Now that my hometown is back on top of the must visit destination list, here’s how to enjoy NYC on the cheap.
Current deals and must-see events include hundreds of FREE outdoor summer concerts and movies, guide to NYC beaches and swimming pools, a second chance for Manhattanhenge, FREE outdoor dancing to live bands, FREE Shakespeare in several NYC parks, Pride events, the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks returns to the Hudson River, and so much more.
It all helps make New York City the greatest city on the planet year-round, not just in June and the Fourth of July.
Nearly everything here is FREE, and nothing is more than $20 per person unless it is a free program with museum admission, supports a charity, or otherwise is a noteworthy special event. Some free events require registration to manage space.
Pick one, some or all and enjoy the best of New York City FREE or cheap.
This best things to do in NYC on the cheap guide is updated at the beginning and middle of each month, with at least six weeks of events to help you plan how to enjoy the greatest city on the planet.
NYC Tourism Facts
In 2023, NYC welcomed 62.2 million visitors, including 50.6 million domestic and 11.6 million international visitors.
This year, visitation is expected to grow to 64.8 million, a 97% recovery of 2019 record levels.
Who is a real New Yorker? It depends on who you ask.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter was interviewed recently by
Time Out New York
The Vessel at Hudson Yards Re-Opens
The famous honeycomb sculpture re-opens Friday, June 28 after shutting down in January following three suicides.
The 150-foot Vessel now has safety netting to safeguard visitors, and the once-free architectural sculpture now costs $10 per person to visit – and visitors must buy at least two tickets and will not be allowed to visit alone..
Hudson Yards will also be “installing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline signage and messaging” and increasing security, CNN reported.
FREE Admission to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
First Monday of the Month, starting Monday, June 3 – This great opportunity is only for NYC residents. You will have to show proof of NYC residency for free admission.
Everybody can get free admission every Monday, from from 5:30pm to 7pm. Simply log onto 911memorial.org from 7am on the Monday morning of your intended visit and book your free tickets.
Tickets are always free to 9/11 families, and the outdoor memorial plaza is always free.
FREE Fridays at the Intrepid Museum
Fourth Friday of the Month through September – The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum offers special astronomy-themed programming aboard the storied WWII aircraft carrier Intrepid, including presentations by NASA astronauts and officials, and in drop-in activities that include creating an astronaut portrait and building a lunar rover.
Local astronomers are on hand with high-powered telescopes to help visitors navigate the night sky and answer questions about astronomy and stargazing.
- Doors open at 5pm. Last entry to the Museum is at 8:30pm.
- Free Fridays are June 28, July 26, August 23, September 27
- The Intrepid is at 41st St. and the Hudson River. There is an elevated crosswalk across the West Side Highway.
Scroll down for more free museum days.
Prospect Park Zoo
As the Simon & Garfinkel song (both NYC natives) says, it’s all happening at the zoo.
The Prospect Park Zoo is open again after being forced to close for eight months due to flood damage caused by the storm last September, which left 25 feet of water in the buildings’ basements. No animals were harmed during or after the flooding, and repairs have cost an estimated $20 million of federal funds, and repair projects are continuing even after the re-opening.
There are some new young animals, including baboons Bandari and Nyani and Pinnelopi the porcupette plus Turtle Time and Conservation stations, sea lion feedings with narration, and more.
The animals are happy to have their humans, back, too.
- Adult tickets are $9.95, seniors are $7.95, children ages 3-12 are $6.95, and children 2 and under are free.
- Reserve tickets here
Bronx Zoo
One of the largest zoos in the USA, the beloved Bronx Zoo celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2024, with a combination of new exhibits and a yearlong schedule of special events – including – .
Animal Chronicles: A NEW temp exhibit includes a walking trail of more than a quarter mile featuring life-size and gigantic, immersive eco-sculptures that showcase key achievements in the Bronx Zoo’s history of saving animal species and connecting New Yorkers to wildlife.
- Animal Chronicles will be available daily and is included with admission.
Monthly Birthday Celebrations: Weekend celebrations will be spread throughout the park on select days from April through September, including parades, performances, crafting, scavenger hunts, tours, Wildlife Theater, and much more.
