Now that my hometown is back on top of the must visit destination list, here’s how to enjoy NYC on the cheap.
Spring/Summer is a great time to be in NYC, for Manhattanhenge, Museum Mile and other outdoor food and crafts festivals, FREE Shakespeare and NY Philharmonic concerts in NYC parks, FREE FIFA fan events, FREE outdoor movies, FREE Juneteenth and Pride events, FREE America 250th events in July, and more.
It all helps make New York City the greatest city on the planet year-round, not just in June and July, but year-round.
Nearly everything on this list is FREE and family-friendly, and nothing is more than $20 per adult unless it is a free program with museum or zoo admission, supports a charity, or otherwise is a noteworthy special event. Some free events require registration.
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.
Best FREE and Cheap Things to Do in NYC in June
FREE – Concerts & Movies With Carnegie Hall Citywide
Various Dates and Locations through July – This is one of the best spring and summer freebies, a combination of free concerts and free movie screenings throughout NYC.
Carnegie Hall+, the Hall’s video streaming channel, returns to Bryant Park with a FREE outdoor film screening of Puccini’s Tosca on Monday, June 15, one of opera’s greatest masterpieces.
The thrilling, tragic opera is set in Rome during the Napoleonic wars and stars Sonya Yoncheva and Vittorio Grigolo, in the captivating staging by Argentine director Hugo de Ana in Italy’s famed Arena di Verona.
On Fridays in July, Carnegie Hall Citywide continues its exciting collaboration with Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America with five free concerts in the park. The wide-ranging lineup features –
- Innovative chamber music collective The Knights (July 3);
- celebrated Broadway actress Aisha Jackson (July 10);
- Louisiana based creole band Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas (July 17);
- 20-piece jazz and soul band NYC Ska Orchestra (July 24)
- Afro–Puerto Rican bomba fusion innovators El Laberinto del Coco (July 31).
Another major highlight will be a July 11 performance led by Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra celebrating 15 years of Carnegie Hall’s Musical Connections program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, showcasing the power of music to foster creativity, connection, and community. The concert, presented at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park in Upper Manhattan, will open with a special set of original songs by The Freedom Trap, a dynamic New York-based ensemble of musicians whose artistry was developed through Musical Connections and who carry this work forward today.
Find out more here, including performance times.
FREE Shakespeare in the Park
Through June 28 – Free Shakespeare in the Park, in the newly upgraded Delacorte Theater in Central Park, kicks off with Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet.
Personal Review – Because of its history of long lines with peak demand for tickets, and warnings on the website not to get on line before 6am, I was shocked to find no line whatsoever at Noon on the day a friend and I wanted to see the show. Later that day I learned why it’s easy to get tickets – this an utterly ridiculous version of a Shakespeare classic.
- There’s a “master of ceremonies” who sings the opening scene. Since when does Romeo and Juliet have a signing MC?
- Half the performance is in Spanish, including the iconic balcony scene. Worse, Juliet plays it for laughs. Since when is the iconic balcony scene funny? I wasn’t laughing.
- The performance is not publicized as being half Spanish, half English, with music and laughter thrown in.
- There should be a warning, especially for those who don’t want to experience the iconic balcony scene in a language they don’t speak, which isn’t advertised as being an iconic Shakespeare scene in a language other than Shakespeare wrote and which the audience expected.
- Other actors also played it for laughs. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. Whatever makes the producers think it should be a comedy.
- Shakespeare wrote glowing words that have lasted and inspired us for 500 years. So why does he need to be re-written so a character addresses Juliet with modern slang “Girl”.
- Many people – including the couples seated next to us and in front of us – did not return after intermission. I’ve never walked out of a theater performance – ticketed or free – in my life, but I was tempted.
July 25 to August 3 – That will be followed by The Public’s production of The Winter’s Tale
- Hopefully, there will be a more traditional Shakespearean staging, in the language in which Shakespeare wrote it.
Tickets are completely free and available to all New Yorkers.
You’ll need to create or confirm your online account at PublicTheater.org/register to arrange tickets.
Tickets are released several ways, outlined here, including separate ticket lines for seniors 65+ and those qualifying for ADA assistance, for easily accessible seats.
FREE – Dance Lessons & Dancing on Pier I
Sundays in June – Let’s Dance. If you know how, terrific. If you don’t, this is a fun FREE way to learn how to dance salsa, bachata and more, including fabulous sunsets across the Hudson River.
Join teachers from the Piel Canela Dance and Music School and DJ Ray Colon for a weekly party on the pier.
This is part the extensive FREE Summer on the Hudson program of Riverside Park.
See you on the dance floor.
