free things to do in New York City
Free events for Tuesday, 10/21/25
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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 October 21, 2025?

26 free events take place on Tuesday, October 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 October 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 October . 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 Tuesday, October 21, 2025

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Workshop | Pick-Up Pickleball


An exciting fusion of badminton and tennis, pickleball has been proven to strengthen muscles, boost cardiovascular health, and enhance brain function. First come first serve basis.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free
Workshops, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Pick-Up Pickleball

Tour | All About the Garment District: Fashion, History, Immigrants


Join born and raised New Yorker, Mike, in exploring the Garment District of New York. Learn about the apparel industry developed in New York and how it came to be located in its current district. Expect to hear about iconic designers Ralph, Oscar, and Calvin, as well as the Gangsters and Labor Unions that shaped New York and this District. Tour Guide Mike has spent the greater portion of his life working in the Garment industry himself -- expect first-hand anecdotes and wisdom
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free
Tours, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, All About the Garment District: Fashion, History, Immigrants

Workshop | Zumba Class for All-Levels


Featuring easy-to-follow Latin dance choreography. Work on your balance, coordination and range of motion.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free
Workshops, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Zumba Class for All-Levels

Classical Music | Carnegie Hall-Featured Musicians Perform Beethoven & More for Cello and Piano


English-American cellist Frankie Carr and "excellent young pianist" (New York Times) Chelsea Wang will share poetic and probing works by Schumann and Beethoven, as well as the emotionally powerful First Suite for Cello by Benjamin Britten. Program: Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Fantasiestucke, op. 73 Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Cello Suite No. 1, op. 72 Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) Cello Sonata in C Major, op. 102, no. 1
   New York City, NY; NYC
12:00 pm
Free
Concerts, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Carnegie Hall-Featured Musicians Perform Beethoven & More for Cello and Piano

Talk | Cancel Culture & Russia-Ukraine War (In Person AND Online!)


A lecture by Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Political and Ethnic Studies in Kyiv, Mykola Riabchuk. Moderated by Mark Andryczyk. The 2022 unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine evoked nearly universal international condemnation but got much less unanimous response in more practical terms of political, economic and other sanctions. Many countries, especially in the so called “Global South” refused to introduce any measures against the aggressor state for various reasons and under different pretexts. Culture appeared to be the most controversial field, where even the Western democracies, rather unanimous in their response to the Russian assault, failed to achieve any consensus on suitable measures and policies vis-à-vis the rogue state. While virtually nobody questions the need of sanctions against the specific persons and institutions that support the war, the wholesale rejection of Russian culture and cancelling of its iconic figures is often vehemently denied. The talk delves into the essence of these debates, trying to represent different rationales and opposite arguments but also to answer a more fundamental question: to what degree and in which way a seemingly innocent, apolitical cultural ‘soft power’ contributes to the militant ‘hard power’ of the aggressor state during the war.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:15 pm
Free
Talks, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Cancel Culture &&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War (In Person AND Online!)

Classical Music | Serene Organ Meditations in Intimate Venue


Enjoy a program of hymns, anthems, and voluntaries for the organ.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:20 pm
Free
Concerts, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Serene Organ Meditations in Intimate Venue

Film | A Quiet Place: Day One (2024): Apocalyptic Horror Film with Lupita Nyong'o


A young woman named Sam finds herself trapped in New York City during the early stages of an invasion by alien creatures with ultra-sensitive hearing in this surprising prequel. Director: Michael Sarnoski Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou Lupita Nyong'o is an actress who has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Daytime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, as well as nominations for two British Academy Film Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Films, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, A Quiet Place: Day One (2024): Apocalyptic Horror Film with Lupita Nyong'o

Book Club | Discuss Geek Love by Katherine Dunn


Participate with fellow readers for lively discussion and thoughtful socializing! Geek Love by Katherine Dunn The novel is the story of a traveling carnival run by Aloysius "Al" Binewski and his wife "Crystal" Lil, and their children, seen through the eyes of their daughter Olympia ("Oly"), who writes the family history for her daughter Miranda. When the business begins to fail, the couple devise an idea to breed their own freak show, using various drugs and radioactive material to alter the genes of their children.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Book Clubs, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Discuss&nbsp;Geek Love&nbsp;by Katherine Dunn

Workshop | Portrait Photography 101: Lighting


In the first of this three-part series, you'll learn the fundamentals of using constant light to create beautiful, well-lit portraits. Portrait photographer Tony Gale will lead a live lighting demonstration with a model, showing you how to shape and control light to bring out your subject's best features. He'll cover topics such as light placement, optimal camera settings, and understanding light quality. You'll leave with a strong foundation for consistently shooting well-lit images.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Portrait Photography 101: Lighting

Poetry Reading | Discuss Spooky Poetry


Participate with fellow poetry enthusiasts in unpacking the layered meanings of poetry through an informal group discussion. Trick or treat! This month, get ready for Halloween with poems that summon ghosts, ghouls, and vampires. Please note that contemporary poetry deals frankly with contemporary issues and all works discussed are artistic expressions selected for an adult audience.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:30 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Discuss Spooky Poetry