- Each month will feature a different theme; and this experience will be included with admission.
Ticket prices are $37.75 for adults, $33.25 for seniors 65+ and $28.75 for children 3-15. Purchase tickets online here.
Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City
June 12 to August 10 – Hundreds of FREE concerts, performances and other events.
Dance to live bands under the 10-foot disco ball, relax with friends over a game of corn hole, and enjoy expanded food offerings at the Lincoln Center Night Market.
Complete lineup at SummerfortheCity.org.
River to River Festival
June 7-23 – Hundreds of FREE dance performances, concerts, and exhibitions across Lower Manhattan, exploring themes of resonance, reconsideration, and resistance, including works by artists in the Extended Life program.
Reservations are requested for some performances and events with limited capacity. Find the schedule and reserve tickets here.
Tickets for all 2024 events are available on Eventbrite with the exception of mayfield brooks’s whale fall abyss at the Wavertree. Tickets for whale fall abyss can be reserved here.
Salsa Sundays at Orchard Beach
Every Sunday from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend – Dance the day away every Sunday at Salsa Sundays.
This beloved FREE community tradition in New York City has been going on for over 50 years. This laid-back outdoor salsa dance party is a mix of live music and DJ sets. invites the Bronx to dance under the sun. Bring your umbrella, chair and cooler and be prepared for weekends full of fun.
- Noon to 5pm at Orchard Beach Parking Section 5
Everybody Tango! – FREE Lessons and Dancing
Every Wednesday in June and July – Enjoy introductory Argentine Tango lessons, music, and dancing in the open air.
Lessons are 6:45pm. and 7:45pm. with social dance time between lessons. No reservations required.
- 6:30 – 8:30pm- West Harlem Piers @ 125th & Marginal Sts.
See Also
Guide to NYC Beaches and Outdoor Pools
NYC Pride Events
New York City Dyke March
Saturday, June 19 – This is a combination march and protest, more than a parade.
It’s open to anybody who identifies as a dyke, and anybody interested in protesting against discrimination, harassment and violence against any and all in any and all groups or communities.
- 5 p.m., starting at Bryant Park.
NYC Pride March
Sunday, June 30 – NYC Pride will mark 55th Anniversary of Stonewall Uprising and honor the diverse LGBTQIA+ community with an wide-ranging celebration that includes amazing celebration that includes awe-inspiring floats, incredible performances, dizzying costumes, and streets packed with revelers.
This year’s grand marshals include DaShawn Usher, Miss Major, Raquel Willis, Michelle Visage, Eshe Ukwell, and Baddie Brooks.
- Find a complete list of FREE and ticketed events in this New York Times article.
FREE Monday Night Movies in Bryant Park
June 10 to August 12 – The popular outdoor summer movie series returns, with screenings of popular recent films on a gi-normous screen, sponsored by Paramount+.
This year, the movie nights start on June 10 with crowd favorite Forrest Gump, which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary, and end ten weeks – and ten films later – with the blockbuster Titanic.
Screenings start around 8:30pm, and seating on the lawn opens at 5pm.
Picnics are allowed, even encouraged, but no chairs and no dogs. Or, purchase a picnic from options curated by Hester Street Fair, with a rotating lineup of artisanal vendors from all across the city.
Here is the lineup for June, July and August –
- June 10: Forrest Gump (1994)
- June 17: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
- June 24: Boomerang (1992)
- July 1: The Gladiator (2000)
- July 8: Old School (2003)
- July 15: Funny Face (1957)
- July 22: Cinema Paradiso (1988)
- July 29: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
- August 5: Arrival (2016)
- August 12: Titanic (1997)
Find more information on the screenings and other free programming on the Bryant Park website.
FREE Shakespeare in Riverside Park
May 30 to August 18 – The Hudson Classical Theater Company returns for its 21st season of FREE Shakespeare in the park, including a unique theatrical event by three actors performing all of Shakespeare’s 37 plays in just 97 minutes.