- 6PM to 9:30PM at Pier I at 70th Street
FREE – Brooklyn Heights Car-Free Streets
Sundays, through June 28 – Montague Street goes car-free for seven consecutive Sundays in May and June, transforming two blocks in the heart of Brooklyn Heights into a pedestrian-only stretch filled with outdoor dining, live music, local shopping, family activities, and community events. Each week has a different theme.
June 7 – FAD Market: Independent artisans and makers pop up on the street for a day of shopping alongside Montague Street’s restaurants and storefronts.
June 14 – Dog Day on Montague: The Brooklyn Heights Association Dog Show returns along with dog walkers, pet accessories, adoption organizations, and more.
June 21 – Celebrate Dad and Summer: Father’s Day celebration with Georgian food, live music, a live khinkali-making demonstration and summer solstice events.
June 28 – Music on Montague: Live performances from Shinebone Alley Stilt Band, folk and Americana artist Hillary Powell, and local teen rock band JAW Band.
- Montague Open Streets runs every Sunday from noon to 5 PM through June 28 between Clinton and Hicks Street
FREE – Street Fairs on the UWS
Various Sundays through October – Street fairs are back in season, including on the Upper West Side, with a half-dozen events through fall. Here’s the full 2026 calendar –
- Sunday, June 7 — Broadway, 65th to 72nd.
- Sunday, June 14 — Amsterdam Avenue, 79th to 86th.
- Sunday, August 16 — Broadway, 86th to 93rd.
- Sunday, September 20 — Broadway, 86th to 96th.
- Sunday, October 4 — Columbus Avenue, 66th to 72nd.
- Sunday, October 11 — Broadway, 72nd to 82nd.
Street fairs are 10AM to6PM
FREE Juneteenth Events in NYC
- 6:30 PM at Hudson River Park’s Pier 45, near Chambers St.
Hosted by Corbin Bleu, the live event features an all-Black Broadway cast performing numbers from 17 hit shows, including Hamilton, Wicked, and MJ, accompanied by a live orchestra. Legendary director, choreographer and actress Debbie Allen will be honored on stage with the 2026 Juneteenth Legacy Award for her profound cultural impact.
- 4PM in Duffy Square
Celebrate Juneteenth surrounded by nature with a free afternoon of community, culture, and family fun on Wave Hill’s Great Lawn. Guests can enjoy free ice cream provided by Only Rare NYC (from 12-2 PM) and watch a dace performance by the Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet.
The event also includes a dance workshop led by Theara Ward and showcases from local Bronx Public School students.
- Wave Hill is at 4900 Indpendence Avenue, Bronx. There is a FREE shuttle from the 242 Street #1 subway.
>BRIC’s Celebrate Brooklyn summer concert series is dedicating its Juneteenth evening to a massive musical celebration.
This year, the concert features the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra and Meshell Ndegeocello. The event also includes Marshall Allen’s 102nd Birthday Celebration, bringing unparalleled energy and historic music to the heart of Brooklyn.
The show is free with an RSVP, though a $10 donation is suggested to support the arts.
- At the Lena Horne Bandshell at Prospect Park, Brooklyn
FREE – Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Julius Caesar
Through July 5 – The New York Classical Theatre devotes this summer season to the Bard’s historical tragedy, in which Roman senators bloodily veto a popular general after his leadership turns toward tyranny.
The cast of nine talented actors are performing in three different NYC parks in Manhattan.
The show kicks off in Central Park (June 2–21), then moves east to Carl Schurz Park (June 23–28) and south to Battery Park (June 30–July 5).
- Attendance is free, but reservations are suggested and donations are welcome.
- Guaranteed seating tickets also can be purchased.
- Check the website for times and specific locations within the parks.
- The Central Park location is Central Park West at 103rd St.
FREE – Museum Mile Festival
Tuesday, June 9, 6PM to 9PM – New York’s biggest block party returns with FREE admission to more than 20 museums, plus food and crafts and entertainment and family-friendly activities. It is a cultural playground.
The 48th annual Museum Mile Festival takes over a mile-long stretch of Fifth Avenue from 82nd Street to 110th. Museums opening their doors include the Met, the Guggenheim, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and Museum of the City of New York, offering access to current exhibitions alongside some special programming. Some examples:
- The Jewish Museum is planning live outdoor performances alongside family-friendly art activities.
- Cooper Hewitt is turning its garden into a dance floor with DJs and a hot-pink sound system.
- El Museo del Barrio will have full-on Puerto Rican block party vibe, complete with live salsa, DJs and hands-on art-making.
Check the link for more information, including the full list of participating museums and special programming.