Workshop | Chess in the Park


Play the popular strategy game while getting pointers and advice from an expert. Chess improves concentration, problem solving, and strategic planning -- plus it's fun! For all ages 5 and up.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free
Workshops, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Chess in the Park

Book Club | Nobel Prize-Winning Author Han Kang's The Vegetarian Conversation


Discuss Han Kang's bestselling novel, The Vegetarian, with other readers! Before the nightmares began, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary, controlled life. But the dreams--invasive images of blood and brutality--torture her, driving Yeong-hye to purge her mind and renounce eating meat altogether. It's a small act of independence, but it interrupts her marriage and sets into motion an increasingly grotesque chain of events at home. As her husband, her brother-in-law and sister each fight to reassert their control, Yeong-hye obsessively defends the choice that's become sacred to her. Soon their attempts turn desperate, subjecting first her mind, and then her body, to ever more intrusive and perverse violations, sending Yeong-hye spiraling into a dangerous, bizarre estrangement, not only from those closest to her, but also from herself. Celebrated by critics around the world, The Vegetarian is a darkly allegorical, Kafka-esque tale of power, obsession, and one woman's struggle to break free from the violence both without and within her.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Book Clubs, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Nobel Prize-Winning Author Han Kang's The Vegetarian Conversation

Film | Three Days of the Condor (1975): Spy Thriller with Robert Redford & Fay Dunaway


A bookish CIA researcher finds that all of his coworkers are dead and he must outwit those responsible until he knows who he can trust. Director: Sydney Pollack Cast: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow Robert Redford is an American actor and filmmaker who has received numerous accolades such as an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, as well as the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1994, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1996, the Academy Honorary Award in 2002, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2005, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, and the Honorary Cesar in 2019. In 2014, he was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Faye Dunaway is an American actress who has received many accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a BAFTA Award.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:45 pm
Free
Films, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Three Days of the Condor (1975): Spy Thriller with Robert Redford & Fay Dunaway

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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5:00 pm
Free
Park Walks, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Discover the History & Design of One of New York's Most Unique Park

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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5:30 pm
Free
Workshops, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome

Workshop | Bodyroll Aerobic Dance Workout


This class teaches the bodyroll dance practice, which ignites embodied empowerment and energize a cathartic release. The experience is designed to alchemize a playful perspective for rolling, releasing, and reinventing yourself. Together, the group will tap into the spiral rave through body rolling, movement energetix, embodiment practices, and aerobic dancing. No dance experience is encouraged!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Bodyroll Aerobic Dance Workout

Book Club | Discuss The Housemaid with Fellow Readers


Read at your own pace, then attend a lively, moderator-led discussion with fellow readers. Whether you're a dedicated bibliophile or just looking to connect with others, this is a great way to share your love of reading. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is a gripping psychological thriller about Millie, a woman with a troubled past who takes a live-in housekeeping job for a wealthy family. What seems like a dream opportunity quickly turns sinister as she uncovers disturbing secrets hidden behind the mansion’s polished exterior. With chilling twists and mounting suspense, Millie must fight to survive as the truth unravels. Space is available on a first-come-first-serve basis while space is available.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Book Clubs, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Discuss The Housemaid with Fellow Readers

Author Reading | Jonathan Liebson Discusses His New Memoir, Hello (and Goodbye) to All That


Hello (And Goodbye) To All That  is explores the evolution of New York City from the days of Tower Records and The Village Voice through the era of cell phones and bike lanes, while also providing an up-close view of larger transformational events. The book combines funny and moving stories from daily life (the struggles of apartment living, the quirky routines of café-goers, the moral dilemmas of being a cyclist) with important historical moments: witnessing 9/11 from his roof deck and living through the city’s troubled aftermath; hearing Barack Obama in Washington Square Park with 20,000 people; and having an embarrassing encounter with Rudy Giuliani a few weeks before the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Home to some of the country’s worst tragedies and upheavals, New York has also been a place of national recovery and inspiration. The book presents intriguing encounters with everyday characters, celebrities, and writers; ironic intersections between the past and present; and a touching intergenerational story of father and son. Jonathan Liebson is an essayist and reviewer whose writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Review of Books, Time Out New York, The Georgia Review, and many other journals, and in the anthology Naming the World: And Other Exercises for the Creative Writer.   “A unique, funny, and brutally honest perspective on living in New York City.”–Jonah Hill
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Jonathan Liebson Discusses His New Memoir,&nbsp;Hello (and Goodbye) to All That

Party | Play Bridge in a Stress-Free Environment


The card game of Bridge requires four people to play: two teams of two people. Join the group with your bridge partner, or you will be matched with someone to play as a pair. If you would like to learn how to play bridge, organizers can offer some instruction, and you can observe others.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Partys, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Play Bridge in a Stress-Free Environment

Discussion | Established Artists Mary Miss &  Byrony Roberts Talk about Their Work (In Person AND Online!)


