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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!
31 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, September 2, 2026
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Editor's Picks
Workshop | Tai Chi (Outdoors)
Improve balance, strength, and focus through gentle exercises. The sights and sounds of the harbor provide a serene background for the ancient flowing postures.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:30 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Screening | Most Watched International Events on the Big (30-foot!) Screen Outdoors: Tennis
Today's Schedule:
9:00am - 11:30am Tennis- Tennis Channel Live at the US Open
11:30am - 11:00pm Tennis- US Open
*Scheduled programming subject to change. Seating is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Wells Fargo customers receive priority seating.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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9:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Artist-Led Figure Drawing in the Park
Placed in a unique setting, a model will strike short and long poses for participants to sketch and draw. An artist/ educator will offer constructive suggestions and critique. Drawing materials provided, or bring your own.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
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
free, no reservation required
Museums | New York City: History, Architecture, Social Movements, Cultural Diversity
This museum holds over 1,5 million artifacts, including photographs, paintings, decorative arts, costumes, and documents that tell the story of New York's development and its inhabitants. Explore the galleries and discover the rich history and vibrant culture of New York City!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Museums | Celebrate Chinese American Heritage & History
Step into a space dedicated to preserving, illuminating, and celebrating the rich history and contributions of Chinese in America. Connect with stories that inspire and bridge communities, honoring the legacy of generations who shaped the American narrative. Walk through galleries showcasing art, artifacts, and personal histories that reflect resilience, innovation, and cultural heritage.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
pay-what-you-wish for New...
pay-what-you-wish for New...
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
free, no reservation required
Workshop | French Petanque-Playing in the Park
Members of NYC’s oldest-running Petanque club guide a Petanque-playing session. This French lawn bowling game from the early 20th century is easy to learn, and the boules will be provided. Just bring yourself!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:00 pm
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
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
Jazz | Piano in the Park: Big Band Pianist
Come on down and swing along to the best jazz the Big Apple has to offer, with musician Kuni Mikami and special guests. “He plays with soul!” - Lionel Hampton Kuni Mikami has played for many of the top big bands. He has performed with bands such as The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Cab Calloway. Illinois Jacquet, and the New Lionel Hampton Orchestra, to name a few. Kuni is also the author of two jazz piano instructional books in Japanese: Jazz Piano New York Style Volume I and Volume II. He also wrote a book My Life as a Jazz Pianist in NY.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Adult Chorus Session Open to All
Directed by Church Street School of Music, the Downtown Beats adult chorus is open to all who love to sing! Learn contemporary and classic songs and perform at community events throughout the year.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free...
free...
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
free, no reservation required
Museums | Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum
Internationally recognized as a premier museum and research center, this museum is known for its distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:30 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Workshop | Landscape Art Class (Outdoors)
Artists of all skill levels can be inspired by park surroundings to create with drawing materials, pastels, and watercolors. Embolden your artwork amidst the flower-filled and seasonally evolving palette of verdant gardens. An artist/educator will provide ideas and instruction. Materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Learning the Basics of Choosing the Right Lens for Your Photography
Jeff Cable shares his recommended lens choices for almost any subject matter. Cable is known to photograph everything from the Olympic Games, to personal events, portraits, wildlife, and landscapes. His choice of lenses for each subject matter can mean the difference between an award-winning photo and a throw-away.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Jazz | NPR-Featured Ragtime & Stride Entertainer in the Park
Hit your stride with ragtime, stride, and jazz veteran Terry Waldo and his Gotham City Band. The protege of the late Eubie Blake, he has produced over 40 albums and written the definitive book on ragtime, This is Ragtime - republished recently by Jazz At Lincoln Center.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | An Evening of Rowing in New York Harbor
At this rowing session, after a brief orientation, participants will be assigned to a crew with an experienced coxswain to steer the boat and a mixture of experienced and new rowers. The boats, Whitehall gigs, are stable, traditional working boats for four rowers and a coxswain. No experience is necessary and rowers of all ability levels are welcome! The rowing sessions last several hours and are designed to be excursions: groups row against the tide to a destination, take a break onshore or in a protected cove, then return home with the tide. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Please complete the waiver before
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Museums | Explore a Curated Collection of Innovation in Craft, Art, and Design
This collection celebrates contemporary makers across creative fields, showcasing artists, designers, and artisans known for their ingenuity and skill. The work on display honors the art of making, from traditional methods to advanced technologies. Its curatorial program continues a legacy of exhibitions focused on cross-disciplinary art and design, highlighting the craftsmanship behind everyday objects and environments. The museum offers an international platform for influential practitioners shaping cultural production and innovation today.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish from 5pm...
pay-what-you-wish from 5pm...
