free things to do in New York City
Free events for Saturday, 02/28/26
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!    Read More
28 free events take place on Saturday, February 28 in New York City.
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28 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Saturday, February 28, 2026

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Lunar New Year Celebration with Live Lion Dance
free events nyc Explore Flamenco History in NYC & See a Live Performance
free events nyc Explore Collection Which Features Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, and More
free events nyc Carnegie Hall-Featured Musicians Perform Cross-Cultural Violin Dialogue (Jazz, Folk, & Improv)
More Editor's Picks for 02/28/26
        

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!
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:00 am
free, no reservation required

Workshop | Community Park 5K Run with New York Road Runners


New york Road Runners host a 5K community-led run,open to runners and walkers of all ages, abilities, and experience levels. Evidence of Inwood Hill Park’s formation exists as caves, valleys, and ridges left as the result of shifting glaciers. Evidence of its uninhabited state afterward remains as its forest and salt marsh (the last natural one in Manhattan), and evidence of its use by Native Americans continues to be discovered. Most of the park was largely untouched by wars and development. The park features a hiking trail and the Hudson River Bike Trail, and is one of the best places in NYC to spot a bald eagle. It also includes athletic fields, playgrounds, dog runs, and a barbecue area. The course is three loops on hilly trails and walkways through woods and along a salt marsh.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:45 am
free, registration required

Museums | Jewish History: Centuries of Art


As one of the largest collections of art in Jewish culture globally, the venue features an extensive array of historical Jewish artifacts as well as modern and contemporary art.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
free, reservation required

Symposium | Understanding the Art and Legacy of Renowned Artist Iba Ndiaye


Explore the work of Senegalese artist Iba Ndiaye (1928-2008) with international scholars. Delve into his contributions to Modernism, the influences behind his practice, and the political and cultural forces that shaped his art.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
11:00 am
free with museum...

Tour | Explore One of New York's Iconic Buildings


Designed to inspire, building highlights include: The only free, publicly accessible rooftop terrace in Midtown A dramatic "Long Room" with 42-foot-high atrium offering five levels of open, browsable book stacks Commissioned public art celebrating creativity and curiosity
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:30 am
free, registration required

Opening Reception | Collage Installation


Experience Mullican’s immersive ‘‘book’’‑like installation, composed of 9,519 hand‑numbered collage sheets, with roughly 6,700 arranged to fill the space. The work divides visual knowledge into two sections, Colorpedia and Alphapedia, creating a vast visual lexicon that explores the symbols shaping both the artist’s universe and our daily lives. Refreshments provided. 
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Book Club | Echoes Beneath the Waves


Join an engaging discussion of Tara Roberts’s Written in the Waters—a memoir that combines Black sea-wreck archaeology with personal history. Dive into a story of exploration, rekindling, and recognition. 
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:00 pm
free, registration required...

Festival | Lunar New Year Celebration with Live Lion Dance


Kick off a Lunar New Year celebration with a live lion dance and festive procession through the. The event wraps with a performance, with celebrations continuing throughout Chinatown.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Workshop | Sketch Session in an Art Gallery


Participate in a program that responds to works from the exhibition Lotty Rosenfeld: Disobedient Spaces. With a focus on line, participants will be invited to produce gesture drawings inspired by the exhibition's video works. This program is geared toward adults. No previous drawing experience is needed and all materials will be provided.  Feel free to join as many sessions as you wish.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, registration recommended

Open Mic | Afternoon of Showcasing Creativity: Artists, Poets, Musicians, & More


Enjoy an afternoon of creativity and talent as local artists, poets, musicians, and performers and more take the stage. Whether you want to showcase your own skills or simply enjoy the show, this is the place to be. Let your voice be heard and your talent shine in a welcoming and supportive environment. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow creatives and entertain a friendly audience.  This event will include an open call for performers on a first come, first serve basis as time permits. Participants can share their original work in a time to be announced based off total amount of performers. Space and seating is limited; show up on time!
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:30 pm
free, tickets recommended,...