Mary Miss reshaped boundaries between sculpture, architecture, landscape design, and installation art. She envisions art addressing contemporary issues in the public sphere. Her work featured at the Guggenheim Museum in 2010, the Sculpture Center in 2008, and the Des Moines Art Center in 1996. Miss holds multiple awards, including a Guggenheim fellowship, Urban Land Institute's Global Award for Excellence, and the 2017 Bedrock of New York City Award. Bryony Roberts is an artist, designer, and educator who leads the practice Bryony Roberts Studio. She designs public art and urban design projects that activate public spaces around the world. She has created immersive and participatory environments at international sites such as Lincoln Center, the Federal Plaza in Chicago, and the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome. She co-founded the collectives Feminist Spatial Practices and WIP Collaborative. The lecture will be followed by a conversation with Bryony Roberts and a Q&A discussion moderated by Kayla Montes de Oca.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Discussions, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Established Artists Mary Miss &&nbsp;&nbsp;Byrony Roberts&nbsp;Talk about Their Work (In Person AND Online!)

Screening | Films of African Cultural Survival: The Diary of an African Nun (1997) & The Blue Eyes of Yonta (1992), + Q&A


Enjoy two films on "Chronicles of Cultural Survival," guest-curated by writer and film programmer, Yasmina Price. According to Amílcar Cabral—the revolutionary leader, poet and agronomist—culture had a vital role in securing national liberation on the African continent, as everywhere. The screening includes Julie Dash’s 1997 short film The Diary of an African Nun, and feature length film Udju Azul di Yonta (The Blue Eyes of Yonta) (1992), directed by Flora Gomes. The screenings will be followed by a Q&A with Price and Dr. Jaimee A. Swift, executive director and founder of Black Women Radicals.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Screenings, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Films of African Cultural Survival:&nbsp;The Diary of an African Nun (1997)&nbsp;&&nbsp;The Blue Eyes of Yonta&nbsp;(1992), + Q&A

Author Reading | German Literature Festival: Discussion between Writers Khuê Pham & Monique Truong


The 2025 edition of Festival Neue Literatur kicks off with Vietnamese-German writer Khuê Pham and Vietnamese-American author Monique Truong in a discussion of their respective books Brothers and Ghosts and The Book of Salt. To mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, enjoy an evening of conversation between these two renowned authors, whose works explore the tangled legacy of war across generations and its effects on the search for identity. Pham’s debut novel follows a young woman in Berlin who uncovers family secrets rooted in the Vietnam War, revealing generational trauma and fractured loyalties, while Truong’s 2003 debut tells the story of a Vietnamese cook in 1920s Paris, entwining themes of exile, queer identity, and the legacy of colonialism. Together, these works reflect on displacement, memory, and the threads which connect past and present.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Author Readings, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, German Literature Festival: Discussion between Writers Khu&ecirc; Pham &&nbsp;Monique Truong

Workshop | Origami Group Meet-Up


This event is for people to come together and share in the beautiful art of Origami--an ancient art of folding various mediums, most commonly paper. The word comes from the combination of the Japanese verb oru (to fold) and the noun kami (paper). Other materials often folded are fabric, wire mesh, sheet metal, tissue, thin plastic, cardboard, and straws.This group meets to teach each other new models and share paper, books, and tips. This meeting is free and open to all level of folders from beginner to advanced. There will be free paper available to share. You may choose to bring your own paper and books and just show up and fold! If you have models you would like to learn, or teach, let the organizers know, and they will try our best to accommodate.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Workshops, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Origami Group Meet-Up

Workshop | Stargazing in the Park


Immerse yourself in the wonders of the night sky. The friendly team from the Amateur Astronomers Association will be there with high-powered telescopes, ready to reveal the secrets of the cosmos. From sunset to 30 minutes before park closure. Every Tuesday night from April to October!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Workshops, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Stargazing in the Park

Classical Music | Traditional Farrukhabad-Style Tabla Works (In Person AND Online!)


In this recital, tabla musician Mir Naqibul Islam will present a traditional Farrukhabad-style tabla solo, accompanied on lehra (melodic accompaniment) by Arun Ramamurthy on violin. The performance will feature time-tested compositions, many of which are centuries old, passed down through the oral tradition from guru to disciple over generations. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Concerts, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Traditional Farrukhabad-Style Tabla Works (In Person AND Online!)

Author Reading | Author Patrick Ryan Talks about His New Book, Buckeye


Patrick Ryan will speak about writing his novel, Buckeye, and read excerpts. Ryan’s newest work of fiction is, as author Tom Perrotta puts it, a novel about a small Ohio town, but with grand proportions. Buckeye follows the intimate lives of two midwestern families, from the aftermath of World War II to the end of the twentieth century. A brief encounter binds Cal Jenkins, a man wounded by his inability to serve, to Margaret Salt, a woman trying to obscure her past. The consequences of that encounter will ripple through the next generation of both of their families.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, October 21, 2025, 10/21/2025, Author Patrick Ryan Talks about His New Book,&nbsp;Buckeye
Complimentary Tickets

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

Play | Broadway Actor in a Play About a Towering Figure in Media

Regular Price: $59
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Concert | Iconic Rock Band's Guitarist at a Legendary Jazz Club

Regular Price: $75
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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