FREE NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks
June 9-12 -Unroll your blankets and fill your picnic baskets because music under the summer sky returns for another spectacular season.
Since 1965, audiences have gathered with family and friends on the lawns of New York City parks to enjoy the beloved summer tradition of free classical music by starlight at the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks.
The celebration continues after every concert with dazzling fireworks displays lighting up the night sky.
| JUNE 9 |
| Van Cortlandt Park, the Bronx |
| JUNE 10 |
| Central Park, Manhattan |
| JUNE 11 |
| Cunningham Park, Queens |
| JUNE 12 |
| Prospect Park, Brooklyn |
FREE – FIFA World Cup Events
Starting June 11 – With tickets as much as $2 Million, and NJ Transit trains between NYC and Met Stadium $100 or more each way, it’s good to know that NYC’s mayor and NY State’s governor have our backs, and have organized FREE places in NYC to watch the games in gi-normous screens.
There’s at least one FREE location in each of NYC’s five boroughs, and each one also offers local food vendors and more.
See our full detailed list of
FREE World Cup watch parties and events
and $26 restaurant deals
June 12 through June 21 – Lower Manhattan’s Shakespeare Downtown celebrates its 10th season of free performances with Geoffrey Horne’s translation of “Uncle Vanya”, Anton Chekhov’s timeless tragicomedy of longing, frustration, and fading dreams. It is performed within the open-air stone walls of Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park.
In “Uncle Vanya” love, regret, and the quiet ache of unrealized lives simmers beneath the surface of a crumbling 1800s Russian country estate. As a family and their restless visitors collide over long-held frustrations and unexpected passions, this timeless masterwork unfolds with dark humor and piercing heartbreak.
- Performances are at 6:30PM.
- Free tickets are available the day of the performance at Castle Clinton starting at 5:45 p.m.
FREE – Schomburg Centennial Festival
Saturday, June 13 at 11AM to 7PM. – This FREE festival celebrates the 100th anniversary of the center’s founding, named for Black culture historian Arturo Schomberg.
This free, all-day gathering in the heart of Harlem brings together Schomburg Center literary programming and the Black Comic Book Festival featuring author talks, panels, a cosplay showcase, marketplace, and a block party to close it all out.
- The Schomburg Center is at 135th St. and Malcolm X Blvd.
- Full schedule at the link, along with other resources for Black culture and listing of events through the end of 2026.
FREE – Shakespeare’s As You Like it
Friday/Saturday, June 19/20 at 6:30PM – The Public Theater’s acclaimed Mobile Unit brings Shakespeare’s As You Like It—true lovers, strange capers, and fools in the forest go heart-in-heart in the classic romantic comedy.
This is a great alternative if you don’t want to stand on line for The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park performances in the newly-renovated Delacorte Theater in Central Park.
- NYPL Main Branch, 42nd St. and Fifth Ave.
FREE – Egg Rolls, Egg Creams & Empadas Festival
Sunday, June 21, Noon to 4pm – The Museum at Eldridge Street will celebrate its 25TH ANNUAL Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Street Festival, a unique and beloved tradition that celebrates the three cultures of the Lower East Side.
Explore Chinese, Jewish, and Puerto Rican tastes, sights, sounds, and crafts alongside talented artisans, stage and street performers.
Set in front of the Museum’s Landmark Eldridge Street Synagogue home, the festival takes over one block of Eldridge Street between Canal and Division Streets for a fabulous folklore fest.
FREE Pride Events in NYC
Saturday/Sunday, June 27-28 – New York City Pride returns with a full slate of marches, festivals, parties, and community gatherings honoring LGBTQIA+ history, resilience, and joy. As the birthplace of the modern Pride movement, NYC once again hosts one of the world’s largest and most meaningful Pride celebrations.
These are the FREE and official NYC Pride events plus additional confirmed Pride happenings for 2026. There also are numerous ticketed parties and other events.
NYC Pride Events on Saturday, June 27 –
Youth Pride is a dedicated, affirming space for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13–24 and their allies. The block party style event includes performances, games, free food, and access to gender affirming and mental health resources.
- 11AM to 6PM at South Street Seaport, Pier 16
- RSVP required
NYC Dyke March is a grassroots, non-corporate march celebrating lesbian, queer, and trans visibility. No floats, no sponsors — just community and protest energy in the heart of Greenwich Village.
- Click the link for time and location.
Harlem Pride Festival celebrates Black LGBTQIA+ culture with live music, performances, food vendors, and community resources, highlighting voices and leadership from Harlem and beyond.
