- ABOUT
- CONTACT
- FAQ
- REVIEWS
- GIVE A GIFT OF CFT!
-
Join the Club!
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!
25 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Saturday, May 24, 2025
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Editor's Picks
Workshop | Get in Shape: Cardio & Strength
Classes to help New Yorkers get and stay fit.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
9:30 am
free...
free...
Festival | Chinese Culture and Food Festival
This event features experiential activities, tastings, and market fairs showcasing the vibrant food, art and cultural traditions from China. It is a cultural platform that connects people in New York to Chinese restaurants, food vendors, artists, and local communities. This is a panda-themed Day!
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Fair | Cultural Street Fair
Spend the day browsing local vendors, savoring delicious eats from nearby restaurants, and enjoying a lively atmosphere at a festive outdoor street fair. With the block closed to traffic, it’s the perfect opportunity to shop, snack, and soak up the neighborhood spirit.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
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 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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
10:00 am
free...
free...
Festival | Fleet Week Activities & Displays on the Water
In recognition of our men and women in uniform, this museum celebrates Fleet Week! Throughout the event, enjoy musical performances and explore a variety of displays, activities and demos from the military! All events on the pier are free and open to the public. 10:00am-5:30pm: Activities Workshops:
Create a Corsair: Create a Corsair paper airplane with inverted gull wings like the one on display at the Intrepid Museum.
Morse Code Bracelets: Create a bracelet that says your name or initials in Morse Code.
Artifact Investigation Table: Discover artifacts from the Education Touch Collection
12:00pm- 5:30pm: Stage Performances Enjoy live music from a variety of performers throughout the day, including: Performances from America's Sweethearts: The Andrews Sisters and beyond! This vintage vocal trio sings music from the 1860s to the 1960s in the style of the girl groups of yesteryear - all with a slice of old-fashioned fun! Performances from Operation Encore: A Veteran Music Project Operation Encore is an organization that provides opportunities for veteran, active duty and military spouse singer-songwriters and musicians to take their music to the next level through artist development, professional recording, and industry-focused educational services.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Festival | Outdoor Food Festival To Celebrate Local Arts & Culture
Vendors and food sellers, including booths from nearby restaurants, will set up on a closed-off block as part of an ongoing arts andculture festival!
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Dance Fitness Class for All Ages
Colorful outfits encouraged at this creative workout that fuses dance and aerobics! Space 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
Join the Club!
11:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Museums | Family Fun at a Historical Site: Sailor Adventures
Enjoy interactive activities and engagement stations for visitors of all ages. Incorporate 19th-century maritime craft traditions into your handmade Valentine's Day cards and unique trinkets for the holiday. You can also browse galleries and learn about ships, life at sea and more.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
11:00 am
$1, registration required
$1, registration required
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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
11:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Fair | Park 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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
11:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
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.
Queens, New York, NY
Join the Club!
11:00 am
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Fair | Africa Day 2025 with Live Performances
Join Harlem’s vibrant community for the 3rd annual World Africa Day celebration, honoring Africa’s enduring legacy and presence. This year, a special collaboration with AfroFuture and a live recording of the No Wahala podcast will bring together artists, community leaders, and contemporary voices in a joyful tribute to unity, freedom, and resilience.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
12:00 pm
free, registration required...
free, registration required...
Tour | Explore Hidden Worlds Through Nature and Discovery
Drop in for free open hours and investigate monthly educational themes. Observe local marine life in a 250-gallon aquarium, explore a large-scale park model, dive into crafts and reading, and more. Guided by expert educators, visitors of all ages are invited to uncover the hidden stories of the environment through hands-on activities and self-led exploration.
Brooklyn, New York, NY
Join the Club!
1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Learn Letterpress Printing with a Professional
Spend a Saturday afternoon learning a variety of artistic practices from a rotating group of incredibly talented local creators! At this workshop, local artist Dikko Faust will lead a printing class, touching on different types of printmaking such as nature rubbings, paste papers, stencils and more. At the residency’s conclusion, Dikko will introduce participants to his Kelsey clamshell letterpress. Dikko Faust is an artist and letterpress printmaker. Dikko Faust began Purgatory Pie Press at University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1977, moved to New York’s Center for Book Arts, and is now one of the longest running artist presses in the world. Faust teaches letterpress printmaking at the School for Visual Arts.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Party | Play Contemporary Games & Make New Friends
Play your favorite contemporary board games! Featured games include but are not limited to Chameleon, Wavelength, Avalon, Parade, Splendor, Century Spice Road, Mountain Goats, No Thanks, Codenames, Werewords, Spyfall, Azul, Letter Jam, Dixit, In Kahootz, and Captain Sonar. A new game will be selected each week.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | Music on the Water: Works by Liszt and More for Oboe, Viola, and Piano
Michelle Farah, oboe, Laura Sacks, viola, Steven Beck, piano performs works by Romantic and 20th Century-era composers. Program Charles Martin Loeffler (1861-1935) Two Rhapsodies Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Scherzo and March, S. 177 August Klughardt (1847-1902) Schilflieder, op. 28
Brooklyn, New York, NY
Join the Club!
