free things to do in New York City
Free events for Monday, 05/26/25
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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 26, 2025?

18 free events take place on Monday, May 26 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 26 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.
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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!

18 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Monday, May 26, 2025

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

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 Enjoy workshops and hands-on activities frall day long. Activities include: 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. 10:00am: Memorial Day Ceremony Join us for a solemn ceremony honoring the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives in defense of our nation. Civic and military leaders will offer remarks and join in a special wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the fallen. The ceremony concludes with a flyover by Navy fighter jets. 1:00pm: U.S. Army Drill Team  Watch breathtaking precision routines performed with bayonet-tipped 1903 Springfield rifles.  The U.S. Army Drill Team is a precision drill platoon with the primary mission of showcasing the U.S. Army both nationally and internationally. In celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday with a theme of  “This We’ll Defend,” the Army’s elite precision drill platoon will perform. 2:00pm: U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demonstration.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free
Festivals, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Fleet Week Activities & Displays on the Water

Museums | Remembrance, Reflection and Resilience


A place of commemoration: exhibition, artifacts, photographs, stories and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free
Museumss, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Remembrance, Reflection and Resilience

Fair | Memorial Day 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
Fairs, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Memorial Day Street Fair&nbsp;

Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors


In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would serve as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Each tour is one hour, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session with an assigned docent. Start times: 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
$10
Tours, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors

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
Workshops, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome

Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors


In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would serve as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Each tour is one hour, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session with an assigned docent. Start times: 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
$10
Tours, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors

Concert | Piano in the Park: Memorial Day Celebration with Kennedy Center Musician


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 pleased to present a special performance in honor of Memorial Day, led by Isaac ben Ayala. Isaac ben Ayala has performed and recorded with many notable bands and greats, from Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Louis and Bellson, to the New York City Ballet and The Sultans of Swing. He has scored numerous films and can be heard on the piano in Block Party, Evening, "The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Honors - Carol Burnett", and more. His orchestral arrangement, Basin Street Blues, premiered at The Kennedy Center with The National Pops Orchestra and is currently being performed by orchestras around the world.
   New York City, NY; NYC
12:30 pm
Free
Concerts, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Piano in the Park: Memorial Day Celebration with Kennedy Center Musician
1:00 pm
Regular: $50
Member: $0
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Concerts, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Memorial Day Concert at a Landmark Venue

Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors


In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would serve as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Each tour is one hour, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session with an assigned docent. Start times: 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:30 pm
$10
Tours, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors

Concert | Outdoor Memorial Day Concert Featuring Music by Leonard Bernstein and More


Grab a blanket, pack a picnic, and bring your friends to enjoy this beloved tradition that marks the unofficial start of summer. This year, organizers welcome back the talented musicians of the ISO Symphonic Band at Third Street, led by music director Paul Corn and guest conductor Brian P. Worsdale. The concert will feature stirring works that honor those who have served in the armed forces, while also spotlighting music by local stars, including James Weldon Johnson, Fred Ebb, and Leonard Bernstein. Plus, enjoy a selection of contemporary pieces by a diverse range of composers. It's a perfect way to commemorate the past while celebrating the beauty of music and community!
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Outdoor Memorial Day Concert Featuring Music by Leonard Bernstein and More

Concert | Sanguine Musical Selections in Museum Exhibition


Pop-up musical performances of Rashid Johnson's Sanguine (2024), enliven the museum and celebrate the vibrancy and abundant creativity of New York. Stage positioned just inside the museum exhibition.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Sanguine Musical Selections in Museum Exhibition

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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
$1 min pay-what-you-wish,...
Museumss, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Art from All Over The World: Modern and Contemporary

Museums | Historical and Modern Design Spanning Centuries


The museum is dedicated to showcasing the history, influence, and importance of design in everyday life. Housed in a historic mansion, the museum features a diverse collection of design objects, including decorative arts, architecture, graphic design, textiles, and industrial design. Free admission is daily 5 pm - 6 pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish...
Museumss, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Historical and Modern Design Spanning Centuries

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
Movie in a Parks, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Identity, Migration, and Memory: Three Short Documentaries Exploring American Chinatowns

Workshop | Hula Hooping Workshop for All Ages


Big Apple Hooping brings hooping fun to everyone. If you're looking to learn the fundamentals of hooping, work on refining your tricks, or meet fellow hoopers from the NYC area, this is the event for you. Hoopers of all experience levels, from beginner to advanced, are welcome, and all equipment is provided!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Workshops, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Hula Hooping Workshop for All Ages

Poetry Reading | Poetry in the Park


Hear award-winning poetry by established and emerging poets. Hosted by Jason Schneiderman, acclaimed poet who has author five poetry collections. Schneiderman is also the recipient of multiple awards and fellowships.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Poetry in the Park

Jazz | Live Jazz & Open Jam Night


Experience the soul of the city underground at this free weekly jazz night where spontaneity and swing collide. A powerhouse house band sets the tone before opening the floor to an open jam session welcoming musicians of all levels. From seasoned pros to bold newcomers, the energy flows and the creativity never stops. An intimate, vibey setting makes this one of New York City's best-kept secrets for live music lovers.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Live Jazz & Open Jam Night
8:30 pm
Regular: $50
Member: $0
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Concerts, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Memorial Day Concert: Mozart, Beethoven at a Landmark Venue
Complimentary Tickets

to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)

Musical | Hit Show Musical Parody

Regular Price: $58.50
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Large Chorus and Orchestra at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $55
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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