#1
NYCFriday-Sunday, October 16-18, 10 AM-6 PMMostly free
Open House New York Weekend
More than 300 usually closed spaces open across all five boroughs.
FreeArchitectureCitywide
Free Things to Do in New York the Weekend of Oct 16–18, 2026
Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best free things to do in New York City the weekend of Oct 16–18, 2026: 19 picks, refreshed weekly.
📱 Get the weekend's top 5 by text, every Thursday →19 picks · checked Sep 28
19 picks
NYC#1Friday-Sunday, October 16-18, 10 AM-6 PM · One Weekend Only
NYCOpen House New York Weekend
More than 300 usually closed spaces open across all five boroughs.
Add to calendar#2
NYCSaturday, October 17, mid-morning; exact details pendingFree to watch
Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
Costumed dogs parade through the East Village in a free Halloween favorite.
FreeHalloweenParade
#2Saturday, October 17, mid-morning; exact details pending · One Day Only
NYCTompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
Costumed dogs parade through the East Village in a free Halloween favorite.
Add to calendar#3
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynSaturday 12pm–6pmFree
A Haunting in Industry City
Twenty horror makers bring art, apparel, jewelry and oddities to Industry City.
FreePopupIndustry City
#3Saturday 12pm–6pm · One Day Only
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynA Haunting in Industry City
Twenty horror makers bring art, apparel, jewelry and oddities to Industry City.
Add to calendar#4
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOn view Sep 26, 2026 – Feb 7, 2027Free admission
Yoshitaka Amano: Origins at the American Academy of Arts and Letters
The Final Fantasy artist's first New York institutional solo show: a Pandora frieze of drawings, free at Audubon Terrace from opening day.
FreeArtGallery openingPopular
#4On view Sep 26, 2026 – Feb 7, 2027 · Limited Run
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsYoshitaka Amano: Origins at the American Academy of Arts and Letters
The 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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#5
Soundview Park, Soundview, BronxSaturday, October 17, 2026, 12pm–4pmFree
The Great Pumpkin Spooktacular
Free pumpkin picking and decorating in Soundview Park, with festive games and four hours of run-around space beside the Bronx River.
FreePumpkin pickingBronx
#5Saturday, October 17, 2026, 12pm–4pm · One Day Only
Soundview Park, Soundview, BronxThe Great Pumpkin Spooktacular
Free pumpkin picking and decorating in Soundview Park, with festive games and four hours of run-around space beside the Bronx River.
Add to calendar#6
The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery, Greenwood Heights, BrooklynFriday · October 16Free or low-cost
Archtober: The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery
Archtober Building of the Day: an architect-led tour of The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery, led by Architecture Research Office (ARO).
FreeArchtoberArchitecture tour
#6Friday · October 16 · One Day Only
The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery, Greenwood Heights, BrooklynArchtober: The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery
Archtober Building of the Day: an architect-led tour of The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery, led by Architecture Research Office (ARO).
Add to calendar#7
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanOn view September 9, 2026 – August 29, 2027Free
Camille Henrot: Dogs
Bronze, 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.
FreeArtPublic Art
#7On view September 9, 2026 – August 29, 2027 · Limited Run
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanCamille Henrot: Dogs
Bronze, 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.
Add to calendar#8
the NYC Parks Luis Lopez Playground Modular Public Restroom, East Harlem, ManhattanSaturday · October 17Free or low-cost
Archtober: Luis Lopez Playground Modular Restroom
Archtober Building of the Day: an architect-led tour of the NYC Parks Luis Lopez Playground Modular Public Restroom, led by 1100 Architect.
FreeArchtoberArchitecture tour
#8Saturday · October 17 · One Day Only
the NYC Parks Luis Lopez Playground Modular Public Restroom, East Harlem, ManhattanArchtober: Luis Lopez Playground Modular Restroom
Archtober Building of the Day: an architect-led tour of the NYC Parks Luis Lopez Playground Modular Public Restroom, led by 1100 Architect.
Add to calendar#9
Hauser & Wirth, 542 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, ManhattanOn view through Oct 24, 2026Free
Lee Bul: The Anatomy of Every Setting Sun
Korean icon Lee Bul fills Hauser & Wirth with major new sculptures — cyborg bodies and glittering future ruins probing technology, nature and history.
FreeArtSculpture
#9On view through Oct 24, 2026 · Limited Run
Hauser & Wirth, 542 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, ManhattanLee Bul: The Anatomy of Every Setting Sun
Korean icon Lee Bul fills Hauser & Wirth with major new sculptures — cyborg bodies and glittering future ruins probing technology, nature and history.
Add to calendar#10
NYCSunday, October 18, 2026, 11am–1pmFree with RSVP
Archtober Family Day
Build, create and decorate a free pumpkin at Flushing Town Hall's architecture day.