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Museums | Tour - Arts and Cultural Heritage of Spain and Portugal: Goya, El Greco and Others
Explore the best items this museum has on display with this guided tour. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, antiquities, and more by world-famous artists.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
2:00 pm
free, reservation required
free, reservation required
Theater | The Imaginary Invalid: Moliere's Comedy-Ballet Starring Broadway Actor
Argan is ill. But is he? Argan is dying. But aren't we all? Argan wants absolute control. But is that ever achievable? After a series of upside down attempts to snap him out of it, a solution is found. But will it save him? The Imaginary Invalid is the last play that legendary French playwright Moliere wrote and was originally conceived as a Comedy-Ballet where theater, dance, and music are intertwined. It explores the fear of disease and the exploitation it breeds through infinitely humorous dialogue and in-your-face satire. This production will feature original choreography by FlexN dancer Cal Hunt, original music by cellist Johnathan Moore, and stars Tony and Olivier Award nominee Sahr Ngaujah. Director and Translator: Lucie Tiberghien Choreographer and Dancer: Cal Hunt Composer and Cellist: Johnathan Moore Cast: Dante Bonner, Mary Bacon, Rory Furey-King, Doron JePaul, Naomi Lorrain, Sahr Ngaujah, Shayvawn Webster
Brooklyn, New York, NY
Join the Club!
3:00 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Museums | Art from All Over The World: Modern and Contemporary
Discover a vast collection of art from a diverse range of countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Russia, France, Spain, Japan, India, United States and more. 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
Join the Club!
4:00 pm
$1 min pay-what-you-wish,...
$1 min pay-what-you-wish,...
Classical Music | Music on the Water: Works by Liszt and More for Oboe, Viola, and Piano
Michelle Farah, oboe, Laura Sacks, viola, Steven Beck, piano performs works by Romantic and 20th Century-era composers. Program Charles Martin Loeffler (1861-1935) Two Rhapsodies Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Scherzo and March, S. 177 August Klughardt (1847-1902) Schilflieder, op. 28
Brooklyn, New York, NY
Join the Club!
4:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
5:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | The Queen's Heart: A Distilled Performance of Handel's Opera, Radamisto
Performed by Opera Essentia musicians (Jeffrey Mandelbaum, countertenor; Kristin Renee Young, soprano; Hans Tashjian, bass-baritone; Rebecca Pechefsky, harpsichord; Serafim Smigelskiy, violoncello; and Amelia Sie, violin), this opera event is a meditation on obsession, betrayal, and self-sacrifice. The Queen's Heart is a distillation of George Frideric Handel's Radamisto, an opera seria, is a saga of familial treachery and marital love which unfolds in bittersweet beauty, one ravishing aria after another. What's in store for the hounded Zenobia or the wretched Queen?
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Festival | Local Arts & Culture Explosion: 200+ Artists, Performers, & Vendors
Over 200 performing arts organizations, independent artists, poets, puppeteers, and film makers will take part in the 30th annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts. Indoor performances will take stage in the theater. Plus, vendors and food sellers, including booths from nearby restaurants, will set up in the closed-off neighboring block. On this date, attendees can expect performances by Infinity Dance Theater, Yara Arts, Zylik Brothers, Artichoke Dance Company, and more!
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Theater | The Imaginary Invalid: Moliere's Comedy-Ballet Starring Broadway Actor
Argan is ill. But is he? Argan is dying. But aren't we all? Argan wants absolute control. But is that ever achievable? After a series of upside down attempts to snap him out of it, a solution is found. But will it save him? The Imaginary Invalid is the last play that legendary French playwright Moliere wrote and was originally conceived as a Comedy-Ballet where theater, dance, and music are intertwined. It explores the fear of disease and the exploitation it breeds through infinitely humorous dialogue and in-your-face satire. This production will feature original choreography by FlexN dancer Cal Hunt, original music by cellist Johnathan Moore, and stars Tony and Olivier Award nominee Sahr Ngaujah. Director and Translator: Lucie Tiberghien Choreographer and Dancer: Cal Hunt Composer and Cellist: Johnathan Moore Cast: Dante Bonner, Mary Bacon, Rory Furey-King, Doron JePaul, Naomi Lorrain, Sahr Ngaujah, Shayvawn Webster
Brooklyn, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:30 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Performance | Explore an Immersive Art + Arcade World
Enter a vibrant, interactive universe where digital art, playful performance, and surreal storytelling unfold around you. Walk through a futuristic digital art gallery featuring worldbuilding visuals and works for sale in collaboration with ARCHIV3. Watch the immersive arcade-style performance unfold around you. Join the post-show party and networking jam, complete with music, visuals, and creative energy.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:30 pm
free, registration required...
free, registration required...
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Classical Music | "Virtuoso" Pianist Performs Works by Liszt & More
Regular Price: $50CFT Member Price: $0.00
Concert | Bluegrass, Rock and More by Acclaimed Performers
Regular Price: $75CFT Member Price: $0.00
Today's Events
All 1128 Events
Free Events This Week
Free Events This Weekend
Contact FAQ Reviews About Terms of Use Privacy Policy
All events are free unless otherwise stated. All programs subject to change. Please confirm before going.Contact FAQ Reviews About Terms of Use Privacy Policy
© Copyright Club Free Time. All rights reserved.