal Graffiti and Street Art Tours World Trade Center
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Tours, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, 13 Tours, All City Neighborhoods, Any Time Of The Day, Choose One Tour Or Many

Fair | October 7th, 06:29AM: An Immersive Exhibition on Nova Music Festival Massacre


To celebrate the end of his two years of service as a medic in the Israel Defense Forces' paratrooper division, Tomer Meir joined 13 of his friends at the Nova Musica Festival on the weekend of October 6 in Re'im in southern Israel. It was his first ever music festival. "It was the best moments of my life. I can't explain the state we were in," the 21-year-old told the New York Jewish Week. "It was pure love -- people dancing, laughing, smiling. All the good stuff that we're living for." Until 6:29 a.m. on Saturday morning. The red alerts, the rockets and the running. "The music stopped. The rockets started. We started running for our lives," Meir said. Meir is a survivor of the Nova Music Festival Massacre, where Hamas militants killed 364 festival-goers and took at least 40 hotstages on the morning of Oct. 7. Six months after the attack, Meir is in New York sharing his story as part of an interactive exhibit about that day, which he says is helping him heal. The Nova Musical Festival exhibition, titled October 7th, 06:29AM, is an immersive step into what it was like to be at the festival when it was attacked. Screens show clips from the attack on Nova are displayed next to personal and camping items taken from the festival recreating the festival layout. The exhibit, which debuted in Tel Aviv for 10 weeks in December, was created by Israeli designers and cultural producers, many of whom were producers with the Nova Music Festival itself. It was brought to New York with the help of Scooter Braun, the Jewish-American music producer and philanthropist. The exhibit recreates the visuals and sounds of the Nova Music Festival massacre. But the New York version is in some ways "more intense," according to Yael Finkelstein, a volunteer who collected items from the Nova site and helped set up both the Tel Aviv and New York exhibit. New elements at the New York exhibit include dozens of video testimonies from survivors, Zaka volunteers and family members, as well as graphic raw footage taken on Oct. 7 from both festival-goers and Hamas militants. In addition, survivors of the massacre such as Meir and Sassi will be at the exhibit every day to share their stories and answer questions. Their goal, Meir said, is to show New Yorkers that the horror they experienced could happen to anyone.
   New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
$3
Fairs, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, October 7th, 06:29AM: An Immersive Exhibition on Nova Music Festival Massacre

Workshop | Learn Juggling in the Park


Get in a quick lesson, stay for the whole time, or just enjoy watching them 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
Workshops, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Learn Juggling in the Park

Concert | Piano in the Park


Come on by and tap your toes to The Big Apple's finest ragtime, stride, and jazz pianists around! Featuring special events and performances by distinguished musicians. Today's pianist: Yuka Aikawa.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Concerts, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Piano in the Park

Gallery Talk | Francesc Tosquelles: Avant-Garde Psychiatry and the Birth of Art Brut: Exhibition Tour (online)


Co-curators behind the scenes of Francesc Tosquelles: Avant-Garde Psychiatry and the Birth of Art Brut, which explores for the first time in the United States the legacy of Catalan psychiatrist Francesc Tosquelles. The four curators will walk through the exhibition’s artworks, archival documents and films, opening up a new window on psychiatry and its connections to art, literature and French theory.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Gallery Talks, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Francesc Tosquelles: Avant-Garde Psychiatry and the Birth of Art Brut: Exhibition Tour (online)

Talk | Israel's 7-Front War: Gaza Strip (online)


Examine the recent actions, regional ambitions, and strategic implications of Tehran's aggressive expansion and its threat to Israel. With Daniel Pipes, President of the Middle East Forum.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free
Talks, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Israel's 7-Front War: Gaza Strip (online)

Screening | Segal Center Film Festival on Theatre & Performance (in-person and online)


36 films -- some in-person, some online, some both -- are presented in this 4-day festival showcasing films drawn from the world of theatre and performance. The festival presents experimental, emerging, and established theatre artists and filmmakers from around the world to audiences and industry professionals. From its inaugural edition in 2015 to its present-day The festival has served as a platform for recorded works that span the length and breadth of the performing arts. See link for films and details.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Screenings, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Segal Center Film Festival on Theatre & Performance (in-person and online)

Workshop | Origami Class


Learn the art of creative paper folding in the Japanese tradition. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and materials are provided.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Workshops, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Origami Class

