free things to do in New York City
Free events for Saturday, 05/08/21
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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 May 8, 2021?

25 free events take place on Saturday, May 8 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 May 8 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 May . 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!

25 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Saturday, May 8, 2021

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Staged Reading | I Gotta Home: Family Intrigues (virtual, streaming for 24 hours)


Reverend Cobb has a large, boisterous family and the dwindling bank account to match. So when the family learns that his long-lost sister is quite possibly the heir to a celebrity fortune, excitement and intrigue brew. But once the enigmatic Aunt Mattie blasts into town, the Cobb family and parsonage discover that things aren't quite what they seem! Written by Shirley Graham Du Bois in 1940. The event is streaming until May 3rd.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 am
Free

Screening | Romeo and Juliet by London's National Theatre (virtual, streaming for 24 hours)


This stylized film of Shakespeare's masterpiece from the National Theatre celebrates the theatrical imagination. In this contemporary retelling, a company of actors in a shuttered theater bring to life the tale of two young lovers who strive to transcend a world of violence and hate. Josh O'Connor and Jessie Buckley star as Shakespeare's immortal star-crossed lovers.
   New York City, NY; NYC
12:00 am
Free

Fair | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Flea Market: Antiques, Vintage Goods, Food Vendors


Search for hidden gems as you browse antiques, vintage goods, architectural salvage and collectibles. There is also a selection of food vendors from Smorgasburg. Face covering is required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
8:00 am
Free

Fair | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Waterfront Market: Music, Food, Antiques, Art, Roller Skating, Doggie Fashion Show


The market offers socially-distanced experience of food, shopping, family-friendly activities and entertainment: music, accessories, clothing, jewelry, pet supplies, beauty products, pottery and much more. Every Sat and Sun, 10 am - 5 pm. Visitors must wear face coverings at all times and observe social distancing.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Festival | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Art360º / Fort Greene


Rediscover the beauty and culture of the Fort Greene commercial district. A day of discovery and exploration, ART360/FG is about the art that surrounds us in vibrant Fort Greene. Experience “The Art Of…” with FAB FULTON businesses during a full day of socially distanced family-friendly fun activities, art installations, self-guided tours, creative merchant demonstrations, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Festival | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Earth Celebration: Visual Art, Pageant, Puppets, Performances


Enjoy outdoor pop-up site performances and visual art presentations that celebrate the climate solution initiatives. Come and find the surprises of spectacular local climate solutions, visual art, puppets, costumes and performances tucked throughout the neighborhood. Raindate May 9.
   New York City, NY; NYC
11:00 am
Free

Other | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) LEGO Building Station for All Ages


BUILD NYC is an interactive building station with playful materials and that encourages people to tap into their creative side, all while staying 6 feet apart. Masks are required, and if you need one, it will be provided. BUILD with elements including: - LEGO, Magna-Tiles, Imagination Playground blocks, connect-able straws, and other materials for building; - printed cards with activities conceived by architects and educators; - books on architecture and engineering
   New York City, NY; NYC
11:00 am
Free

Fair | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Street Market: Food Vendors, Collectables, Decor Items and More


Shop for antiques, decor items, sustainable and vintage clothing, collectible objects and more. In addition, Smorgasburg food vendors will offer brunch and lunch options.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Tour | Brooklyn Army Terminal: A Marvel of Architecture and Engineering (virtual)


Completed in 1919, the Brooklyn Army Terminal is a marvel of architecture and engineering. On this tour, you will examine its design and construction during World War I, its 47-year service as a military supply base, and its reinvention as a hub for industry, manufacturing, and technology today. You will spend time in the breathtaking atrium, step into the skybridges that connect the buildings, and look at how the site has been renovated.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Book Club | Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: Discuss the Classics (virtual)


Looking to revisit some literary classics? Get a new take on books that you may have read in years past? Join this monthly Virtual Classics Book Discussion.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Jazz | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Jazz Band: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and More


David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band is inspired by the noble jazz pioneers Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton and more. The band breathes life and passion into America's own great art form.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Workshop | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Juggling in a Park


Join in for a quick lesson, stay for the whole time, or just enjoy watching the jugglers put their skills to the test. They're a friendly group and open to drop-ins. All skill levels welcome. Equipment is provided and regularly sanitized. Schedule: Tuesdays 6-7pm Wednesdays 12-1pm Saturdays 12-1pm
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Performance | That Physics Show: Scientific 'Magic' (virtual)


Lifetime professional physics demonstrator David Maiullo brings his scientific "magic" from the world of physics to the stage. That Physics Show is based on hundreds of physics experiments presented at physics conferences and in classrooms across the country. Learn what damage a ping pong ball can do as it hurtles 700 miles an hour through a vacuum tube, see the shape of sound in dancing flames, and predict the shapes of smoke rings shot from a trash can! This is a classroom presentation of the Off-Broadway, Drama Desk Award winning show. Family fun for all ages! 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Discussion | Queer-y-ing Arab Queerness (Zoom)