- Afternoon–Evening at the West Harlem Piers
NYC Pride Events on Sunday, June 28 –
NYC Pride March is the biggest event, a boisterous party with hundreds of marchers, bands, and dancers, and thousands of onlookers.
The iconic NYC Pride March remains one of the largest LGBTQIA+ demonstrations in the world, tracing its roots back to the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Millions of spectators and marchers gather to celebrate visibility, activism, and community.
- Step-off at 12:00 PM
- From 26th Street & 5th Avenue to 15th Street & Seventh Ave.
Sunday, June 28 – PrideFest is the largest LGBTQIA+ street festival in the U.S., featuring community and nonprofit organizations, LGBTQIA+-owned small businesses includng food vendors, live performances across multiple stages, family-friendly programming and wellness resources.
- PrideFest is 11AM to 6PM and runs concurrently with the Pride March, making it easy to experience both in one day.
- Location is Fourth Avenue, from 14th St. to Astor Place
NYC Transit Report
Multiple subway lines face planned service changes for track work, especially on weekends.
Get there on time by checking online at new.mta.info before traveling.
Where to Eat in Times Square and Theater District
NYC Museum News
Neue Gallerie Closed for Renovations
Through Monday, May 25th – Visitors from around the globe flock here to visit the Klimt Gallery, which features several of Gustav Klimt’s most important works. The gallery is a part of the “Austrian Masterworks from the Neue Galerie,” exhibition that features highlights from the museum’s extensive collection of Austrian art from the period 1890 to 1940.
Neue Galerie New York will be closed for renovations beginning on May 27, 2026 through Autumn. It is housed in a century-old historic home, which requires careful, loving, ongoing upkeep.
This autumn marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Neue Galerie’s founding, and the Klimt Gallery will reopen to the public in Autumn 2026.
- Neue Galerie is at 1048 Fifth Ave.
Clothing Art @ Metropolitan Museum of Art
Through January 10, 2027 – The new exhibition of the Met’s Costume Institute explores depictions of the dressed body across the museum’s collection, pairing garments with artworks to reveal the inherent relationship between clothing and the body.
Focusing primarily on Western art from prehistory to the present, Costume Art presents connections between garments from The Costume Institute and objects from other collecting areas. Pairings between fashions and artworks will present a spectrum of connections and experiences: from the formal to the conceptual, the aesthetic to the political, the individual to the universal, the illustrative to the symbolic, and the playful to the profound.
Multiple cultures and centuries are represented, to explore the intersection of fashion and art.
Costume Art is the inaugural exhibition in the new, nearly 12,000-square-foot galleries adjacent to the Great Hall.
- FREE with Museum admission.
- Exhibit open through January 10,2027
New NYC Exhibit @MCNY
Now Open – Joe Macken’s gi-normous balsa model of New York City called “He Built This City” made out of everyday materials over the last two decades is opening at the Museum of the City of New York.
Pay what you wish for New Yorkers, free for everyone on Wednesdays.
The New Museum Re-Opens
Now Open – The contemporary art museum New Museum has reopened, after a two-year $80+ Million dollar renovation that expands its space substantially for video installations and other artwork.
- Read a review of the new space and new exhibits in the NYTimes.
Best Weekly Events in NYC Through Fall
FREE – Stargazing @ The High Line
Every Tuesday through October 27th – Immerse yourself in the wonders of the night sky every Tuesday on the High Line, thanks to the friendly team from the Amateur Astronomers Association. Watch the sunset and see the stars.
The High Line has been partnering with this knowledgeable group since the park’s opening. They show up with high-powered telescopes, eager to share the secrets of the cosmos.
No experience is necessary. and telescopes will be provided between sunset and park closure.
No RSVP is required. Stargazing is offered every Tuesday – weather permitting – between sunset and park closure at 10pm.
Stargazing on the High Line is subject to cancellation due to overcast conditions or inclement weather.
Check the High Line website on Tuesday afternoon for a go or no-go alert.
Brooklyn Flea
Weekends through Autumn – The popular outdoor flea market under the Manhattan Bridge re-opens for the season with a treasure trove of vintage clothing, antiques and more. It’s a mix of returning dealers and independent sellers and new discoveries, from rare collectibles to handmade goods, home decor and unexpected finds.
Wander around and see what turns up. And if you miss opening weekend, no worries – Brooklyn Flea is open weekends through Fall.
- 10AM to 5PM Saturdays and Sundays
- 80 Pearl St., under the Manhattan Bridge
JapanFes
Weekends through October – This popular celebration of Japanese food, fashion and culture moves around Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens with multiple dates and locations.
