free things to do in New York City
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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 21, 2025?
30 free events take place on Wednesday, May 21 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 21 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.
Are you looking for free things to do in New York City (NYC) on May 21, 2025?
30 free events take place on Wednesday, May 21 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 21 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.
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!
30 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, May 21, 2025
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Workshop | Morning Yoga in the Fresh Air
Move, stretch, and start your morning off right with this open-level vinyasa class taught by Frances Burch. Please bring your own yoga mat, and organizers recommend a bottle of water and towel.
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 am
Free
Free
Park Walk | Discover the History & Design of One of New York's Most Unique Park
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
Free
Workshop | Figure Drawing in the Park
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
Free
Fair | Midtown Street Fair
Celebrate community, creativity, and culture at this vibrant street fair! Discover a colorful mix of artisan goods, live entertainment, and educational activities. This lively outdoor event highlights the diversity and spirit of the neighborhood while supporting local nonprofits, merchant associations, and community organizations.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
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!
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome
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.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
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.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Tiffany Glass and Other Exhibitions
The museum is dedicated to showcasing the history, art, and culture of its area with a permanent collection of 10,000 items. One of the exhibitions includes famous Tiffany's leaded glass objects and a valuable insight into the development of the inuctry in the US at the turn of the 20th century.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Concert | Piano in the Park: Jazz
A five, six, seven, eight... Come on down and swing along to the best ragtime, stride, and jazz the Big Apple has to offer. The park is proud to present a special performance by Yuka Aikawa. Pianist and composer Yuka Aikawa began playing piano at the age of five in her native country, Japan. She's received the prestigious Michael Feinstein Award for "Outstanding Talent." You can hear Yuka at various jazz clubs in and around the New York area, as an accompanist for jazz choir The Lance Hayward Singers, or on Carline Ray's beautiful album Vocal Sides. Yuka's new trio album, Clouds and Water, has been released in Japan, where she tours every year.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Free
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.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
Jazz | Jazz Standards from The American Songbook in an Art Gallery
Guitarist Bill Wurtzel 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. Capacity for this program is limited; to ensure your space, organizers strongly recommend you arrive early.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Orchestra & Choir Works by J.S. Bach: Popular & Sacred Pieces
Trinity Choir and Trinity Baroque Orchestra, led by organist Avi Stein, highlight Bach's beautiful Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn (cantata 92), a sacred work that references the soul's surrender as the way to heaven. Then glory in the masterful Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major -- Bach's first major work for solo harpsichord and orchestra. The wildly popular Brandenburg Concertos gave almost every period instrument a place to shine, and the fifth spotlights the flute, violin, and harpsichord -- which it moves into the limelight with an unforgettable cadenza (a technically brilliant passage) unlike anything of its time.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
Film | The Russia House (1990): Spy Film with Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer
During the Cold War, a Soviet editor asks a British publisher to print an explosive manuscript detailing the status of Russia's nuclear capabilities. Director: Fred Schepisi Cast: Sean Connery, Michelle Pfeiffer, Roy Scheider, James Fox, John Mahoney Sir Thomas Sean Connery was a Scottish actor, notable as the first actor to portray secret agent James Bond in film, starring in seven Bond films. Over the course of his carer, Connery received various accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (the first Scottish actor to win the achievement), the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture, andthe BAFTA Award for Best Actor. He's also received honorary awards like the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1987, the BAFTA Fellowship in 1998, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. Michelle Pfeiffer is an American actress, a major star in Hollywood during the 1980s and 1990s, with her performances earning her numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe and a British Academy Film Award,plus nominations for three Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy.
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
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.
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Pay-What-You-Wish, reservation required
Pay-What-You-Wish, reservation required
Museums | Learn about the Modern Skyscraper with an Expert
This event is gallery tour exploring the modern concrete skyscraper, which examines the hidden history of concrete in tall buildings. This exhibition reveals why, today, almost all skyscrapers are built of concrete, not steel.
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Free
Concert | Pop-Up Music in the Park: Award-Winning Brass Band
Dance, sing, and celebrate with Triad Brass--a pop-up party brass band of award-winning musicians bringing you songs from the seventies, numbers from the noughties, and something for everyone in-between.
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free
Free
Book Club | Novella Discussion Joseph Roth's Rebellion
During this novella discussion, the group will focus on Joseph Roth's 1924 novella, Rebellion. "Rebellion is reminiscent of Chekhov in its uncluttered, melancholy simplicity, while its sense of the larger, crushing incomprehensibility of things echoes Roth's older contemporary, Frank Kafka." --Richard Bernstein, The New York Times Synopsis: When Andreas Pum returns from World War I, he has lost a leg but gained a medal. But unlike his fellow sufferers, Pum maintains his unswerving faith in God, Government, and Authority. Ironically, after a dispute, Pum is imprisoned as a rebel, and all that he believed in is now thrown into upheaval. Moving along at a breakneck clip, Rebellion captures the cynicism and upheavals of a postwar society. Its jazz-like cadences mix with social commentary to create a wise parable about justice and society.
