free things to do in New York City
Free events for Friday, 05/15/26
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

Street fairs, festivals and parades in New York City.
Friday, May 15, 2026 (Fri, 5/15/2026) and on.

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23  festivals/fairs in New York City (NYC) Fri, 05/15/2026 - and on...

New York City street fairs are good reflection of the City: the offerings are sofisticated and amusing, and you always can find something that fits your budget. Please see street fairs/festivals schedule below.
        

Festival | Manhattan Street Fest: 200+ Booths with Art, Food, Fashion, Entertainment, & More


Enjoy a street festival celebrating one of Manhattan's most vibrant neighborhoods! This event will be debuting Dorit Levinstein's sculptures and featuring 200+ booths of art, entertainment, fashion, food, shopping, and more, including local businesses.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 16
10:00 am
Free
Festivals, May 16, 2026, 05/16/2026, Manhattan Street Fest: 200+ Booths with Art, Food, Fashion, Entertainment, & More

Festival | Kite Flying Celebration in the Park


Celebrate spring and kick off the season with a kite festival! Watch your kite soar above the city skyline! Decorate your own free kite to take home (while supplies last), borrow a kite to fly, or bring your own to show off! Enjoy live music, crafts, games, and activities from local partners at this family-friendly event. Learn and celebrate global origins of kite flying and kite making from international community partners. Free face painting, learn about the science of flight, watch and learn from professional kite flyers, listen to live group drumming performances, enjoy a variety of lawn games on the field, and more!
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, May 16
11:00 am
Free
Festivals, May 16, 2026, 05/16/2026, Kite Flying Celebration in the Park

Festival | Photography Celebration in the Park with Special Evening Exhibition


Nonprofit photography organization Photoville presents community weekend of a visual storytelling event welcoming various artists, featuring 65 exhibitions and public programming from VSCO, the Penumbra Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, Creatively Wild, and Cynthia Santos Briones. Starting at 7:30, enjoy Boroughs In Focus, a special presentation of photos projected on the Brooklyn Bridge featuring photo collections highlighting New York's five unique boroughs from over 35 photographers.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 16
11:00 am
Free
Festivals, May 16, 2026, 05/16/2026, Photography Celebration in the Park with Special Evening Exhibition

Parade | NYC Dance Parade (100+ Dance Styles, DJs, & Live Bands)


Celebrate the 20th Annual Parade and Festival with 10,000 dancers featuring over 100 unique styles of dance. Dance Parade promotes dance through the celebration of diversity by presenting as many forms of dance as possible. Organizers believe that live performance has the potential to awaken a communal human spirit and helps build a more equitable and vibrant society.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, May 16
11:45 am
Free
Parades, May 16, 2026, 05/16/2026, NYC Dance Parade (100+ Dance Styles, DJs, & Live Bands)

Festival | Nuyorican Life: Art, Community, and Everyday Photography


Enjoy a family-friendly afternoon celebrating art and everyday life through the innovative photography of Sophie Rivera. Visitors of all ages can explore Rivera's portraits, documentary photos, and images of New York City's subway and graffiti scenes from the late 1970s through interactive, participatory activities. These include guided gallery discussions, drop-in portrait photography, art-making workshops, movement exercises, and storytelling. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 16
12:00 pm
Free
Festivals, May 16, 2026, 05/16/2026, Nuyorican Life: Art, Community, and Everyday Photography

Festival | Photography Celebration in the Park


Nonprofit photography organization Photoville presents community weekend of a visual storytelling event welcoming various artists, featuring 65 exhibitions and public programming from VSCO, the Penumbra Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, Creatively Wild, and Cynthia Santos Briones. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sun, May 17
11:00 am
Free
Festivals, May 17, 2026, 05/17/2026, Photography Celebration in the Park

Festival | Greek Jewish Heritage Celebration


The 11th annual Greek Jewish gathering celebrates the rich Romaniote and Sephardic heritage of Greek Jewish communities. The day features kosher Greek cuisine and pastries, live music and dance performances, an outdoor marketplace, cooking demonstrations, and family-friendly activities. With international performers and community partners from across the U.S. and beyond, this unique event combines music, food, and traditions from the Mediterranean region.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sun, May 17
12:00 pm
Free
Festivals, May 17, 2026, 05/17/2026, Greek Jewish Heritage Celebration

Festival | Celebration of the Arts: Three Days of Theater, Music, Dance, and Multidisciplinary Performance


This annual arts festival returns for a three-day celebration of independent performance and community creativity. Featuring theater, live music, dance, poetry, puppetry, film, visual art, cabaret, and family programming, the event brings together artists across disciplines for a vibrant weekend of free cultural programming and live performance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, May 22
6:00 pm
Free
Festivals, May 22, 2026, 05/22/2026, Celebration of the Arts:&nbsp;Three Days of Theater, Music, Dance, and Multidisciplinary Performance

