free things to do in New York City
Free events for Thursday, 05/07/26
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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 7, 2026?

14 free events take place on Thursday, May 7 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 7 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.
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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!

14 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Thursday, May 7, 2026

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Workshop | Learn How To Play Mah-Jongg


Mah-Jongg is a four-person tile game of skill, strategy, and luck! Learn the rules and mechanics of American Mah-Jongg. Attend a two hour group lesson with instructor Susan Richards. Sets and a few cards provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own cards.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Workshops, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Learn How To Play Mah-Jongg

Opening Reception | Discover a Famous Bibliophile's Antique Collection (+ Bookmaking Activities, Curator Talk, Live Music, & More)


Discover the opening of the new exhibition, To Uncover and Reveal to the World: Arturo Schomburg’s Library, which showcases more than one hundred items from the famous bibliophile's original collection (sold to the NYPL in 1926). During the event, there will be art-making activities that draw visitors into the details of bookmaking. In the evening (6–8 PM), registered attendees will enjoy a program featuring exhibition curator Dr. Laura Helton, contributors to a companion publication, Black Studies on 135th Street: The Founding and Future of the Schomburg Collection, a live musical performance, and a reception.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Discover&nbsp;a Famous Bibliophile's Antique Collection (+ Bookmaking Activities, Curator Talk, Live Music, & More)

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
Workshops, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome

Classical Music | Afternoon Bach


Take a momentary respite from a busy day to enjoy a selection of organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach in an intimate venue.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:20 pm
Free
Concerts, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Afternoon Bach

Classical Music | String Ensemble Works To Celebrate Spring (In Person AND Online!)


The Berwick Fiddle Consort (Lydia Becker, violin, viola, and guitar, Julia Connor, violin and viola, and Sarah Douglass, violin and viola) celebrates the coming of spring with a program highlighting nature’s beauty in the British Isles. Traditional jigs, hornpipes, and reels as well as James Oswald’s rarely-heard Airs for the Spring feature the fiddle in all its glory.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:15 pm
Free
Concerts, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, String Ensemble Works To Celebrate Spring (In Person AND Online!)

Birdwatching | Evening Birding Tour


Discover the surprising diversity of birds that call the park home during migratory season, with guided tours led by environmental educator and urban naturalist Gabriel Willow. The park is a hotspot for avian visitors and birders alike. Past sightings include warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, and even a Chuck-will's-widow!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Birdwatchings, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Evening Birding Tour

Screening | Karmele (2025): Spanish Historical Drama (+ Filmmaker Discussion)


Discover a powerful story of memory, history, and resilience at this special screening of Karmele, inspired by the novel La hora de despertarnos juntos by Kirmen Uribe. Through film, the evening invites audiences to reflect on the enduring ties between personal memory and collective history. The film's plot follows the plight of Basque nurse Karmele, who moves to France after the Spanish Civil War and marries jazz musician Txomin. Following the screening, director Asier Altuna and writer Kirmen Uribe (NYU) will join James D. Fernández (NYU) for a conversation about the film’s creative process and the historical and literary worlds that shaped it. The program will conclude with a Q&A and a wine reception.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Screenings, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Karmele (2025): Spanish Historical Drama (+ Filmmaker Discussion)

Book Discussion | Advocacy and the Fight for 9/11 Responders


This panel examines the role of civic advocacy in securing support for 9/11 responders affected by long-term health impacts.   Following the attacks, rescue and recovery worker John Feal emerged as a leading advocate for those suffering from toxic exposure at and around Ground Zero. Drawing on his forthcoming book, I Will Follow You Anywhere, the discussion highlights the efforts of responders who lobbied and testified before Congress, as well as broader conversations about policy, public health, and the ongoing fight for recognition and care.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Advocacy and the Fight for 9/11 Responders