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged): May 30-June 23
- Coriolanus, by William Shakespeare: June 27-July21
- Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare: July 25-Aug 18
Performances are in the plaza behind Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Riverside Drive at 89th St. The theater company provides cushions, or bring your own.
- All the shows are Thursdays to Sunday at 6:30pm.
- There are no reservations or tickets – just be there by 6:15pm for a good seat. No microphones are used, so those in the back may have to strain to hear.
- The company passes a basket after the show so the audience can “Pay What You Can,” with proceeds going to the artists and production costs.
FREE Shakespeare in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday/Sunday, June 29/30 – Theater 2020 will present a 75-minute fast-paced version of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, meant for the whole family.
FREE Shakespeare in Marcus Garvey Park
July 6-16 – Classical Theatre of Harlem again presents free outdoor performances in Marcus Garvey Park, also known as Uptown Shakespeare in the Park.
This year it’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s always popular forest farce, in which a bossy Bottom falls into a wild world of drugged-up fairy sex. Director by Carl Cofield gives the comedy a Harlem Renaissance backdrop; the cast includes comedian Russell Peters in his stage debut.
Tickets are free but reservations are strongly suggested.
- Marcus Garvey Park is at Mt. Morris Parkway West, between 120th and 124th St.
- Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 to 125th St
Tier 5 Theater Company
August 8-25 – This innovative theater group prevents an immersive and LGBTQ-themed version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with actors moving through the audience space.
The play is billed as “the hottest, gaggiest, best Pride in the history of Pride, especially with Theseus and Hippolyta, literal queer icons, closing the festival with their nuptials- the wedding of the century! Anyone who is anyone is going to be there. But, when the lovers’ feud of King and Queen of the Fairies, Oberon and Titania, spills over, things are going to get real messy. Using the original text of Shakespeare’s most legendary comedy, this story is getting a queer, fabulous twist that only Tier5 could do”.
- Tickets are priced from $12.51
- All performances are at El Barrio’s ArtSpace PS109, 215 E 99th St
FREE and Ticketed Performances at Little Island
Starting June 6 – Hudson River Park’s Little Island has announced a lineup of nine free and affordable summer programming, with nothing over $25.
The public park will also unveil a 700-seat amphitheater with Twyla Tharp’s “How Long Blues.”
Your best bet is to check the daily schedule on the website.
Wednesdays, through August 7 at 6pm in the Public Square & Gardens.
- June 19: Chayce Beckham
- June 26: David Archuleta
- July 10: Brynn Cartelli
- July 17: Ray Bull
- August 7: Keke Palmer
Find the daily schedule on the website.
FREE Public Theater Performances
The Public Theater presents Shakespeare in 10 free performances of the bilingual musical adaptation (in English and Spanish) of The Comedy of Errors.
It’s a twist on the classic tale with contemporary Latin rhythms.
- Performance dates are June 6-9, 13-14, 20-21.
NYC Free and Cheap Events in July
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks
The Macy’s 4th of July fireworks returns to the Hudson River this year for the first time since 2013.
Macys says the “display will feature thousands of shells and an array of effects from barges positioned along the Hudson River with multiple viewing opportunities in Manhattan between West 14th and West 34th Streets and in New Jersey.”
Click here for best viewing spots.
East River vs. Hudson River
After lighting up the East River for decades, the fireworks moved to the Hudson River in 2009.
It was supposed to be a one-time change celebrating the 400th anniversary of the explorer Henry Hudson’s arrival in these parts, but Macy’s then staged the fireworks on the Hudson for four more years, before moving back to the East River. Now, it’s back to the Hudson.
Stay tuned – we’ll have more information closer to the annual event.
Coney Island Fireworks
The Coney Island July 4 Fireworks Spectacular starts at 9:45pm at Steeplechase Park.
Plus, every Friday through Labor Day, enjoy Friday Night Fireworks, which begin at approximately 9:45pm and launch from the beach at West 12th Street, providing a breathtaking backdrop to the iconic boardwalk and amusement parks.
Manhattanhenge
Friday/Saturday, July 12/13 – It may not be a Solar Eclipse or the Northern Lights, but New Yorkers have another reason celebrate a special celestial event, and gather in the streets and admire the sky.