Festival | Celebration of the Arts: Three Days of Theater, Music, Dance, and Multidisciplinary Performance


This annual arts festival returns for a three-day celebration of independent performance and community creativity. Featuring theater, live music, dance, poetry, puppetry, film, visual art, cabaret, and family programming, the event brings together artists across disciplines for a vibrant weekend of free cultural programming and live performance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 23
12:00 pm
Free
Festivals, May 23, 2026, 05/23/2026, Celebration of the Arts:&nbsp;Three Days of Theater, Music, Dance, and Multidisciplinary Performance

Festival | Celebration of the Arts: Three Days of Theater, Music, Dance, and Multidisciplinary Performance


This annual arts festival returns for a three-day celebration of independent performance and community creativity. Featuring theater, live music, dance, poetry, puppetry, film, visual art, cabaret, and family programming, the event brings together artists across disciplines for a vibrant weekend of free cultural programming and live performance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sun, May 24
4:00 pm
Free
Festivals, May 24, 2026, 05/24/2026, Celebration of the Arts:&nbsp;Three Days of Theater, Music, Dance, and Multidisciplinary Performance

Festival | A Global Celebration of Culture and Community: Africa Day


A lively, all-ages celebration honoring the richness and global influence of the African diaspora. The day unfolds with live performances, local artisans, food, and immersive cultural experiences. Rooted in a historic moment of unity and shared vision, this annual gathering brings together community, creativity, and tradition in a joyful tribute to heritage and connection.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 30
12:00 pm
Free
Festivals, May 30, 2026, 05/30/2026, A Global Celebration of Culture and Community: Africa Day

Parade | Israel Day Celebration of Community & Support 


Join a community march as part of the annual Israel Day Parade, celebrating unity and support for Israel’s emergency medical services and volunteers. Participants will walk alongside medics, supporters, and public figures in a show of solidarity and appreciation. Note: Registration is required for participation 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sun, May 31
10:00 am
Free
Parades, May 31, 2026, 05/31/2026, Israel Day Celebration of Community & Support&nbsp;

Festival | Jewish Mishpachah Celebration: Learn about Immigration, Heritage, & Genealogy


Celebrate and explore Jewish genealogy, heritage, and immigration! Attendees can learn about historical immigration, investigate their own family's genealogy, and reflect on how this community tells its stories.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sun, May 31
11:00 am
Free
Festivals, May 31, 2026, 05/31/2026, Jewish Mishpachah Celebration: Learn about Immigration, Heritage, & Genealogy

Festival | NYC’s Biggest Art Block Party 


Celebrate one of the city’s most beloved cultural traditions at the 48th Annual Museum Mile Festival, an evening-long block party bringing together over 20 museums and neighborhood partners. Stroll along a historic stretch of Manhattan and enjoy free admission to participating museums, along with outdoor performances, art-making activities, and interactive programming for all ages. This lively, rain-or-shine event offers a rare opportunity to experience some of the city’s leading cultural institutions in one festive night.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Jun 9
6:00 pm
Free
Festivals, June 09, 2026, 06/09/2026, NYC&rsquo;s Biggest Art Block Party&nbsp;

Festival | An Evening of Arab Sounds in the Park


Habibi Festival brings the vibrant sounds of Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan, and beyond. DJ Kofta of the iconic party series Yalla! Party Project will keep the vibes high as we kick things off with the Habibi Festival house band, led by Yacine Boulares and featuring special guests, including Tunisian cellist/composer Nesrine, and Sudanese singer-songwriter Mai Elgizouli. The groundbreaking avant-garde artist EMEL will headline with her theatrical avant-garde electronic, rock, and pop sound. Please note: RSVPing helps you stay up-to-date on show info, but does not guarantee entry. Entry is first come first served.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Jun 10
7:00 pm
Free
Festivals, June 10, 2026, 06/10/2026, An Evening of Arab Sounds in the Park

Festival | Arts & Culture Festival with Multi-Sensory Experiences, Performances, & Installations


The Big Umbrella Festival centers audiences by sharing unique approaches to multi-sensory, interactive, and engaging artistic experiences, designed with and for neurodiverse audiences. This summer, the celebrated festival returns as a day-long campus takeover full of relaxed spaces with multi-sensory experiences, performances, installations, and workshops specifically welcoming neurodivergent audiences and their families. Attendees have the ability to drop-in throughout the day, experiencing as much or as little as they'd like. This event includes an immersive performance of Steve Reich's The Four Sections by Paraorchestra; The Naughty Penguin, an interactive puppet performance created by Spellbound Theatre; salsa dancing for Deaf or Hard of Hearing led by Silent Rhythms; accessible dance experiences for all ages; performances by Thingumajig Theatre's roaming puppet duo The Flying Dodos; visual arts stations; numerous relaxed spaces; and more multi-sensory activities, performances, installations, and workshops. Each event is General Admission--first-come, first-served.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, Jun 13
11:00 am
Free
Festivals, June 13, 2026, 06/13/2026, Arts & Culture Festival with Multi-Sensory Experiences, Performances, & Installations

