free things to do in New York City
Free events for Tuesday, 12/09/25
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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 December 9, 2025?

37 free events take place on Tuesday, December 9 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 December 9 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 December . 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!

37 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Tuesday, December 9, 2025

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Harvard Economist Insights on Fixing What's Broken in Personal Finance (Online!)
free events nyc Choral Christmas Works in a Historic Venue
free events nyc Award-Winning Photographer Leads Manhattan Photowalk
free events nyc Holiday Dessert Talk with Celebrity Chef
free events nyc Collaborative Sonatas by Brahms, Prokofiev, Poulenc, & Debussy
More Editor's Picks for 12/09/25
        

Workshop | Central Park Running Session (All Levels Welcome)


If you prefer not to run alone or are looking to improve your running performance, you can run with a club! Open to runners of all levels. Weekly changed routes through the park. Coaches, training, running company and inspiration!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 am
Free

Workshop | Adult Zumba


Featuring easy-to-follow Latin dance choreography. Work on your balance, coordination and range of motion.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free

Fair | Holiday Market Featuring Local Artisans and Seasonal Gifts


Explore a festive holiday market known for its inviting atmosphere and curated selection of local makers. Visitors can browse aisles filled with handcrafted art, jewelry, home goods, and seasonal treats, offering a lively destination for gift shopping and winter strolling.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Colloquium | The Hidden Science of Textile Conservation


Discover cutting-edge approaches to preserving historic and culturally significant textiles. Experts share recent case studies, scientific findings, and evolving methodologies presented at major national and international conferences. Designed for professionals and enthusiasts alike, the program highlights new research, emerging technologies, and the practical challenges shaping the future of textile conservation.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Museums | Tuesday at a Unique Art Museum


Candid, genuine, and unexpected, this is New York City's only museum dedicated to folk & self-taught artists. The Museum celebrates the creativity of individuals whose singular talents have been refined largely through personal experience rather than formal artistic training. The museum's collection includes more than seven thousand works of art from four centuries and nearly every continent--from compelling portraits and dazzling quilts to powerful works by living artists in a variety of mediums. From critically acclaimed exhibitions and publications to inspiring educational programs and robust community outreach, the museum's mission is to be the leading forum shaping the understanding and appreciation of folk and self-taught art across time and place.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free

Concert | Familiar Holiday Tunes for Saxophone


Celebrate the holiday season with this concert featuring Anant Pradhan performing a variety of seasonal favorites. Invoking the sounds of 1960’s and 70’s Jamaica, saxophonist Anant Pradhan is carrying on the traditions of early innovators alongside one of Jamaica’s greatest percussionists, Larry McDonald, who calls Anant “the steward of our music going forward.” The Anant Pradhan & Larry McDonald band embraces the uncharted. They perform with an explosive sound combining traditional Jamaican folk, roots, soul and reggae with the spirit and freedom of jazz.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Forum | Harvard Economist Insights on Fixing What's Broken in Personal Finance (Online!)


Economist John Campbell discusses his new book Fixed: Why Personal Finance Is Broken and How to Make It Work for Everyone. Drawing on decades of research, Campbell reveals how today's personal finance system favors the wealthy and well-educated while steering ordinary consumers toward costly mistakes. From student loans and mortgages to retirement savings and insurance, he explores how these inequities shape people's lives and offers evidence-based solutions to restore fairness and trust in the financial system. This program includes a discussion and audience Q&A. The first 100 registrants will receive a complimentary electronic copy of the book.
   New York City, NY; NYC
12:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Serene Organ Meditations in Intimate Venue


Enjoy a program of hymns, anthems, and voluntaries for the organ.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:20 pm
Free

Film | Gremlins (1984): Black Comedy Horror FIlm


A young man gets a strange animal as a Christmas present and immediately breaks the 3 rules it came with unleashing an army of chaotic critters on a small Pennsylvania town. Director: Joe Dante Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Choral Christmas Works in a Historic Venue