It happens just four days a year – two in May and two in July. If you missed your chance in May, you get a second chance in July.
Manhattanhenge is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when the sun sets in perfect alignment with Manhattan’s rectangular grid, radiating both sides of the street from 14th Street north to the 80 and 90s.
To see it, park yourself on a numbered east-west street between 14th and 96th with unhindered views of the Hudson River.
One of the most popular spots is the 42nd St. overpass near the United Nations – you’ll need to be there early to get a spot that isn’t already snagged by professional photographers with tripods and long-range lenses.
Or, join the crowd blocking the intersection at Times Square. Let’s hope the weather cooperates with a clear sky.
Manhattanhenge at AMNH
Friday, July 12, at 7 pm – Join AMNH Senior Research Scientist Jackie Faherty for a 3D presentation about the science and history behind Manhattanhenge, when the setting Sun perfectly aligns with the cross streets of the Manhattan grid to create a stunning visual spectacle, using the Museum’s powerful OpenSpace visualization software.
After the program in Museum’s LeFrak Theater, join us for a spectacular Manhattanhenge viewing event outdoors to experience the mesmerizing alignment of the setting Sun with the city’s grid as you groove to the vibrant sounds of the Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra.
Tickets are $20 general admission and $15 for Members. Tickets are available on the Museum’s online calendar.
A Night in Niblo’s Garden
Thursday/Friday, July 18/19 – Party like it’s 1890 at this annual Victorian bash at Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery.
It’s an enchanted evening of nineteenth-century showmanship—fire eaters, musicians, contortionists, dancers, and lots of surprises from Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.
Staged under a starry summer sky around Green-Wood’s Crescent Water, this is a celebration of permanent resident William Niblo, whose New York City pleasure garden (built in 1834) was one of the largest and most elaborate theaters of its time.
NYC Restaurant Week
July 22–August 18 – This annual good deal returns with hundreds of restaurants citywide offering prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner.
A full list of participating eateries will be available on July 6.
Museum and Other Exhibits to See Now
The Awe of the Arctic: A Visual History at the NYPL
This is a must-see an exhibition of narrative accounts, prints, photographs and ephemera from the New York Public Library’s collection documenting Arctic depictions from the 16th century to the present.
FREE through July 13 at the NYPL main building on Fifth Avenue – you know the one – with the lions out front.
There also are FREE talks connected with this exhibit. Check the website for event schedule.
Collecting Inspiration at the Met
Through Oct. 20 in Gallery 199 – Edward Moore was the creative force who led Tiffany & Co. to unparalleled originality and success during the second half of the 19th century. He amassed a vast collection of decorative arts of exceptional quality and in various media, from Greek and Roman glass and Japanese baskets to metalwork from the Islamic world.
These objects were a source of inspiration for Moore, a noted silversmith in his own right, and the designers he supervised.
The exhibition Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co. features more than 180 extraordinary examples from Moore’s personal collection, alongside 70 magnificent silver objects designed and created at Tiffany & Co. under his direction.
Final Exhibition at the Rubin Museum
The home of Himalayan and East Asian art is closing permanently in October 2024 to become a “museum without walls”, offering virtual tours and workshops and loaning its treasures to other museums around the world.
Fittingly, the final exhibition is a look ahead, focusing on current artwork by modern Himalayan and East Asian artists, all focusing on their cultural heritage in new ways, including some artists born here in New York City.
Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now is a museum-wide exhibition featuring artworks by 32 contemporary artists, many from the Himalayan region and diaspora. Explore all six floors of the Rubin Museum, which has been transformed with new commissions and recent works in dialogue with objects from the Rubin’s collection, inviting new ways of encountering traditional Himalayan art.
I attended a media preview, and was most impressed by the new exhibit, which is dominated by a six-floor fabric sculpture blazing with color and dotted with traditional symbols and animals.
The building – with an architecturally-significant five-story circular staircase – was previously a department store. A museum spokesperson told me the building would be sold, probably in 2024. I told her I hope the sale contract requires that the building NOT be razed for a high-rise condo.
