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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!
28 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Tuesday, October 13, 2026
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Editor's Picks
Workshop | Dance Workout on the Plaza
Lively movement and emotional catharsis combine for a workout 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
Workshop | Learn To Play the Classic Card Game Canasta
Learn the rules and practice Canasta with games expert Susan Richards.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Tai Chi in the Park: Meditation in Motion
Tai chi involves slow, fluid, continuous movements through formalized postures of centuries-old Chinese Taoist martial arts. All levels are welcome. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes to move around in. The event will be canceled if it rains. The decision will be made by 5pm the day before and registrants will receive an email if the event is canceled.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:30 am
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP 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
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
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
free, no reservation required
Film | Little Shop of Horrors (1986): Cult Classic Horror Comedy Musical
A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed in this star studded horror comedy musical! Director: Frank Oz Cast: Levi Stubbs, Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Handsewing 101: Tools & Techniques
A class on learning to sew by hand using traditional handsewing techniques. For most of human history people have created stuff from fabric and fibers by hand. Almost everything we can sew using a machine can be done by hand. It just takes a little more mindfulness, patience, time, and a few simple tools and techniques to begin. Participants will learn about the tools needed for handsewing, the various types of stitches used in hand sewing, the terminology, basic fabric information, and more. You will also get an opportunity to practice what you have learned in the class by sewing a small project that can be completed during our sessions.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:30 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,...
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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5:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
City Walk | Explore the History of Colonial Lower Manhattan with Black Gotham Experience
Learn about the history of Lower Manhattan with a walking tour from a distinct historical point of view. By way of the river waterways, BGX reimagines colonial Lower Manhattan through an Afro-Futuristlens.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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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
Movie in a Park | Jennifer's Body (2009): Comedy-Horror Film with Amanda Seyfried (on the Plaza)
Jennifer, a gorgeous, seductive cheerleader takes evil to a whole new level after she's possessed by a sinister demon. Now it's up to her best friend to stop Jennifer's reign of terror before it's too late. Director: Karyn Kusama Cast: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, J. K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris, Adam Brody Amanda Seyfried is an actress whose accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as a nomination for an Academy Award. Named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time in 2022, her films as a leading actress have grossed over $2.4 billion worldwide.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP 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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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Classical Music | PBS-Featured Pianist Performs Contemporary Work
Acclaimed pianist Conrad Tao. Program: David Fulmer I have loved a stream and a shadow
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
Book Discussion | Prize-Winning Author Discusses Her New Literary Fiction Novel
Carol LaHines in conversation about her new book, Miracle Grow of the Mind. Miracle Grow of the Mind is a funny, heartbreaking exploration of parenthood, disability, medical bureaucracy, Big Agro, food allergies, and environmental pathogens. When Amy and Michael’ s son is born prematurely, they are thrust into a world of pediatric neurologists, sensory reintegration therapy, and endless evaluations.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation 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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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration 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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:15 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Book Discussion | New Yorker-Featured Artist Shares His New Memoir, Work in Progress (In Person AND Online!)
Made globally famous by his portraits captured on New York City's subways, artist Devon Rodriguez sits down with his editor Elizabeth Méndez Berry to discuss his memoir of growing up in the Bronx. In this memoir, he explains how his art, his grandmother, and his own relentless drive saved him from heart-wrenching circumstances and led him to redefine out-of-fashion realist portraiture as fresh and magical. Rodriguez writes with rhythm, verve, and an artist’s POV, painting a vivid picture of his native Bronx, the tattoos and rooftop graffiti that mesmerized him as a kid, and the teachers who saw his potential and nourished it.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Film | Once Upon a Place (2021): Documentary (+ FIlmmaker Discussion)
The story of "La Nacional", a 150-year-old building in New York City that welcomed thousands of Spanish immigrants to the United States. The building itself tells the story of the Spanish immigrant experience in New York. Director: Celia Novis The screening will be followed by a conversation with the director.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Film | Once Upon a Time in Harlem (2026): Culture Documentary (+ Filmmaker Discussion)
A decade after his death, genre-defying filmmaker William Greaves has one last trick up his sleeve with what he considered the most important event he captured on film: a 1972 party he engineered with the living luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance. For four hours, this extraordinary group--many of whom had not seen each other in fifty years--reminisced, critiqued, argued, laughed, and drank while wrestling with their place in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape. Shot on 16mm film, newly restored and now directed by Greaves's son David, this landmark film is at once a self-exploration and an inquiry into the heart of the critical mass of energy called the Harlem Renaissance. William Greaves's intent was not only to document these artists and intellectuals as they spoke about their lives and work. but also to plumb the meaning of the extraordinary creative period in which they lived to help us better understand how culture has been passed on from one generation to another and the role that the artist plays in keeping it alive. Director: William Greaves, David Greaves Followed by a conversation between filmmakers David Greaves and Liani Greaves and Racquel Gates, Associate Professor, Film and Media Studies.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Discussion | Architecture Experts Discuss the Radical Architecture of the 1960s Back-to-the-Land Movement (In Person AND Online!)
