Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best free things to do in New York City on Saturday, Sep 26: 99 picks, refreshed weekly.
99 picks · checked Sep 21
Rockefeller Center Plaza, Midtown, ManhattanCj Hendry's felt-flower market fills Rockefeller Plaza with blooms native to NYC and every guest walks out with one free — four days only.
Rockefeller Center Plaza, Midtown, ManhattanCj Hendry's felt-flower market fills Rockefeller Plaza with blooms native to NYC and every guest walks out with one free — four days only.
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Great Lawn, Central Park, ManhattanDietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz and John Legend play a free, action-earned show.
Great Lawn, Central Park, ManhattanDietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz and John Legend play a free, action-earned show.
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Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza, Downtown Brooklyn, BrooklynAdjoajo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsR.J. Palacio of Wonder, Adam Gidwitz and an illustrator draw-off headline a full day of kids' book fun at Borough Hall — free.
Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza, Downtown Brooklyn, BrooklynAdjoajo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsR.J. Palacio of Wonder, Adam Gidwitz and an illustrator draw-off headline a full day of kids' book fun at Borough Hall — free.
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American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Final Fantasy artist's first New York institutional solo show: a Pandora frieze of drawings, free at Audubon Terrace from opening day.
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Final Fantasy artist's first New York institutional solo show: a Pandora frieze of drawings, free at Audubon Terrace from opening day.
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Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, Pier 2 Dock, Brooklyn Heights, BrooklynTwenty minutes on the East River in the protected embayment off Pier 2 - boats, vests and instruction provided and it costs nothing.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, Pier 2 Dock, Brooklyn Heights, BrooklynTwenty minutes on the East River in the protected embayment off Pier 2 - boats, vests and instruction provided and it costs nothing.
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Culture Lab LIC, Long Island City, QueensFree outdoor concerts in Culture Lab's Long Island City lot - two or three bands a night and the season closes this weekend.
Culture Lab LIC, Long Island City, QueensFree outdoor concerts in Culture Lab's Long Island City lot - two or three bands a night and the season closes this weekend.
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LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, BrooklynTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMoliere's most subversive comedy plays open-air at Lakeside with live cello, a five-actor cast and a Labor Day curtain that costs nothing.
LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, BrooklynTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMoliere's most subversive comedy plays open-air at Lakeside with live cello, a five-actor cast and a Labor Day curtain that costs nothing.
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LMCC Arts Center at Governors Island, Governors Island, ManhattanAerial paintings of shrinking coastlines and Arctic icebergs fill LMCC's free Governors Island gallery — the final days to catch them.
LMCC Arts Center at Governors Island, Governors Island, ManhattanAerial paintings of shrinking coastlines and Arctic icebergs fill LMCC's free Governors Island gallery — the final days to catch them.
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The Drawing Center, SoHo, ManhattanEdward Lamson Henry · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsAsmaa Walton's 800-volume Black Art Library takes over The Drawing Center's bookstore as a free reading room. Closes Sunday.
The Drawing Center, SoHo, ManhattanEdward Lamson Henry · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsAsmaa Walton's 800-volume Black Art Library takes over The Drawing Center's bookstore as a free reading room. Closes Sunday.
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Venues citywide, Citywide, ManhattanNew York City Public Schools Press Office · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe world's largest climate event takes over NYC — hundreds of talks, exhibits and pop-ups citywide as global leaders and CEOs fly in.
Venues citywide, Citywide, ManhattanNew York City Public Schools Press Office · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe world's largest climate event takes over NYC — hundreds of talks, exhibits and pop-ups citywide as global leaders and CEOs fly in.
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25 Little West 12th Street, Meatpacking District, ManhattanSnoopy and Woodstock plush dressed by Sandy Liang, BODE and LUAR headline a free Meatpacking fashion show of Peanuts history — closing now.
25 Little West 12th Street, Meatpacking District, ManhattanSnoopy and Woodstock plush dressed by Sandy Liang, BODE and LUAR headline a free Meatpacking fashion show of Peanuts history — closing now.
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New York Hall of Science (rear lot), Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Corona, QueensOpen-air stalls trade food from around the world behind the New York Hall of Science until midnight — free to walk in, rain or shine.
New York Hall of Science (rear lot), Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Corona, QueensOpen-air stalls trade food from around the world behind the New York Hall of Science until midnight — free to walk in, rain or shine.
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Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, Astoria, QueensSteins and schnitzel in NYC's oldest beer garden, run by Astoria's Czech benevolent society since 1910, for Oktoberfest's free final weekend.
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, Astoria, QueensSteins and schnitzel in NYC's oldest beer garden, run by Astoria's Czech benevolent society since 1910, for Oktoberfest's free final weekend.
