Hand-picked every week — checked against organizers’ own pages.
Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best cheap things to do in New York City the weekend of Oct 9–12, 2026: 91 picks, refreshed weekly.
91 picks · checked Sep 28
The Rink at Rockefeller Center, Midtown, Manhattan(vincent desjardins) from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOpening day on the sunken rink ringed by Rockefeller Center's Art Deco towers, a Midtown tradition since 1936 — the ice is back this weekend.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center, Midtown, Manhattan(vincent desjardins) from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOpening day on the sunken rink ringed by Rockefeller Center's Art Deco towers, a Midtown tradition since 1936 — the ice is back this weekend.
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Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, BrooklynDisco roller skating on a rooftop with skyline views returns to Brooklyn Children's Museum, a nod to the legendary Empire Rink — reopening weekend.
Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, BrooklynDisco roller skating on a rooftop with skyline views returns to Brooklyn Children's Museum, a nod to the legendary Empire Rink — reopening weekend.
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The Mount, 6581 Hylan Boulevard, Pleasant Plains, Staten IslandRides, sangria gardens, eating contests and a fireworks show make this Staten Island's biggest Italian feast, all Columbus Day weekend.
The Mount, 6581 Hylan Boulevard, Pleasant Plains, Staten IslandRides, sangria gardens, eating contests and a fireworks show make this Staten Island's biggest Italian feast, all Columbus Day weekend.
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Dia Beacon, Beacon, Hudson ValleyRenée Green's long-running Dia Beacon presentation closes — the last four days fall exactly across this holiday weekend.
Dia Beacon, Beacon, Hudson ValleyRenée Green's long-running Dia Beacon presentation closes — the last four days fall exactly across this holiday weekend.
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BAM Fisher (Fishman Space), Fort Greene, BrooklynDorcy Rugamba turns his memoir of family lost in Rwanda's genocide into a 'hymn to life' with guitarist Majnun at BAM Next Wave.
BAM Fisher (Fishman Space), Fort Greene, BrooklynDorcy Rugamba turns his memoir of family lost in Rwanda's genocide into a 'hymn to life' with guitarist Majnun at BAM Next Wave.
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El Museo del Barrio, East Harlem, ManhattanThe first major retrospective of Teddy Sandoval, a central figure of LA's queer Chicano avant-garde, opens at El Museo del Barrio for its New York run.
El Museo del Barrio, East Harlem, ManhattanThe first major retrospective of Teddy Sandoval, a central figure of LA's queer Chicano avant-garde, opens at El Museo del Barrio for its New York run.
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The Studio Museum in Harlem, Harlem, ManhattanJulie Mehretu, Alma Thomas, Jack Whitten and William T. Williams anchor a Studio Museum show on geometry as a way of thinking, newly opened in Harlem.
The Studio Museum in Harlem, Harlem, ManhattanJulie Mehretu, Alma Thomas, Jack Whitten and William T. Williams anchor a Studio Museum show on geometry as a way of thinking, newly opened in Harlem.
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Storm King Art Center, New Windsor / Mountainville, Hudson ValleyAnicka Yi's first big outdoor work grows microbes in glowing columns at Storm King's 500 acres — peak-foliage sculpture, open the holiday Monday
Storm King Art Center, New Windsor / Mountainville, Hudson ValleyAnicka Yi's first big outdoor work grows microbes in glowing columns at Storm King's 500 acres — peak-foliage sculpture, open the holiday Monday
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Velvet Cowboy, Upper West Side, ManhattanCrushed velvet, fringe and a food menu where every item costs the same low price: the Jacob's Pickles team's 1970s desert saloon lands on the UWS.
Velvet Cowboy, Upper West Side, ManhattanCrushed velvet, fringe and a food menu where every item costs the same low price: the Jacob's Pickles team's 1970s desert saloon lands on the UWS.
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Green-Wood Cemetery, Greenwood Heights, BrooklynWalk Green-Wood's hills after dark by flashlight, then step inside the Catacombs, a vault normally locked to the public.
Green-Wood Cemetery, Greenwood Heights, BrooklynWalk Green-Wood's hills after dark by flashlight, then step inside the Catacombs, a vault normally locked to the public.
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Queens County Farm Museum, Floral Park / Glen Oaks, QueensTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSolve clues through three acres of towering corn to Victory Bridge in New York City's only corn maze, on a working Queens farm.
Queens County Farm Museum, Floral Park / Glen Oaks, QueensTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSolve clues through three acres of towering corn to Victory Bridge in New York City's only corn maze, on a working Queens farm.
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Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, QueensPedro Pascal plays a former cello prodigy scoring Hollywood films in Tony Gilroy's NYFF Centerpiece, crossing the river to Astoria.
Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, QueensPedro Pascal plays a former cello prodigy scoring Hollywood films in Tony Gilroy's NYFF Centerpiece, crossing the river to Astoria.
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Prospect Park Zoo, Prospect Park, BrooklynTombstones for extinct animals in Sea Lion Court, a nocturnal Spooky Trail and harvest photo spots make Prospect Park Zoo a costume-friendly stop.
Prospect Park Zoo, Prospect Park, BrooklynTombstones for extinct animals in Sea Lion Court, a nocturnal Spooky Trail and harvest photo spots make Prospect Park Zoo a costume-friendly stop.
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Philipsburg Manor, Sleepy Hollow, Hudson ValleyHistoric Hudson Valley's daytime Sleepy Hollow headliner: a 45-minute guided walk through Philipsburg Manor where costumed characters hand you clues to the disappearance of Ichabod Crane.
Philipsburg Manor, Sleepy Hollow, Hudson ValleyHistoric Hudson Valley's daytime Sleepy Hollow headliner: a 45-minute guided walk through Philipsburg Manor where costumed characters hand you clues to the disappearance of Ichabod Crane.
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The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Square, ManhattanErmell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLise Davidsen and Quinn Kelsey lead the Met's new Macbeth, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting Verdi's power-mad couple.
The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Square, ManhattanErmell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLise Davidsen and Quinn Kelsey lead the Met's new Macbeth, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting Verdi's power-mad couple.
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Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, QueensJohn Turturro plays an aging Bronx pickpocket racing across the boroughs to undo one bad lift, with Steve Buscemi along for the ride.
Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, QueensJohn Turturro plays an aging Bronx pickpocket racing across the boroughs to undo one bad lift, with Steve Buscemi along for the ride.
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Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, Hudson ValleyMore than 7,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns light up an 18th-century manor, dinosaurs and a pumpkin carousel included — an easy train ride up
Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, Hudson ValleyMore than 7,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns light up an 18th-century manor, dinosaurs and a pumpkin carousel included — an easy train ride up
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The Met Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, ManhattanThe first US exhibition ever devoted to the Savonnerie: Louis XIV's monumental Grande Galerie carpets, in their debut weekend at the Met.
The Met Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, ManhattanThe first US exhibition ever devoted to the Savonnerie: Louis XIV's monumental Grande Galerie carpets, in their debut weekend at the Met.
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Regal UA Midway, 108-22 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, QueensForty-seven films from fourteen countries fill a Forest Hills multiplex for three days of Caribbean and diaspora storytelling.
Regal UA Midway, 108-22 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, QueensForty-seven films from fourteen countries fill a Forest Hills multiplex for three days of Caribbean and diaspora storytelling.
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Caveat, Lower East Side, ManhattanAdam Conover and LegalEagle's Devin Stone argue society's ills out of existence in a Nebula taping of this comedy debate show at Caveat.
Caveat, Lower East Side, ManhattanAdam Conover and LegalEagle's Devin Stone argue society's ills out of existence in a Nebula taping of this comedy debate show at Caveat.
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Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, New JerseyForty-two acres of accredited arboretum holding 300-plus contemporary sculptures, including Seward Johnson's uncanny life-size tableaux. It stays open to 9pm Friday and the evening ticket is $15.
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, New JerseyForty-two acres of accredited arboretum holding 300-plus contemporary sculptures, including Seward Johnson's uncanny life-size tableaux. It stays open to 9pm Friday and the evening ticket is $15.
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Blue Note Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, ManhattanOne night of Robert Glasper's month-long Robtober residency at the Blue Note, stripped to a duo with Lalah Hathaway — two sets, 131 W. 3rd Street.
Blue Note Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, ManhattanOne night of Robert Glasper's month-long Robtober residency at the Blue Note, stripped to a duo with Lalah Hathaway — two sets, 131 W. 3rd Street.
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Newtown Creek Nature Walk, Greenpoint, BrooklynAlex Lozupone · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHeadsets on, 40 guests follow dancers and giant puppets along Newtown Creek, recast as the River Styx, in an immersive Persephone myth.
Newtown Creek Nature Walk, Greenpoint, BrooklynAlex Lozupone · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHeadsets on, 40 guests follow dancers and giant puppets along Newtown Creek, recast as the River Styx, in an immersive Persephone myth.
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Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, East Village, ManhattanUCB's flagship improv show turns a guest monologist's true stories into 90 minutes of scenes — past guests include Tina Fey and Conan O'Brien.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, East Village, ManhattanUCB's flagship improv show turns a guest monologist's true stories into 90 minutes of scenes — past guests include Tina Fey and Conan O'Brien.
Add to calendarBig weekends coming up — save them now, plan later.
