The best free things to do in NYC today
And yes, the best free things to do in NYC today—think concerts and comedy shows—are actually worth your time
Don’t scoff, jaded New Yorker—there are a lot of free things to do in NYC today. We understand: When you live in one of the most expensive cities in America, it’s hard to imagine how anything in this town could be gratis. But guess what? Every event on this list is free, and actually awesome! That’s right, we found the best concerts, free art exhibitions, comedy shows, cultural celebrations and events happening in NYC parks, so you can have the time of your life without paying a dime. Whether you’re looking for free date ideas or something to do with visiting relatives, we got you.
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RECOMMENDED: See all free things to do in NYC
Best free things to do in NYC today
India Day Parade
This cultural procession down Madison Avenue to Madison Square Park is one of the city's most colorful, with saffron, white and green floats, sari-draped dancers, Bollywood stars, local politicians, and dozens of musicians playing sitars and tablas. Along the way, you'll find vendors serving dosas, samosas and regional Indian dishes. The parade runs down Madison Avenue from 38th Street to 25rd Street; the festival is on Madison between 25th and 27th Streets. The parade steps off from 38th Street at noon, with the cultural festival running until 6pm.
Richard III
Jason Marr plays the title character in Shakespeare’s Tudor-friendly history play, which imagines the final Plantagenet king as a malicious hunchback who clambers to power on the corpses of his family and friends. Directed by David Frederick Mold for the peripatetic Hip to Hip Theatre Company, the show is presented in rep with the company's take on A Midsummer Night's Dream in parks in all five boroughs and beyond; visit Hip to Hip's website for details.
Smorgasburg
Everything you need to know about visiting Smorgasburg (90 Kent Ave; East Dr at Lincoln Rd). At this massive grub hub, there’s only one rule: Come hungry. The Brooklyn Flea spin-off draws more than 20,000 to 30,000 visitors per week, with a slew of 75 to 100 incredible food vendors doling out everything from Dutch waffles to pasta doughnuts. Where is it?Depends on when you go. For the spring/summer 2019 season, the fest is in Williamsburg’s East River State Park (90 Kent Ave) on Saturdays and Prospect Park’s Breeze Hill (East Dr at Lincoln Rd) on Sundays. Additionally, starting April 12 2019, Manhattanites won’t have to cross the river to taste the treats. A Smorgasburg market at Westfield World Trade Center, Oculus Plaza is open every Friday from 11:30am to 7pm. When can I go?Smorgasburg is open year-round. The summer months might be the most popular, running from April through October at 11am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays, but in the winter months (November to March), the market joins forces with Brooklyn Flea and moves indoors. This past winter, the indoor Smorg was located at Atlantic Center (625 Atlantic Ave) on weekends from 10am to 6pm. Is there anywhere to sit?There are some picnic tables set up by the Smorgasburg team, but don’t plan on snatching one unless you have patience of steel. The organizers encourage you to bring picnic blankets with which to sit on the lawns of East River State Park or Prospect Park. Are there rain dates?Nope. The grub will be there rai
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Hudson Warehouse wraps up its 2019 season with an outdoor production of Shakespeare's minor farce, which plucks Falstaff from the Henry IV plays and plunks him down in a ribald comedy. Director Nicholas Martin-Smith updates the setting to a Borscht Belt resort hotel in the 1960s.
Comedy at the Knitting Factory
Forget Game of Thrones, forget laundry night, forget your dayjob in the morning: Sunday nights now belong to Marie Faustin, Sydnee Washington and Aminah Imani. The trio of stand-up supremes give you looks, life and a top-tier comedy showcase every week. Stay sharp and look fresh. You're about to witness the best night of comedy in New York.
Romeo and Juliet
Rude Grooms presents Shakespeare's family-feud tragedy, in which rebellious teens have sex and score drugs from a local priest. Montgomery Sutton directs the free 90-minute production, which plays outdoors in various different parks in Queens (and indoors on August 18 at the Plaxall Gallery).
No Brainer or the Solution to Parasites
Theater for the New City takes its 43rd annual Street Theater Company show on the road, bringing agitprop to outdoor locations throughout the five boroughs. Crystal Field and Joseph Vernon Banks's family-friendly (but corporation-hostile!) musical allegory pits a social worker and Pluto, lord of the Underworld, against a vile and dangerous real-estate huckster turned politician.
Randall's Island Outdoor Movie Nights
Randall's Island Park returns with its annual free film series, presenting family friendly hits against a stunning city backdrop. On this year's schedule: Incredibles 2 (May 24), Mary Poppins Returns (June 8), Black Panther (June 15), Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse (July 14), Tangled (July 28), Crazy Rich Asians (Aug 11), Ralph Breaks the Internet (Aug 18) and Creed II (Sep 8). Show up early for free games and crafts—and to grab some free popcorn while it lasts.