- The Rubin Museum is at 150 W. 17th St. in Chelsea.
Responsibility of Memory: The Role of Art in Holocaust Remembrance
Holocaust Remembrance Day was in May, but this virtual art exhibit remembering Yom HaShoah is on-going, sponsored by The Holocaust and United Nations Outreach Programme
The FREE online exhibit features three generations of artists whose lives were impacted by the Holocaust and whose art was shaped by this experience – including artists who survived Auschwitz Birkenau and Terezin.
There are full descriptions of each painting, along with bios of each artist represented in the exhibit.
The exhibition was curated by the Center for Persecuted Arts and Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, and is sponsored by the German Federal Foreign Office with support from of the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations.
Fotografiska New York
The photography museum is closing its location at 219 Park Avenue South on Sunday, Sept. 29, to move to a new, larger space.
The museum’s well-regarded restaurant Verōnika and the Chapel Bar close in June.
According to Crain’s, the architecturally stunning building is being put on the market. The property was last listed in 2022 for $135 million, but it did not sell.
Constructed between 1892 and 1894 for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church, the ornate building features a Flemish Renaissance Revival style and a striking limestone facade. The building, known as the Church Missions House, was part of an area formerly known as “Charity Row.” It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982,.
Following its closure in September, the museum will host an exhibition covering a century of NYC nightlife photography in a temporary space. No details of a new location for the museum have been announced yet.Frick Madison Photo Joseph Coscia Jr.
Frick Madison Closed Permanently
After three years at its temporary space called Frick Madison at 945 Madison Ave. while Henry Clay Frick’s historic and ornate Fifth Avenue mansion underwent a massive renovation, the artwork is returning “home” to East 70th Street, and reopens before the end of 2024.
It will take that long for curators and designers to re-install the precious items, which includes works by Fragonard, Holbein, Rembrandt, Turner, Vermeer, and Whistler, as well as significant sculptures, Chinese porcelain, Oriental carpets, bronzes, and other decorative arts objects.
I really enjoyed seeing the luscious historic collection in the stark, modernist setting of Marcel Breuer’s iconic building, formerly home of the Whitney Museum of American Art, before it moved downtown to new digs in Chelsea. The “brutalist” architecture made the romantic, ethereal artworks feel so much more romantic and ethereal.
The building has been purchased by Sotheby’s, to become an exhibit area for auctions and offices.
ICYMI – News Worth Noting
Loeb Boathouse in Central Park has reopened, for lunch, brunch and dinner, and for weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and other celebrations.
The grand dame of Central Park (at East 72nd Street and Park Drive North) is now run by Legends Hospitality, the food and beverage behemoth responsible for the menu at Yankee Stadium
The new menu features such continental classics as oysters Rockefeller, clam chowder, prime rib, chicken Milanese and Trout Almandine.
- Loeb Boathouse is open Monday-Saturday 11am to 9pm and Sundays 11am to 8pm.
Shakespeare in the Park moves to multiple parks this summer.
Shakespeare on the move: The Delacorte Theater in Central Park is being renovated, so the Public Theater, which presents the iconic FREE performances, plans to send a smaller production of “The Comedy of Errors” to several parks and plazas around the city between Memorial Day and the end of June.
That will be followed by outdoor screenings of a filmed production of “Much Ado About Nothing” in July, August and early SeptemberBow Bridge in Central Park has re-opened after repairs that included replacing its wood decking.
- Designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, the cast iron bridge’s name comes from its signature bow shape.
- A popular spot for photographs, the bridge was constructed by the Bronx-based iron foundry Janes, Kirtland & Co., which also built the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building.
- The Bow Bridge is featured on the cover photo of one of my NYC guidebooks.
The program FREE NYC busses in all five boroughs will be ending soon, probably in September 2024, one year after it launched.
The program was designed to boost ridership – and it did – one the one route in each borough which offered FREE ridership.