A panel discussion to explore and queer-y Arab queerness with art historian and researcher Dr. Andrew Gayed, curator the Earl of Bushwick, artist Jamil Hellu and artist Lara Nasser.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Jazz | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Jazz Quartet Performs Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin


Saxophonists and clarinetists Peter and Will Anderson will be joined by Joe Boga on trumpet and Alex Raderman on drums. They will play classic American repertoire from the songbooks of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:00 pm
Free

Play | Little Gem: 'a warm slice-of-life tale' – The New York Times (virtual)


Amber, Lorraine, and Kay, three generations of North Dublin women, find themselves suddenly facing the unexpected in this “warm slice-of-life tale.” (The New York Times). Young Amber’s case of indigestion grows into something more, while her mother Lorraine reluctantly attempts therapist-suggested self-care, and Grandmother Kay struggles with a personal itch while adjusting to life as a caretaker for her beloved Gem. In this hilarious and poignant award-winning work, three women find strength in one another and discover the beauty and complexity of family. By Elaine Murphy Directed by Marc Atkinson Borrull Starring Brenda Meaney, Lauren O’Leary, and Marsha Mason
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Concert | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Saturday Live Music


Take a dash of Herb Albert, a pinch of David Bowie, add a handful of Andy Kaufman, and you have Robert Whaley and his band. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Dance Performance | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Ballet, Music and Immersive Art Installation


Body / Light I is an immersive, interactive art installation by Random International Art Group in which viewers are invited to draw with their bodies as their movements are temporarily traced in light. Enjoy a score performed live by composer and multi-instrumentalist Lester St. Louis, and choreographic responses to the sculpture by three dancers from the New York Theatre Ballet. The art installation is on view on May 7, 4 pm - 9 pm; May 8, 9, 1 pm - 9 pm. Live performances are from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Jazz | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Grammy-Winning Trumpeter


Keyon Harrold is a Grammy-winning trumpeter, vocalist, songwriter, and producer. Keyon has worked with Common, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Beyonce, Nas, Maxwell, Erykah Badu, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Glasper, and Keith Richards.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Dance Performance | Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Revelations Reimagined (virtual)


Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Revelations Reimagined explores its choreographic masterpiece Revelations (1960) in a new context: past and present, on stage and off, a cultural treasure that transformed modern dance forever and continues to reinvent itself. The piece pays tribute to African-American heritage—“sometimes sorrowful, sometimes jubilant, but always hopeful”—and to the power of the human spirit.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Opera | Met Opera: Puccini's Madama Butterfly (virtual)


Anthony Minghella's stunning production of Puccini's opera opened the Met's 2006-07 season and was seen by thousands of people around the world as part of the company's Live in HD series. Patricia Racette is Cio-Cio-San, the trusting and innocent young geisha of the title, who disastrously falls in love with American Navy lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton (Marcello Giordani), only to be abandoned by him. Maria Zifchak is her loyal servant Suzuki and Dwayne Croft is Sharpless, the sympathetic American consul who does all he can but is unable to avert tragedy.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
Free

Concert | The Great Film Scores from Forrest Gump, Schindler's List, and More by Pops Orchestra (virtual)


Enjoy a program of celebrated film scores, played with power and passion by the Cincinnati Pops led by Pops Principal Guest Conductor Damon Gupton. They will perform music from cinematic favorites including Forrest Gump, Schindler's List, Lincoln, The Mission and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Discussion | Glee’s Harry Shum Jr. and Pulitzer Prize–winning Author in Conversation (virtual)


Actor and dancer Harry Shum Jr. is best known for his roles as Mike Chang in Glee and Magnus Bane in Shadowhunters. His credits include Crazy Rich Asians, All My Life, and he has danced on tour and in videos for Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, and Destiny’s Child. Shum will join Pulitzer Prize–winning author and USC (University of Southern California) professor Viet Thanh Nguyen for a wide-ranging conversation about his career in entertainment, advocacy work for children and against racism, Asian Americans in the performing arts, the importance of generational storytelling, and more. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Beethoven's Symphonic Works (virtual)


Maestro Leon Botstein leads the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra in this concert. The program features Beethoven's 3rd and 4th symphonies, Wellington's Victory, and Drei Equali for four trombones.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Play | Little Gem: 'a warm slice-of-life tale' – The New York Times (virtual)


Amber, Lorraine, and Kay, three generations of North Dublin women, find themselves suddenly facing the unexpected in this “warm slice-of-life tale.” (The New York Times). Young Amber’s case of indigestion grows into something more, while her mother Lorraine reluctantly attempts therapist-suggested self-care, and Grandmother Kay struggles with a personal itch while adjusting to life as a caretaker for her beloved Gem. In this hilarious and poignant award-winning work, three women find strength in one another and discover the beauty and complexity of family. By Elaine Murphy Directed by Marc Atkinson Borrull Starring Brenda Meaney, Lauren O’Leary, and Marsha Mason
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Complimentary Tickets

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

Broadway | Broadway Show!

Regular Price: $101
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Concert | Christmas Concert

Regular Price: $55
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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