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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!
36 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Tuesday, August 18, 2026
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Editor's Picks
Workshop | Learn & Practice the Chinese Martial Art of Tai Chi in the Park
Practice this traditional system of health and self-defense, derived from the philosphy of Taoism. Tai Chi was designed to develop the optimum degree of harmony between body and mind, as well as between the individual and the natural order of the universe. Classes are led by teachers and students who train nearby at CK Chu Tai Chi under the direction of Master Hyland Harris. Classes are rain or shine. All levels are welcome, and no equipment is necessary.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Dance Workout on the Plaza
Lively movement and emotional catharsis combine for an exhilarating dance practice led by Viva Soudan. No experience necessary!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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9:30 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Screening | Most Watched International Events on the Big (30-foot!) Screen Outdoors: Tennis & Baseball
Today's Schedule:
10:00am - 6:00pm Tennis- Cincinnati Open
6:00pm - 9:30pm MLB- Yankees vs Baltimore
*Scheduled programming subject to change. Seating is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Wells Fargo customers receive priority seating.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Yoga in the Park: Teacher with 20+ Years of Experience (All Levels Welcome)
A morning yoga class led by yoga therapist Erica Mather. Mather has been teaching publicly and privately in New York City for 20 years. She is a Forrest Yoga "Guardian," aka lineage holder, and the author of Your Body, Your Best Friend: End the Confidence-Crushing Pursuit of Unrealistic Beauty Standards & Embrace Your True Power. Bring your own mat (the park does not provide mats). Organizers also recommend bringing water and a towel. This yoga class is appropriate for all levels.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Zumba Workout for All
Enthusiastic instruction and easy-to-follow Latin dance choreography working on balance, coordination, and range of motion.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:30 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Dancing | Movement Workshop: The Living Legacy of Hustle Dancing
Learn various styles of dance through the library's audio and moving image collection and the movement styles shown on the screen. Maria Torres, whose residencies documented the living legacy of hustle dance, uses material from the collection to lead intergenerational movement workshops highlighting the history of the technique. Dance Division staff conclude the workshop with instruction on how to use the research catalog and access the materials shown during the workshop.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Art-Making in the Park: Portrait Drawing
In this workshop, students will gain a better understanding of face proportion, head structure, and the construction of each facial feature. They will learn how to utilize this knowledge to construct an accurate drawing. Students will also learn about the application of different lighting, angle, and perspective. This is open to students of all ages and levels.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:30 am
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Learn to Juggle in the Park
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
Jazz | Piano in the Park: Improvised Jazz
Come on down and swing along to the best jazz the Big Apple has to offer, with musician Celia Tewey.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Film | Turner & Hooch (1989): Buddy-Cop Comedy Starring Tom Hanks
A detective must adopt the only witness to a murder: a massive and rambunctious dog in this interspecies odd-couple classic. Director: Roger Spottiswoode Cast: Tom Hanks
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Art-Making in the Park: Figure Drawing
Learn how to use the 8-head proportion guideline to determine the model's actual proportion and identify unique features. You'll also learn how to create a stick figure using skeletal structure, add muscles and thickness to the skeleton using simple geometric shapes, and finally, add shading to give it three-dimensional volume. This workshop is open to students of all ages and levels!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Film | You, Me, & Tuscany (2026): Rom-Com
When a woman crashes at an empty Italian villa, posing as the owner's fiancee, she discovers an unexpected romance that may transform her life. Director: Kat Coiro Cast: Halle Bailey, Rege-Jean Page, Marco Calvani
Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Tai Chi for Exercise & Meditative Practice
A trained facilitator from Bodhisattva Nature will guide participants in Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese martial art that combines physical exercise with meditation. No physical agility or prior experience is needed. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, Tai Chi–also known as Tai Chi Chuan–emphasizes the balance between yin and yang, the opposing forces of nature. Tai Chi is characterized by slow, deliberate movements, deep breathing, and a focused mind, making it both a form of exercise and a meditative practice. Practitioners often perform a series of flowing, graceful postures that promote relaxation, flexibility, and inner calm. Tai Chi is not only valued for its health benefits, such as improving balance and reducing stress, but also for its spiritual aspects, helping individuals achieve harmony between body and mind.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Museums | Art from All Over The World in the Most Amazing Museum
Explore the premier collections of modern and contemporary art in one of the world's most iconic architectural landmarks. Tickets for Pay-What-You-Wish hours are available online only and released at 10 am the morning of the event.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:00 pm
$1 min pay-what-you-wish,...
$1 min pay-what-you-wish,...