FreeFamilyArchitecture
#10Sunday, October 18, 2026, 11am–1pm · One Day Only
NYCArchtober Family Day
Build, create and decorate a free pumpkin at Flushing Town Hall's architecture day.
Add to calendar#11
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynJim.henderson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSundays through Oct 18Free
Sunday Sessions: Live Jazz & Blues
Free live jazz and blues fill Industry City evening.
FreePopupIndustry City
#11Sundays through Oct 18 · Limited Run
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynJim.henderson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSunday Sessions: Live Jazz & Blues
Free live jazz and blues fill Industry City evening.
Add to calendar#12
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynSaturdays through Oct 17Free
Industry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour
Industry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour at Industry City.
FreePopupIndustry City
#12Saturdays through Oct 17 · Limited Run
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynIndustry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour
Industry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour at Industry City.
Add to calendar#13
City Hall Park, Civic Center, ManhattanNielsoncaetanosalmeron · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOn view through Nov 15, 2026Free
Genesis Belanger: Heads or Tails
Concrete birds pluck pennies from the City Hall Park fountain and two bronze Lady Justices preside — Genesis Belanger's first big public show.
FreeArtPublic Art
#13On view through Nov 15, 2026 · Limited Run
City Hall Park, Civic Center, ManhattanNielsoncaetanosalmeron · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsGenesis Belanger: Heads or Tails
Concrete birds pluck pennies from the City Hall Park fountain and two bronze Lady Justices preside — Genesis Belanger's first big public show.
Add to calendar#14
MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSep 24, 2026–Feb 8, 2027Free admission for all at MoM…
Teresa Margolles: En el lugar de los hechos (At the Scene)
A 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.
FreeArtOpening
#14Sep 24, 2026–Feb 8, 2027 · Limited Run
MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTeresa Margolles: En el lugar de los hechos (At the Scene)
A 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 calendar#15
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynSaturdays through Oct 17Free
Guided Brewery Tour and Sake Tasting
Tour a working brewery and taste sake at Industry City — a guided behind-the-scenes session for craft-drink curious New Yorkers.
FreePopupIndustry City
#15Saturdays through Oct 17 · Limited Run
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynGuided Brewery Tour and Sake Tasting
Tour a working brewery and taste sake at Industry City — a guided behind-the-scenes session for craft-drink curious New Yorkers.
Add to calendar#16
The Kitchen, Chelsea, ManhattanOn view Sep 10 – Nov 8, 2026; Wed–Sat, 12–6pmFree
Josiah McElheny: Instrument Object
Humming glass gongs and a pulsing drum honoring Milford Graves fill The Kitchen's loft in Josiah McElheny's free ode to experimental musicians.
FreeArtSound
#16On view Sep 10 – Nov 8, 2026; Wed–Sat, 12–6pm · Limited Run
The Kitchen, Chelsea, ManhattanJosiah McElheny: Instrument Object
Humming glass gongs and a pulsing drum honoring Milford Graves fill The Kitchen's loft in Josiah McElheny's free ode to experimental musicians.
Add to calendar#17
Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park, BrooklynOn view through November 15, 2026Free
Exhibit: The Shirley Chisholm Way: Brooklyn’s Blueprint for Change
A free Prospect Park exhibit honors Shirley Chisholm through seven life lessons, Al Johnson portraits and rare campaign memorabilia.
FreeArtHistory
#17On view through November 15, 2026 · Limited Run
Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park, BrooklynExhibit: The Shirley Chisholm Way: Brooklyn’s Blueprint for Change
A free Prospect Park exhibit honors Shirley Chisholm through seven life lessons, Al Johnson portraits and rare campaign memorabilia.
Add to calendar#18
David Zwirner Tribeca, Tribeca, ManhattanSep 18–Oct 24Free
Emma McIntyre: This body holds / swamp stuff
Rising painter Emma McIntyre debuts lush new abstractions at Zwirner's Tribeca space — poured, stained canvases where chemistry meets gesture.
FreeArtPainting
#18Sep 18–Oct 24 · Limited Run
David Zwirner Tribeca, Tribeca, ManhattanEmma McIntyre: This body holds / swamp stuff
Rising painter Emma McIntyre debuts lush new abstractions at Zwirner's Tribeca space — poured, stained canvases where chemistry meets gesture.
Add to calendar#19
The Arsenal Gallery, Central Park, Upper East Side / Central Park, ManhattanTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOn view weekdays through Nov 6, 2026 (closed holidays)Free admission
New Dendrology at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park
Street Tree Tarot readings and commitment ceremonies with trees headline eleven artists' tree-loving show inside Central Park's Arsenal.
FreeArtTrees
#19On view weekdays through Nov 6, 2026 (closed holidays) · Limited Run
The Arsenal Gallery, Central Park, Upper East Side / Central Park, ManhattanTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNew Dendrology at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park
Street Tree Tarot readings and commitment ceremonies with trees headline eleven artists' tree-loving show inside Central Park's Arsenal.
Add to calendar