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:30 pm
Free
Free
Film | Vishniac (2023): Documentary on Pre-WWII Jewish Photographer
Vishniac is about Russian-American photographer Roman Vishniac, who's best known for traveling through Eastern Europe from 1935 to 1938, photographing Jewish life in Eastern Europe. Few predicted that less than a decade later, these communities would be destroyed, and that Vishniac’s photographs would provide the last visual records of an entire world. He was a pioneer of microscopic photography and one of the first to use photography as a documentary tool. As anti-Semitism grew in his native Russia, he fled to Berlin, only to flee again to New York when the Nazis came to power. Throughout his journey, he never put his camera down. His daughter and grandchildren tell the intimate (and traumatic) family story of the man who became one of the world’s most renowned nature photographers. The film features his stunning photographs for Life magazine, as well as tragically moving images of life in Jewish towns just before the Holocaust. The purpose of the photographs was to raise funds for impoverished Jewish communities, and he later continued his efforts using these images to draw the attention of the American government to the terrible fate of Jews in Europe during the war. His legacy also includes portraits of celebrities--Albert Einstein's favorite portrait was of himself painted by Vishniac. Director: Laura Bialis
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:30 pm
Free
Free
Movie in a Park | Identity, Migration, and Memory: Three Short Documentaries Exploring American Chinatowns
Luka Yuanyuan Yang is a visual artist and filmmaker whose practice, characterized by interwoven documentary and archival materials, addresses themes of identity, migration, and memory, challenging conventional historical narratives and amplifying overlooked voices. During a year-long research trip across the US in 2018, Yang was captivated by the rich history of migration and adaptation in America's Chinatowns. From 1882 until the 1950s, due to the Chinese Exclusion Act and racial discrimination, Chinese Americans were largely confined to Chinatowns. During this same period, Yang began researching the stories of Chinese women in 20th-century American performing arts, seeking to uncover the experiences of Chinese women performers whose stories have been forgotten or misunderstood by history. Yang's exploration of these neighborhoods, the Chinese diaspora, and performing artists has become the central focus of her short films and feature film Chinatown Cha-Cha, and her recently published artist book Dance in Herland. In a time of rising threats to America's Chinatowns, the artist brings generations together through film, dance, and dialogue. For this screening, Yang presents Tales of Chinatown, an exhibition of three of her short films: Cantonese Tunes on Mott Street (2022), The Lady From Shanghai (2019), and Tales of Chinatown (2019). By following her protagonists on the streets, through their communities, and into their homes, Yang amplifies the voices of those often denied the chance to share their own stories--individuals who have been forgotten, silenced, or misinterpreted.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
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.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Lecture | Women Who Shaped NYC's Nightlife and Cultural Revolutions (Online)
From Billie Holiday's haunting performance of Strange Fruit to Sylvia Robinson's game-changing introduction of hip hop at Webster Hall, women have long transformed nightlife into a platform for cultural and political change. This virtual lecture explores the legacy of female nightlife activists who, through taverns, clubs, speakeasies, and dance floors, challenged norms, united communities, and influenced the city's cultural landscape. The program highlights icons such as Norma Miller, who revolutionized swing dance, and Patti Astor, who brought graffiti and New Wave art into the mainstream. These vibrant figures used nightlife as a powerful stage to amplify voices, celebrate subcultures, and reshape the social fabric.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Book Signing | A Celebration of Asian Diaspora Creativity: Book Launch + Exhibition
Celebrate the launch of Kathy Huang's new book Wonder Women: Art of the Asian Diaspora with an evening of art, games, and community. The festivities include a book signing, a special after-hours viewing of Zoé Blue M.’s solo exhibition Hard Boiled, games hosted by Mahjong Mistress, food by Nom Wah, and drinks by Kung Fu Tea. Copies of Wonder Women will be available for purchase at the gallery.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Party | Board Games Meet-Up
Play 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: • Improving memory and focus • Enhancing critical thinking skills • Making connections • Reducing stress (and screen time!)