Book Club | Discuss the Thriller Novel When No One Is Watching
Read and analyze When No One Is Watching with a group. About the Book: Part Rear Window, part Get Out, NY Times Notable Author Alyssa Cole weaves a gripping thriller in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning. A psychological thriller that uses the backdrop of gentrification in a Brooklyn neighborhood to explore themes of racism, history, and paranoia.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Book Club | Discuss No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson with Fellow Readers
Read and analyze this award-winning nonfiction book by Gardiner Harris. About the Book: One day in 2004, Gardiner Harris, a pharmaceutical reporter for The New York Times, was early for a flight and sat down at an airport bar. He struck up a conversation with the woman on the barstool next to him, who happened to be a drug sales rep for Johnson & Johnson. Her horrific story about unethical sales practices and the devastating impact they’d had on her family fundamentally changed the nature of how Harris would cover the company—and the entire pharmaceutical industry—for the Times. His subsequent investigations and ongoing research since that very first conversation led to this book—a blistering exposé of a trusted American institution and the largest healthcare conglomerate in the world. Harris takes readers light-years away from the company’s image as the child-friendly “baby company” as he uncovers reams of evidence showing decades of deceitful and dangerous corporate practices that have threatened the lives of millions. He covers multiple disasters: lies and cover-ups regarding the link of Johnson’s Baby Powder to cancer, the surprising dangers of Tylenol, a criminal campaign to sell antipsychotics that have cost countless lives, a popular drug used to support cancer patients that actually increases the risk that cancer tumors will grow, and deceptive marketing that accelerated opioid addictions through their product Duragesic (fentanyl) that rival even those of the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma. Filled with shocking and infuriating but utterly necessary revelations, No More Tears is a landmark work of investigative journalism that lays bare the deeply rooted corruption behind the image of babies bathing with a smile.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Film | Capote (2005): Biographical Drama Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
Writer Truman Capote goes to Kansas to research the murder of a family and forms a relationship with one of the killers. Director: Bennett Miller Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., Bruce Greenwood, Mark Pellegrino, Amy Ryan, Chris Cooper Philip Seymour Hoffman was an American actor. He was known for his distinctive supporting character roles and his memorable leading roles in many films and theatrical productions from the early 1990s until his death in 2014. He was voted the greatest actor of the 21st century in a 2024 ranking by The Independent.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Community & Conversation for Creating a Framework of Care
A Care Café asks attendees to turn up as they are, with no specific agenda, expectation, or discussion topic, simply asking the question: How can we maintain an attitude of care in an uncaring world? Set up like a conventional café with small tables and chairs, the Care Café acts as a temporary venue for community and conversation with some simple table activities set up within a framework of care. Just by entering the room, attendees acknowledge something of their own needs in the present moment and a desire to give and receive care.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Party | Make New Friends Playing Board Games Outdoors
Organizers bring a wider selection of board games to the Games Cart at this event, with games like Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, Catan, King of Tokyo and more. Not sure what to play? The Games Hosts can help you find the perfect game and match up players!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Kayaking in a Hudson River Cove
This event provides the equipment, instruction, and oversight you need to experience a safe and fun afternoon of kayaking on the Hudson River. The program is beginner-friendly, and no prior experience is required. Participants must be at least 18 years old (or accompanied by a parent or guardian) and know how to swim. Come dressed to get wet! Lockers and locks will be provided to keep valuables dry, and on-site changing rooms will be available for use. To save time, you can also sign a waiver before arriving to save time, available at the link provided. Be sure to allow time for waiting in line when planning your visit. You may not get a chance to kayak if you arrive less than an hour before the boathouse closes.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Kayaking on the Hudson
A welcoming public kayaking experience and see New York City from the water. Guests will receive basic paddling and safety instruction, be fitted with safety gear, and paddle in a protected area with trained volunteers nearby. No experience is needed, and children are welcome with a parent or guardian. Guests must know how to swim. First-come, first-served, sign-up line often closes early due to high demand.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Learn to Juggle in the Park
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
Join the Club!