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Hauser & Wirth, 542 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, ManhattanWikipettanko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsKorean icon Lee Bul fills Hauser & Wirth with major new sculptures — cyborg bodies and glittering future ruins probing technology, nature and history.
Hauser & Wirth, 542 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, ManhattanWikipettanko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsKorean icon Lee Bul fills Hauser & Wirth with major new sculptures — cyborg bodies and glittering future ruins probing technology, nature and history.
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Pier 3, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights / DUMBO, BrooklynDaybreaker's first ALIVE festival fills Pier 3 from sunrise to sunset with dancing, music and surprises for 3,000-plus people — and it's free.
Pier 3, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights / DUMBO, BrooklynDaybreaker's first ALIVE festival fills Pier 3 from sunrise to sunset with dancing, music and surprises for 3,000-plus people — and it's free.
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LMCC's Arts Center at Governors Island, Residency Studios, Governors Island, ManhattanThe 2026 Artists-in-Residence throw open their Governors Island studios — paint still wet, work-in-progress talk and the last one of the year.
LMCC's Arts Center at Governors Island, Residency Studios, Governors Island, ManhattanThe 2026 Artists-in-Residence throw open their Governors Island studios — paint still wet, work-in-progress talk and the last one of the year.
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NYC Parks (citywide), All five boroughs, CitywideU.S. Army 353CAG by Staff Sgt. Emilie Lenglain · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsOver 300 free screenings light up park lawns in all five boroughs, from Encanto to Lilo & Stitch and they start when the sun goes down.
NYC Parks (citywide), All five boroughs, CitywideU.S. Army 353CAG by Staff Sgt. Emilie Lenglain · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsOver 300 free screenings light up park lawns in all five boroughs, from Encanto to Lilo & Stitch and they start when the sun goes down.
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City Hall Park, Civic Center, ManhattanNielsoncaetanosalmeron · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsConcrete birds pluck pennies from the City Hall Park fountain and two bronze Lady Justices preside — Genesis Belanger's first big public show.
City Hall Park, Civic Center, ManhattanNielsoncaetanosalmeron · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsConcrete birds pluck pennies from the City Hall Park fountain and two bronze Lady Justices preside — Genesis Belanger's first big public show.
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Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanBronze, stone and concrete dogs on leashes take over the Central Park entrance at 60th and Fifth — Camille Henrot's first public show in New York.
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanBronze, stone and concrete dogs on leashes take over the Central Park entrance at 60th and Fifth — Camille Henrot's first public show in New York.
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Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground, Van Cortlandt Park, BronxHugo L. González · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsVan Cortlandt Park Alliance opens its fall outdoor movie season on the Parade Ground with a free screening of Babe. Music and movie-themed crafts start at 5:30 p.m., with the film at last light.
Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground, Van Cortlandt Park, BronxHugo L. González · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsVan Cortlandt Park Alliance opens its fall outdoor movie season on the Parade Ground with a free screening of Babe. Music and movie-themed crafts start at 5:30 p.m., with the film at last light.
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King Jagiello Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanFree Sunday-afternoon social dancing on the plaza above Turtle Pond - swing, jump blues, hot jazz and cha chas, with lessons in the breaks.
King Jagiello Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanFree Sunday-afternoon social dancing on the plaza above Turtle Pond - swing, jump blues, hot jazz and cha chas, with lessons in the breaks.
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Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh, Randall's Island Park, Randall's Island, ManhattanTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe boardwalk gates open on a restored salt marsh, with the Natural Areas team on hand to name what you are looking at. Free, drop in.
Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh, Randall's Island Park, Randall's Island, ManhattanTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe boardwalk gates open on a restored salt marsh, with the Natural Areas team on hand to name what you are looking at. Free, drop in.
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Rockaway Beach Boardwalk (Beach 108th St to Beach 95th St), Rockaway Park, Queensdakine kane · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsRockaway's end-of-summer sea-creature parade: mermaids, fish costumes and floats march the boardwalk from Beach 108th to the 95th St pavilion.
Rockaway Beach Boardwalk (Beach 108th St to Beach 95th St), Rockaway Park, Queensdakine kane · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsRockaway's end-of-summer sea-creature parade: mermaids, fish costumes and floats march the boardwalk from Beach 108th to the 95th St pavilion.
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MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA 22-ton wall of rubble from a Ciudad Juárez home anchors Teresa Margolles's first large US museum show, free across PS1's third floor.
MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA 22-ton wall of rubble from a Ciudad Juárez home anchors Teresa Margolles's first large US museum show, free across PS1's third floor.
Add to calendarBig weekends coming up — save them now, plan later.