Other | Community Plant Exchange


Meet other plant enthusiasts for a free plant swap. Share tips, advice, and plants in this community event. Tips for success: Please bring only pest-free plants. If your plants are in containers, please be sure they are in containers that you are ready to give away or exchange. Rooted cuttings may be brought in a sealed plastic bag wrapped in a moist paper towel.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free
Others, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Community Plant Exchange

Film | The Leopard (1963) Directed by Luchino Visconti, Starring Burt Lancaster


As Garibaldi's troops begin the unification of Italy in the 1860s, an aristocratic Sicilian family grudgingly adapts to the sweeping social changes undermining their way of life. Proud but pragmatic Prince Don Fabrizio Salina allows his war hero nephew, Tancredi, to marry Angelica, the beautiful daughter of gauche, bourgeois Don Calogero, in order to maintain the family's accustomed level of comfort and political clout. Director: Luchino Visconti Cast: Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon, Paolo Stoppa, Rina Morelli, Romolo Valli, Serge Reggiani, Terence Hill Luchino Visconti was an Italian filmmaker, theatre and opera director, and screenwriter. He was one of the fathers of cinematic neorealism, but later moved towards luxurious, sweeping epics dealing with themes of beauty, decadence, death, and European history, especially the decay of the nobility and the bourgeoisie. Visconti received several notable accolades, including both the Palme d'Or and the Golden Lion. He was both an Oscar and BAFTA Award nominee. Many of his works are regarded as highly-influential to future generations of filmmakers, including Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese. Burt Lancaster was an American actor and film producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year career in films and television series. He was a four-time nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actor (winning once), and he also won two BAFTA Awards and one Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor. The American Film Institute ranks Lancaster as #19 of the greatest male stars of classic Hollywood cinema.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
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Films, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, The Leopard (1963) Directed by&nbsp;Luchino Visconti, Starring&nbsp;Burt Lancaster

Birdwatching | Evening Drop-in Birding


Witness the spectacle of spring migration with Gabriel Willow as songbirds follow the Atlantic Flyway northwards. Look for orioles, tanagers, warblers, vireos, and other migrants in the wilds of the park, and learn about the finer points of their identification and ecology.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Birdwatchings, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Evening Drop-in Birding

Classical Music | Works for Woodwind Qunitet


Woodwind quintet of American Symphony Orchestra musicians (Diva Goodfriend-Koven, flute; Erin Gustafson, oboe; David Gould, clarinet; David Smith, French horn; Gilbert Dejean, bassoon) Program William Grant Still (1895-1978), Miniatures Gunther Schuller (1925-2015), Suite for Woodwind Quintet Amy Beach (1867-1944), Pastorale, Op. 151 Paquito D’Rivera (b. 1948), Aires Tropicales John Philip Sousa (1854-1932), The Liberty Bell March
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Concerts, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Works for Woodwind Qunitet

Discussion | Rescue Me: Actor Denis Leary on the 20th Anniversary of the Show


This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the debut of Rescue Me, the award-winning television series created by actor Denis Leary and writer Peter Tolan. Rescue Me tells the story of New York City firefighters through the dramatized story of Tommy Gavin, portrayed by Leary, and grapples with the issues and challenges faced by the FDNY in the aftermath of 9/11. In conversation with Museum Director Clifford Chanin, Leary and Tolan reflect on the series, its themes, and the impact it had on audiences around the world.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
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Discussions, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Rescue Me: Actor Denis Leary on the 20th Anniversary of the Show

Book Discussion | The Courage of Compassion: A Journey from Judgment to Connection


Enjoy an evening of conversation with Robin Steinberg about public defense, justice and her new book. Steinberg is the Founder of The Bail Project and Founder and former Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
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Book Discussions, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, The Courage of Compassion: A Journey from Judgment to Connection

Talk | The Base of Korean Cuisine: Fermentation & Rice


A talk featuring Chef Hooni Kim, renowned owner chef of Danji, the first Michelin-starred Korean restaurant globally, and Ryan Kim, CEO of Kim’C Market, renowned for its direct sourcing of natural Korean food from farmers and artisans. During this exclusive event, the speakers will delve into the intricacies of fermentation, elucidating the essence of Korean jang fermentation, its associated health benefits, and various fermentation techniques.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
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Talks, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, The Base of Korean Cuisine: Fermentation & Rice