5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Zumba Rhythms Workout in the Park
Welcome to Zumba with DeeKee in the park! Participants dance, sweat, and have a great time with friends and fellow Zumba enthusiasts. No experience is required, just come with a positive attitude and be ready to move your body to the rhythm of the music. Weather permitting. Please arrive 10 minutes before class begins.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Poetry Reading | Award-Winning Poets Share Their Work in the Park
Award-winning poetry by established and emerging poets. Amy Dryansky’s third poetry collection, Ambergris, is forthcoming. Her first, How I Got Lost So Close to Home, won the New England/New York Award. Individual poems appear in Adroit, Harvard Review, New England Review, Orion, The Sun, Tin House, Waxwing, and other journals, as well as several anthologies. Daniel Tobin is the author of ten books of poems, including Blood Labors, named one of the Best Poetry Books of the Year for 2018 by The New York Times and The Washington Independent Review of Books. Ethel Rackin is the author of four poetry books: The Forever Notes; Go On; Evening; and In Time. In addition, she is the author of the text Crafting Poems and Stories: A Guide to Creative Writing. Her work has appeared in The American Poetry Review, Colorado Review, Kenyon Review, New England Review, Poetry Daily, and other journals. Steven Kleinman is the author of Life Cycle of a Bear, winner of the 2019 Philip Levine Prize. His poems appear in The Iowa Review, The Georgia Review, Copper Nickel, and the anthologies Best American Poetry 2020 and Ensnaring the Moment: on the Intersection of Poetry and Photography.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Park Walk | Discover the History & Design of One of New York's Most Unique Parks
Hear the story behind New York City's park in the sky: an insider's perspective on the park's history, design, and landscape. Note: Spots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Dancing | Evening of Salsa Dancing in the Park
Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just starting out, take part in a dance lesson followed by a live musical performance.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Gallery Talk | Artists Discuss Artistic Practice and Housing, Public Space, & Community
A lecture by artist Martha Rosler on her landmark project, If You Lived Here (1989). Artist Alex Strada will be in conversation with Rosler, exploring some of the lessons carried forward into Strada’s current project, Public Address, currently on view across the city. Together, they will reflect on Rosler’s decades-long engagement with housing, public space, and community—inviting reflection on how questions raised over thirty years ago continue to shape socially engaged artistic practice, and the way we think about housing insecurity, home, and belonging today.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Discussion | Curator Discusses The Met's Exhibit on Music & the Human Experience
A night of art, music, and inspiration with the curator of the Musical Bodies exhibit, E. Bradley Strauchen-Scherer, in conversation with Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim. Together, attendees will learn how music is intrinsic to the human experience, and share in our collective drive towards harmony. From stringed instruments with faces to gloves that control pitch with the sweep of a hand, Musical Bodies considers the question: when making music, when does the body end and the instrument begin? Published in conjunction with the Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibition of the same name, the exhibition book compiles historical and contemporary musical instruments from the museum's extensive collection along with rigorous interdisciplinary research. This playful, surprising, and sometimes subversive text invites audiences to move, dance, and make music, all while enjoying exquisite treasures from the Met's collection.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Workshop | HIIT Workout on the Pier
NYC’s best trainers bring the energy with a HIIT workout that builds endurance and leaves you feeling energized. Please note that participants should bring their own water bottle to class.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Park Walk | Walk along the East River: Learn about History, Architecture, & Ecology
Experienced park docents lead a walking tour to explore the history of the Brooklyn waterfront, the area's sustainable design and ecology, and how the park came to life!
Brooklyn, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Performance | Performers Try Out New Comedic or Storytelling Material
A “workout show,” wherein talented performers are encouraged to play. The audience is invited to hang out afterward to share feedback, shoot the breeze, and get on the mic themselves.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Movie in a Park | Crazy Rich Asians (2018): Romantic Comedy-Drama with Michelle Yeoh (on the Waterfront)
This film follows a Chinese American professor, Rachel, who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick and is shocked to discover that Nick's family is one of the richest families in Singapore. Director: Jon M. Chu Cast: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Michelle Yeoh Michelle Yeoh is a Malaysian actress. In a career spanning over four decades, she has acted in film and television productions covering a wide range of genres and received various accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, along with nominations for two British Academy Film Awards. Credited as Michelle Khan in her early films, she rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s after starring in Hong Kong action and martial arts films where she performed her own stunts. Bring your own blankets and chairs to lay out on the turf. Space is limited, so arrive early to secure your spot.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:00 pm
free, RSVP recommended
free, RSVP recommended
Play | Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale: Tony-Winning Director's Romantic Tragicomedy
When the King of Sicilia becomes convinced his pregnant wife has been unfaithful, the royal baby is smuggled to the coast of Bohemia where an old shepherd finds her and renames her Perdita. Sixteen years later, Perdita falls in love with another young shepherd, Doricles, who turns out to be a prince in disguise. Honesty is a fool and true love the only answer in this mysterious, romantic tale of defiance and destiny. Written by William Shakespeare. Choreography by Mimi Lieber. Directed by Daniel Sullivan. Cast: Heschel Bay, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Teagle F. Bougere, Chuck Cooper, Peter Douskalis, Matthew Eby, Raul Esparza, Isabela Ferrer, Katie Griffith, Alex Hernandez,
Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:00 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Workshop | Stargazing in the Park
Immerse yourself in the wonders of the night sky. The friendly team from the Amateur Astronomers Association will be there with high-powered telescopes, ready to reveal the secrets of the cosmos.
From sunset to 30 minutes before park closure.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Classical Music | "Virtuoso" Pianist Performs Works by Liszt & More
Regular Price: $50CFT Member Price: $0.00
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