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free things to do in New York City
Join the Club!
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!
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!
34 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Monday, April 20, 2026
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Editor's Picks
Birdwatching | Discover Urban Birds with Naturalists
Participate with BPCA naturalists as they explore the park, and see what makes this spot a hangout for urban birds and marvelous migrators! Binoculars and field guides provided, or bring your own.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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9:30 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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9:45 am
free...
free...
Workshop | Dance Workout for Cathartic Release (Beginners Welcome)
Experience bodyroll, a dance practice pulsing with pure joy. Classes ignite embodied empowerment and energize a cathartic release. The experience is designed to alchemize a playful perspective for rolling, releasing, and reinventing yourself. Together, the group will tap into the spiral rave through body rolling, movement energetix, embodiment practices, and aerobic dancing. No dance experience needed!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free, registration required
free, registration required
Museums | Exploring Art, History, and Global Cultures in a Landmark Museum
Spend time exploring a world-renowned collection spanning centuries of art, design, and cultural history. From ancient artifacts to iconic masterpieces, these galleries invite slow looking, discovery, and reflection across works that connect global traditions, artistic innovation, and human stories. Note: Some galleries are closed for installation.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
pay-what-you-wish for NY...
pay-what-you-wish for NY...
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!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
free, registration required
free, registration required
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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Jazz | Swing, Blues, & Avant-Garde Tunes
Prolific pianist Orrin Evans blends swing, blues, and avant-garde music. He has built a renowned career defined by his extensive stylistic range, blending swing, blues, and avant-garde influences. Known for pushing the envelope and for his fierce independence -- none of his 25 records were backed by a major label -- Evans, who is also a composer and bandleader, explains himself best: "I like to stretch out. Wherever the music takes me, I'm going there."
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, reservation required
free, reservation required
Talk | Areaware Studio Founder Discusses His Craft & Career
Enjoy a talk with Noel Wiggins, co-founder and president of Areaware. Noel Wiggins co-founded his design and manufacturing company, The Here After, in 1989. He went on to establish Areaware in 2005, where he is able to fuse his artistic sensibility with his strong business sense in an effort to promote emerging designers.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | Cello Pieces by Beethoven, Poulenc, Rossini, & More (In Person AND Online!)
Wujin Kim, cello. Program: Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) 7 Variations on 'Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen', WoO 46 Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata No. 4 in C Major for Cello and Piano Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) Les chemins de l’amour, FP 106 Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868) Une larme Karl Davydov (1838-1889) Hymn
Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | Cello Pieces by Brahms & Others (In Person AND Online!)
Yeeun Kong, cello. Program: Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) 3 Pieces for Cello and Piano George Crumb (1929-2022) Sonata for Solo Cello Johann Brahms (1833-1897) Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 38
Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Talk | Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Discusses Journalism in the Current Age
Attend a conversation with Maria Ressa on journalism in the age of disinformation, AI, and social media, and the growing use of the legal system against journalists and the press. Maria Ressa is a Filipino-American journalist and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate with decades of working experience as a lead investigative reporter. The event format is to be determined and may include a keynote, fireside chat, or Q&A. Food and drinks will be served after the event!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Intermediate Photo Editing
In this workshop, you will learn slightly more advanced editing methods than basic adjustments. Instructors will add mood to images using various tools and clean up images using basic corrective editing techniques such as clone stamping, masking, and spot removal.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Book Discussion | Joint Book Launch with UN Scholars
The Ralph Bunche Institute hosts a joint book launch event with the top experts on UN politics. Presenters:
Lukas Haynes, RBI Visiting Scholar, discussing Peace Through Power: FDR’s Military Leaders and the Pragmatism of the UN Charter
Tapio Kanninen, RBI Senior Fellow, discussing Revitalizing the United Nations: Making and Keeping the Peace
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Museums | Step Inside a Historic Mansion and Explore Centuries of Design Evolution
The museum is dedicated to showcasing the history, influence, and importance of design in everyday life. Housed in a historic mansion, the museum features a diverse collection of design objects, including decorative arts, architecture, graphic design, textiles, and industrial design.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish from 5pm...
pay-what-you-wish from 5pm...
