free things to do in New York City
Free events for Wednesday, 05/31/23
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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 May 31, 2023?

31 free events take place on Wednesday, May 31 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 May 31 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 May . 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!

31 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, May 31, 2023

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Tour of New York City Hall
free events nyc A Look Into Dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov (In Person AND Online)
free events nyc Standards from the American Songbook
free events nyc Kayaking in the Park
More Editor's Picks for 05/31/23
        

Workshop | Core Body Boot Camp


A community-driven pop-up fitness group for an early-morning core body boot camp. Rotations through exercises like crunches, planks, push-ups, burpees, and mountain climbers ensure a mixture of cardio and strength training that will keep you coming back, and seeing results. No equipment necessary; smiles and high fives welcome.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 am
Free

Workshop | HIIT Workout


A High Intestity Interval Training workout in the park.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 am
Free

Tour | 13 Tours, All City Neighborhoods, Any Time Of The Day, Choose One Tour Or Many


These free tours take place at various times during the day, all day long. You can make reservations for as many tours as your schedule allows. SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights + DUMBO 3 Hour Lower Manhattan Harlem Chelsea and the High Line 6 Hour Downtown Combined Greenwich Village Central Park Lower Manhattan Midtown Manhattan Grand Central Terminal Graffiti and Street Art Tours World Trade Center
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Figure Al Fresco


This event offers a unique setting to observe and sketch the human figure. Each week a model will strike short and long poses for participants to draw. An artist/educator will offer constructive suggestions and critique. Drawing materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Park Tour: From Freight to Flowers


Hear the story behind New York City's park in the sky: an insider's perspective on the park's history, design, and landscape.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Juggling in the Park


Jugglers use the park throughout the year to provide free classes to the public. Stop by for a quick lesson, stay for the whole time, or just enjoy watching them 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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12:00 pm
Free

Tour | Tour of New York City Hall


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 a designated interior landmark as well.
   New York City, NY; NYC
12:00 pm
Free

Concert | Piano in the Park


Come on by and tap your toes to The Big Apple's finest ragtime, stride, and jazz pianists around! Featuring special events and performances by distinguished musicians. Today's pianist: Armen Donelian.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Lecture | A Look Into Dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov (In Person AND Online)


Dance writer Marina Harss will show rarities from the Baryshnikov collection, with a focus on his "Russian" period. She will show and discuss recordings from the Jerome Robbins Dance Division from his Soviet performances and from his time at the Kirov Dance Academy as well as later collaborations with George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. The lecture will include reflections by Baryshnikov from his post-defection interviews on subjects like his love of Leningrad and his memories of Soviet life. Through this discussion, Harss explores the idea of Baryshnikov's Russianness, particularly featuring his collaboration Robbins, Balanchine, and Mark Morris. A streaming link will be emailed to everyone on the morning of the event for those wishing to attend virtually. Registration required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Adult Chorus


Directed by Church Street School of Music, the chorus is open to all who love to sing. Learn contemporary and classic songs and perform at community events throughout the year.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Standards from the American Songbook


Jazz guitarist Bill Wurtzel and guests play standards from the American Songbook. Bill Wurtzel began playing guitar at age 9, and was a radio and TV country music performer by age 12. He attended art school and had a career as an award-winning advertising creative director. He continued to play professionally and switched to music full time in 1989. Bill has played worldwide with many jazz legends, including the Count Basie Countsmen, Wild Bill Davis, Bill Doggett, Jimmy McGriff, the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band, singers Gloria Lynne and Terri Thornton, as well as Paul Simon. Bill is a director of the Jazz Foundation of America.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Elements of Nature Drawing


A community of artists of all skill levels are inspired by our surroundings to create with drawing materials, pastels and watercolors. Embolden your artwork amidst the flower-filled and seasonally evolving palette of the verdant gardens. An artist/educator will provide ideas and instruction. Materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Kayaking in the Park