So act quickly to get your free rides on –
- Bx18 in the Bronx
- B60 in Brooklyn
- Q4 in Queens
- M116 (crosstown) in Manhattan
- S46/96 in Staten Island
Brooklyn Public Library locations are no longer be open on Sundays, due to NYC budget cuts in response to the billions being spent to support more than 100,000 recent asylum seekers and other migrants
These NYPL branches also are now closed on Sundays for the same reason:
- The main branch on Fifth Ave., officially known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
- Also in Manhattan – Jefferson Market, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) m Washington Heights
- Bronx – Bronx Library Center, Grand Concourse, Parkchester
- Staten Island – Todt Hill–Westerleigh
Viselka, the iconic Ukranian restaurant on the Lower East Side, has opened an outpost in the downstairs Dining Concourse at Grand Central Terminal.
- The LES location plans to return to 24/7 operation soon. It was halted by the Pandemic.
Junior’s, the iconic cheesecake (and more) restaurant in Brooklyn and Times Square has opened an outpost in Las Vegas.
See Also
More FREE Things to Do in NYC
Things to Do in Staten Island
Best NYC Airport Transportation
SummerStage FREE Concerts in NYC Parks
SummerStage is back with nearly 100 FREE concerts in parks in all five boroughs, including Central Park, the Coney Island Ampitheater and Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens.
The music varies from the Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series to Jazz, Hip-Hop, Latin, and Golden Oldies, plus some ticketed benefit performances.
With 85 FREE concerts, we’re not listing them all.
FREE Movies Under the Stars
This popular program returns with 150 FREE recent blockbuster hits, classic favorites and family-friendly films with screenings in parks in all five NYC boroughs.
Bring a picnic blanket, chairs where permitted, and get set to screen such films as Barbie, Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles and Remember the Titans.
With 150 films, we can’t list each one. So check the NYC Parks Movies Under the Stars website for the daily schedule, including cancellations in case the weather does not cooperate.
Carnegie Hall Citywide FREE Concerts
Starting in May, Carnegie Hall Citywide offers free concerts in all five boroughs, mostly in NYC museums and parks, and also one in Times Square.
The concerts a variety of music, from opera to Jazz, Latin and Indian.
Concerts are through July.
Broadway Bridges $10 Theater Tickets for Students
The Broadway League also sponsors a program for NYC public high school students to attend a Broadway show for just $10.
As with Kid’s Night on Broadway, the goal of Broadway Bridges is to make Broadway more accessible to young people.
A teacher or administrator at the High School must also be registered as a chaperone with the Broadway League.
Twenty shows are partnering with the Broadway League and the United Federation of Teachers to make the $10 tickets possible. They are
- Aladdin,
- & Juliet,
- A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical,
- Back to the Future: The Musical,
- Chicago,
- Hadestown,
- Harmony,
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,
- How to Dance in Ohio,
- Kimberly Akimbo,
- Merrily We Roll Along,
- MJ,
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical,
- SIX,
- Spamalot,
- Sweeney Todd,
- The Lion King,
- The Outsiders,
- Water for Elephants and
- Wicked.
Find out more about Broadway Bridges $10 tickets at https://www.broadwaybridges.org/
NYC Free and Cheap Events in August
Battery Dance Festival
August 11 to August 17 – Battery Dance celebrates the 43rd Anniversary of its free summer festival with in-person and live-streamed performances staged each night, featuring a variety of dance styles and dance groups from around the world.
Sunday, August 11: A’nó:wara Dance Theatre; Battery Dance; Focus Dance Company; Sun Kim Dance Theatre; Alexandra F. Light; McKoy Dance Project || MDP; wee dance company
Monday, August 12/Young Voices in Dance: Andrea Agostini; Marshall Kahente Diabo; Carsyn Gekas; Zev Haworth, Hannah Howell; Malachi Kingston; Anna Lopez; Kailei Sin; Priscilla Tom; Chen-Jung Yeh
Tuesday, August 13: A’nó:wara Dance Theatre; AU.THENTICITY DANCE CO.; Julie Crothers; Focus Dance Company; Lucas Crew; wee dance company
Wednesday, August 14: Battery Dance; Carolyn Dorfman Dance; Lucas Crew; Rutkay Özpinar; Pori Dance Company
Thursday, August 15/India Day: Radhika Jha; Rajesh Sai Babu Mayurbhanj Chhau Group
Friday, August 16/FUTURE 400: Ballet Nepantla; Battery Dance; Capoeira Luanda NYC; FANIKE! African Dance Troupe; Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company; Rutkay Özpinar
Saturday, August 17: Buglisi Dance Theatre; Pony Box Dance Theatre; Pori Dance Company; T’Ana Selah; Wyatt Sutter & Charles Pierson
- Outdoor performances are at 7pm in Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City.