Discussion | The Mother of Modern Dance


Third generation Duncan dancer and Artistic Director of the Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation & Company, Lori Belilove makes public for the first time Isadora Duncan's early manuscript, Exercizes for the Dance. Contrary to myth and popular misconception, Belilove says this document reveals that, Duncan had a coherent technique and guiding principles. Belilove expounds, with demonstration, Duncan's role as the "Mother of Modern Dance" in the context of this early formative handwritten document. An American pioneer of dance, Isadora Duncan was a self-styled revolutionary who condemned the rigidity of ballet and championed free dance coupled with her view of the ideals of ancient Greece: beauty, art, and philosophy. Registration required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free
Discussions, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, The Mother of Modern Dance

Classical Music | Works for Violin, Horn, and Piano


Takt Trio: Austin Wulliman, violin; David Byrd Marrow, horn; Conor Hanick, piano. Program Gyorgy Ligeti (1923-2006), Trio for Violin, Horn, and Piano Hilda Paredes (b. 1957), Koan Marcos Balter (b. 1974), new work for Takt Trio Sit onstage and enjoy a free drink during this hour-long weeknight Pop-Up Concerts, and mingle with the musicians and fellow concertgoers after the show.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Works for Violin, Horn, and Piano

Book Discussion | Adam Pendleton: Blackness, White and Light


An art book launch and conversation with Marianne Dobner, Adam Pendleton & Oliver Shultz  
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
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Book Discussions, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Adam Pendleton: Blackness, White and Light

Book Discussion | Blue Ruin: Art World Reckoning


From Hari Kunzru, one of the sharpest voices in fiction today, a profound and enthralling novel about beauty and power, capital, art and those who devote their lives to creating it. Once, Jay was an artist. After graduating from art school in London, he was tipped for greatness, a promising career taking shape before him. That was not to happen. Now, undocumented in the United States, having survived Covid, he lives out of his car and barely makes a living as an essential worker, delivering groceries in a wealthy area of upstate New York. One day, as Jay attempts to make a delivery at a house surrounded by acres of woods, he is confronted by his destructive past: Alice, a former lover from his art school days, and the friend she left him for. Recognizing Jay’s dire circumstances, Alice invites him to stay on their property—where an erratic gallery owner and his girlfriend are isolating as well—setting in motion a reckoning that has been decades in the making. Gripping and brilliantly orchestrated, Blue Ruin moves back and forth through time, delivering an extraordinary portrait of an artist as he reunites with his past and confronts the world he once loved and left behind.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
$5
Book Discussions, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Blue Ruin: Art World Reckoning

Staged Reading | Closet Writer: One Black Woman in the USA


B. Gem is a Black woman living in the United States of America. In this two-woman play, we meet the life moments she failed and those she overcame. We meet the interesting people that shaped her, for good and bad. Ultimately, we meet the her that forces her to see herself.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
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Staged Readings, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Closet Writer: One Black Woman in the USA

Film | White Noise (2020): Documentary on the Threat of White Supremacy Groups (online)


One week after the 2016 presidential election, white nationalists gathered in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the victory of President-elect Donald Trump. Addressing the crowd, the far-right leader Richard Spencer exclaimed, “Hail Trump! Hail our people!” to fanatical cheers and Nazi salutes. The Atlantic’s cameras captured exclusive footage of this moment, and the clip was shared widely on news networks and social-media platforms around the world. This film, The Atlantic’s first feature documentary and Daniel Lombroso’s feature film debut, is the result of a four-year commitment to expose the roots of rising white nationalism in the U.S. and abroad. The film is a deeply reported journey through the underbelly of the alt-right, bringing viewers an unfiltered, clear-eyed look at a powerful extremist movement. 94 min. Followed by a discussion with director Daniel Lombroso, Gavriel D. Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History and Professor of History at Fairfield University, and Anna Duensing, a historian specializing in evolving global politics of white supremacy across the twentieth century. They will discuss the ideas the alt-right has unleashed and how the movement has succeeded in infiltrating mainstream political discourse and shaping the direction of the United States. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
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Films, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, White Noise (2020): Documentary on the Threat of White Supremacy Groups (online)
7:00 pm
Regular: $54.08
Member: $0
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Performances, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, A Play About a Real-Life Game Show Host

Dance Performance | Dance Works-in-Progress


A free, high visibility low-tech forum for experimentation, emerging ideas, and works-in-progress held in the Fall and Spring seasons. Artists are selected by a rotating committee of peer artists. With: Josefina Maro, Emily Barasch, AI Evangelista, angel edwards
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Dance Performances, May 20, 2024, 05/20/2024, Dance Works-in-Progress
Complimentary Tickets

to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)

Classical Music | Sacred Choral Works at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $49
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Theater | Storytelling at its Best from Far Away

Regular Price: $51
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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