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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!
35 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Thursday, October 15, 2026
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Conference | How U.S. Cultural Policy Shaped Austrian Modern Culture: Panels, Exhibition, Film Screening, & Concert.
A one-day conference exploring the influence of the United States on Austrian cultural life after 1945. In the aftermath of World War II, the United States exerted the strongest cultural influence among the four Allied powers that liberated Austria. As part of denazification efforts, culture and media became important tools for replacing Nazi elites and introducing Austrians to new international influences. From 1946 onward, these efforts increasingly intersected with the geopolitical reorientation of Austria toward the Western, US-dominated anticommunist camp.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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9:30 am
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
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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10:00 am
free, registration required...
free, registration required...
Workshop | Mat Pilates Session (Beginners Welcome!)
Sweet Water Dance & Yoga leads a session of mat pilates, a strengthening and lengthening exercise that focuses on conditioning your core muscles while also training your arms and legs. This class incorporates key Pilates principles such as postural alignment, breathing, strength, controlled movement, and flexibility. This class is perfect for beginners but intermediate and advanced movers will also benefit. Bring your own mat.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 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 | An Afternoon of 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
Workshop | Artmaking on the Plaza with a Professional Artist
Led by a local teaching artist, this drop-in class invites participants to explore creativity through hands-on artmaking. Past mediums have included plein-air drawing, printmaking, cyanotypes, and more. All materials are provided.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | A Music-Forward Journey through Renaissance Spain (In Person AND Online!)
What melodies would have been heard while sailing into ports of the ancient Mediterranean? ALBA CONSORT bridges the ancient to the present, performing early and modern music on period instruments. Performers: Margo Andrea, mezzo-soprano, vielle, zills; Carlo Valte, oud; Rex Benincasa, percussion, tenor, psaltery; Jason Priset, lute, guitar, vihuela.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:15 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Film | Is God Is (2026): Southern Gothic Dark Comedy Thriller
Two sisters embark on an epic quest for revenge: confronting a charged family history that will push them to extraordinary lengths. Director: Aleshea Harris Cast: Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Janelle Monáe, Erika Alexander, Mykelti Williamson
Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Museums | Thursday Evenings at a Living Memorial Museum
Explore a museum dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, Jewish life, and education. View expansive galleries, survivor testimonies, and tens of thousands of artifacts. The museum also offers a theater, a genealogy center, an outdoor memorial, and a cafe.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:00 pm
free, reservation required...
free, reservation required...
Workshop | Full-Body Fitness Class in the Park (All-Levels Welcome)
An outdoor workout in the park for building strength, balance, and community. This full-body fitness class is designed to energize your week, boost your mood, and build community in the heart of Lower Manhattan. Every movement can be modified, making it perfect for beginners, returning exercisers, and parents looking to reset after school drop-off.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Jump into Double Dutch with the Pros
Learn the fundamentals of street-style and competitive jump rope with the Double Dutch Aunties.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Poetry Reading | Poetry Open Mic: Share Your Work or Listen to Emerging Writers
Participants can share their original work for up to five minutes. Space is limited to 15 readers; show up on time to get a slot!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, register for...
free, register for...
Film | Tol'able David (1921): Classic Silent Film
Young David Kinemon is a good-natured, easy-going lad in a mountain village. Circumstances force him to take his brother's place as mail carrier for the community, and this brings him into deadly contact with the vicious Hatburn brothers. Director: Henry King Cast: Richard Barthelmess, Gladys Hulette, Walter P. Lewis, Ernest Torrence
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Concert | A Musical Journey through the Rich History of Gospel Choir Music (In Person AND Online!)
The Harlem Gospel Ensemble, founded and directed by Du'Bois A'Keen, is a professional choir rooted in the rich tradition of Black gospel music, carrying its legacy into contemporary spaces around the world, with an expansive repertoire spanning traditional gospel, spirituals, contemporary Christian music, and original works. "Gospel Through the Ages" is a musical journey through the rich history and evolving tradition of gospel music. The program traces the genre's enduring legacy through beloved classics, contemporary favorites, and original works, celebrating the voices, composers, and communities that have shaped its sound. The program includes Richard Smallwood's "Total Praise," and original compositions and arrangements by composer and artistic director Du'Bois A'Keen. The evening concludes with inspiring contemporary Christian anthems that affirm the ongoing vitality of the gospel tradition.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required...
free, registration required...