Now in its 10th year – it began in NYC in 2016 – these street fairs have expanded to Miami, Paris and even Tokyo, where they know a thing or two about Japanese food, fashion and culture.
Each date and location is a gi-normous street fair, including entertainment. Foods, from ramen to sushi, are generally $8 or less.
Smorgasburg
Each Thursday through Sunday Through October – This popular outdoor food fair now has several destinations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, with as many as 70 vendors per location, from Korean BBQ and Mumbai street snacks to Mexico City-style tacos, Colombian arepas and wood-fired Neapolitan pizza.
- Thursdays – WTC (North Oculus Plaza)
- Fridays – WTC (North Oculus Plaza)
- Saturdays – Williamsburg (Marsha P. Johnson State Park
- Sundays – Prospect Park (Breeze Hill)
NYC Transportation Deal
NYC Ferry is making it easier than ever to explore New York City by ferry with an Unlimited Two-Day Ticket, for just $15 per ticket. Since individual fares are $4.50, this pays for itself after just three rides.
For a limited time, the Unlimited Two-Day Ticket is available for purchase in the NYC Ferry app. Once activated, it is valid for unlimited trips across all NYC Ferry routes and landings for 48 hours. Tickets are valid for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase if they have not been activated.
NYC Ferry also continues to offer riders single-ride, one-way tickets for $4.50 per ticket, a 10-trip pass for $29.00, and discounted $1.45 tickets for eligible and approved seniors, people with disabilities, Fair Fares NYC participants, and NYC high school students.
All tickets can be used for a free transfer to another route within 120 minutes of activation. For complete ticketing information and pricing, visit ferry.nyc or the NYC Ferry app on Android or iOS.
For visitors – The NYC Ferry is not the same as the Staten Island Ferry, which is FREE.
MoMA PS1 Now is Free Admission
MoMA PS1 is celebrating their 50th anniversary in a very special way, offering all visitors free admission through 2028.
Free admission expands the museum’s recent efforts to bolster accessibility, including language access initiatives in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
This initiative is being launched for MoMA PS1’s 50th anniversary in 2026, offering all visitors free entry to signature programming, including Greater New York, opening on April 16, 2026.
Located in Long Island City, Queens, at the site of a nineteenth-century public school building, MoMA PS1 opened in 1976 and has since become a cultural landmark and a place where artists can express their creativity. The museum has long played a major role in New York City’s alternative art space movement.
It is a branch of MoMa, the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.
Best FREE Things To Do in NYC in July
FREE Live at the Gantries Concerts
Tuesdays in July and August at 7PM – Set against the stunning waterfront backdrop of Gantry Plaza State Park in LIC, this beloved summer series features an eclectic new lineup of outstanding local and international artists spanning global sounds, jazz, soul, Latin music, indie, folk, and more.
Each evening pairs unforgettable live performances with breathtaking sunset views over the East River and the Manhattan skyline, offering one of NYC’s most memorable summer experiences.
Manhattanhenge
Sunday/Monday, July 12/13 – Manhattanhenge is a play on words – the Manhattan version of Stonehenge, when the sun sets precisely in between crosstown streets, illuminating both sides of the street.
It happens four times a year – twice in May, and twice again in July. If you missed out in May, you get a second chance in July.
A “full sun” when the setting sun is framed by buildings is Friday, May 29, at 8:12 p.m. and Saturday, July 11, at 8:20 p.m.
A “half sun” framed by city buildings – and partly cut off at the horizon in a picture-perfect view – is Thursday, May 28, at 8:13 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday, July 12/13, at 8:22 p.m.,
The best places to enjoy Manhattanhenge are on crosstown streets between 14th and 155th.
The elevated overpass at 42nd St. and First Ave. is especially popular with professional and serious amateur photographers. Get there by Noon to secure your space among the tripods and long lenses.
Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens, and Gantry State Park are other optimal viewing locations — as well as anywhere in the outer boroughs so long as you can see all the way to New Jersey.
Or, join the crowds around Times Square who literally stop traffic to gather in the street for the perfect photo or selfie.
FREE Movies in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Thursdays, July 2 to September 18 – Movies With A View, back for its 26th season with a mix of family favorites and other recent popular films, several of which are themed to important news events. Here’s the full schedule –
Thursday, July 2: Hamilton (PG-13, 2020, 160 minutes) – a perfect choice for the Fourth of July weekend.
Thursday, July 9: When Harry Met Sally (R, 1989, 95 minutes)
Thursday, July 16: Bend it like Beckham (PG-13, 2002, 112 minutes) – timed for start of the FIFA world championship games in NYC.
