free things to do in New York City
Free events for Wednesday, 12/17/25
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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 17, 2025?

17 free events take place on Wednesday, December 17 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 17 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!

17 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, December 17, 2025

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Iconic NYC Holiday Market: Local Crafts and Gifts
free events nyc New York City Hall Guided Tour
free events nyc Live jazz Standards
free events nyc Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum
More Editor's Picks for 12/17/25
        

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
Workshops, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Central Park Running&nbsp;Session (All Levels Welcome)

Museums | New York City: History, Architecture, Social Movements, Cultural Diversity


This museum holds over 1,5 million artifacts, including photographs, paintings, decorative arts, costumes, and documents that tell the story of New York's development and its inhabitants. Explore the galleries and discover the rich history and vibrant culture of New York City!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Museumss, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, New York City: History, Architecture, Social Movements, Cultural Diversity

Fair | Iconic NYC Holiday Market: Local Crafts and Gifts


Named the best holiday market in America in 2023, this holiday market features 185 vendors offering unique gifts from local craftspeople, artists, and entrepreneurs. Open from November 13 to December 24, the market is a festive destination for holiday shopping, offering a wide range of handmade and artisanal goods. Note: Hours vary throughout the week; the market is closed on Thanksgiving Day.
   New York City, NY; NYC
11:00 am
Free
Fairs, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Iconic NYC Holiday Market: Local Crafts and Gifts

Classical Music | Live Cello with "The Cajun Cellist"


Experience the lively sounds of Sean Grissom, known internationally as "the Cajun Cellist," blending Country, Cajun, Classical, Swing, and Rock into a vibrant performance style. Enjoy his weekly live sets every Wednesday.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Concerts, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Live Cello with "The Cajun Cellist"

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
12:00 pm
Free
Tours, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, New York City Hall Guided Tour

Museums | Tiffany Glass and Other Exhibitions


The museum is dedicated to showcasing the history, art, and culture of its area with a permanent collection of 10,000 items. One of the exhibitions includes famous Tiffany's leaded glass objects and a valuable insight into the development of the inuctry in the US at the turn of the 20th century.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Museumss, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Tiffany Glass and Other Exhibitions

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
Concerts, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Serene Organ Meditations in Intimate Venue

Jazz | Live jazz Standards


Relax to the sounds of classic jazz as guitarist Bill Wurtzel and guests perform timeless standards from the American Songbook. This lively midweek set offers a perfect musical break, blending smooth melodies and swing in an intimate setting.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free
Concerts, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Live jazz Standards

Museums | Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum


Internationally recognized as a premier museum and research center, this museum is known for its distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:30 pm
Pay-What-You-Wish, reservation required
Museumss, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum

Film | Canadian Bacon (1995): War Comedy with Alan Alda


The President of the U.S. cooks up a phony cold war against Canada to divert attention from domestic issues, namely his plummeting approval ratings. Director: Michael Moore Cast: Alan Alda, John Candy, Bill Nunn, Kevin J. O'Connor, Rhea Perlman Alan Alda is a six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winning and a three-time Tony Award nominated actor. He's well-known for portraying Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce in the CBS wartime sitcom M*A*S*H (1972–1983). 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Films, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Canadian Bacon (1995): War Comedy with Alan Alda

Performance | Storytelling Live(s) on Stage with BMCC


Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) is proud to present performances from their speech, communication, and theater arts departments on stage. Performances will feature the college's extraordinarily talented students showcasing a wide variety of contemporary and original material.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:30 pm
Free
Performances, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Storytelling Live(s) on Stage with BMCC

Workshop | Learn To Use Colorful Light in Photographs


Learn more about using colorful light to elevate your photography skills. Visual storyteller and founder of the Know Your Dope agency, Ricky Shoebio, will show attendees how he uses different colorful light for more dynamic portraits.  This class will be demonstration based. Attendees will also get a chance to photograph during the demonstration for their own portfolio work.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Workshops, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Learn To Use Colorful Light in Photographs

Book Club | Novella Discussion Group: Thirst for Love by Yukoi Mishima


This month, the group will discuss Yukoi Mishima's 1950 book, Thirst for Love, translated from the Japanese by Alfred H. Marks. In this masterpiece of the sexual Gothic, Yukio Mishima creates a portrait of obsessive love and corrosive jealousy among a young widow, her father-in-law, and a domestic servant. Although Mishima was nominated three times for the Nobel Prize for Literature, he never received it. Nevertheless, he is considered by many critics as one of the most important Japanese novelists of the 20th century.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:30 pm
Free
Book Clubs, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Novella Discussion Group:&nbsp;Thirst for Love by Yukoi Mishima

Party | Board Games Meet-Up


Play a variety of board games, including Scrabble, Chess, Boggle, Bananagrams, Scattergories, and more! Bring a friend or join on your own--all levels are welcome. Studies have shown that playing board games can have positive effects on your mental, emotional, and physical health, including: o Improving memory and focus o Enhancing critical thinking skills o Making connections o Reducing stress (and screen time!)
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free
Partys, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Board Games Meet-Up

Dance Performance | Holiday Dance Performance


Get in the holiday spirit with an exciting pop-up performance featuring a Toy Soldier Dancing Troupe!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Dance Performances, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Holiday Dance Performance

Book Discussion | Quiet Reading Meet Up


Bring a book or check one out of the library to read to yourself for one hour. After that, spend an hour socializing with those around you!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Quiet Reading Meet Up

Talk | Tracing Refugee History in the South Village (Online!)


Explore the immigrant past of the South Village in a talk by an archivist and historian specializing in Catholic communities. Learn how a small committee formed to support Catholic refugees fleeing Nazi persecution grew into a global postwar network. The story highlights how Village neighborhoods provided crucial support and helped early waves of refugees find their footing.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Talks, December 17, 2025, 12/17/2025, Tracing Refugee History in the South Village (Online!)
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Complimentary Tickets

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

Play | Broadway Actors in a Comedy by Award Winner

Regular Price: $69
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Play | Broadway Actor in a Play About a Towering Figure in Media

Regular Price: $59
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Concert | Vivid Sonic Landscapes and Inventive Multimedia

Regular Price: $30
CFT Member Price: $0.00