Dancing | Dance Instruction & Live Music in the Park: Swing Dance


Swing dance instruction and party in the park, with live rock 'n roll music from Danny Lipsitz and The Brass Tacks. 6pm: Swing dance instruction 7pm: Live dance music with Danny Lipsitz and The Brass Tacks Danny Lipsitz is one of the most sought-after bandleaders, musicians, and entertainers in New York City. Danny leads his swing, jump blues, klezmer, and early rock 'n' roll band, The Brass Tacks, in captivating, feel-good music for people from all walks of life. An expert entertainer, Danny is known for his ability to read a room and form a deep connection with the crowd for a wide variety of audiences, rooms, and situations. The Brass Tacks have performed at jazz clubs, performing arts centers, private events, and swing dance events around the world. International performances include private events in Europe and a sold-out 2022 mini-tour of Asia. In the states, they've performed at Lincoln Center, Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, Mohonk Mountain House, The Hard Rock Hotel, The Levitt Pavilion, The Jazz Club at Aman New York, The Midnight Theatre, The Roxy Hotel, Hotel Edison, and as the headliners for the highly-popular summer series "Seaport Swings."
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free
Dancings, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Dance Instruction & Live Music in the Park: Swing Dance

Opening Reception | Drawing, Language, and the Abstraction of History


Marking the artist’s first solo presentation in New York, Tony Lewis: Abstract Slavery brings together three bodies of work that explore drawing as both a material process and a conceptual language.   Working with graphite and paper, Lewis investigates the relationship between writing and image, engaging the history of the transatlantic slave trade through layered, abstract forms that reflect the limits of representation and the historical record.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Drawing, Language, and the Abstraction of History

Performance | New Music & Theater Works Inspired by Works from the Library Archives


The culmination of an intense semester of research and creative experimentation, New School students, led by acclaimed saxophonist and composer Jane Ira Bloom, present new music and theater works inspired by and incorporating the library’s archives.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Performances, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, New Music & Theater Works Inspired by Works from the Library Archives

Concert | Arcade Fire & Lauryn Hill-Featured Musician Shares Signature Haitian Vodou Electric Blues


Experience the unique sound of Paul Beaubrun, whose signature Haitian Vodou Electric Blues style takes listeners on a mesmerizing musical journey. A scion of Haitian musical royalty whose parents founded the crucial mizik rasin band Boukman Eksperyans, Beaubrun weaves together cultural history, guitar skills, and rich vocals in English, French, and Creole. He has performed worldwide alongside artists like Ms. Lauryn Hill and as a touring member of Arcade Fire, gracing stages from the Beacon Theater to the Montreal Jazz Festival. Beaubrun's 2015 debut release, Vilnerab, soared to #1 on the iTunes World Music charts, showcasing his evolution into rock, roots, and blues. As a member of Artists for Peace and Justice, he advocates for Haitian art and culture, and promotes the talent of Haiti's youth.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Arcade Fire & Lauryn Hill-Featured Musician Shares Signature Haitian Vodou Electric Blues

Book Discussion | Pulitzer Prize Winning Historian Shares Her New Book, This Land Is Your Land (In Person AND Online!)


Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Beverly Gage discusses her cross-country journey through the places where Americans remember—and debate—their history. In her new book, This Land Is Your Land, Beverly Gage trades the archives for the open road, visiting museums, historic sites, and cultural landmarks that shape how the country tells its story. From Philadelphia, where the nation’s founding texts were signed, to Disneyland and the California dream, Gage examines the gap between America’s founding ideals and its lived realities. Published on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the book blends travelogue with cultural history to take a thoughtful look at how we confront the past and what it means to carry that history forward.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Pulitzer Prize Winning Historian Shares Her New Book, This Land Is Your Land (In Person AND Online!)

Comedy Club | Standup Show


Catch some of the best comedians at this free weekly stand-up show, featuring a lineup of rising stars and seasoned favorites. Past performers include Sheng Wang, Mark Normand, Dan Soder, Annie Lederman, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Comedy Clubs, May 07, 2026, 05/07/2026, Standup Show
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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