free things to do in New York City
Free events for Thursday, 08/21/25
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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 August 21, 2025?

27 free events take place on Thursday, August 21 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 August 21 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 August . 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!

27 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Thursday, August 21, 2025

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Workshop | Pick-Up Pickleball


An exciting fusion of badminton and tennis, pickleball has been proven to strengthen muscles, boost cardiovascular health, and enhance brain function. First come first serve basis.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free
Workshops, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Pick-Up Pickleball

Fair | Lively Summer Street Fair – Global Eats


Celebrate community, creativity, and culture at this vibrant street fair! There will be an array of vendor booths featuring a wide variety of food, arts and crafts, handmade treasures, merchandise, antiques, collectibles, and much more. Enjoy delicious food, live music, games, rides, and a variety of fun activities. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Fairs, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Lively Summer Street Fair &ndash; Global Eats

Film | Funny Girl (1968): Classic Musical Starring Barbra Streisand


The life of Fanny Brice, famed comedienne and entertainer of the early 1900s: her rise to fame as a Ziegfeld Girl, her subsequent career, and her personal life, particularly her relationship with Nick Arnstein. Director: William Wyler Cast: Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis, Walter Pidgeon Barbra Streisand is an American singer and actress with a career spanning over six decades. She has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT).
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Films, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Funny Girl (1968): Classic Musical Starring Barbra Streisand

Museums | Museum Tour on Stories of Making It in America


A museum educator guides a public gallery tour of the exhibition, With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America, which provides an overview of the Chinese people in America from the 19th century through the present day. Items in the museum's collection are used to highlight the major themes of the exhibit. Tours leave from the main lobby.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free
Museumss, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Museum Tour on Stories of Making It in America

Concert | Itai Kriss: Grammy-Nominated Flute Virtuoso Blending Afro-Cuban, Jazz & Middle Eastern Sounds


Discover the vibrant fusion of jazz, Latin, and Middle Eastern rhythms with Grammy-nominated flutist and composer Itai Kriss. Praised for his "soaring technique" and eclectic style, Kriss blends Timba, salsa, funk, and Arabic influences into a dynamic musical journey. With two decades at the forefront of NYC's jazz and Latin scenes and collaborations with top artists worldwide, his performances offer a rich, lively cultural blending experience.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Concerts, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Itai Kriss: Grammy-Nominated Flute Virtuoso Blending Afro-Cuban, Jazz & Middle Eastern Sounds

Workshop | Mixed Media Portraiture with Local Artist


Explore identity through art in this weekly mixed media portrait workshop led by Annie Legnini. Participants will create meaningful portraits that reflect personality, energy, and beliefs--not just appearance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Workshops, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Mixed Media Portraiture with Local Artist

Tour | New York City Hall Guided Tour


One of the oldest continuously used city halls in the nation that still houses its original governmental functions, New York's City Hall is considered one of the finest architectural achievements of its period. Constructed from 1803 to 1812, the building was an early expression of the City's cosmopolitanism. City Hall is a designated New York City landmark, and its rotunda is also a designated interior landmark. Note: When registering, choose the "Individual Tour" option.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Tours, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, New York City Hall Guided Tour

Jazz | Outdoor Music with Acclaimed Quartet


Enjoy the sounds of Jasper Shogo Dutz Quartet (Jasper Shogo Dutz, woodwinds, Robbie Lee, piano/voice, Adam Olszewski, bass, and Ben Zweig, drums) as the ensemble jams on the the plaza. Jasper Shogo Dutz is a distinguished multi-woodwind instrumentalist based in New York City, originally hailing from Los Angeles. In addition to playing freelance gigs in the NYC area, Jasper is the lead alto saxophonist in the Grammy-winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra directed by Arturo O'Farrill. He also leads his own quartet that blends Japanese folk influences with jazz, combining both his creative background and his heritage. In 2023, Jasper founded the J-Pop/Jazz cover band Catbus Collective, where he showcases his virtuosity on various woodwind instruments alongside several colleagues in a modular configuration. As both a leader and a sideman, Robbie Lee has graced several world class stages, including Dizzy's Club, Smalls Jazz Club, Birdland, Frederick P. Rose Hall, and Joe's Pub. He has also played in numerous jazz festivals across the globe including the Monterey Jazz Festival, The Umbria Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the Bern Jazz Festival. Throughout his career, Lee has earned recognition for both his performance and composition skills, receiving awards from Downbeat Magazine, YoungArts, The Essentially Ellington Festival and Competition, and The Next Generation Jazz Festival. Bassist, composer, arranger, and educator Adam Olszewski is a New York City based musician hailing from Ann Arbor, MI. Ben Zweig has had the opportunity to share the stage with some of these masters over the years - Randy Weston, Ira Coleman, Johnny O'Neal, Jerry Dodgion, Harold Mabern, Larry Ridley, David Williams, Deborah Davis, Grant Stewart, Joe Cohn, and Steve Nelson. Downbeat magazine has described his playing as "especially crisp and articulate" and All about Jazz, "Zweig steals it with his brush work." Ben strives for his playing to reflect a passion for performing simple, heartfelt music.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Concerts, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Outdoor Music with Acclaimed Quartet