Glide along the water this summer and fall! Kayaking is offered throughout the summer. All levels are welcome including first-time kayakers - life vests and all equipment provided, as well as instruction. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Settlers of Catan Social


Play one of the most popular board games in the world at the Games Cart. They welcome players of all levels to this weekly social.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Film | Local Angel: Quo Vadis? (2002): Surreal Documentary


This film is about thinking with Walter Benjamin. The movie takes us on a personal odyssey of discovery of the root causes and present contradictions of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Part intellectual pilgrimage, part surreal work of art in which poetry, music and images are intertwined. Director: Udi Aloni 75 min. Preceded at 5:30pm by a discussion with the director  
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free

Workshop | Wellness Wednesdays


Curated by Sputnik Yoga, Wellness Wednesdays will offer a variety of fitness and wellness themed classes on a weekly basis. Bring your own yoga mat or blanket. Wednesdays, May 3 - October 25, 2023.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Clare Grill: At the Soft Stages


Grill’s luminous, layered compositions teeter between recognizable forms and something familiar but abstract. Her vast vocabulary of shapes, colors, and compositional choices is inspired by antique embroidery samplers, as well as highly decorated birth, baptismal, and marriage certificates from the 18th and 19th centuries. Born out of intuitive decisions which are frequently guided by natural occurrences like daylight and shadow falling across the surface, Grill’s paintings are documents of marks made with brush or with fingers, of colors added or removed. In essence, they tell the story of the artist’s process and the passage of time.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Donna Dennis: Poet in Three Dimensions


A panel discussion with Donna Dennis, architectural sculptor and installation artist, to mark the publication of Donna Dennis: Poet in Three Dimensions, which contextualizes Dennis’s work within contemporary art and the women’s movement, tracing the arc of her four decades long career and the evolution of her architectural sculpture.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Sunset Yoga


Namaste! Unwind from the day with outdoor yoga. Immerse yourself in this meditative practice- surrounded by the Hudson's peaceful aura. Strengthen the body and cultivate awareness in a relaxed environment as your instructor guides you through alignments and poses. All levels are welcome. Bringing your own mat is encouraged, as provided accessories are first come first serve.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Wednesday Evening Yoga


End your day right with this rejuvenating class.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, with Tochi Onyebuchi (In Person AND Online)


In Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's new novel, Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker are the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly popular and controversial profit-raising program in America’s increasingly dominant private prison industry. Gladiators and prisoners compete in death-matches for packed arenas, vying for the ultimate prize: their freedom. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are the fan favorites. In just a few matches, Thurwar will be free—but before she goes, can she help her fellow All-Stars preserve their humanity and defy these games? And what will CAPE’s corporate overlords do to stop her? Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah speaks with science-fiction writer Tochi Onyebuchi about his unflinching look at the American prison system’s unholy alliance of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration. Registration required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Horse Barbie: Memoir of a Trans Pagaent Queen


Producer, model, and trans rights advocate Geena Rocero to discuss her dazzling, heartfelt memoir of a trans pageant queen from the Philippines who went back into the closet to model in New York City—until she realized that living her truth was the only way to step into her full power.  
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Talk | Artist Talk: Material Sensibilities (online)


Jazmine Catasús will discuss her recent research-driven projects and how handmade paper and pulp has become a foundational material in her practice that spans painting, sculpture, and print. She considers how the materiality of objects engages the senses and ties to a vast narrative that is rooted in the transformation of natural material.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Classical Music | Orchestral Works by Britten, Elgar and Wolf


Queens Camerata chamber orchestra.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:30 pm
Free

Workshop | Yoga on the River


An instuctor-led class for all levels.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Book Discussion | 2 New Novels: Halcyon / Hestia Strikes a Match


American history as we know it is the result of countless overlapping butterfly effects, coincidences, and collective choices. But what if the many drops in the bucket amounted to something just a little different? Former Marine Corps Special Operations Team Leader and writer Elliot Ackerman and science journalist Christine Grillo discuss their takes on an alternate United States of America—one where the reflections of the past echo differently in the present. Ackerman’s Halcyon is set during Al Gore’s second term as president after he has successfully funded a cure for death, and Grillo’s debut novel, Hestia Strikes a Match, imagines daily life against the backdrop of a new, present-day civil war.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
$10 suggested admission...