W. T. Clarke High School Select Chorale performs Christmas Works both old and new. Program: O Come Emmanuel Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611) O Magnum Mysterium Randall Thompson (1899-1984) Alleluia Eric Whitacre (1970-) Lux Aurumque Ezekiel Saw de Wheel O Holy Night Little Drummer Boy
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:45 pm
Free

Classical Music | Advent Carols & English Choral Works in a Beautiful Church


The Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge performs a selection of Advent carols and English choral works from the 16th to 20th century, accompanied by organist Samuel Kemp.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:45 pm
Free

Film | Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025): Romantic Comedy with All-Star Cast


Bridget, now a widowed single mother, must juggle work, parenthood and romance. With the help of her loyal friends, Bridget navigates encounters with a younger man—and a series of awkward interactions with her son's science teacher—as she strives to forge a new path toward life and love. Director: Michael Morris Cast: Renée Zellweger, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall, Jim Broadbent, Isla Fisher, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

City Walk | Award-Winning Photographer Leads Manhattan Photowalk


Award-winning National Geographic photographer Ira Block leads a photo walk in Manhattan streets. Watch him in action as he uses his most famous street photography technique - find a great background and wait for the picture to happen. He will talk about best gear for street photography, how to look for unique compositions and use the afternoon light of Manhattan to your advantage. The group will walk through the streets of midtown Manhattan to photograph the mid-afternoon hustle of New York. Please arrive early as the tour will leave promptly at the scheduled time!
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:00 pm
Free

Lecture | Guggenheim-Featured Artist & Writer Discusses Her Video & Performance Projects (In Person AND Online!)


Ellie Ga is a New York City-born artist and writer. Her narrative-based videos and performances reflect a passion for multi-disciplinary knowledge exchange told through everyday conversations, poetic sidesteps, and obsessive research. Her wide-ranging investigations address pressing social issues, often in unexpected contexts: from the submerged ruins of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria and the charting of the quotidian in the frozen Arctic Ocean to a study of messages in bottles, both as tools for studying oceans currents and as a metaphor for exile. In Quarries, stories of resistance are extracted from unlikely places and found on overlooked surfaces including the mysteries of prehistoric stone tools to the labor of stone masons who paved the streets of Lisbon. Participation in the Q&A is limited to MFA Fine Arts students attending the lecture in person.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Master Class | Learn the Ins & Outs of Great Bassoon Playing


Bassonist Darren Hicks--Principal Bassoonist for the National Arts Centre Orchestra--teaches methods of masterful bassoon playing via distance learning.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
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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5:30 pm
Free

Reading | Magazine Launch: Eat the Rich (Editor Q&A, Food, Readings, & More)


Attend the launch and celebration of The Inquisitive Eater's Fall 2025 issue, Eat the Rich. The editors of the event will be in conversation with George Abraham, the Editor-at-Large of Mizna. The event features a short reading from the issue and an open Q&A with Abraham.  Come for conversations about food and politics, contributor readings, and to celebrate together!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free

Screening | Tax Wars (2024): Documentary + Panel Discussion 


Enjoy a screening of the 2024 documentary Tax Wars, followed by a panel discussion with Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz and distinguished members of the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation. Multinationals are masters in the art of tax dodging, depriving governments of precious tax revenues ($600 billion a year, according to the IMF). Tax Wars tells the story of a handful of high-flying experts’ fight to get multinationals to pay their taxes. These knights of tax justice helped write the agreement signed in 2021 by 136 states to impose a global minimum tax of 15% on the profits of multinationals. Citizen involvement can move the lines. Director: Hege Dehli
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Holiday Dessert Talk with Celebrity Chef


Just in time for the winter holidays! Learn how to make a delicious, holiday dessert with Chef-Instructor Pauline Balboa Pelea from the Institute of Culinary Education. Try a sample and get some tips and tricks on how to make your own at home.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free

Discussion | Learn About the Intersection of Fashion, Identity & Cultural Expression


Explore how fashion functions as a powerful site of identity, resistance, and storytelling in this thought-provoking evening panel. Scholars and writers working across cultural studies and visual culture will discuss evolving approaches to understanding fashion within Latinx communities, highlighting themes such as embodiment, decolonial critique, gender, race, and class.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Party | Play Bridge in a Stress-Free Environment


The card game of Bridge requires four people to play: two teams of two people. Join the group with your bridge partner, or you will be matched with someone to play as a pair. If you would like to learn how to play bridge, organizers can offer some instruction, and you can observe others.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Uncovering the Workers Behind the Empire State Building (Online!)