Thursday, July 23: The Talented Mr. Ripley (R, 1999, 139 minutes)
Thursday, July 30: Clueless (PG-13, 1995, 97 minutes)
Thursday, August 6: Jurassic Park (PG-13, 1993, 122 minutes)
Thursday, August 13: Do the Right Thing (R, 1989, 120 minutes)
Thursday, August 20: Bridesmaids (R, 2011, 125 minutes)
Thursday, August 27: Public Choice: Vote for your favorite movie from three options, to view on August 27! Selections include Challengers (R, 2024, 131 minutes), The Great Gatsby (PG-13, 2013, 143 minutes), and Ocean’s 11 (PG-13, 2001, 116 minutes). Voting will open in early August on our website, and the winning title will be announced at the August 20 screening.
Friday, September 18: How to Train Your Dragon (PG, 2010, 93 minutes)
You can vote for your favorite, and/or find out more at brooklynbridgepark.org
- The lawn opens at 6PM, and movies start at sunset. Seating is first-come, first-served.
- You can bring blankets and food, but no lawn chairs, glass bottles, or outside alcohol are allowed in the park.
FREE Movies in Bryant Park
Mondays, July 13 to September 14 – Once again, Paramount+ Movie Nights take over the Bryant Park Lawn for one of New York City’s longest-running FREE summer film traditions, which dates back to 1992.
The 2026 film lineup has not yet been announced, but the series is known for showcasing a broad mix of blockbuster hits, nostalgic 1980s favorites, cult classics and widely popular films across genres on a gi-normous screen.
Past selections have included titles such as “Pretty in Pink,” “The Wood,” “Kinky Boots,” “Stand by Me,” “Good Will Hunting,” “Interstellar,” “Ghost,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Blades of Glory” and “The Godfather.”The screenings begin at 8PM. The lawn opens at 5PM for picnicking, and organizers strongly encourage early arrival, as crowds often line up ahead of opening time to secure prime viewing spots.
Seating rules are strictly enforced.
Chairs, tables and plastic ground coverings such as tarps or yoga mats are not permitted on the lawn, with attendees typically sitting on blankets or directly on the grass.
No dogs allowed.
NYC Tourism Facts
In 2024, New York City welcomed nearly 65 million visitors, the second-highest figure in city history and a 3.5 percent increase from the previous year.
The city is on pace to break city records in 2025 during the celebration of New York City’s 400th anniversary, marking a full economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York remains the most visited city in the United States and a top destination for international markets and major events.
NYC Film Industry Facts
A “Made in NY” movie won a “Best Picture” Oscar in 2025 for the first time in 10 years.
Not only did “Best Picture” winner Anora put our city on the big screen, showcasing neighborhoods like Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach and Coney Island, but 48 other awards were also received by “Made in NY” productions during the 2025 TV and film award show season.
New York City’s film and TV industry supports 185,000 New York City jobs. Congratulations to all of the New Yorkers whose work was nominated this season — you make us proud
Best Current Museum Exhibits
NYC has some of the best museums and museum exhibits in the world, including some you can see for FREE.
Current top exhibits include –
New York Historical
- Special exhibit on the immigrant experience in NYC.
The Frick Collection
- The museum has re-opened after a two-year renovation, along with its cafe.
The Whitney Museum of American Art
- Celebrating 10 years at its downtown location with special events and exhibits.
Brooklyn Museum
- The Buddhist Tibetan Prayer Room from the Rubin Museum
American Museum of Natural History
- Beautiful bling at a special exhibit of gemstone jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels
New York Public Library – Main Branch
- A FREE exhibit on 100 Years of the New Yorker Magazine
Congestion Pricing
If you are driving into the center of Manhattan, including as a passenger in a car service like Uber or Lyft, be aware that so-called “congestion pricing” tolls remains in effect despite a Trump Administration order to rescind it.
The goal is to reduce gridlock, reduce pollution and raise money for public transit.
The toll – which went into effect on January 7 – applies for the most congested part of Manhattan, south of Central Park.
Cost varies depending on the day of the week, the hour of the day, and whether the vehicle is equipped with E-ZPass, the electronic toll collection system used in many states.
Congestion Pricing Costs
- $9 for peak traffic hours, 5am to 9pm weekdays and 9am to 9pm weekends.
- $2.25 for off-peak overnight hours
- Vehicles without E-ZPass will be receive bills by mail, for $13.50 for peak hours and $3.30 for off-peak,
- Motorcyclists pay half the amount that cars pay during peak hours but the same off-peak
- Trucks, buses and large vans (including airport shuttle vans) pay more, depending on their size.
- The cost is once per day.