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Sunset Yoga in the Park
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
Free
Concert | When Folksongs Bring Freedom: Performance by Renowned Bassist, Hilliard Greene
Acclaimed bassist Hilliard Greene presents a performance and workshop highlighting the beauty and significance of Negro spirituals associated with the Underground Railroad. Greene explores this uniquely American genre through words and music, featuring songs like Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Wade in the Water, Deep River, Go Down Moses, and Michael Row the Boat Ashore. Greene, celebrated for his solo contrabass work and known for collaborations with legendary jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott, brings powerful history and artistry to this performance. Note: Adult program; ages 18+ renowned
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Fifty Years of Form: Fred Sandback’s Dialogue with Dia
This event marks the launch of Interaction, a scholarly volume tracing Fred Sandback’s five-decade relationship with Dia Art Foundation. Through archival research, critical essays, and dialogues featuring Matilde Guidelli-Guidi and Curtis Harvey, the publication examines how the foundation's institutional framework shaped Sandback’s spatial and conceptual investigations. A conversation with the authors will be introduced by Director Jessica Morgan and moderated by Deputy Director of Programs Humberto Moro.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Talk | Monuments and the American Identity Discussion
How have monuments and museums helped construct Americans’ public subconscious about race, class, gender, and history writ large? Panelists will discuss the rise and fall of public art, the healing potential of newly commissioned projects, the expanding role of museums, and the challenges currently confronting activists and artists. Irvin Weathersby, Jr. is a Brooklyn-based writer and professor from New Orleans. His work has been featured on ABC News Live Prime, at the Brooklyn Museum, in the Los Angeles Times, Elle, LitHub, Guernica, Esquire, the Atlantic, EBONY, and elsewhere. He has received fellowships and awards from the Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation, the Research Foundation of CUNY, the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Mellon Foundation. In Open Contempt is his first book. Erin L. Thompson, America’s only professor of art crime, holds a PhD in Art History and a law degree, and is a professor at City University of New York. She has spoken about monuments controversies with outlets including the New Yorker, New York Times, CSPAN, and “The Today Show.” Stephen Colbert and John Oliver have referenced her work. Her book Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of American Public Monuments, was published in 2022. She is now completing a book about antiquities forgeries.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
$5 per RSVP
Poetry Reading | Multilingual Poetry: What is Quantum Poetics?
This event introduces the concepts of Quantum Age Poetry and Quantum Poetics to the general public. The presentation will explore how these innovative poetic frameworks relate to multilingual and translingual poetries. Featured poets: Dima Pevzner is known for his work as a poet, songwriter, composer, and experimental filmmaker. His latest works have been met with acclaim. For the past year, Dima co-hosted Out of the Box Multilingual Poetry Series at Bowery Poetry Club (with Igor Satanovsky and Anton Yakovlev). Igor Satanovsky is a poet, editor, curator, visual artist, and award-winning book designer. Igor is the author of nine collections of poetry and a recipient of the 2021 David Burliuk Prize for experimental poetry. He founded the annual International Zaum Day (2014), organized the New York DADA Poetry Centennial (2016), and Berlin/New York/Kyiv: Poetry Fest Against Russian Invasion of Ukraine, and contributed notes to multiple editions of A Dictionary of the Avant-Gardes. Anton Yakovlev’s poetry collection One Night We Will No Longer Bear the Ocean was published in 2024. His chapbook Chronos Dines Alone won the James Tate Poetry Prize. The Last Poet of the Village, a book of translations of poetry by Sergei Yeseni. Yakovlev is also the author of Ordinary Impalers and two prior chapbooks. Poet, translator and essayist, Murat Nemet-Nejat has written several published works, including The Spiritual Life of Replicants and Animals of Dawn; the translation of the Turkish poet Seyhan Erozçelik’s Rosestrikes and Coffee Grinds (; and the editing of Eda: An Anthology of Contemporary Turkish Poetry and the essays “Dear Charles, Letters from a Turk: Mayan Letters, Herman Meliville and Eda” (Spuyten Duyvil, 2016) and “Holiness and Jewish Rebellion:’Questions of Accent,’ Twenty Years Afterward."
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Performance | Stories in Water
Join artist Jumana Emil Abboud for a storytelling performance exploring myth, memory, and our ties to water. Developed through workshops, A River’s Keepers invites participants and audiences to reflect on personal and collective relationships to rivers and streams through spoken word and collaborative mark-making.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Poetry Reading | Celebrate New Releases from Prize-Winning Poets
Celebrate the newest publications from Elaine Equi and Joanna Fuhrman! Elaine Equi’s Out of the Blank moves through familial relationships, time, and the body with her signature wit and curiosity. Fuhrman confronts the foreign landscape of the online world in Data Mind, while remixing the traditional trope with her signature comic and surrealist flair. Reception to follow. Copies of Out of the Blank and Data Mind will be available for purchase.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Classical Music | Large Chorus and Orchestra at a Landmark Venue
Regular Price: $55CFT Member Price: $0.00
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