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
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!
Launched more than 30 years ago by nonprofit community–arts organization BRIC to revitalize Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s premier outdoor performance series returns with free music, dance, and film events. Highlights this year include Pharoah Sanders on June 23, Talib Kweli on June 24, Amadou & Mariam on July 21, Andrew Bird and Esperanza Spalding on July 28, a screening of Creed with live scoring from Wordless Music Orchestra on Aug 4 and Whitney on Aug 11. While you’re there, be sure to check out NY Handmade Collective’s market, which features wares from local artisans like Jes Switaj, Suniq, Topolski Jewelry, Wallcojr Designs and Titiluli.
The Rivals
New York Classical Theatre begins its summer season of free alfresco theater with Richard Brinsley Sheridan's bawdy 1775 comedy, whose gifts to the world include the word malaprop (named after a deliciously error-prone character). The production, directed by NYCT founder Stephen Burdman, plays for a month in Central Park (enter at 103rd St and Central Park West), then spends a week apiece at two other locations.
Citi Summer in the Square
Every Thursday during the summer, Union Square Park hosts a full day of free activities, including yoga, cardio and bootcamp classes, lunchtime jazz, screenings of classic flicks like Back to the Future and The Karate Kid and a series of dueling performances, wherein pianists, beatboxers, dancers and guitarists square off to see who can put on the best show. Visit summerinthesquare.nyc to see the full lineup of events and drop in for some gratis outdoor fun.
River to River Festival
The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's wide-flung free celebration has many exciting offerings in 2017. Participating artists include En Garde Arts, Netta Yerushalmy, Jodi Melnick, John Monti, Beth Gill, Faye Driscoll, Marjani Forté-Saunders, Maria Hassabi, Kamau Ware, Kameelah Janan Rasheed and the Dance Cartel. Also on the lineup is A Marvelous Order (June 15, 17–18), an original opera about the clash between city planner Robert Moses and activist Jane Jacobs.
Richard III
In its eighth season of summer Shakespeare, Smith Street Stage sets up camp at Carroll Park with Shakespeare’s history play, in which a malicious hunchback clambers to power on the corpses of his family and friends. Jonathan Hopkins directs a gender- and race-neutral production.
Piano Party
Belt out your favorite ballads from Phantom of the Opera, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and other sing-along classics at this open-mic piano karaoke bash, emceed by Michael McAssey.
Vinyl, Funk & Drunken Doughnuts
Need a sugar high to balance out your booze buzz? Head to the Tuck Room every Thursday for bites of glazed, sea-salt and old-fashioned doughnuts at this joyous happy hour. Look for heavily spiked whipped cream, jams and ice cream—and make sure not to get so full that you can’t dance to beats from DJ J-Zone.
"Black Power!"
More than 50 years since its inception, the Black Power movement’s influence is still felt around the world, reverberating in modern activism as well as hip-hop, fashion, visual art and spoken-word performance. This exhibition gives you the chance to learn more about the movement’s roots, achievements and failures, as well as its enduring legacy.
Viewpoints: Latin America in Photographs
This exhibition features over 100 images and is the Library's first devoted solely to photographs of Latin America. Taken in the 1860s up through the present, these stunning images create a spellbinding portrait of the region's vibrant culture.
"A World of Emotions: Ancient Greece 700 BC–200 AD"
This exhibition displays sculpture, vase paintings, ritual items, coins and artifacts from the Ancient Greece of the Iliad through the beginning of Pagan Antiquity to question how the society of Heraclitus and Homer viewed and expressed feelings. View pieces from the Acropolis, the Louvre and beyond to see how people reconciled reason, wrath and revenge in one of civilization’s great epochs.
Going to the Hester Street Fair today.
An app called Gabbermap usually gives away free lunch or something in NYC every Friday
This is the link to the thread on the app where its all posted:https://bnc.lt/Jt4k/3zp4Wxg15t
I have added the name of Bryant Park Rink in my bucket list. I am thinking to go there after my http://www.getbustours.com/1day-boston-freedom-trail-sightseeing-tour.html to see the beauty of this park with my father who want to spend a complete day with in Natural surrounding.
Had a great time. You can walk from gallery to gallery and feel welcome.