free things to do in New York City
Free events for Wednesday, 11/18/26
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!    Read More
26 free events take place in New York City on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
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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!

26 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, November 18, 2026

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Dracula Adapted for Radio by Orson Welles
More Editor's Picks for 11/18/26
        

Workshop | Autumn Indoor Yoga


Yoga instructor Meg SantaMaria leads a morning practice. Suitable for all fitness levels. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring your own mat.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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9:30 am
free...
Workshops, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Autumn Indoor Yoga

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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10:00 am
free, no reservation required
Park Walks, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Discover the History & Design of One of New York's Most Unique Parks

Museums | Wednesday at a Unique Art Museum


Candid, genuine, and unexpected, this is New York City's only museum dedicated to folk & self-taught artists. The Museum celebrates the creativity of individuals whose singular talents have been refined largely through personal experience rather than formal artistic training. The museum's collection includes more than seven thousand works of art from four centuries and nearly every continent--from compelling portraits and dazzling quilts to powerful works by living artists in a variety of mediums. From critically acclaimed exhibitions and publications to inspiring educational programs and robust community outreach, the museum's mission is to be the leading forum shaping the understanding and appreciation of folk and self-taught art across time and place.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:30 am
free, no reservation required
Museumss, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Wednesday at a Unique Art Museum

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
Workshops, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Learn to Juggle in the Park

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.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:00 pm
free, registration required...
Tours, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, New York City Hall Guided Tour

Classical Music | Organ Works by J.S. Bach in a Beautiful Church (In Person AND Online!)


Take a momentary respite from a busy day to enjoy a selection of organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach in an intimate venue.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:20 pm
free, no reservation required
Concerts, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Organ Works by J.S. Bach in a Beautiful Church (In Person AND Online!)

Talk | Artistic Director of Jazz Tap Ensemble Discusses the Craft & Its History (In Person AND Online!)


Lynn Dally tells the story of a unique collaboration between the Jazz Tap Ensemble and the legendary tap artist, Jimmy Slyde. Opening with Slyde’s solo appearance as Guest Artist with the JTE at the Joyce in 1992 and complimented by Jerome Robbins Dance Division footage from Le Cave (midtown NY), Black and Blue (Broadway), and other sources, Dally will share rehearsal footage of Slyde, Dally, and young Derick Grant in Boston, along with Ensemble footage in LA, revealing how the piece Interplay was created from Slyde’s “motifs” for the 1995 Joyce premiere, and how Slyde’s vision of Interplay evolved in the JTE touring repertory for over a decade.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, registration required
Talks, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Artistic Director of Jazz Tap Ensemble Discusses the Craft & Its&nbsp;History (In Person AND Online!)

Jazz | Snazzy Jazz Tunes


Billy Stritch, piano, Michael O'Brien, bass, and Eric Halvorson, drums. Special Guest: Gabrielle Stravelli
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, donations encouraged,...
Concerts, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Snazzy Jazz Tunes

Jazz | Timeless 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. Note: Arrive early, as capacity is limited.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Concerts, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Timeless Jazz Standards

Concert | Weekly Outdoor Bagpipe Tribute: Honoring 9/11 Lives and Legacies


A moving weekly bagpipe tribute honors those who lost their lives on 9/11, as well as individuals affected by the lasting health impacts of that day. The tribute begins with a performance near a symbolic column preserved from the site, followed by a second performance in a nearby outdoor space.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Concerts, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Weekly Outdoor Bagpipe Tribute: Honoring 9/11 Lives and Legacies

Classical Music | Works by Martines & Mozart for Choir & Orchestra


Trinity Choir and the NOVUS orchestra. Program: Marianna Martines (1744-1812) Dixit Dominus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Exsultate, jubilate Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Ave verum corpus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Regina
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, RSVP required
Concerts, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Works by Martines & Mozart for Choir & Orchestra

Film | Karate Kid: Legends (2025): Martial Arts Drama


After kung fu prodigy Li Fong relocates to New York City, he attracts unwanted attention from a local karate champion and embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition with the help of Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso. Director: Jonathan Entwistle Cast: Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Ralph Macchio
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, registration required
Films, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Karate Kid: Legends (2025): Martial Arts Drama

Talk | Artist Panel on the Creative Process


What happens between the first idea and the finished piece? Hear from the makers, ask questions, and discover their creative processes. Agathe Saint Girons, Anneli Tammik, Lucie Houdková, Arouge, and Marty Ornish discuss their creative journeys in a conversation hosted by Lisa M. Berman, curator of Catalyst for Conversation.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, tickets required
Talks, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Artist Panel on the Creative Process

Workshop | Make Your Own Clay Pinch Pot Using Techniues from Indigenous Cultures


Get hands-on with clay and create a miniature pinch pot! This engaging activity introduces a time-honored art form practiced by Indigenous communities across the Western Hemisphere. Passed down through generations, pottery-making reflects creativity, skill, and deep cultural knowledge. All are welcome! *Children under 15 should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Workshops, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Make Your Own Clay Pinch Pot Using Techniues from Indigenous Cultures