Festival | Honor Juneteenth in the Park: History, Ponyriding, & Dancing


Celebrate Juneteenth, Emancipation Day, with the Federation of Black Cowboys as they share history, horsemanship, and riding. Enjoy a dance workshop on hip hop and soul line dancing with Go Hard Dancers. Must be 3 years old or older for pony ride.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Fri, Jun 19
11:30 am
Free
Festivals, June 19, 2026, 06/19/2026, Honor Juneteenth in the Park: History, Ponyriding, & Dancing

Festival | Procession Celebrating the Festival of San Juan: Dancing & Singing


Attend a unique celebration of the Afro-Venezuelan tradition of honoring San Juan. Participate in a "walking procession": the collaborative ritual of dancing and singing to the beat of drums. The Festival of San Juan was originally a communal practice by enslaved people in the cocoa and coffee plantations in the Caribbean coasts of Venezuela. Though it has been celebrated in Venezuela for hundreds of years and celebrates the summer solstice and the birth of Saint John the Baptist, modern participation in San Juan often acts as a statement of self and pride. This recentering of San Juan in New York City is led by Willie Quintana, director of the Brooklyn musical collective Tambor y Cana. By bringing together historical touchstones, national affiliation, and personal identity, Tambor y Cana acts as a catalyst for a meaningful appreciation of and fresh engagement with Afro-Venezuelan culture.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, Jun 20
1:00 pm
Free
Festivals, June 20, 2026, 06/20/2026, Procession Celebrating the Festival of San Juan: Dancing & Singing

Festival | Explore Swedish Traditions at the Midsummer Festival: Live Music, Folklore, Crafts, Food, & More


An annual celebration of the summer solstice with traditional music by Paul Dahlin with fiddlers from the American Swedish Institute. Dances around the Midsummer pole led by Scandinavian folklorist Ross Sutter. Make a floral crown, enjoy Swedish delicacies, and more!
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, Jun 20
4:00 pm
Free
Festivals, June 20, 2026, 06/20/2026, Explore Swedish Traditions at the Midsummer Festival: Live Music, Folklore, Crafts, Food, & More

Festival | Chinese, Jewish, & Puerto Rican Street Food Fest (+ Street Performers & More)


Experience a unique and beloved summertime food festival tradition on the Lower East Side. Explore Chinese, Jewish, and Puerto Rican tastes, sights, sounds, and crafts alongside talented artisans, stage and street performers, and visitors from near and far!
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sun, Jun 21
12:00 pm
Free
Festivals, June 21, 2026, 06/21/2026, Chinese, Jewish, & Puerto Rican Street Food Fest (+ Street Performers & More)

Festival | Emerging Artists Share Music, Dance, & Visual Art 


You’re invited to the In:Formation Festival, the capstone artistic projects of this year’s William R. Kenan, Jr. Fellowship cohort. The program features music, dance, and visual art — all created by this year’s fellows: Adelyn Harris, Gabe Lopez, Hannah Mufuka, Claire Schiffer. Projects to be announced soon.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Jun 26
7:00 pm
Free
Festivals, June 26, 2026, 06/26/2026, Emerging Artists Share Music, Dance, & Visual Art&nbsp;

Festival | Emerging Artists Share Music, Dance, & Visual Art


You’re invited to the In:Formation Festival, the capstone artistic projects of this year’s William R. Kenan, Jr. Fellowship cohort. The program features music, dance, and visual art — all created by this year’s fellows: Adelyn Harris, Gabe Lopez, Hannah Mufuka, Claire Schiffer. Projects to be announced soon.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, Jun 27
2:00 pm
Free
Festivals, June 27, 2026, 06/27/2026, Emerging Artists Share Music, Dance, & Visual Art

Festival | Emerging Artists Share Music, Dance, & Visual Art


You’re invited to the In:Formation Festival, the capstone artistic projects of this year’s William R. Kenan, Jr. Fellowship cohort. The program features music, dance, and visual art — all created by this year’s fellows: Adelyn Harris, Gabe Lopez, Hannah Mufuka, Claire Schiffer. Projects to be announced soon.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, Jun 27
7:00 pm
Free
Festivals, June 27, 2026, 06/27/2026, Emerging Artists Share Music, Dance, & Visual Art
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