- For more information, visit batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival/
See Also
Best FREE Things in NYC Year-Round
Late Night Shows Taped in New York City
The late night shows taped in NYC are one of the most popular tickets in town. Here’s how to get FREE tickets to be in the audience.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
Jon Stewart Returns to The Daily Show
First Weekend of the Month Museum Deals
Free Admission to Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Friday, July 5
UNIQLO NYC Nights are the first Friday of each month, 4–8 pm.
New York City residents get free admission courtesy of UNIQLO, but everyone can enjoy an evening out in our galleries with paid admission.
See new art in the galleries, enjoy music by DJs from The Lot Radio, grab a drink at the pop-up bar, get creative with drop-in drawing sessions, see a film in the theaters, and enjoy the spring weather in the lovely outdoor sculpture garden.
Free First Fridays at Neue Galerie, Friday, Fri., July 5
First Fridays at Neue Galerie offer free admission and extra hours to closing, the first Friday of the month.
Visitors are admitted free at 5 p.m. and the galleries remain open until 8 p.m. No registration is required, and admission is first-come, first-served.
The Book Store and Design Shop stay open late, too.
Free First Fridays at Poster House, Friday, Fri., July 5
Poster House is the first museum in the United States dedicated to the global history of posters. First Fridays free admission is all day, 10am to 9pm
Every First Friday is different, with tours, workshops, performances, and activities, to further engage visitors with the exhibitions.
- Poster House is at 119 West 23 St. in Chelsea. tel. 617-447-7453
Free Fridays & Sundays at The Whitney Museum of American Art
The Meatpacking District art museum has dropped its “pay-what-you-wish” system on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on the second Sunday of every month, when admission will be free for all visitors.
Second Sundays offers free all-day admission to visitors and special programming for families. On the second Sunday of every month, guests can enjoy all-ages arts & crafts activities, tours, classes, and other special events connected to exhibitions on view at the Whitney or significant community events like Earth Day or Pride Month.
Also on view will be the museum’s permanent collection exhibitions, featuring artists such as Edward Hopper, Kara Walker, Georgia O’Keeffe, Kevin Beasley, Faith Ringgold, Lee Krasner, Jasper Johns, Alexander Calder, Jacob Lawrence, Carrie Mae Weems, Andrea Carlson, and Clarissa Tossin.
The Whitney hopes free admission will make the museum more enticing to potential visitors and open the doors to a wider audience.
Free admission tickets must be reserved in advance.
Free Saturdays at the Jewish Museum
There is FREE admission every Saturday.
My personal favorite is the ongoing “Scenes from the Collection” exhibit, with the delightful yellow sculpture shown here. From one side, it spells OY, the German and Yiddish phrase for “uh-oh”. From the other side, it spells YO, now used by multiple cultures in NYC as a greeting. Which one do you use – OY, or YO, or both?
- The Jewish Museum is at 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St.
Free Tours of Hart Island
Hart Island is now open to the public. Since 1869, more than 1 million New Yorkers have been laid to rest on the island.
NYC Parks is now offering visits twice per month so New Yorkers can learn about its important history and see the beauty of the island and enjoy picture postcard views of the city.
You can put your name in the lottery for a free walking tour here.
- Tours are Tuesdays, 10am to 1pm
This NYC Best Things to Do Calendar is updated at the beginning and middle of each month.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter also is the author or editor of numerous NYC guidebooks and apps.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA),
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA)
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
Nancie Steinberg says
This is great! I love exploring my city and being made aware of what’s going on and where to go!