Concert | Contemporary & Original Material with BMCC Musicians


Borough of Manhattan Community College is proud to present performances from their music, 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.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:30 pm
free, no reservation required
Concerts, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Contemporary & Original Material with BMCC Musicians

Book Club | Novella Discussion: Recent Novel by Award-Winning Author


At this book club session, the group will discuss Olga Ravn's 2025 book, The Wax Child, translated from Danish by Martin Aitken. In seventeenth-century Denmark, Christenze Kruckow, an unmarried noblewoman, is accused of witchcraft. She and several other women are rumored to be possessed by the Devil, who has come to them in the form of a tall headless man and gives them dark powers: they can steal people's happiness, they have performed unchristian acts, and they can cause pestilence or even death. They are all in danger of the stake. The Wax Child, narrated by a wax doll created by Christenze Kruckow, is an unsettling horror story about brutality and power, nature and witchcraft, set in the fragile communities of premodern Europe.  Deeply researched and steeped in visceral, atmospheric detail, The Wax Child is based on a series of real witchcraft trials that took place in Northern Jutland in the seventeenth century. Full of lush storytelling and alarmingly rich imagination, Olga Ravn weaves in quotes from original sources such as letters, magical spells and manuals, court documents, and Scandinavian grimoires. 
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:30 pm
free, no reservation required
Book Clubs, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Novella Discussion: Recent Novel by Award-Winning Author

Film | A Face in the Crowd (1957): Satirical Drama Film with Andy Griffith


A local radio producer helps catapult a local bum to stardom. Director: Elia Kazan Cast: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa, Walter Matthau, Lee Remick Andy Griffith was an American actor, comedian, television producer, singer, and writer whose career spanned seven decades in music and television. Known for his Southern drawl, his characters with a folksy-friendly personality, as well as his gruff but friendly voice, Griffith was a Tony Award nominee for two roles.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:45 pm
free, no reservation required
Films, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, A Face in the Crowd (1957): Satirical Drama Film with Andy Griffith

Workshop | Zumba Rhythms Workout 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
Workshops, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Zumba Rhythms Workout in the Park

Performance | Dracula Adapted for Radio by Orson Welles


Isabel Guastella, actors, and musicians stage a dramatic reinterpretation of Bram Stoker's chilling classic for The Mercury Theatre on the Air.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
6:00 pm
free, registration required
Performances, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Dracula Adapted for Radio by Orson Welles

Party | Board Games Meet-Up


This event features 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!)
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
Partys, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Board Games Meet-Up

Book Discussion | Filmmaker Shares Her New Book, Bountiful: Growing Up with Geraldine Page (+ Signing)


Angelica Page reflects on her mother, Oscar Award-winning film and stage actress Geraldine Page. She will be in conversation with F. Murray Abraham, followed by a signing.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
Book Discussions, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Filmmaker Shares Her New Book, Bountiful: Growing Up with Geraldine Page (+ Signing)

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!
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Book Discussions, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Quiet Reading Meet Up

Reading | Press Launch: New Works from a New Independent Publisher


Readings and discussion in celebration of the launch of BugNip Press, with press director Grant Farred and editorial collective members Sophia Jahadhmy, Oliver Layman, Alex van Biema, and Anton Jahr-Vavrus. Under discussion will be BugNip's The Unsettler (by Farred and the collective, co-published with np:) and Minneapolis Resists, edited by Mary Vavrus. 
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
Readings, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Press Launch: New Works from a New Independent Publisher

Screening | Short Docs Illuminating the Immigrant Story (+ Filmmaker Q&A)


A screening of five documentary short films that celebrate resilience, contribution, and courage. These five intimate portraits reveal the unsung heroes woven into the fabric of our country: immigrants and first-generation Americans whose courage, sacrifice, and determination exemplify the best of the American promise. Their stories illuminate the many ways immigrants contribute to the beauty and strength of our nation. After screening: Q&A with filmmakers.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, registration required
Screenings, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Short Docs Illuminating the Immigrant Story (+ Filmmaker Q&A)

Classical Music | Poetry, Art Songs, & Showtunes with Lincoln Center-Featured Vocalist (In Person AND Online!)


Angela Owens, soprano. A program highlighting Black storytelling through poetry, art songs, and Broadway musicals featuring current Musical Theatre students and special guests.
   Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, no reservation required
Concerts, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, Poetry, Art Songs, & Showtunes with Lincoln Center-Featured Vocalist (In Person AND Online!)

Classical Music | String Works by J.S. Bach, Bartok, & Dvorak (In Person AND Online!)


Camerata Nova string ensemble. Program: J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Orchestral Suite No. 2 Bela Bartok (1881-1945) Divertimento Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) Serenade in E Major
   Manhattan, New York, NY
7:30 pm
free, no reservation required
Concerts, November 18, 2026, 11/18/2026, String Works by J.S. Bach, Bartok, & Dvorak (In Person AND Online!)
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Complimentary Tickets

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

Dance Performance | "Astonishing" Choreographer

Regular Price: $54
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Performance | Mysticism and Music from Broadway Creators

Regular Price: $55
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Holiday Concert at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Musical | "A Must See" Musical by Tony Winner

Regular Price: $89
CFT Member Price: $0.00