Film | Bob Marley: One Love (2024), Reggae Biopic


The story of how reggae icon Bob Marley overcame adversity, and the journey behind his revolutionary music. Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green Cast: Robert Teitel, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, Cedella Marley
   Manhattan, New York, NY
2:00 pm
free, registration recommended

Film | Lady Bird (2017): Coming-of-Age Comedy-Drama with Saoirse Ronan & Timothée Chalamet


In this coming-of-age tale set in 2002 Sacramento, an eccentric teenager attending a Catholic high school deals with the pangs of first love and clashes with her mother over her plans for the furture. Director: Greta Gerwig Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Lois Smith Saoirse Ronan is an American-born Irish actress. Primarily known for her work in period dramas since adolescence, she has received various accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for four Academy Awards and five British Academy Film Awards. American and French actor Timothee Chalamet has received a Screen Actors Guild Award, and been nominated for two Academy Awards, four British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globes. He's the third-youngest nominee for Best Actor in Oscar history and the youngest winner of the SAG Award for Best Actor.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Staged Reading | Operation Saffron: Comedy on Immigration, Family, & More


An Iranian American woman is trying to live quietly in Queens, NY with American surveillance, survive her cousin’s cozy ties to the Iranian regime, and still somehow maintain belief that both countries will one day have no corruption. It's a comedy! Written by Monna Sabouri. Directed by Gregory Jafari Van Acker. Cast: Olivia Khoshatefeh, Mershad Torabi, Ari Derambakhsh, Sina Pooresmaeil, Rawya El Chab
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
pay-what-you wish (free...

Jazz | Afternoon Jam Sesh (Play Music or Just Listen)


This jam session is open to all musicians. Come and play or just listen to some jazzy tunes.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, 1 drink...

Tour | Explore Collection Which Features Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, and More


Join these guided tours every Friday and Saturday at 2 PM to explore a museum's history, special collections, and landmarked spaces. Led by educators, the tours last 45-60 minutes and provide an engaging introduction to the artworks and archives on view.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
2:00 pm
free, RSVP required...

Dance Performance | Explore Flamenco History in NYC & See a Live Performance


To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Flamenco Festival New York, enjoy a lecture by Jose Javier Leon on La Argentinita and the intersections of flamenco, Lorca, and Spanish cultural identity. The lecture will be followed by a live performance with artists who are also participating in the 25th anniversary of Flamenco Festival New York, bringing La Argentinita's legacy to life through the very art form she helped transform. In February 1930, three friends converged in New York City: the singer and bailaora Encarnacion Lopez Julvez--known as La Argentinita, one of the most influential Spanish artists of the 20th century; her partner, the bullfighter, writer, and impresario Ignacio Sanchez Mejias; and the poet Federico Garcia Lorca, who had been living at Columbia University since June 1929. During those days, Encarna performed in several of the city's theaters, Ignacio lectured on bullfighting, and Lorca on poetry. But more importantly, in New York, they conceived ideas and collaborations that would reshape the future of flamenco, expanding its expressive possibilities and projecting it onto international stages. The city became, through them, a catalyst for new forms--bridging flamenco with ballet, Spanish song, and modern artistic experimentation.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
2:00 pm
free, registration required

Gallery Talk | Post‑War Reflections on Body, Landscape, and Memory


Lebanese artist Ali Cherri discusses his work with writer Aruna D'Souza, marking the end of his first solo exhibition with the gallery and providing insight into his creative process. His work explores violence in Lebanon and surrounding areas, utilizing film, performance, sculpture in clay and bronze, drawing, and installation. Cherri's art examines how political violence impacts people's bodies and the physical and cultural landscapes. Influenced by the vibrant postwar Beirut art scene of the 1990s, he investigates the sensory co-creation of reality through images of conflict, urban settings, and his own body.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, RSVP required...

Poetry Reading | Recently Published Poets Community Showcase


Enjoy this Community Reading, in which poets who have published a book of poetry in 2024-2025 will be randomly selected to read a single poem over the course of the afternoon. The Showcase is a literary exhibition and reading series dedicated to the art and joy of published poetry all in one room. Collecting every type of poetry from every type of publisher, from hand-threaded zines to books from large commercial houses, this winter’s exhibition includes poetry works from 2024 and 2025, including a wide range of chapbooks, broadsides, translated works, and multilingual volumes.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Guitar Music Festival


Enjoy this annual Guitar Festival! Masterclass and student/faculty/guest artist concert.  2:45pm Masterclass 4:30pm Student Concert 6:00pm Faculty & Guest Artist Concert
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:45 pm
free, registration required

Workshop | Try Creative Writing (All Levels Welcome)