A virtual talk exploring Glenn Kurtz's new book Men at Work, which reexamines the construction of the Empire State Building through the lives of the workers who built it. Drawing on Lewis Hine's iconic 1932 photographs, Kurtz uncovers the identities and stories of the largely immigrant craftsmen, who were long treated as anonymous symbols.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Foundations & Frameworks: Crafting a Slam Poem (Online!)


Sharpen your voice and elevate your poetry in this monthly poetry workshop. Each session begins with a brief lesson on poetic craft, followed by guided writing time and personalized feedback to strengthen both your writing and performance. Perfect for poets looking to refine their skills and deepen their stage presence.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Workshop | Origami Group Meet-Up


This event is for people to come together and share in the beautiful art of Origami--an ancient art of folding various mediums, most commonly paper. The word comes from the combination of the Japanese verb oru (to fold) and the noun kami (paper). Other materials often folded are fabric, wire mesh, sheet metal, tissue, thin plastic, cardboard, and straws.This group meets to teach each other new models and share paper, books, and tips. This meeting is free and open to all level of folders from beginner to advanced. There will be free paper available to share. You may choose to bring your own paper and books and just show up and fold! If you have models you would like to learn, or teach, let the organizers know, and they will try our best to accommodate.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Screening | Red Carpet U.S. Pre-Premiere of Hungarian Wedding


Experience the U.S. pre-premiere screening of Hungarian Wedding, a new feature film celebrating the beauty and power of Hungarian folk traditions through dance, music, and cinema. Blending deep-rooted cultural heritage with a contemporary cinematic approach, the film follows two young men who journey to a Transylvanian village in the late 1970s and find their lives transformed. Featuring performances by the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble and the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, the film honors the legacy of legendary choreographer Ferenc “Tata” Novák. It showcases the vibrant costumes, customs, and music of Kalotaszeg. With choreography rooted in archival folk material and a stirring original score, Hungarian Wedding invites audiences into a world where tradition, storytelling, and artistry collide. This event includes a red carpet welcome! 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Maus and Mark Podwal’s Illustrated Book of Lamentations: Holocaust Memory in Graphic and Visual Art (Online!) 


Explore two groundbreaking works of Holocaust testimony with artist and author Richard McBee. Art Spiegelman’s Maus presents survivor narratives through the lens of a second-generation adult child in a pioneering graphic novel format. Mark Podwal’s Illustrated Book of Lamentations (1974) pairs a complete English translation with 28 spare black-and-white reflections, blending illustration and spiritual reflection.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Play | Sense & Sensibility: Jane Austen Adaptation


Sense and Sensibility traces the fortunes, and misfortunes, of the Dashwood sisters -- sensible Elinor and hypersensitive Marianne -- after their father's sudden death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable. Set in late 18th-century England, the play is full of irreverent humor, emotional depth, and bold theatricality. Sense and Sensibility examines our reactions, both reasonable and ridiculous, to societal pressures. Written by Kate Hamill. Directed by Jose Zayas.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Discussion | Artist and Editor Alejandro Cartagena Talks about His New Monograph


Enjoy a special conversation between artist and editor Alejandro Cartagena and writer Álvaro Enrigue. The two will discuss Cartagena’s new monograph, Ground Rules (Aperture, 2025). Ground Rules is the first comprehensive, fully bilingual survey charting the career of the prolific photographer Alejandro Cartagena. Celebrated for his photobooks Carpoolers (2014) and A Small Guide to Homeownership (2020), Cartagena is known for his formally engaging and socially incisive images that span the politics of the US-Mexico border, suburban sprawl, and the increasing wealth disparities in North America. Ground Rules deploys a diverse array of photographic formats, from documentary and collage to the appropriation of vernacular photographs and AI-generated imagery, all unified by Cartagena’s commitment to addressing Mexico’s most pressing social and environmental issues with humor and pathos.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Orchestral Works by Jean Sibelius & More (In Person AND Online!)