Discussion | Architects, Politicians, & Activists Explore the Future of Urban Ecology in a Changing World
This conversation will explore different ways of effectively integrating ecological considerations into urban planning and design, preserve biodiversity in cities, protect species and their habitats, and transforming our built environments and landscapes to address the climate crisis, support the shift to a renewable economy, and grow more vibrant and resilient cities. Please review the venue's access requirements.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Concert | Grammy-Nominated Musicians Explore Cypriot Folk Traditions
Sounds of Cyprus, led by musician Peter Douskalis. A new concert and multilingual exploration, "Dialects" features the musical traditions of Cyprus' Greek-Cypriot, Turkish-Cypriot, and Maronite-Cypriot communities. The concert highlights newly composed and newly arranged Cypriot folk songs that bring together three dialects rarely heard together on the same stage, and almost never represented collectively in the diaspora. Drawing from oral histories, traditional forms, and lived experiences across communities, Dialects showcases a new suite of original arrangements created specifically for this project.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Jazz | Improvisations between John Coltrane, Miles Davis, & Michel Foucault
At this forum, organizers will stage an encounter between these three figures, seeing what happens when we play them with and against each other. André Lepecki, Fred Moten, Ann Pellegrini, and Karen Shimakawa host this special celebration. October 15th is the 100th birthday of Michel Foucault. 2026 is also the centennial year of two of the twentieth-century’s most influential and revolutionary musicians: John Coltrane and Miles Davis
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Book Discussion | International Center of Photography (ICP)-Featured Artist Discusses Photography through Language and the Senses
Photographer and filmmaker Neal Slavin will be in conversation with artist and author M. Leona Godin. Book signings to follow after their discussion.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Classical Music | New York Classical Players Perform Chamber Works by Beethoven & More
NYCP’s Beethoven 200 chamber series opens with a journey through the composer’s evolving voice. Two early quartets, the elegant Op. 18 No. 2 and the Mozart-inflected Op. 18 No. 5, lead to the heroic brilliance of the 3rd Razumovsky Quartet with its exhilarating fugal finale. The evening closes with Op. 132, one of Beethoven’s most intimate late works, centered on the transcendent “Holy Song of Thanksgiving.”
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Jazz | Sunset Jazz in the Park
Emerging artists from the jazz program at Church Street School of Music & Art.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Concert | Vocalist, Songwriter, & Multi-Instrumentalist Julia Easterlin
Easterlin creates lush, immersive sonic worlds with vocals, loop pedal, and stringed instruments. Easterlin pairs inventive musicianship with the earthly storytelling of her upbringing along Georgia’s Ogeechee River. Her singular artistry has been recognized by TED, the GRAMMY Foundation, and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and has led to collaborations with artists including Jacob Collier, Vieux Farka Touré, Bobby McFerrin, and Kris Bowers. She invites audiences into an intimate world shaped by experimentation, storytelling, and connection.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Screening | Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon (2026) -- American/French History Documentary (+ Q&A with Experts)
A screening and Q&A of a film by Gedeon Programmes made for PBS and ARTE. A docu-drama commemorating the 140th anniversary commission of the Statue of Liberty. Visionary artist and skilled self-promoter, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi pioneered inventive fundraising campaigns in France and the United States, an early form of crowdfunding, to finance the Statue of Liberty. The film traces his transatlantic journeys, the statue’s gradual creation, and the powerful symbolism it carried at its inauguration in October 1886. Alongside Bartholdi, it highlights key figures such as Édouard de Laboulaye, who conceived the idea of the gift, and Joseph Pulitzer, whose press campaign mobilized public support to complete the funding. Director: Julien Johan Following the 55-minute film, there will be a panel discussion with
Edward Berenson, Professor of History and director of the IFS, NYU
Michele Mitchell, Professor of History, NYU
Annie Polland, President of the Tenement Museum
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Lecture | Award-Winning Artist & Researcher Discusses Histories of Black American Print Publishing (In Person AND Online!)
A lecture by artist and designer, Kelly Walters, inspired by The Hampton Album and print culture at the turn of the century. Walters is an artist, designer, and researcher who engages with histories of Black American print publishing, material culture, and archival practice. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Talk starts at 6:30 PM and will be followed by a reception.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Talk | BAFTA-Winning Actress from Fleabag, Andor, Killing Eve, & More Discusses Her Craft & Career
Star of the stage and screen, Fiona Shaw, introduced by Sarah Cole, Dean of Columbia University School of the Arts and Parr Professor of English and Comparative Literature. Fiona Shaw is an Cork-born actor who has become one of Great Britain’s most celebrated stage and screen treasures. Appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and awarded the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, she is renowned internationally for her contributions to dramatic arts.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Collage Night
Repurpose old book materials and create some art. Base supplies will be provided. Additional materials are available for purchase at PWYC prices.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, donations welcome,...
free, donations welcome,...
