free things to do in New York City
Free events for Saturday, 05/31/25
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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 31, 2025?

26 free events take place on Saturday, May 31 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 31 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!

26 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Saturday, May 31, 2025

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Workshop | Get in Shape: Cardio & Strength


Classes to help New Yorkers get and stay fit.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:30 am
Free
Workshops, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Get in Shape:&nbsp;Cardio & Strength

Fair | Carroll Gardens 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 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Carroll Gardens Street Fair

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
Park Walks, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Discover the History & Design of One of New York's Most Unique Park

Workshop | Drawing in the Park


Paint in watercolor or use pastels and other drawing materials to capture the magical vistas of the Hudson River and the unique landscape of South Cove. An artist/educator will help participants of all levels with instruction and critique. 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
Workshops, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Drawing in the Park

Workshop | Kayaking with View of Lower Manhattan


Want to go kayaking with an amazing view of lower Manhattan and the NYC harbor? Then you've come to the right place. Glide along the water this summer and fall in a protected embayment by kayaking! All levels are welcome including first-time kayakers -- life vests and all equipment provided, as well as instruction. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present. 20 minute timed slots.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Workshops, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Kayaking with View of Lower Manhattan

Fair | 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 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Street Fair

Fair | Upper East Side 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 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Upper East Side Street Fair

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. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Workshops, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Dance Fitness Class for All Ages

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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
$1, registration required
Museumss, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Family Fun at a Historical Site: Sailor Adventures

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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11:00 am
Free
Workshops, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome

Author Reading | Photobook Meet-Up with NYT-Featured Photograher Tommy Kha


Explore the museum's photobook library during Photobook Club, a community meet-up for book enthusiasts, photographers, and lovers of printed images. Bring your favorite photobook, zine, or other image focused publication to share while exploring monthly selections from the the museum's stacks during this community-building event. From 11AM - 12PM, explore selections from photographer Tommy Kha in celebration of Asian Heritage Month. Later, Kha himself will share about his practice and the photobooks that have inspired him. The reading library contains over 20,000 books and periodicals.  Tommy Kha (b. Memphis, Tennessee) lives in Brooklyn, NY. He is a recipient of the Hayes Prize, previously, he received the Next Step Award, Foam Talent, and NYSCA/NYFA Photography Fellow. His work has been published in The New York Times, the New Yorker, and Foam. He has had solo shows at Higher Pictures Generation, Baxter St. at the Camera Club of New York, and Blue Sky Gallery.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Author Readings, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Photobook Meet-Up with NYT-Featured Photograher Tommy Kha

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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11:00 am
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Museumss, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Tiffany Glass and Other Exhibitions

Master Class | Learn Acting & Public Speaking Skills with Theater Pro


Designed for anyone who wants to “take the stage” – in acting or public speaking! The art of acting is not just about being the next famous actor, but it explores life skills that everyone can utilize in any profession. Explore the elements of acting while freeing your creativity, increasing your confidence, and learning how to work effectively in a group. The tools and techniques of the actor’s craft are introduced through a wide variety of exercises, games, improvisations, short-scripted material, monologues, and scenes. Use these tools and techniques to forward your career and improve your listening and communication skills. No experience necessary.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free
Concerts, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Learn Acting & Public Speaking Skills with Theater Pro

Tour | Historical House of The Distinguished American President of the Early 20th Century


This historic site honors the early life of a renowned American figure. The restored brownstone reflects late 19th-century architecture and offers insights into the family's daily life. Learn about various exhibits and artifacts that showcase the cultural and historical context of the era, providing a glimpse into the formative years of this visionary leader-to-be. First-come, first-served; this guided tour may reach capacity before your desired tour time, so please be sure to arrive early. Tour duration: 45 minutes. This tour takes place at 11 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
12:00 pm
Free
Tours, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Historical House of The Distinguished American President of the Early 20th Century

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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Tours, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Explore Hidden Worlds Through Nature and Discovery

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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Workshops, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Learn Letterpress Printing with a Professional

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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Partys, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Play Contemporary Games & Make New Friends

Film | The Women (1939): Comedy Drama with Joan Crawford


A cabal of catty and chatty high-society women chime in on the affairs of a cuckolded wife and mother dealing with an adulterous husband. An adaptation of the Clare Boothe Luce Broadway hit. Director: George Cukor Cast: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell Joan Crawford was an American actress, who, during the 1920s into the 30s, was one of Hollywood's most prominent movie stars and one of the highest paid women in the U.S.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free
Films, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, The Women (1939): Comedy Drama with Joan Crawford

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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Museumss, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Tour - Arts and Cultural Heritage of Spain and Portugal: Goya, El Greco and Others
3:00 pm
Regular: $40.00
Member: $0
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Plays, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Chilling Drama Directed by Theater Pro

Workshop | Creative Writing Workshop for All Skill Levels


This workshop is designed to help writers unlock their creative potential.   The group will engage in fun idea generating exercises and work together to get results and find joy in the writing process. All writers of any experience level are welcome. If you're curious, come check it out! This workshop will explore foundational writing techniques and best practices.  Prior attendance is not required. The group will also investigate alternative, non-traditional narrative forms, as well as read and discuss short stories and poetry.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Workshops, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Creative Writing Workshop for All Skill Levels

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 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Art from All Over The World: Modern and Contemporary

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 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Identity, Migration, and Memory: Three Short Documentaries Exploring American Chinatowns
5:00 pm
Regular: $15
Member: $0
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Performances, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Improvisational Comedy for the Whole Family
7:00 pm
Regular: $40.00
Member: $0
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Plays, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Chilling Drama Directed by Theater Pro
7:30 pm
Regular: $115
Member: $0
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Concerts, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Jazz Gala with Master Musicians
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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