Top free events and festivals in New York City
Discover a ton of free events and festivals in our handy, chronological guide to freebies in New York City.
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Free things to do today
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Free events and festivals
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Free attractions and days out
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Free live music
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Free museum shows
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Free club nights
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Free walks and tours
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Free comedy
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Free date ideas
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Free art
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Free dance
Free things to do in NYC: Your guide to gratis entertainment
Broke? No matter what sort of wallet-friendly happening you’re looking for, we've got you covered. Click through our easy-to-navigate roundup of concerts, shindigs, exhibits, trivia nights and many more free events.
RECOMMENDED: Full list of free things to do in NYC
Party Like It's 1999
- Critics choice
- Free
The Bell House pays tribute to the ’90s with a dance party, so get ready for rock, pop, R&B and hip-hop from the decade of Vanilla Ice, Jesus Jones and Sugar Ray. Tonight's edition is Saved by the Bell–themed; we still have a crush on that Kelly Kapowski.
- The Bell House 149 7th St, between Second and Third Aves
- Sat May 18 - Fri May 17
Lower Third Avenue Spring Festival
- Free
Third Ave between 6th and 14th Sts (nycstreetfairs.com). Subway: L to Third Ave. 10am–6pm.
- Location TBA
- Sat May 18
Go Green! Greenpoint
- Free
At the Brooklyn nabe's fourth annual Earth Day celebration, families will find gardening demos, a station to drop off recyclables, and eco-friendly goods for sale, plus an array of children's activities and arts-and-crafts projects. All ages.
- McCarren Park Bayard St to Nassau Ave, between Leonard and North 12 Sts
- Sat May 18
Sixth Avenue Festival
- Free
Sixth Ave between 14th and 23rd Sts (clearviewfestival.com). Subway: F to 14th or 23rd St. 11am–6pm.
- Location TBA
- Sat May 18
Graham Avenue Fiesta
- Free
Graham Ave between Boerum St and Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (clearviewfestival.com). Subway: J to Flushing Ave. Noon–6pm.
- Location TBA
- Sat May 18
New York Dance Parade
- Critics choice
- Free
From Broadway at 21st St to St. Marks Pl at Ave A. Subway: N, R to 23rd St. Shake your booty while learning about the cultural history of dance at this march, now in its seventh year. With a chronologically ordered showcase of performances, you’ll be able to trace the evolution of the art form, with references to African dance, medieval Irish step, clogging, samba, ballet, ballroom, swing, hustle, salsa and just about every other way of boogying. And if you’re not actively getting down, be warned: The New York Dance Police, the parade’s uniformed brigade, may ticket you with coupons to local dance studios. This year's grand marshal is Louie Vega—the house-music legend who forms one half of production duo Masters at Work. Check out the postparade DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park, where performances will be going on until 7pm.
- Various locations
- Sat May 18
DanceFest 2013
- Free
Dance Parade's seventh annual festival begins at 21st Street and Broadway and continues—or dances—to Tompkins Square Park, where there will be performances and classes. This year's grand marshals are choreographer Jacqulyn Buglisi, DanceAfrica founder Chuck Davis and DJ Louie Vega.
- Tompkins Square Park Ave A, between 7th and 10th Sts
- Sat May 18
Europhoria: Eurovision Grand Finale Live Viewing Party
- Critics choice
- Free
For the uninitiated, Eurovision is an international song contest/acid trip, which helped has helped launch the careers of ABBA, Celine Dion and Lordi, among others. Trust us: It's fascinating. Settle in with other pop fans and watch the insanity of the grand finale—live, from Mälmo, Sweden—at this sure-to-be-energetic viewing party. For more information, go to facebook.com/europhorianyc.
- Hardware Bar 697 Tenth Ave , between 47th and 48th Sts
- Sat May 18
Rock Star Karaoke
- Free
A longtime favorite on the NYC karaoke scene, RSK has played all over town, fostering a party atmosphere everywhere it goes. Superstar hostess Kelly Cooper has been known to ask for volunteers to try their luck at a randomly selected song for something called the Rock Star Karaoke Challenge, so have a few drinks. Stadium-rock staples by Creedence, Black Sabbath and—of course—Journey are all on the group’s playlist, made up of rock, country, blues and classic hits. While it’s totally free to belt out a number, tips for the players are encouraged. Go to rockstarkaraokenyc.com for more information.
The Human Karaoke Experience
- Free
Show off your Jagger strut with accompaniment from this power trio, which has backed wanna-be Micks for seven and a half years. The band’s experience shows: More than 600 ditties by the likes of the Who, the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix are in its repertoire. You can catch this crew at the Upper East Side Irish pub O’Flanagan’s most Thursday nights, and at Schnitzel Haus (7319 Fifth Ave between 73rd and 74th Sts, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn) most Saturdays. Just make sure to show up early; the band tries to get everyone onstage, but occasionally people are able to perform only one song.
- Location TBA
- Sat May 18
