free things to do in New York City
Free events for Friday, 08/02/24
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

Are you looking for free things to do in New York City (NYC) on August 2, 2024?

30 free events take place on Friday, August 2 in New York City. Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides! Exciting, high quality, unique and off the beaten path free events and free things to do take place in New York today, tonight, tomorrow and each day of the year, any time of the day: whether it's a weekday or a weekend, day or night, morning or evening or afternoon, December or July, April or November! These events will take your breath away!

New York City (NYC) never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment. Check out August 2 and see for yourself. Summer or Winter, Spring or Fall! Just click on any day of the calendar above and you'll find most inspiring and entertaining free events to go to and free things to do on each day of August . Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides!

Some events take place all year long: same day of the week, same time there are there for you to take advantage of. One of the oldest free weekly events in Manhattan is Dixieland Jazz with the Gotham Jazzmen, which happen at noon every Tuesday. Another example of an event that you can attend all year round on weekdays is Federal Reserve Bank Tour, which takes place every week day at 1 pm (but advanced reservations are required). You can take at least 13 free tours every day of the year, except the New Year Day, July 4th, and the Christmas Day. If you are classical music afficionado, you can spend whole day in New York going from one free classical concert to another. If you love theater, then New York gives you an option to attend plays and musicals free of charge, or at deep discount. You just need to have information about it. And we are here to make that information available to you.
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The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.

So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!

30 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Friday, August 2, 2024

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Shakespeare's Twelfth Night: Shipwrecked Stranger -- in a Parking Lot
free events nyc Five of NYC's Most Celebrated Dance Companies
free events nyc Josh Johnson, Grammy-Winning Multi-Instrumentalist
More Editor's Picks for 08/02/24
        

Workshop | Tai Chi - Outdoors


Improve balance, strength and focus through gentle exercises. The sights and sounds of the river provide a serene background for the ancient flowing postures.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 am
Free

Tour | 13 Tours, All City Neighborhoods, Any Time Of The Day, Choose One Tour Or Many


These free tours take place at various times during the day, all day long. You can make reservations for as many tours as your schedule allows. SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights + DUMBO 3 Hour Lower Manhattan Harlem Chelsea and the High Line 6 Hour Downtown Combined Greenwich Village Central Park Lower Manhattan Midtown Manhattan Grand Central Terminal Graffiti and Street Art Tours World Trade Center
   New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
Free

Screening | Olympic Summer Games Watch Party - Outdoors on a Big Screen


Schedule Friday, August 2nd 10:15am - 11:15am Women's Gymnastics Trampoline Qualifications and Finals 11:15am - 12:00pm Equestrian Jumping Team Final 12:00pm - 2:00pm Men's Gymnastics Trampoline 2:00pm - 2:30pm BMX Racing Semifinals 3:30pm - 5:00pm Men's Basketball: France vs Germany 5:00pm - 8:00pm Men's Volleyball: Japan vs USA 8:00pm - 10:00pm Primetime in Paris
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:15 am
Free

Workshop | Adult Zumba Outdoors


Exercise in disguise! Join in on the fun featuring easy-to-follow Latin dance choreography while working on your balance, coordination and range of motion. Bring your friends and come prepared for enthusiastic instruction, a little strength training and a lot of fun.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free

Lesson | An Artistic Celebration of James Baldwin


Richard Avedon and James Baldwin first met in 1945 when they were both working on a production of the play The Duchess of Malfi at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, New York. They formed a friendship that lasted throughout their lives. This encounter marked the beginning of a deep connection between the two artists, leading to Avedon capturing some of the most iconic portraits of Baldwin over the years. Their collaboration extended beyond photography, as they engaged in conversations about art, identity, and social justice, influencing each other's work and leaving a lasting impact on American culture. Participants will be provided with a black and white photocopy of an iconic portrait of James Baldwin taken by Richard Avedon and colorful construction paper, glue, scissors, and other art supplies. Everyone will be encouraged to reflect on their personal interpretations of James Baldwin's persona and legacy. They will be invited to modify James Baldwin's portrait using the provided materials. Participants will be encouraged to imagine Baldwin's image in their own unique way. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of artistic expression as a means of engaging with and reinterpreting historical figures and their narratives. The activity will conclude by encouraging participants to reflect on how their modified portraits of James Baldwin reflect their own perspectives and interpretations of his significance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free

Workshop | Learn Juggling in the Park


Get in a quick lesson, stay for the whole time, or just enjoy watching them put their skills to the test. They're a friendly group and open to drop-ins, even if you catch them outside of the regular juggling lessons. All skill levels welcome. Equipment is provided.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Concert | Piano in the Park


Come on by and tap your toes to The Big Apple's finest ragtime, stride, and jazz pianists around! Featuring special events and performances by distinguished musicians. Today's pianist: Dan Manjovi.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Film | Poor Things (2023) with Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe


Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation. Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef. Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael Emma Stone is an American actress and producer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2017, she was the world's highest-paid actress and named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Mark Ruffalo is an American actor. He starred in the romantic comedies 13 Going on 30 (2004), Just like Heaven (2005) and the thrillers In the Cut (2003), Zodiac (2007), and Shutter Island (2010). He received a Tony Award nomination for his supporting role in the Broadway revival of Awake and Sing! in 2006. Ruffalo gained international recognition for playing Bruce Banner / Hulk since 2012 in the superhero franchise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Willem Dafoe is an American actor. Known for his prolific career portraying diverse roles in both mainstream and arthouse films, he is the recipient of various accolades, including nominations for four Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and four Golden Globe Awards.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Enjoy an afternoon of crafting and conversation


Bring your own project or choose something from a provided collection to work on during this freeform crafting workshop. The workshop will include materials for sewing, knitting, crochet, coloring, paper crafts, and puzzles.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:30 pm
Free

Film | Mask (1985) with Cher and Laura Dern


Rocky Dennis is an intelligent, outgoing and humorous teenager who suffers from a facial deformity called "lionitis" and has now outlived his life expectancy. While his mother, Rusty, struggles to fight for his acceptance in the public school system, he proves himself to be a highly accomplished student. Though Rocky endures ridicule for his appearance, he finds love and respect from his mother's biker gang family, and even experiences his first love. Director: Peter Bogdanovich Cast: Cher, Sam Elliott, Eric Stoltz, Laura Dern Cher is an American singer, actress, and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the "Goddess of Pop," she has been described as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industry. Cher is known for her distinctive contralto singing voice and for having worked in numerous areas of entertainment, as well as adopting a variety of styles and appearances throughout her six-decade-long career. Laura Dern is an American actress. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, and five Golden Globe Awards.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Film | James Baldwin's I Am Not Your Negro (2016), Documentary Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson


In 1979, James Baldwin wrote a letter to his literary agent describing his next project, Remember This House. The book was to be a revolutionary, personal account of the lives and assassinations of three of his close friends: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. At the time of Baldwin's death in 1987, he left behind only 30 completed pages of this manuscript. Filmmaker Raoul Peck envisions the book James Baldwin never finished. Director: Raoul Peck Narrated by: Samuel L. Jackson James Baldwin was an American writer and civil rights activist who garnered acclaim for his essays, novels, plays, and poems. His 1953 novel Go Tell It on the Mountain has been ranked among the best English-language novels. His 1955 essay collection Notes of a Native Son helped establish his reputation as a voice for human equality. Baldwin was a well-known public figure and orator, especially during the civil rights movement in the United States. Samuel L. Jackson is an American actor. One of the most widely recognized actors of his generation, the films in which he has appeared have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, making him the highest-grossing actor of all time. In 2022, he received the Academy Honorary Award as "a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide."
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Gallery Talk | 2 Folk Art Exhibitions


A public tour of the current exhibitions, Francesc Tosquelles: Avant-Garde Psychiatry and the Birth of Art Brut and Somewhere to Roost, led by gallery guides.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Dance Lesson | Dance Workshop With Dance Theatre of Harlem


The workshop will feature a demonstration led by Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Artistic Director, Robert Garland, and will focus on the rudiments of ballet study, followed by an interactive choreographic exploration.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Workshop | New Games Social - Outdoors


Curious about a board game or looking to try something new? Hosts will be teaching how to play a wide range of fun board games every Friday.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Concert | Battle of the Bands - in the Park


Youth bands will showcase their set to be judged by industry professionals for a chance to win prizes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free

Opening Reception | 2 Exhibitions: Squonk, Squonky, Squonkalicious / Dust and Sweat and Feigning Grace


Susan Kim Alvarez: Squonk, Squonky, Squonkalicious Alvarez draws closely upon her own life as the medium to achieve personal meaning and affinity in her works. Her process is carefully uncalculated, highlighting in quick motion her remarkable detail, color, and imagination. Stimulated by her life, family, and community, Alvarez works from imagination to translate humor and chaos towards exploring themes of identity, heritage, community. Spontaneous and unapologetic washes of acrylic weave through Alvarez’ bold characters and fantastical scenes, yielding a candor that reaches still an essence of personality and intimacy. Jen DeLuna: Dust and Sweat and Feigning Grace DeLuna’s figurative works are inspired by her collection of family photographs and found photographs, which provide a spectral snapshot of the past. On account of their inspiration and impressions, DeLuna’s oil-painted subjects are wrapped in blurry hazes with moments that pierce the surface in shining and captivating highlights. Deluna crafts uncanny and notionally invasive moments that both extend to the viewer through the figures’ sharp gazes, while at the same time are shielded by private airs. With mystifying and alluring qualities, the works begin to call into question their own viewership and broach the conditions of femininity.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Concert | Cappella Sur 1st International Choir Festival 2024


Cappella Sur took on the task of organizing its first international choir festival in New York with the idea of uniting nations through a common goal, choral singing. The festival will be held between the first and third of August in different locations of the city. Tonight: the Argentine Choir of Minnesota performs.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Concert | Music at the Crossroads of the World