Jazz | Piano in the Park: Stride, Boogie-Woogie, & Swing


Come on down and swing along to the best ragtime, stride, and jazz the Big Apple has to offer. Joel Forrester is a contemporary two-handed piano player, essaying the stride, boogie-woogie, and swing styles. He wrote the theme to NPR's Fresh Air, received the personal encouragement of Thelonious Monk, co-led the legendary Microscopic Septet, and produced music for the early films of Andy Warhol. Joel is currently playing and composing in south-central France; he recently completed his two-thousandth composition.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Concerts, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Piano in the Park: Stride, Boogie-Woogie, & Swing

Film | Boy Kills World (2025): Dystopian Action Comedy


A fever dream action film that follows Boy, a deaf person with a vibrant imagination. When his family is murdered, he is trained by a mysterious shaman to repress his childish imagination and become an instrument of death. Director: Moritz Mohr Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Films, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Boy Kills World (2025): Dystopian Action Comedy

Workshop | Photo-Based Creative Writing Session


This event is an afternoon of creative writing inspired by photographs. No formal writing experience is required - just enthusiasm and curiosity to see where writing takes you. Come write freely and meet other people who love writing for the sake of writing!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:30 pm
Free
Workshops, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Photo-Based Creative Writing Session

Gallery Talk | Inside the Exhibition: Talk with Museum Experts


Join Clara Maria Apostolatos, Kress Interpretive Fellow in the Education Department, for an engaging talk on the art movement known as institutional critique. Discover how artists from the 1960s onward turned their focus to the role and power of museums and galleries themselves. Includes a close look at select works of art and time for audience questions. Space is limited; advance registration is recommended.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
registration recommended, free...
Gallery Talks, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Inside the Exhibition: Talk with Museum Experts

Concert | Live Music on a Historical Boat


Experience a magical evening of music aboard a historic ship. Stroll the decks at your own pace while taking in stunning skyline views and a live performance by musician and songwriter Blair Lamb, whose vocals and piano melodies will fill the ship with charm and atmosphere. Whether you're planning a romantic outing, a night with friends, or a solo adventure, this free after-hours event offers a perfect blend of music and maritime history. Sparkling wine and seltzer will be available on deck.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Concerts, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Live Music on a Historical Boat

Museums | Thursday Evening Exploring the Photography Museum


This museum is the world’s leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture. It was founded in 1974 to champion “concerned photography”—socially and politically minded images that can educate and change the world. Through its exhibitions, education programs, community outreach, and public programs, the museum offers an open forum for dialogue about the power of the image.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Museumss, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Thursday Evening Exploring the Photography Museum

Workshop | Barre Fitness for All Levels on the Water


This barre class is for a low-impact joint-friendly exercise and targeted muscle toning achieved through small, controlled movements that focus on isometric holds and pulses, suitable for various fitness levels.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Workshops, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Barre Fitness for All Levels on the Water

Movie in a Park | Hidden Figures (2016): Uplifting historical drama about unsung NASA pioneers


Synopsis: Based on true events, this inspiring film tells the story of three brilliant African-American women mathematicians who played vital roles at NASA during the space race—overcoming racism and sexism to help launch John Glenn into orbit. Director: Theodore Melfi Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Mahershala Ali Pre-show entertainment will be provided. Guests are encouraged to bring their picnic blankets. Please note that chairs and dogs are not allowed on the lawn, and glass bottles, containers, and outside alcohol are prohibited in the Park. Visitors can bring their own food or purchase snacks at the movie concessions, which offer a variety of options including popcorn, candy, and ice cream.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Movie in a Parks, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Hidden Figures (2016): Uplifting historical drama about unsung NASA pioneers

