The Best FREE Things to Do in NYC

Free things to do in NYC

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Sunday Aug. 17, 2025

Free Kayaking

Noon – 3:30 pm

Free Kayaking

Ages: All
Family
Free
Sports

Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 4 BeachBrooklyn

Kang Seung Lee_The Heart of A Hand (still)_2023

Noon – 6 pm

Homage: Queer lineages on video

Art
Free

Wallach Art GalleryManhattanville

Noon – 1:30 pm

Weekend Kids

Ages: All
Family
Free

Bryant ParkManhattan

nyf-calendar-india-day-parade-2025-08

Noon

India Day Parade

Ages: All
Family
Festivals
Free

India day ParadeManhattan

Noon – 5 pm

Harlem Week NYC Children’s Festival

Howard Bennett PlaygroundHarlem

One Crown Heights 2024, web, photo credit Winston Williams-Brooklyn Children’s Museum-012

Noon – 5 pm

One Crown Heights

Ages: All
Art
Attractions
Family

Brooklyn Children’s MuseumBrooklyn

Noon – 5 pm

Bronx Summer Concert Series

Ages: All
Community
Family
Free

Bronx Park EastBronx

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Noon – 4 pm

Endea Owens Community Cookout

Marcus Garvey ParkHarlem

Noon – 4 pm

Disney Jr. Let’s Play!

Ages: 8 and under
Family
Free
Games

Disney Store Times SquareManhattan

1 – 6 pm

Summer Fun: Roller Skating

Ages: All
Family
Free

Dry Dock ParkLower East Side

guitar

1 – 6 pm

The Art is Pulsing with Energy at BWAC This Summer

Art
Free

BWAC Brooklyn Waterfront Artists CoalitionBrooklyn

1 – 5 pm

Commonpoint Back-to-School Block Party

Commonpoint Bronx CenterBronx

1 – 6 pm

AFROBEATS VS DANCEHALL TAKEOVER BARCLAYS CENTER

Barclays CenterProspect Heights

Noble-Maritime_SSS-cr

2 – 4 pm

Sea Shanty Sessions

The Noble Maritime CollectionStaten Island

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2 – 3 pm

Garden Highlights Walk

Installation view_ Open Call_ Portals, Photo_ Adam Reich_Forbes

2 – 7 pm

Open Call: Portals

Art
Free

The Shed NYCHudson Yards

0817_SaraiRivera_ENG_Photo

3 – 5 pm

A Una Tarde de Adoracion Con Sarai Rivera y Los Cantantes del Brooklyn Tabernacle

Brooklyn TabernacleBrooklyn

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4 – 6 pm

Performances & Music at Corona Plaza

Corona PlazaCorona

RF Summer Instagram

6 – 8 pm

Reproductive Freedom Summer 2025

Free
LGBTQ+

Virtual via ZoomVirtual

Cara-Mia Poster 2 (3)

7 – 9:30 pm

Cara Mia Comedy at Mon Cheri Ridgewood

Comedy
Free

Mon Cheri RestaurantRidgewood

V4V IG (1)

7 – 9 pm

Verse4Verse: Drag Poetry Show

Free
LGBTQ+

Monday Aug. 18

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All day

Nex Playground’s Gameplay Booth at US Open Fan Week

Ages: 5 – 8
Family
Free
Games

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis CenterFlushing

Reel Talks

8 am – 5 pm

Bryant Park Reel Talks: Revolution in 35mm: Political Violence and Resistance in Cinema from the Arthouse to the Grindhouse, 1960-1990

Bryant ParkManhattan

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

Kang Seung Lee_The Heart of A Hand (still)_2023

Noon – 6 pm

Homage: Queer lineages on video

Art
Free

Wallach Art GalleryManhattanville

Reading-Room_Bryant-Park_2023-09-05_Angelito-Jusay_139_WEB-900×600

12:30 – 1:30 pm

Bryant Park Reading Room: Reel Talks

Bryant ParkManhattan

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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2:30 – 5 pm

Back to School Giveaway

Ages: 3 and up
Community
Family
Free

Neighborhood Care Clove RoadNew York City

Paws Days

5 – 6:30 pm

Paw Play Days

Ages: All
Animals
Family
Film

Hudson YardsManhattan

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