According to local TV station NY1, Congestion Pricing raised $45 Million in March 2025, to be used to support public transportation.
Best New NYC Parks & Museums
Studio Museum in Harlem Re-Opens
After being closed for construction since 2018, the Studio Museum in Harlem reopened mid-November 2025 in a bright and airy new seven-floor, 82,000-square-foot building on West 125th Street.
Studio Museum houses art exhibitions, educational opportunities, program spaces and an expansive lobby. The first show features the work of the late sculptor Tom Lloyd, who was part of the institution’s opening back in 1968. Another debut show will draw from the museum’s vast collection, underscoring the museum’s role as a steward of art by artists of African descent.
- Read a complete preview of the all-new Studio Museum in this NYTimes article.
Wagner Park Re-Opens After Two Years
Wagner Park, at the southern tip of Manhattan adjoining Battery Park, has re-opened after two years of reconstruction to protect it from rising tides of climate change.
There’s a long list of FREE events celebrating the re-opening, from jazz and salsa dancing to comedy and sunset yoga. The park was created 29 years ago as part of the construction of Battery Park City. It has a picture-postcard view of the Statue of Liberty, along with great sunset views, and it adjacent to two of our favorite museums – The Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Skyscraper Museum.
The upgrades as part of the overall South Battery Park City Resiliency Project. This massive undertaking across all of Lower Manhattan aims to fortify the southern edge of Manhattan island against the catastrophic flooding that wallopped much of the city during Hurricane Sandy.
The park’s lawns have been raised in elevation, while maintaining great views across the river. The pavilion at the park has been upgraded, with a classroom for education and events, a rooftop with outdoor seating and plans for a new restaurant in 2026.
- See the full line up — which includes even more activities for families, kids and fitness buffs — here.
- No tickets required; just show up ready for a good time.
Harlem Meer Re-Opens After Renovation
The new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer has re-opened after a four-year, $160 Million renovation and re-invention.
The new facility features an all-new public pool which will convert into an ice rink in the winter, “and in contrast to the old Lasker pool and ice rink it replaces, it will also transform into the Harlem Oval – a public green – in the shoulder seasons, ensuring year-round community access,” according to a press release.
The new Davis Center is hosting a variety of FREE or affordable programs throughout the year, including wellness and fitness classes, nature programs, ice time for youth sports, and swim programming, managed by the NYC Parks Department.
- View the Harlem Meer on a map.
- Visit the Davis Center website for a schedule of events
The new Davis Center also is home to the newest and one of the best FREE outdoor swimming pools in NYC, the Gottesman Pool.
Pier 97, Hudson River Park
Move over, High Line and Little Island you’ve got competition.
Pier 97, the northernmost pier in Hudson River Park is now open, following a $47.5 million transformation from a parking lot and Dept. of Sanitation storage facility into a gleaming and appealing public park with multiple facilities.
Pier 97 – at 57th St. and the Hudson River – has 2.5 acres of public open space, complete with a playground, athletic field, sloping sun lawn, and more—all surrounded by over 16,000 square feet of vibrant flowers and plants. A new building with restrooms and concessions is expected to open this winter.
Constructed between 1921 and 1934, Pier 97 served as a hub of the Swedish America Line and remained an active dock through the 1970s. Then it became a parking lot used by the city’s Department of Sanitation until 2011.
Pier 97 features include –
- The playground features a 26-foot-high rope climbing structure, a ship’s hull, and seasonal water spray features.
- The 120-foot-long synthetic turf field can accommodate a range of sports and activities, while the 7,600-square-foot sloping lawn offers a relaxing green space, providing a shady place of respite on the pier.
- A granite slide for guests of all ages connects the new elevated overlook and shaded belvedere section on the pier’s northern edge with the main pier below.
- The sunset deck, equipped with bistro tables, chaise lounges, and two-tiered walls with seating, offers breathtaking views of the Hudson River and skyline.
- Flexible gathering areas framed by flowers and plants offer tranquil spaces for socializing, and a walking promenade along the pier’s southern edge invites visitors for a relaxing stroll.
Work on a new park building directly north of Pier 97 containing public bathrooms, concessions, and a small maintenance area will open this winter. Solar panels will be installed on the roof, and the Hudson River Park Trust will issue a request for proposals (RFP) to select a food concessionaire. The Trust also plans to attract a historic vessel for docking on the south side of Pier 97.
Construction of the pier was primarily funded by $40.8 million from the NY State capital budget, plus $6.7 million in proceeds from a Transferable Development Rights Sale completed by the Trust in 2018.
