The Best FREE Things to Do in NYC

Free things to do in NYC

Find events from Sep 9 to Jan 1 in your neighborhood

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Thursday Aug. 14, 2025

Installation view_ Open Call_ Portals, Photo_ Adam Reich_Forbes

2 – 7 pm

Open Call: Portals

Art
Free

The Shed NYCHudson Yards

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2 – 4 pm

Back To School Giveaway

Ages: 3 and up
Community
Family
Free

Neighborhood Care BensonhurstBensonhurst

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6 – 8 pm

‘Golden Hour’ Live Jazz at Plaza 33

Free
Music

Plaza33Penn District

FHL – Arriba

6 – 9 pm

¡Arriba! with Cheo y Los Consentidos de la Casa, Yailenne Escobar, and DJ Mickey Pérez

The High LineChelsea

6:30 – 8 pm

Double Dutch

Ages: All
Family
Free
Sports

Garibaldi Plaza at Washington Square ParkManhattan

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6:30 – 9 pm

Chime’s Banking on Love

Free

31 East 17th Street, Union Square, New YorkManhattan

AM NEWYORK

7 – 11:30 pm

EROSION: The Playground – An Immersive Art, Sound, and Community Experience

Pinky SwearManhattan

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8 – 10 pm

Moves in the Square by Union Square Partnership and Alamo Drafthouse

Film
Free

Union Square Park, North PlazaUnion Square

Friday Aug. 15

All day

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART PRESENTS UNIQLO Friday Nights Fridays from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Art
Free

The Museum of Modern ArtManhattan

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8 am – 5 pm

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART PRESENTS UNIQLO Friday Nights Fridays from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Art
Free

The Museum of Modern ArtManhattan

9 am – 5 pm

Being Hyper Human Exhibition

Art
Film

FIT Art and Design GalleryChelsea

Untitled Artwork

10 am – 8 pm

The Subway Doodle Experience

Ages: All
Art
Family
Free

banksy museumnew york

10 – 11 am

Le Carrousel Extravaganza

Ages: All
Family
Free

Bryant ParkManhattan

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10 am – 5 pm

After ‘Women in the News’: Work by Kari Marboe, Friends, and Colleagues

Art
Free

Greenwich House PotteryGreenwich

2025 Juried Show image matrix

11 am – 6 pm

Bowery Gallery’s 34th Annual Juried Exhibition

Art
Free

Bowery GalleryChelsea

Kang Seung Lee_The Heart of A Hand (still)_2023

Noon – 6 pm

Homage: Queer lineages on video

Art
Free

Wallach Art GalleryManhattanville

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1 – 2 pm

In Conversation – “War Threads” with Oksana Parafeniuk and Sara Ickow

Art
Free

International Center of PhotographyLower East Side

Installation view_ Open Call_ Portals, Photo_ Adam Reich_Forbes

2 – 7 pm

Open Call: Portals

Art
Free

The Shed NYCHudson Yards

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5 – 10 pm

Free Friday Nights

Art
Free

The Whitney Museum of American ArtManhattan

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5 – 8 pm

Lobby Sounds by Najah Moeser

Free
Music

Moxy Times Squarenew york

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7 – 9 pm

Oculus Outdoors

Film
Free

North Oculus Plaza at the World Trade CenterFinancial District

World Music Institute- Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East + Gamelan Dharma Swara

7 – 9 pm

Bryant Park Picnic Performances Presented by Bank of America: Wold Music Institute | Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East + Gamelan Dharma Swara

Ages: All
Family
Free
Music

Bryant ParkManhattan

Saturday Aug. 16

7 am – 3 pm

Chamber of Mothers “Mothers United Tour” Bus Experience

Free

Foley SquareCivic Center

9 am – 5 pm

Being Hyper Human Exhibition

Art
Film

FIT Art and Design GalleryChelsea

Untitled Artwork

10 am – 8 pm

The Subway Doodle Experience

Ages: All
Art
Family
Free

banksy museumnew york

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10 am – 8 pm

Celebrate 10 Years of Miraculous® – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir

Ages: All
Family
Free

FAO SchwarzMidtown

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10:30 am – 6:30 pm

ICP Community Day

Ages: 5 – 12
Art
Craft & DIY
Family

International Center of PhotographyLower East Side

10:30 – 11:30 am

People Parks and Possibilities

Ages: 5 – 8
Family
Free

The Skyscraper MuseumBattery Park

FAD Market at Governors Island

11 am – 6 pm

FAD Market at Governors Island

Ages: 5 – 12
Art
Attractions
Family

Govenors IslandManhattan

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