Free Summer Events in NYC
One-time Opportunities
HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival, July 23—August 20, 5:00 p.m.
July 23, The Maltese Falcon; July 30, Rebel Without a Cause; August 6, The Adventures of Robin Hood; August 13, All About Eve; August 20, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Lawn Area at Bryant Park, Manhattan. No chairs, tables, dogs, plastic sheets, tarps, bags, or pads are permitted on the lawn. Click here or call 212-512-5700 for more info.
Shakespeare in the Park: "Into the Woods", July 23—August 25, 8:00 p.m. (tickets begin distributing at 1:00 p.m.)
Performance dates available here.
Delacorte Theater in Central Park, Manhattan; enter at 81st Street and Central Park West or 79th Street and Fifth Avenue. In Into the Woods, a witch’s curse condemns the Baker and his Wife to a life without children. They embark on a quest to find the four items required to break the spell.
Broadway in Bryant Park, July 26—August 16, 12:30—1:30 p.m.
Thursdays in July and August, select dates and performance details available here. Bryant Park Lawn, Manhattan. Free performances featuring songs from top Broadway musicals.
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s “Syfy Movies with a View”, July 26—August 30, 6:00 p.m.
July 26, Clueless; August 9, Barefoot in the Park; August 30, Viewers’ Choice! for the final movie of the summer.
Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn. Chairs and dogs are not permitted on the park lawns.
Hudson River Park’s River Flicks for Kids, July 27—August 27, 8:30 p.m.
July 27, Hugo; August 3, Puss in Boots; August 10, Rango; August 17, Back to the Future; August 27, The Smurfs.
Hudson River Park’s Pier 46 in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Cross at Charles St. Free popcorn is available. More info is available here.
Ping Pong Tournament, August 1, 6:00—9:00 p.m.
The Tables in the 42nd Street Allee at Bryant Park, Manhattan. Single-elimination, bracket style tournament. Pre-registration is a requirement. Click here to register. Spots will open to wait-listed registrants beginning at 6 p.m.
Free Admission to the Brooklyn Museum on “Target First Saturday”, August 4, 5:00—11:00 p.m.
200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn. Free admission to the Museum and all art and entertainment programs, sponsored by Target. Tickets required for select showcases and performances. More info available here.
Ongoing Opportunities
Free Admission to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, all day Tuesday; Saturday between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn. More information available here.
Pay-what-you-wish Admission to the Bronx Zoo, every Wednesday, all day
2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx. Suggested donation is $16 for adults, $12 for children, and $14 for seniors. Does not include admission to the following special exhibitions and attractions: the 4D Theater, Bug Carousel, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Zoo, Congo Gorilla Forest, Jungle World, Wild Asia Monorail, and Zoo Shuttle. Click here or call (718) 220-5100 for more info.
Pay-what-you-wish Admission to the Museum of Arts and Design, every Thursday from 6:00—9:00 p.m.
2 Columbus Circle (59th Street and 8th Avenue), Manhattan. More info about hours and rates available here.
Pay-what-you-wish Admission to the New York Aquarium, every Friday beginning at 3 p.m.
Surf Avenue & West 8th Street, Brooklyn. More info available here.
Free Admission to Museum of Modern Art, every Friday from 4:00—8:00 p.m.
11 West 53rd Street, Manhattan. Admission is free for all visitors during Target Free Friday Nights, held every Friday evening from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. More info available here.