Who is a real New Yorker? It depends on who you ask.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter was interviewed by
Time Out New York
ICYMI – News Worth Noting
Michelin Guide Adds 12 NYC Restaurants
Fine dining just got more fine with the addition of 12 NYC restaurants to the famous Michelin Guide, bringing the number to 142.
- The new additions include French, Italian, seafood, Thai and Filippino choices
- See the full list here. Reservations recommended.
Landing Day
On Sept. 15, 1654, a group of 23 Sephardic Jews arrived on the shores of New York — then called New Amsterdam — and created the first organized Jewish community in the city. Today, 350 years later, NYC is home to the largest Jewish population of any city in the world.
- The City Council has voted on a resolution to honor both, turning Landing Day from an event marked by a few Jewish leaders into an official date on the city’s calendar. That’s just short of making it a holiday, like Juneteenth.
- The resolution aims to “commemorate the arrival of the first Jewish community in New Amsterdam in 1654 and to celebrate the continuing importance of the Jewish community in the City of New York.”
New Food Hall in Former Lord & Taylor Building
NYC’s newest food hall, Shaver Hall, is set to open in the iconic former Lord & Taylor building on Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th Sts., now housing Amazon. According to a press release, it will “celebrate the rich heritage of the iconic Lord & Taylor building and promises to redefine the culinary landscape of Midtown Manhattan.”
- Shaver Hall is named in honor of Dorothy Shaver, the trailblazing president of Lord & Taylor and first woman to head a multimillion-dollar business.
- The first two announced tenants are Chick Chick, featuring Korean-inspired chicken, and Taqueria Al Pastor, with Mexican cuisine.
About the Lord & Taylor building –
- Originally constructed in 1914, the Lord & Taylor Building is an 11-story commercial masterpiece in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, designed by renowned architects Starrett & van Vleck.
- The building’s granite, brick, and limestone facade and copper cornice have symbolized elegance and sophistication for over a century, including for its famous and famously inventive holiday windows.
The Vessel at Hudson Yards Re-Opens
- The famous honeycomb sculpture has re-opened after shutting down in 2024 following three suicides, but it is no longer FREE to visit.
- The 150-foot Vessel now has safety netting to safeguard visitors, and the once-free architectural sculpture now costs $10 per person.
- Visitors must buy at least two tickets and will not be allowed to visit alone.
- Hudson Yards is “installing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline signage and messaging” and increasing security, CNN reported.
NEW – New York City residents with ID can visit for FREE Thursdays.
- Tickets are available at 9am on the last Friday of every month at 9am for the following month.
- Register here, with proof of an NYC ID.
- A limited number of free, day-of tickets are available every Thursday on that same website.
Citi Bike Rate Increase
Lyft, the ride share company which now owns and operates the bike share program, has raised rates again, especially for the popular battery-assisted e-bikes.
- Unlocking a Citi Bike now costs $4.79.
- E-bike fees are now approximately $10 for 15 minutes.
- A day pass for a manual bike is now $19.
See Also
More FREE Things to Do in NYC
Things to Do in Staten Island
Best NYC Airport Transportation
See Also
Best FREE Things in NYC Year-Round
FREE – 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
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart & Co-Hosts
Tickets for Saturday Night Live (SNL)
FREE Weekly & Monthly Museum Admission
Some free admission days require advance reservation, others don’t. See the links for specific information.
FREE First Mondays at 9/11 Memorial and Museum
First Monday of the Month 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.
FREE First Fridays at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
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.
FREE First Fridays at Neue Galerie
First Fridays at Neue Galerie offer free admission 5pm to 8pm on the first Friday of the month.
FREE First Fridays at Poster House
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
FREE Fridays & Sundays at Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art now offers free admission for all visitors 25 and under.
Admission is FREE for all visitors on Fridays from 5pm to 10pm and all day on the second Sunday of every month.
FREE Saturdays at the Jewish Museum
Free admission all day.
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.
Read about the history of Hart Island in this article in The City.
- 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 25+ 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, a native and lifelong New Yorker, also is the author or editor of numerous NYC guidebooks and apps, including for Fodor’s and Rand McNally.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President Emeritas of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), after serving two years as President.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA) and a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
This is such a helpful and timely list! As someone planning a trip to NYC on a tight budget, I’m especially excited about the free ferry ride to Staten Island. What would you say is the single best “cheap” activity for getting a real, local feel for the city away from the main tourist crowds?
The Staten Island Ferry has been free for more than a decade – it’s one of the best deals in my hometown. There are plenty of free and cheap activities in this list – it’s up to you to pick your own favorite.
Free Stevie Wonder concerts? Count me in.
This is great! I love exploring my city and being made aware of what’s going on and where to go!