Film | This Modern Age (1931): Romantic Comedy Drama


A young American woman reunites with her estranged divorcée mother living a chic, carefree life in Paris. She falls for Harvard football star on vacation, but his conservative parents disapprove of the demimonde lifestyle of the two expatriates. Director: Nick Grinde Cast: Joan Crawford, Pauline Frederick, Neil Hamilton Joan Crawford was an American actress, who, during the 1920s into the 30s, was one of Hollywood's most prominent movie stars and one of the highest paid women in the U.S.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Films, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, This Modern Age (1931): Romantic Comedy Drama

Workshop | Jump into Double Dutch with the Pros


Learn to double dutch! Coach Kyra Lee and The Double Dutch Aunties will teach you the fundamentals of street-style and competitive jump rope.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Workshops, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Jump into Double Dutch with the Pros

Book Club | Luddite Book Discussion: Tech Agnostic by Greg M. Epstein


Inspired by the students of Brooklyn's Luddite Club, this book club highlights material on the topic of technology's impact on our individual lives as well as society as a whole, followed by an open discussion to share recent experiences and observations. Tech Agnostic: How Technology Became the World's Most Powerful Religion, and Why It Desperately Needs a Reformation by Greg M. Epstein (2024) The humanist chaplain at Harvard and MIT explores what it means to be a critical thinker about this new faith centered around technology, and takes readers on a journey towards reasserting our common humanity.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Book Clubs, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Luddite Book Discussion: Tech Agnostic by Greg M. Epstein

Workshop | Outdoor Yoga with Chelsea Piers Fitness


Take your practice outside this summer with Chelsea Piers Fitness during a free 60-minute yoga class open to all levels. This energizing session is led by expert instructors, invites you to stretch, strengthen, and reset in a scenic outdoor setting. Participants should bring their own mat and water bottle.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Workshops, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Outdoor Yoga with Chelsea Piers Fitness

Dancing | Sunset Salsa on the Pier


Get ready to dance the night away! Sunset Salsa returns for summer rhythm, hosted by acclaimed dancer and choreographer Talía Castro-Pozo, hailed by Latina Magazine as “The Woman of Salsa.” Each evening begins with a beginner-friendly salsa lesson and a vibrant open dance party under the setting sun. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or a curious first-timer, all are welcome to join this joyful, high-energy celebration of Latin dance. 6:30 PM: Beginner Lessons 7:15 PM: Open Dance
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Dancings, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Sunset Salsa on the Pier

Workshop | Sunset Yoga in the Park


Sweet Water Dance & Yoga instructors lead a multi-level sunset yoga practice. Suitable for all fitness levels. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring your own mat. Seating 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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6:30 pm
Free
Workshops, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Sunset Yoga in the Park

Tour | Thursday Night Bike Ride


Get rolling with this weekly Thursday Night Bike Ride! Join fellow cyclists for a fun, social-paced loop through Central Park. All levels welcome--just bring your bike and good energy.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Tours, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Thursday Night Bike Ride

Movie in a Park | Cinema on the Waterfront: Love & Basketball (2000): Romantic Sports Drama


Monica and Quincy love and play basketball together through many life challenges from childhood to adulthood. Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood Stars: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Glenndon Chatman Open Captioned. Seating 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 pm
Free
Movie in a Parks, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Cinema on the Waterfront:&nbsp;Love & Basketball (2000): Romantic Sports Drama

Play | Shakespeare's Twelfth Night Outdoors with Lupita Nyong'o, Sandra Oh, Peter Dinklage, & Jesse Tyler Ferguson


Revel in the midsummer madness as twins Sebastian and Viola survive shipwreck, revenge plots, and the trick doors of love. Written by William Shakespeare Directed by Tony Award nominee Saheem Ali Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Khris Davis, Sandra Oh, Junior Nyong'o, Peter Dinklage, Moses Sumney, John Ellison Conlee, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, b, Joe Tapper, Kapil Talwalkar, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Plays, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night Outdoors with Lupita Nyong'o, Sandra Oh, Peter Dinklage, & Jesse Tyler Ferguson

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, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Standup Show

Classical Music | Outdoor Music: Acclaimed Pianist Performs Modern Masterpiece


Pianist Conor Hanick, regarded as one of his generation’s most inquisitive interpreters of music new and old, and whose “technical refinement, color, crispness and wondrous variety of articulation benefit works by any master,” (New York Times) will perform The Book of Sounds by Hans Otte.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 pm
Free
Concerts, August 21, 2025, 08/21/2025, Outdoor Music: Acclaimed Pianist Performs Modern Masterpiece
Complimentary Tickets

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

Dance Performance | High-Energy Dance Show

Regular Price: $59
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Performance | Edge-of-Your-Seat Spectacular Show

Regular Price: $91
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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