Workshop | Intermediate Chess-Playing: Level-Up Your Game
Develop your strategies and take your game to the next level with chess expert Tamar Chanadiri from the Marshall Chess Club. All ages are welcome! Chess has many benefits, including:
Improving cognitive skills
Encouraging creativity
Building confidence
Developing problem-solving skills
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Book Club | Luddite Book Club: Martyr Loser King by Saul Williams
Offline Book Club is a space for in-person conversation about the role technology plays in our world. This month's pick: Martyr Loser King by Saul Williams. About the Book: An Afrofuturist fable set in the coltan mines of East Africa during a global cyberattack. This graphic novel critiques technological exploitation while also imagining rebellion and the possibility of transformative change.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Staged Reading | The Mischief Maker: Original Coming-of-Age Drama
1980s rural Virginia. Louise, a 15-year-old Catholic schoolgirl, rebels against her restrictive mother, Jane, by making mischief at school, at work, and behind the strip mall. When Jane catches Louise sneaking beers, Louise lashes back by seducing 20-something Tim on an old mattress in the woods. Jane shows up, however, and ends the mischief, once and for all. The Mischief Maker explores teen angst, forbidden love, and the cycle of violence through generations. Written by Ruth Apolonia Zamoyta. Directed by Cheryl Katz.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Film | Korean Film Festival: Stars and Sand (2025) -- Korean Drama Film
In late summer, Se-yeon, unable to adapt to the rapidly moving city, lives at a slower pace, keeping her dreams close but never quite reaching for them. The only time she feels truly alive is at night, when she goes to the river after sunset to paint in the darkness. At the same time, there is someone else by the river. Jae-woo has a dream of his own: to make a fortune selling river sand. They share the river at night, face each other over meals, and walk together through the changing season. As summer comes to an end, Se-yeon and Jae-woo are forced to face each other's vulnerabilities. Director: Kam Jeong-won Cast: Ahn Soo-hyun, Hong Sang-pyo, Cheon Jeong-rak Intro and Q&A with KAM JEONGWON and CHOI CHANG HWAN. English subtitles available.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Poetry Reading | Latinx Poetry Salon
A poetry reading by Diannely Antigua, Francisco Aragon, and Mandy Gutmann-Gonzalez. The event will conclude with a reception/signing with books for sale. Diannely Antigua is a Dominican American poet and educator. She is the author of two poetry collections, Ugly Music, which was the winner of the Pamet River Prize and a 2020 Whiting Award, and Good Monster. Francisco Aragón's books include, After Rubén, Glow of Our Sweat, and Puerta de Sol. Mandy Gutmann-Gonzalez is a Chilean poet and novelist working at the intersections of text, performance, archive, and translation. They are the author of La Pava and A/An.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Poetry Reading | Prize-WInning Poets Celebrate the Release of Book-Length Poem on the Arboreal
A reading by Jay Gao to celebrate the release of The Dead One, the Unconscious One, Thundering in Your Ear, Thriving Slumber. He will be joined by the poet Lynn Xu. Their reading will be followed by a conversation with Patricia Dailey. About the book: Part ecopoetic inventory, part dream vision, The Dead One, The Unconscious One, Thundering in Your Ear, Thriving Slumber is an experimental book-length poem on the arboreal.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Museums | Thursday Nights at One of NYC's Leading Museum
Contemporary art is a vital social force that advances questioning, learning, and working towards a better society. This weekly program offers an accessible opportunity to explore groundbreaking exhibitions by emerging and established artists from around the globe. Engage with current artistic dialogues and help expand the definition of art.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Play | The Crucible: Arthur Miller's Historical Drama
A Salem resident attempts to frame her ex-lover’s wife for being a witch in the middle of the 1692 witchcraft trials. Playwright: Arthur Miller Director: Harry George Brook Cast: Teddy Fischer, Maya Mays, Lena Moore, Jamisen Dowdy, Elena Falkow, Greg Hofmann, Jalexis James
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Concert | Genre-Fluid, Intimate Sounds with Singer-Songwriter
Brooklyn-based musician Mei Semones crafts a singular sonic world where English and Japanese lyrics intertwine with an evocative blend of jazz, bossa nova, indie pop, and rock. At just 25, Semones has already developed a lush, genre-fluid sound—equal parts playful and emotionally expansive. Her debut album, Animaru, reveals a striking musical instinct for crafting intimate yet soaring songs, rich in texture and feeling. 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
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7:30 pm
free, fast-track available
free, fast-track available
Dance Performance | Multi-Choreographer Autumn Dance Concert
Enjoy a the October Concert performed by NYU's Second Avenue Dance Company. This performance features choreography by Company Choreographers Nyah Arne, Aidan Gresock, London Ludwig, Sophia Nielson, Shloka Porwal, and Olivya Sessing; Guest Choreographers Kayla Farrish and Yasmeen Godder.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Join the Club!
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Classical Music | "Virtuoso" Pianist Performs Works by Liszt & More
Regular Price: $50CFT Member Price: $0.00
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