Manhattan School of Music's Symphony Orchestra performs a series of pieces by composers of various musical eras. Program: Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) Four Dances, Op. 8a Georg Christoph Wagenseil (1715-1777) Concerto for Trombone Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Collaborative Sonatas by Brahms, Prokofiev, Poulenc, & Debussy


This evening of sonatas celebrates the art of collaborative performance between pianists and instrumentalists. Program: Johann Brahms (1833-1897) Sonata for Violin and Piano (arr. cello) in G major, Op. 78 Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Sonata for Flute and Piano in D major, Op. 94 Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) Sonata for Flute and Piano, FP 164 Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
Free

Classical Music | Piano Works by Maurice Ravel (In Person AND Online!)


Juilliard pianists perform a program of pieces by Maurice Ravel. All Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Program: Parade Menuet Antique Pavane pour infante defunte Selections from Miroirs Sonatine Gaspard de la nuit Prelude in A Minor Menuet sur le nom HAYDN La Valse for Two Pianos
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Classical Music | Tunes of Coexistence with the Eunmi Lee Jazz Orchestra


Eunmi Lee Jazz Orchestra (Composer Eunmi Lee; Trumpeteers Tony Kadleck, Jonathan Saraga, Brian Pareschi, David Smith; Trombonist: Sam Blakeslee, James Burton III, Sam Keedy, Nick Grinder; Reedists: Dave Pietro, Ehan Helm, Ben Kono, John Ellis, Andrew Hadro; Pianist: Adam Birnbaum; Guitarist: Sebastian Noelle; Double Bassist: Evan Gregor; and Drummer: Peter Kronreif) performs a special program. This performance features Lee's original big band works, written and arranged for the Eunmi Lee Jazz Orchestra. Her music explores the coexistence of humor and emotion, chaos and clarity, blending them into a vivid and dynamic musical narrative.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Classical Music | Diverse Choral Works


Led by choral conductor Paul Speiser, NYU Chorale brings together choral singers from every corner of the University, including undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and faculty. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Inside a Soviet Tank Brigade: New Research on the Eastern Front (Online!) 


This online lecture offers a detailed look at a Soviet tank unit whose movements can now be traced day by day through newly accessible military records. Drawing on top-secret documents, maps, and operational charts, the historian examines the brigade’s role in major Eastern Front battles and reveals how its real training, equipment, losses, and battlefield tactics differed from long-accepted accounts. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Modern & Contemporary Wind Works


Guest conductor and composer Derek Weagle leads the NYU Wind Symphony in a performance featuring his own work "Abendlieder," alongside "Suite Francaise" by Darius Milhaud, and "Psalm for Band" by Vincent Persichetti.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Concert | Popular & Folk Styled Music, Unplugged


NYU Steinhardt’s contemporary vocal ensemble explores popular and folk styles in an intimate, acoustic setting. Under the direction of Professor Jamon Maple, the group serves as a creative laboratory for authentic artistry, where singers discover new depth and versatility in their voices.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Evening with a Jazz Orchestra (In Person AND Online!)


Cuban jazz pianist and composer Elio Villafranca leading a late set of his own music, performed with Manhattan School of Music's Jazz Orchestra.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:15 pm
Free
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Complimentary Tickets

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

Performance | Multi-Award Winners Give Insights into Careers of Iconic Artists

Regular Price: $80
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Large Chorus Performs Gospel and More at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Play | "Crowd-Pleasing" Shakespeare Comedy

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00