Where to Find Free Events in NYC

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Every day, there are tons of free, high-quality events happening throughout New York City; and even though these events are free, they don’t skimp on quality. Here’s where you can find some of the best free events in New York City.

Museums

Many major museums offer free entry for a few select hours. This includes popular museums like the MoMa, the Morgan Library and Museum, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. There are also some museums that have one free day a month, including the Neue Galerie and the Noguchi Museum. These museums often get crowded during their free entry periods, so be sure to arrive early. To see the full list of free museum days, check out nycgo.com.

met

If you have a Bank of America credit or debit card, you’re in luck. On the first weekend of every month, you can use your card to get into select museums, like the Met, the Whitney Museum of Art, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. Seeing New York City’s world-renowned museums doesn’t have to cost you a penny, seeing as some of the most popular museums only “recommend” a donation, and would gladly accept anything you can give (even a penny).

Comedy Shows

New York City is one of the best places to see live comedy. There are small theaters throughout the city that offer free shows. You may even see a big-name comedian at one of these shows. Many comedians go to the small theaters to try out new material. Check out freestandupnyc.com to see what shows are coming up.

Public Parks

New York has an extensive public parks system, and these parks have more than just jogging and biking trails. Many parks host free daily events. They have fitness classes, tours, arts and crafts classes for kids, talks from local authors, and more. On the NYC Parks website, you’ll find a calendar that lists all of the parks’ fun and free events.

Central Park

Concerts

New York has free concerts in every music genre, from classical to rock. There are concerts held in churches, small indie venues, cafes, libraries, and performing arts centers throughout the city. Plus, in the warm summer months, New York’s parks have free outdoor concerts. You can see upcoming concerts on the NYC Free Concerts website.

Bookstores and Libraries

If you’re a literature lover, New York City is the perfect place for you. New York’s bookstores and libraries often host readings and book launches. This includes everything from readings of small, independent books to book launches for literary giants. These events are almost always free and open to the public. If you’re interested, head to bookforum.com, where you’ll find a list of all the literary events happening in New York City.

New York City has a reputation for being an expensive place to visit, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are always numerous free events being held throughout New York City. Whether you like art, history, literature, comedy, sports, music or anything in between, there’s sure to be a great free event for you.