This workshop is designed to help attendees unlock their creative potential.   Engage in fun idea generating exercises and work together to get results and find joy in the writing process. All writers of any experience level are welcome. If you're curious, come check it out! This workshop, the 35th in an ongoing series, will continue to explore foundational writing techniques and best practices.  Prior attendance is not required. Attendees will investigate alternative, non-traditional narrative forms, as well as read and discuss short stories and poetry.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:00 pm
free, registration required

Staged Reading | Twilight on the Q Train


Katryna Alexis presents SUNSET, a vivid tableau of Shaniqua and Bartholomew, who are two seemingly happy partners stranded on the Q train as dusk falls. After the reading, a talkback with the three playwrights will explore the themes of connection, timing, and urban life that shape the narrative.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:00 pm
reservation required, minimum...

Classical Music | Serene Organ Meditations in Intimate Venue


Enjoy a program of hymns, anthems, and voluntaries for the organ.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:00 pm
Free, donations are...

Classical Music | A Chamber Concert Honoring Black American Composers


This intimate chamber concert celebrates the resilience and creative legacy of Black American composers. The evening brings together live music and spoken word, with writer and poet Angela Decker performing alongside a flute and string trio. Through sound and text, the program reflects on endurance, memory, and presence. 
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required...

Concert | Carnegie Hall-Featured Musicians Perform Cross-Cultural Violin Dialogue (Jazz, Folk, & Improv)


Arun Ramamurthy and Trina Basu bring a dazzling, cross-cultural violin dialogue to the stage. Rooted in South Indian Carnatic music and shaped by jazz, folk, and improvisation, their performances blur genre lines with virtuosity and heart. Ramamurthy is a Brooklyn-based violinist, composer, and co-founder of Brooklyn Raga Massive, known for projects like the Arun Ramamurthy Trio and expansive collaborations from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center. Basu is a New York City-based violinist, improviser, and music therapist whose "globe-spanning" sound has been praised by The New Yorker, and whose work carries a deep belief in music as a healing force. Together, they create an immersive set that moves from raga to improvised flights, connecting tradition and innovation in real time.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
7:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Staged Reading | Entangled in Paris


Dhari Noel's Paris delves into the tangled emotions of Jean and Stone. Desire, rage, and heartbreak collide in a story that embraces the intensity of what they truly want. Come witness the raw energy of the reading and get a feel for contemporary theater.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
reservation required, minimum...

Performance | Rituals of Resistance: SIte-Specific Showcase


Raquel Almazan presents a haunting site-specific Butoh ritual followed by a works-in-progress reading. The piece explores cycles of violence, colonial myths, and the resilience of women’s communities through visceral movement, soundscapes by Sinuhe Padilla, and evocative visual design. Audience members move from the fourth-floor performance space into an immersive, mythic landscape that blurs the boundaries between ritual and theater. 
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Contemporary Opera Compositions with American Modern Opera Company


The creator-driven American Modern Opera Company performs an Up Close series of one-night-only contemporary compositions. The opening program presents the premieres of The Inner Core, from AMOC* co-founder and MacArthur Fellow Matthew Aucoin, and Camino Songs, by composer-instrumentalist-poet Doug Balliett. Aucoin's Inner Core song cycle features the composer on piano, accompanied by acclaimed baritone vocalist William Socolof (Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic). Together, the duo limn the arc of an imagined romantic relationship from adolescence through the couple's parting in early adulthood. Balliett's Camino Songs was conceived while on pilgrimage to the Galician municipality of Santiago de Compostela. Supported with projections of the composer's original photography, Camino Songs is a journey of self-reflection, local Spanish lore, and deep devotion. There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
7:30 pm
free, fast-track option...

Performance | Waiting for Pangea: Verbatim Theater Project


What happens when we live between worlds and dare to tell the truth from that place? This devised therapeutic verbatim performance explores displacement in all its forms: migration and exile; living between cultures, identities, homes, relationships, and parts of the self. Drawing from real stories and lived experience, the piece weaves together literal, remembered, and imagined journeys. Bridging verbatim theater with a therapeutic framework, the project invites the audience to witness where stories are held in the in-between, carried together, and allowed to unfold.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
8:00 pm
free, tickets required
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Complimentary Tickets

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

Staged Reading | Drama Based on a Historical Event

Regular Price: $50
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Classical Music | J.S. Bach and Beethoven by Prominent Orchestra

Regular Price: $30
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Performance | Broadway Actors in a Comedy

Regular Price: $69
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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