Film | Million Dollar Mermaid (1952): Technicolor Biographical Musical Drama
An MGM Technicolor water-musical-spectacular biopic of Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman. After overcoming polio, Kellerman achieves fame and creates a scandal when her one-piece bathing suit is considered indecent. Director: Mervyn LeRoy Cast: Esther Williams, Victor Mature, Walter Pidgeon
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Talk | Artist Shares Her New Project on Nature & Disappearance
Visual artist Valentina Furian presents Vanagloria (Seeing Double): Extinction, Replication, and the Illusion of Preservation, a research-based project that explores extinction as both a biological and cultural condition through the figures of cheetahs, twins, and museum dioramas. Using stereoscopy and immersive moving images, the work investigates how replication, preservation, and illusion shape our understanding of nature and disappearance.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Discussion | Choreographer & Historian Explore Personal History through Movement
In this event, choreographer Meredith Dincolo and historian Tara Zahra explore the artistic process and methodological challenges of researching and creating personal histories through movement. Can we “write” history through movement rather than words? What histories and knowledge do our bodies archive and express?
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Museums | Explore Memorial Museum and Reconnect with History
Reconnect with the feeling of community and cohesion that blanketed our city and nation in the wake of 9/11. This is a monument to human dignity, courage, and sacrifice. This museum honors the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993, recognizes the courage of those who survived, and salutes those who risked their lives to help others.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, tickets required...
free, tickets required...
Classical Music | Multisensory Art & Music Experience with String Ensemble Pieces by Beethoven, Bartók, & Others
Attend a multisensory experience of music and visual art in dialogue, centered on Giovanni Segantini’s Alpine Triptych. The painting’s panoramic depiction of life’s seasons inspired Anton Webern’s feverish 1905 String Quartet, which will be performed by the Candide Quartet. The performance also includes works by Beethoven, Bartók, and Berg.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | Works by Brahms, Hindemith, Rachmaninoff, & Others for Cello and Piano (In Person AND Online!)
Yeseul Kim, collaborative piano. Program: Johann Brahms (1833-1897) Wie Melodien zieht es mir Johann Brahms (1833-1897) Die Mainacht Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) Phantasiestück, Op. 8 No. 2 Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 19 Richard Wagner (1813-1883) (arr. David Popper) Romance for Cello and Piano
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Book Discussion | Explore the Photography of Michel Hurst
Enjoy a conversation with Chris Wiley, Nan Goldin, and Robert Swope to celebrate the debut book of late photographer Michel Hurst, Michel Hurst: Órale: Love and Death in Mexico City, a collection of photographs made in and around his adopted home of Mexico City over a period of 8 years.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Learn & Practice Chess with an Expert
Learn to play chess or develop your strategies with chess expert Tamar Chanadiri from the Marshall Chess Club. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions, as each one builds on the previous. Bring a friend or join on your own--all levels and ages are welcome! Chess sets are provided but you're welcome to bring your own. From 6-7 PM Tamar will provide instruction for beginner-level players. From 7-8 PM there will be open play for all levels.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Discussion | Panel Talk on Ballerina Alexandra Danilova Life & Art
Here to discuss prima ballerina Alexandra Danilova's many lives is a panel that represents these different aspects of “Choura,” as she was known. Patricia McBride, former NYCB principal, will discuss how Coppelia was set on her by Danilova; former NYCB principal Maria Calegari will talk about being Mme. Danilova’s student who was taught her favorite roles for Workshop productions; Kim Kokich, Danilova’s goddaughter, will speak of her relationship with Choura, and share her memories and anecdotes. Elizabeth Kendall, dance historian and author who has written about Danilova’s early years in two books about Balanchine, will moderate. Presented in conjunction with The George Balanchine Foundation.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Book Discussion | Romantics Expert Discusses His New Book, Towards a Premodern Posthumanism (In Person AND Online!)
