free things to do in New York City
Free events for Monday, 05/04/26
<

May 2026

>
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

Are you looking for free things to do in New York City (NYC) on May 4, 2026?

14 free events take place on Monday, May 4 in New York City. Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides! Exciting, high quality, unique and off the beaten path free events and free things to do take place in New York today, tonight, tomorrow and each day of the year, any time of the day: whether it's a weekday or a weekend, day or night, morning or evening or afternoon, December or July, April or November! These events will take your breath away!

New York City (NYC) never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment. Check out May 4 and see for yourself. Summer or Winter, Spring or Fall! Just click on any day of the calendar above and you'll find most inspiring and entertaining free events to go to and free things to do on each day of May . Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides!

Some events take place all year long: same day of the week, same time there are there for you to take advantage of. One of the oldest free weekly events in Manhattan is Dixieland Jazz with the Gotham Jazzmen, which happen at noon every Tuesday. Another example of an event that you can attend all year round on weekdays is Federal Reserve Bank Tour, which takes place every week day at 1 pm (but advanced reservations are required). You can take at least 13 free tours every day of the year, except the New Year Day, July 4th, and the Christmas Day. If you are classical music afficionado, you can spend whole day in New York going from one free classical concert to another. If you love theater, then New York gives you an option to attend plays and musicals free of charge, or at deep discount. You just need to have information about it. And we are here to make that information available to you.
Join the Club!
Go!
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!

14 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Monday, May 4, 2026

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Birdwatching | Family Birdwatching Outing


What birds live in your backyard? Learn the basics of bird watching in this fun outing for beginners, hobbyists, and lifelong birders alike. Together, the group will explore NYC parks, and see what makes this spot a hang-out for resident urban birds and marvelous migrators! Binoculars and field guides provided, or bring your own.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
9:30 am
Free
Birdwatchings, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Family Birdwatching Outing

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
Join the Club!
Go!
9:45 am
Free
Workshops, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Start the Day with Morning Meditation

Workshop | Open Play Pickleball for All Ages


Enjoy casual, drop‑in pickleball at the park. An exciting fusion of badminton and tennis, pickleball has exploded in popularity. Open play encourages rotating games, social fun, and friendly competition for players of all skill levels. First‑come, first‑served.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
10:00 am
Free
Workshops, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Open Play Pickleball for All Ages

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
Join the Club!
Go!
10:30 am
Free
Workshops, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Walk and Creative Writing Session

Tour | Explore a NYC Park


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
Join the Club!
Go!
11:00 am
Free
Tours, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Explore a NYC Park

Park Walk | Explore NYC's Greenspace with a Professional Horticulturist


A seasoned horitculturist leads a tour to see what’s in bloom, discuss special topics in urban horticulture, and answer your questions about the plants you see in the park.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
12:00 pm
Free
Park Walks, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Explore NYC's Greenspace with a Professional Horticulturist

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
Join the Club!
Go!
12:00 pm
Free
Workshops, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome

Party | Fiber/Textile Arts Meetup


Are you a knitter? Do you like to crochet? Maybe you like a different type of fiber art? Whichever it is, bring your supplies and lose yourself in the meditative world of creating art with fiber. Invite your friends, or make new connections there. This is a meet-up, not a class.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
1:00 pm
Free
Partys, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Fiber/Textile Arts Meetup

Master Class | "One of America’s Finest" Vocalists Teaches the Ins & Outs of Great Performance


Enjoy a master class with Frederica von Stade, one of the most celebrated mezzo-sopranos of our time. Described by The New York Times as “one of America’s finest artists and singers,” von Stade has enriched the world of classical music for four and a half decades.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
4:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, "One of America&rsquo;s Finest" Vocalists Teaches the Ins & Outs of Great Performance

Master Class | Carnegie Hall-Featured Clarinetist Imparts Skills & Techniques for Great Performance


A special masterclass with internationally acclaimed clarinetist Han Kim. Han Kim currently serves as Principal Clarinet of the Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris and is an award-winning artist, having received Second Prize at the 2019 ARD International Music Competition in Munich. Fresh from his debut concert at Carnegie Hall, Han will lead an inspiring master class the following day, tailored for emerging classical clarinetists.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
5:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Carnegie Hall-Featured Clarinetist Imparts Skills & Techniques for Great Performance

Dance Performance | Dance Works-in-Progress


A 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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
7:00 pm
Free
Dance Performances, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Dance Works-in-Progress

Book Discussion | Former Goldman Sachs CEO Shares His New Book, Streetwise: Getting to and Through Goldman Sachs (In Person AND Online!)


Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein reflects on leadership, risk, and his rise from public housing to the heights of global finance. In his new book, Streetwise, Lloyd Blankfein traces his 36-year career at Goldman Sachs, from his upbringing in East New York to helming one of the world's most powerful financial institutions. Blankfein offers a candid account of his tenure--including navigating the 2008 financial crisis--and examines the pressures of decision-making in moments of uncertainty and the culture that defined the firm. Blending personal history with lessons on leadership, competition, and resilience, Streetwise is a portrait of ambition shaped by trials and experience. Blankfein speaks with executive leadership coach and author Hortense le Gentil about developing his leadership skills and how his humble beginnings shaped his worldview and ambition.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Former Goldman Sachs CEO Shares His New Book, Streetwise: Getting to and Through Goldman Sachs (In Person AND Online!)

Talk | Discover the Art of Storytelling through Light


Attend an illuminating evening with Enrique Peiniger, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Office for Visual Interaction (OVI), an international lighting design studio whose work has transformed the way we perceive architecture through light. From the taxi-yellow luminaires illuminating Renzo Piano's New York Times Building, to the textured, garden-like forms of Zaha Hadid's Unicorn Island in China-- the discussion will explore how light becomes a narrative medium, holistically shaping identity, mood, and emotion.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
Free
Talks, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Discover the Art of Storytelling through Light

Classical Music | Contemporary Ensemble Works


NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble presents the world premiere performances of eleven works for contemporary ensemble by NYU graduate student composers: Claudia Beroukhim, Kai Berry, Brayden Carr, Haimeng Fei, AJ Francisco, Adam Harrington, Brandon Johnson, Kristine Kemmer, William Rhodes, John Swillinger, and Gabe Wallerstein.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
8:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 04, 2026, 05/04/2026, Contemporary Ensemble Works
Join the Club!
Go!
Complimentary Tickets

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

Performance | Piercing, Tender, and Hopeful Story

Regular Price: $59
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Highly-Acclaimed Orchestra Performs Tchaikovsky & More

Regular Price: $55
CFT Member Price: $0.00