Writers, critics, and documentarians discuss a past architectural movement. Half a century ago, a legion of young idealists--disillusioned with the governance and exploding consumer culture of 1960s America--dropped out of society and went "back to the land," in what proved to be the greatest urban-to-rural exodus in American history. The backwoods of Northern California became the movement's epicenter, where a patchwork of utopian communes sprouted, together with an experimental, deeply individualized approach to building design and construction. Author David Jacob Kramer and photographer Michael Schmelling's new book, Handmade Utopia: Back-to-the-Land Architecture in Northern California, documents the history, inspiration, and contemporary condition of these utopian communities. They will discuss the success--and failures--of this under-documented movement with experts in the field as well as one of the original back-to-the-landers.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Talk | UN Ambassador Discusses Heritage & History of Australia's Kakadu National Park
Mr. James Larsen, the Permanent Representative of Australia's Mission to the United Nations, will address the audience on the occasion of International Archaeology Day, the committee's most significant annual lecture of each series. Ambassador Larsen discusses the incredible heritage and history of the Kakadu region in Australia's Northern Territory. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kakadu National Park, inhabited by Aboriginal people for over 65,000 years, is recognized for both its outstanding natural ecosystems and its rich cultural landscape, including one of the world's greatest concentrations of rock art paintings.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Staged Reading | Boulevard of Bold Dreams: Original Drama Exploring Hollywood Golden Age
On February 29, 1940, the Oscars are set to make history in Hollywood, but the night takes an unexpected turn when Bartender Arthur Brooks, a hopeful Black filmmaker from rural Alabama, and his best friend Dottie Hudson, a disillusioned maid at the Ambassador Hotel, find themselves at a crossroads. As Academy Award Nominee Hattie McDaniel unexpectedly opts out of the night's grand event, Arthur and Dottie are thrust into a frantic mission to convince her to attend and seize her historic victory. As they navigate the glittering world of Hollywood, they confront their own dark pasts and strive to make their own dreams come true. This gripping play delves into themes of race, class, gender, and the shifting dynamics of Hollywood's golden age. Written by LaDarrion Williams. Directed by Trezana Beverley.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Author Reading | New York TImes-Featured Writer Shares Her New Criticism of Everyday Subjects
A reading and conversation with Wendy S. Walters for her new book, A Dead White: An Argument Against White Paint. About the book: An impassioned, boundary-pushing work of criticism traversing an array of subjects, from fine arts to design to architecture, taking aim at the ubiquity of white paint in our society and what its prevalence reveals about our values.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Talk | Vanity Fair & Vogue Featured Editorial Photographer Disucsses Her Artistic Journey
A talk by fashion and beauty photographer Lindsay Adler. Adler has risen to the top of her industry as both a photographer and educator. Based in New York City, her fashion editorials have appeared in such publications as Harper's Bazaar, L'Officiel, Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. As an educator, she is one of the industry's most sought-after international speakers, delivering keynote presentations at photography's most prestigious events. She is also the recipient of the United Nations Photographic Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to the photographic industry.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Classical Music | Chamber Music by Polish Composers: Refugees from World War II
Included on the program is essential, mostly unheard music, by Szymon Laks, Mieczyslaw Weinberg, and Roman Ryterband, some of Poland's most important pre-war composers. This concert will feature performances by Hanna Hipp (mezzo soprano), Jaroslaw Nadrzycki (violin), Josif Feigelson (cello), and Grzegorz Mania (piano). Reception to follow concert.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
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Classical Music | "Virtuoso" Pianist Performs Works by Liszt & More
Regular Price: $50CFT Member Price: $0.00
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