In this lecture, Professor Chad Cordova will be sharing insights from his recent book Towards a Premodern Posthumanism. What good is aesthetics in a time of ecological crisis? Toward a Premodern Posthumanism: Anarchic Ontologies of Earthly Life in Early Modern France shows that philosophical aesthetics contains unheeded potentialities for challenging the ontological subjection of nature to the human subject. Drawing on deconstructive, ecological, and biopolitical thought, Chad Córdova uncovers in aesthetics something irreducible to humanist metaphysics: an account of how beings emerge and are interrelated, responsive, and even response-able without reason or why.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Screening | Die Getraumten (The Dreamed Ones) (2016): Austrian Documentary (+ Filmmaker Discussion)
Experience a screening of Die Getraumten (The Dreamed Ones) by Austrian filmmaker Ruth Beckermann. The evening will include a post-screening discussion on Ingeborg Bachmann's life and legacy with Asma Abbas and Nick Pinkerton. Centered on the correspondence between Austrian writer Ingeborg Bachmann and Romanian-born poet Paul Celan, Die Getraumten explores the emotional terrain of love, distance, and intellectual intimacy in postwar Vienna. Their letters, brought to life by actors in a recording studio, reveal a relationship shaped by longing, tension, and historical rupture. As past and present intertwine, the film captures how language, memory, and desire blur across time--placing Austrian literary history at its emotional and cultural core. Director: Ruth Beckermann
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Book Discussion | Biographer Shares His Book, Devouring Time: Jim Harrison, A Writer's Life (In Person AND Online!)
Author Todd Goddard sits down to discuss his book Devouring Time: Jim Harrison, A Writer's Life, a definitive biography of one of America's most beloved writers, with prize-winning Irish novelist Colum McCann. Jim Harrison (1937-2016) was widely considered one of the finest voices of his generation. His twenty-one books of fiction and fourteen books of poetry influenced a generation of writers. Harrison helped to shape the course of contemporary American literature, revitalizing in particular the novella form, of which he was a recognized master.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Discussion | Discover Encores! Musical Theater Series, Talk with Creators
Explore Encores!, the Tony Award-winning series of musical theater revivals that have been happening for more than 30 years at New York's City Center. Michael S. Rosenberg (President and CEO) and Jenny Gersten (Vice President and Artistic Director of Musical Theater) reveal the storied past and dynamic future of Manhattan's first performing arts center. And in keeping with the performance venue, rare performance clips will be shown. The guests will discuss how the Encores! series has evolved from its 1994 debut with Fiorello! to the record-breaking production of Chicago, to the upcoming La Cage Aux Folles. They will also dive into the "musical archaeology" required to restore lost scores, a process that allows audiences to hear works exactly as their creators intended.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Staged Reading | Excerpts from New Play in Translation: Shadows, of Course (+ Panel with Artists & Presenters)
Experience an evening celebrating New York's artistic exchange of Buenos Aires in New York with Romina Paula, one of Argentina's most celebrated playwrights and filmmakers. In her work Paula breaks down barriers of artistic genres, while investigating the synergies between documentary and fiction, gender and biography, and love and art. Paula will direct excerpts of her new play Shadows, of Course (Sombras, por supuesto), a translation-in-progress by April Sweeney and Brenda Werth. Followed by a panel with artists and presenters of the Buenos Aires/New York Artistic Exchange, moderated by Frank Hentschker. Reception to follow.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Performance | Tutti in Scena (The Show): Experience the Early Days of NYC's Little Italy
During this performance, audiences are transported to turn-of-the-century Little Italy through immigrant-written theater, revealing the artistry, struggles, and social realities that shaped early Italian American life. Conceived and directed by Laura Caparrotti. Cast: Laura Caparrotti, Elisabetta D'Avenia, Andrea Galata, Alice Lussiana Parente, Mario Merone, Elena Sartor, Clara Bocchino, Massimo Zordan
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free...
free...
Workshop | Drawing from a Distance: Light, Space & Sculpture (Online!)
Examine fixed-perspective films that feature spaces where light shifts and nature actively interacts with sculpture. Learn introductory drawing techniques and settle into a flow as you create a long sketch. Reflect on drawings and discuss the integration between art, space, and time. No previous experience required. Materials Needed: Pencils, an eraser, and paper.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, registration required...
free, registration required...
Classical Music | Piano Pieces by Brahms & More (In Person AND Online!)
Lyu Yan Kuo, piano. Program: Johann Brahms (1833-1897) Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 2 Frederic Rzewski (1938-2021) North American Ballads Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951) Forgotten Melodies II, Op. 39
Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | Piano Works by J.S. Bach & Schubert (In Person AND Online!)
Yunqing Huang, piano. Program: J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Fantasia and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 904 Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959
Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
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Classical Music | J.S. Bach and Beethoven by Prominent Orchestra
Regular Price: $30CFT Member Price: $0.00
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