Check out NYC's buzziest up-and-coming talent live. Musicians from New York City and beyond will present free concerts, ranging from indie, pop, and electronic, many of whom will be celebrating the debut of new work or an upcoming summer album release. Featuring: Greg Bank$ Greg Bank$ is a self-taught guitarist who honed his skills performing on the streets of New York during the pandemic where he drew crowds of thousands. He now performs on the stage for thousands of people, still in New York where his original fanbase is from.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Play | Twelfth Night: Shakespeare's Shipwrecked Stranger -- in the Park


This lush production pulls on the heart strings when a young woman is shipwrecked on a strange land and must disguise herself as a man to survive. It’s a story of loss, identity and, finally, love hard won. There’s also music and singing! With the Hudson Classical Theater Company.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Dancing | Salsa Dancing in the Park


Puerto Rican trumpeter Luis "Perico" Ortiz is an acknowledged master of Latin jazz and a FANIA-era New York music legend. Classically trained at the University of Puerto Rico before relocating to New York in 1970, Ortiz's performances and arrangements can be heard in major salsa recordings from the past 50 years alongside many of the most acclaimed artists of our time. Ortiz has played and arranged extensively for Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Mongo Santamaría, Rubén Blades, the FANIA All Stars, Willie Colón, Ismael Quintana, Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound, Blondie, and David Bowie, to name only a few. At this exclusive Summer for the City social dance, Ortiz is flying directly from Puerto Rico to lead his NYC orchestra as they perform timeless tunes from his extensive repertoire.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Concert | Grammy Winning Multi-Instrumentalist, Singer, and Songwriter in a Park


Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello will unveil her new album No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin. Through a performance transcending musical boundaries, let yourself be ignited by the passion and legacy of James Baldwin's storytelling and activism. Talibah Safiya, a Memphis-born soul artist whose lyrics and minimal instrumentation evoke powerful and undeniable emotions, will open the concert. Doors open 6 pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Screening | Korean Animation Festival


This event will feature a total of 11 outstanding short animations, including works invited to the Astoria Film Festival. On opening day, Friday, August 2nd, 9 selected animations covering themes such as family, society, and discrimination, all of which have been invited to various international film festivals, will be showcased. A Q&A session with the directors will follow the screenings. All films featuring Korean dialogue will have English subtitles available.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Play | Shakespeare's Twelfth Night: Shipwrecked Stranger -- in a Parking Lot


Shakespeare's comedic tale of mistaken identities, love, and festive revelry. The story begins with Viola, who is shipwrecked and believes her twin brother, Sebastian, has drowned. Disguised as a man named Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino, who is in love with Lady Olivia. However, Olivia falls for Cesario, unaware of Viola's true identity. Meanwhile, Viola harbors her own feelings for Orsino. The subplot involves Olivia's drunken uncle, Sir Toby, who schemes with others to humiliate the pompous steward, Malvolio. The confusion culminates in comic misunderstandings, leading to Sebastian's unexpected arrival. The play concludes with multiple marriages, the revelation of true identities, and a celebration of love and harmony. Presented by the Drilling Company.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Concert | Suite for Africa: Ensemble and Orphan Choir - Outdoors


An album release concert with Amina Figarova Sextet & The Matsiko World Orphan Choir in an outdoor setting.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Concert | Traditional Salsa and Modern Sounds (In a Park)


New York City's La Excelencia is an award-winning salsa dura band inspired by the sounds of the '70s and the sociopolitical landscape of today. Combining traditional salsa elements with a modern and unabashedly hard-hitting energy, La Excelencia inspires dancers and invigorates listeners alike. "It takes just a note or two to hear that La Excelencia is different," writes The New York Times. "The real deal doesn't show up that often, and here it is. Celebrate it."
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Trivia Night - Outdoors


Test your knowledge at this general knowledge pop culture trivia night, hosted by the NYC Trivia League.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Dance Performance | Five of NYC's Most Celebrated Dance Companies


Ballet Hisp?nico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem reunite on one stage.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
$5

Jazz | Josh Johnson, Grammy-Winning Multi-Instrumentalist


Longtime collaborator with some of contemporary music's most innovative artists, saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Josh Johnson ignites the Underground stage this summer. The Grammy Award-winning producer's solo debut, Freedom Exercise, was featured in Rolling Stone's Best Music of 2020 and Bandcamp's Best Jazz Albums of 2020; and his latest solo album, Unusual Object, has been lauded as a striking work of futuristic jazz and modern composition.
   New York City, NY; NYC
8:00 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | Beauty and the Beast (2017): Live-Action Disney Remake


A selfish Prince is cursed to become a monster for the rest of his life, unless he learns to fall in love with a beautiful young woman he keeps prisoner. Director: Bill Condon Stars: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans 129 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | Mary Poppins (1964): Disney Classic Won 5 Oscars, with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke


In turn of the century London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father. Director: Robert Stevenson Stars: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson 139 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
9:00 pm
Free
Complimentary Tickets

to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)

Musical | Broadway Actors in a Tony Winner's Musical Comedy

Regular Price: $89
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Works by Tchaikovsky, Liszt, Ravel, and More at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $45
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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