Party | Play Settlers of Catan: All Levels Welcome
Play one of the most popular board games in the world. Organizers welcome players of all levels to this social! These socials are limited to 16 players, with 2 rounds. Organizers ask that participants arrive 15 minutes early to sign up.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Discussion | Person Place Thing: Live Podcast Recording with NYC Ballet Conductor Guest
Experience the public radio interview program created and hosted by Randy Cohen. Built around the idea that people are especially engaging when they speak about something they care about, each episode explores one person, one place, and one thing with particular meaning to the guest. This episode's guest is David Lamarche, who has been working as a conductor in the dance field for over forty years. As a guest, he has conducted for New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, The Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, L'Opera di Roma, and Het National Ballet. The orchestras he has directed include the Houston Symphony, the Lyric Opera Orchestra of Chicago, Orchestra of St. Luke's, The Paris Opera Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Moscow Radio Orchestra, and the Orchestre Lamoreux. Mr. LaMarche is currently in his twenty-sixth year as a conductor on the staff of American Ballet Theatre. Doors open at 5:00 pm.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:20 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Book Discussion | New York Times-Bestselling Children's Author Shares His Latest Book
A conversation with Stephen Savage to celebrate his new book, Wide Load on the Road: A Big Red Truck's Journey, the illustrated story of a big truck perserving to finish a big job. He will be in conversation with Steven Guarnaccia, followed by a signing.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
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
free, no reservation required
Dancing | Salsa Dancing on the Plaza (Lesson + Open Dance Floor)
Teachers with Mi Salsa Dura Baile lead an evening of Latin rhythm and dancing! Each class starts off with a lesson followed by an open dance floor.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Yoga on the Green: Bilingual Vinyasa Flow (All levels Welcome)
This evening yoga class is led by Mariana Fernández, who has been teaching for 15 years. From introducing yoga to gyms and incorporating power vinyasa style in studios in Mexico City, Mariana found her voice teaching in English and Spanish. Moving back to NYC, she created a footprint in her unique accessible vinyasa style flow which led her to be the first Spanish-speaking instructor at Peloton Interactive. Since then, she has fostered a place for multicultural and multilingual practitioners to come to the mat, as well as created a gateway for athletes to find yoga as a complement to their athletic endeavors. In Mariana's classes, you will dance, you will smile, and you will find a space of welcome to the world of yoga. This class will be taught in English and Spanish. Bring your own mat (the park does not provide mats). Organizers also recommend bringing water and a towel. This yoga class is appropriate for all levels.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Pilates on the Pier
NYC’s best trainers will bring the energy for this Pilates workout, a great fit for any fitness level. Pilates will focus on low-impact core strength and mobility. This class will be led by coaches and trainers from obé Fitness.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Sunset Yoga on the Water
End your day with yoga in a beautiful sunset setting, led by Meg SantaMaria of Roadside Yogi. Suitable for all fitness levels. Please wear comfortable and bring your own mat. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Concert | Grammy-Winning Rock, Jazz, & Indie-Pop Acts in the Park
A celebration of the label’s 70th anniversary include Samara Joy, a six-time GRAMMY winner and Bronx native, and Christian McBride, a world-class bassist and bandleader, a Juilliard graduate and 11-time GRAMMY winner who has recorded with legends of both the jazz Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Eddie Palmieri, and more) and pop (Sting, Paul McCartney, Celine Dion) spheres. Also, Mei Semones, an American indie rock musician who writes jazz-influenced songs in both English and Japanese, has invited her own crew of friends including aron!, Liana Flores, and John Roseboro to perform music from Getz/Gilberto, the classic collaborative album by João Gilberto and Stan Getz released on Verve in 1964. Sparklmami will begin the show with a DJ set.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Book Discussion | Pulitzer Prize FInalist/Journalist Discusses His Book, The Only Plane in the Sky
Just nine days before the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Garrett M. Graff revisits that harrowing morning, honoring its dark legacy while exploring how those hours permanently reshaped our national identity, America's innocence, and generations to come. The Only Plane in the Sky reconstructs the harrowing events of 9/11 minute-by-minute through the voices of those who lived it—passengers, air traffic controllers, first responders, military leaders, and government officials—creating an immersive oral history of a single shattering day. These first-hand accounts paint the picture of a country realizing it was under attack, and the title reflects the haunting moment when all civilian aircraft were grounded, leaving Air Force One as the only plane left in the sky. Just nine days before the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Graff revisits that harrowing morning, honoring its dark legacy while exploring how those hours permanently reshaped our national identity, America's innocence, and generations to come.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Movie in a Park | Akeelah and the Bee (2006): Drama Film with Keke Palmer (Outdoors)
An inner-city girl strives to become a spelling champ in this uplifting family film. Director: Doug Atchison Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer, Curtis Armstrong Keke Palmer is an actress, singer, and entertainer. She has earned numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2019, Time magazine included her on its list of most influential people in the world. Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie. In the event of heavy rain or extreme weather, the screening may be canceled.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:15 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Screening | Metropolitan Opera in HD: Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, Act I (Outdoors)
Wagner's transcendent meditation on love and death features a powerhouse pair as the Irish princess Isolde and the love-drunk Tristan in a revelatory new production by director Yuval Sharon. Includes full open captions. All guests will be welcomed at designated access points one hour prior before the movie begins. Seating is general admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Screening will go on as scheduled in the case of rain but will be canceled in the event of thunder/lightning or high wind.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Classical Music | J.S. Bach and Beethoven by Prominent Orchestra
Regular Price: $30CFT Member Price: $0.00
Concert | "Electrifying, Groove-Heavy" Band at Revered Venue
Regular Price: $35CFT Member Price: $0.00
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