Video | Beaut: Her Blood Ran Cold (The Silent Lizards) (online thru Jul 9)


An online video premiere. Concept, script, lizard sightings and drawings by Marti Wilkerson to accompany the photographs in her exhibition and originally performed live by Beaut on October 9, 2022. Vocals and Lyrics: Marti Wilkerson Guitar: Paul Twinkle Technical Director and Video Editor: Itziar Barrio Cameras: Isaiah Davis, John Brattin, Itziar Barrio Lighting Design: Marti Wilkerson DMX Programming: Kai Sundermann WILDBLUR Master Audio Recording: Adam Wolcott Smith  Production Manager: Marbles Producer: Lia Gangitano After Dark Director: Itziar Barrio After Dark Technical Associate: Caroline Mills
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | From Repression to Remembrace: The National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism


The exhibition describes the tasks and activities carried out by the National Fund in areas such as Nazi victim recognition, project funding, art restitution, documenting life stories of survivors, the restoration of Jewish cemeteries in Austria, the Simon Wiesenthal Prize for outstanding civic engagement to combat antisemitism and promote Holocaust education, the renewal of the Austrian exhibition at Auschwitz, and the General Settlement Fund and its compensation and restitution for Nazi victims.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Lecture | Jan Matejko: Painting, History, Modernity


Prof. Andrzej Szczerski, Director of the Polish National Museum in Krakow, speaks about Jan Matejko, one of the most famous Polish painters. Despite being part of the canon of Polish art history, the work of Jan Matejko has been overshadowed in Poland’s cultural life for many years. On one hand, the artist was given a prominent place in museum exhibitions and included in school textbooks, but on the other hand, his work was treated as a closed chapter, referring to the 19th-century world and the realities of the partition period, which has little to offer to today’s audience. This paradoxical absence of Matejko and a consistent attempt to change this situation inspired the National Museum in Kraków to propose the idea of establishing the year 2023 as the Year of Jan Matejko, which was officially declared by the Senate of the Republic of Poland. The date is not accidental and refers to the 185th anniversary of the artist’s birth, the 130th anniversary of his death, and the 125th anniversary of the founding of the first biographical museum in Polish lands – the Jan Matejko House, a branch of the Kraków Museum. The Year of Matejko is primarily an opportunity to take a fresh look at the painter’s work and confirm the relevance of his message for our contemporary times.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Musical | The Comedy of Errors: A Musical Adaptation of Shakespeare's Play


Conceived by director Rebecca Martinez and composer Julian Mesri, a member of The Public Theater's 2022-23 Emerging Writers Group, this new adaptation rigorously embraces music from all over Latin America in this tale of separation and joyous reunion. With songs in English and Spanish, this new musical adaptation brings an energetic vibe to this age-old tale of two sets of twins separated by stormy seas as they overcome a baffling case of mistaken identity--and the mayhem and hilarious confusion that follows.
   New York City, NY; NYC
8:00 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | Vivo (2021): Animated Musical


This family-friendly adventure comedy is an animated musical that features eleven original songs. It follows an adventurous and music-loving capuchin monkey as he makes a perilous journey from Havana to Miami to pursue his calling and ambitions in show business. Directors: Kirk DeMicco, Brandon Jeffords Stars: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana 95 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 pm
Free
Complimentary Tickets

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

Play | A Play with Tony Nominated Director

Regular Price: $60.55
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Play | Epic Theatrical Adventure!

Regular Price: $69
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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