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Free events for Saturday, 05/06/23
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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 6, 2023?

39 free events take place on Saturday, May 6 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 6 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!

39 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Saturday, May 6, 2023

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Park Tour: From Freight to Flowers
free events nyc History Tour of The Battery
free events nyc Lady of the Night (1924): silent romantic drama
free events nyc The Arrangement: The Lies We Tell Ourselves
free events nyc First Saturdays: Free Programs of Art and Entertainment
free events nyc Coronation Day Festal Evensong & Garden Party: Choral Music by Handel and More
free events nyc Cinco De Mayo: We Love to Dance
free events nyc Illumination Spring Showcase
free events nyc LIVESTREAM at an in-door public place: New York Philharmonic performs Shostakovich, Respighi, and More
More Editor's Picks for 05/06/23
        

Workshop | Forest Fitness


This regular fitness class incorporates climbing multiple staircases, stretches and strengthening exercises, notable tree identification, and forest bathing. Led by instructor, Nancy Bruning\.
   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
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10:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Park Tour: From Freight to Flowers


Hear the story behind New York City's park in the sky: an insider's perspective on the park's history, design, and landscape.
   New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
Free

Fair | Street Fair


Free fun for the whole family, including arts, crafts, antiques, plants, entertainment, games, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Fair | Street Fair


Free fun for the whole family, including arts, crafts, antiques, plants, entertainment, games, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Juggling in the Park


Jugglers use the park throughout the year to provide free classes to the public. Stop by for 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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11:00 am
Free

Workshop | Shape Up NYC Dance Fitness


A fun dance fitness class. Colorful outfits are encouraged.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Hike | Nature Exploration Hike: Urban Wildlife


Learn about the diverse wildlife found in New York City’s parks and the best ways for people and animals to coexist, including the many benefits of having so many animals in our city.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Original Sin: Power, Technology and War in Outer Space (online)


Space technology was developed to enhance the killing power of the state. The Moon landings and the launch of the Space Shuttle were mere sideshows, drawing public attention away from the real goal: military and economic control of space as a source of power on Earth. Today, as Bleddyn E. Bowen vividly recounts, thousands of satellites work silently in the background to provide essential military, intelligence and economic capabilities. No major power can do without them. Beyond Washington, Moscow and Beijing, truly global technologies have evolved, from the ground floor of the nuclear missile revolution to today's orbital battlefield, shaping the wars to come. World powers including India, Japan and Europe are fully realizing the strategic benefits of commanding Earth's 'cosmic coastline', as a stage for war, development and prestige.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Birdwatching | Birding: Spring Migration


Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see spring migratory birds. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Please bring your own binoculars.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Contemporary Games Social


Play your favorite contemporary board games every Saturday afternoon. Featured games include but are not limited to Chameleon, Wavelength, Avalon, Parade, Splendor, Century Spice Road, Mountain Goats, No Thanks, Codenames, Werewords, Spyfall, Azul, Letter Jam, Dixit, In Kahootz, and Captain Sonar. A new game will be selected each week.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Concert | Face the Music Concert


Students from the Kaufman Music Center’s dynamic youth music program collaborate with members of the Metropolis Ensemble to present original and participatory works.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Park Walk | History Tour of The Battery


Tour New York's historic birthplace park with an expert guide. Learn about the park's rich history, many important landmarks and monuments, SeaGlass Carousel, beautiful perennial gardens designed by renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, and so much more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Music in the Park


Enjoy the spring weather at an afternoon performance featuring students from Kaufman Music Center’s Face the Music teen new music program in collaboration with the acclaimed Metropolis Ensemble. Choose your own sonic adventure, with musicians in various locations performing original works by Face the Music members.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Screening | Native New York Film Festival


The Native New York Film Festival spotlights filmmakers, new films, fan favorites, and filmmaker discussions reflecting on what makes New York a Native place.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Film | Lady of the Night (1924): silent romantic drama


Two baby girls are born near in proximity, but worlds apart in life: Molly Helmer, a thief's daughter; and Florence Banning, daughter of the judge who would send Molly's father to prison. The girls' lives converge when they are 18 and fall in love with the same man. Norma Shearer plays both young women, but the apparent differences in their worldliness makes them most unfamiliar in appearance. Director: Monta Bell Cast: Norma Shearer Registration required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free

Screening | When My Sleeping Dragon Woke (2022): documentary


Sharon Washington chooses the theater to write her modern-day fairy tale of a little girl who grows up inside the St. Agnes Branch of the New York Public Library. But revisiting her past comes with an unforeseen cost. A screening, followed by an Q & A with the star and the filmmaker.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Where I'm Coming From by Barbara Brandon-Croft


Barbara Brandon-Croft will be talking about her book, Where I'm Coming From, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special rerelease from Drawn & Quarterly. Few Black cartoonists have ever entered national syndication, and before Barbara Brandon-Croft, none of them were women. From 1989 to 2005, Brandon-Croft brought Black women’s perspectives to an international audience with her trailblazing comic strip Where I’m Coming From. Brandon-Croft appraises popular opinion through nine distinct women in constant dialogue. From diets to daycare to debt to the dreaded microaggressions of everyday racism, no issue is off-limits. This remarkable and unapologetically funny career retrospective holds a mirror up to the ways society has changed and all the ways it hasn’t. The magic in Where I’m Coming From is its ability to impress an honest image of Black life without sacrificing Black joy, bolstered by unexpected one-liners eliciting much-needed laughter. Registration required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | LIVESTREAM: Orchestral Works by Copland and More


This live-streamed performance is presented on the 50-foot Digital Wall at an in-door public place. Young musicians from Juilliard's Music Advancement Program (MAP) the New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers; and Paolo Bortolameolli, conductor, perform works by Copland and more. Program Copland (1900-1990), Selections from Appalachian Spring, Suite for Orchestra Jordyn Davis (1995-present), As I Am (World Premiere) James Diaz, and does the Moon also fall (World Premiere) Trevor Weston, Subwaves (World Premiere) About the Conductor Currently Associate Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chilean-Italian conductor Paolo Bortolameolli has a bustling concert schedule across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. In addition to his post in Los Angeles, he is also Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional Esperanza Azteca (Mexico) and Principal Guest Conductor of Filarmonica de Santiago (Chile). Having conducted every significant orchestra in his Chilean homeland and been awarded prizes four times by the Arts Critics Association as Symphonic and Opera Conductor of the Year, Paolo has regular conducting relationships across Latin and North America, Europe and Asia, including with the Houston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and more. This event is an in-person livestream of the concert.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free

Festival | Spring Fling Arts & Music Festival


The 3rd annual festival will have an artisans market, live music, and food vendors.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Play | The Arrangement: The Lies We Tell Ourselves


Longtime sweethearts Jonathan and Emily have made arrangements. Now in their thirties, they plan on buying a house in the suburbs and starting a family. Then why does Jonathan's boss suspect him for a cheat? An indictment of the lies we tell ourselves; Sam Kressner's The Arrangement is an evisceration of suburban upper middle-class morality and the compromises we make in order to keep up with the arrangements of others.
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:00 pm
Free

Play | The Mountaintop


The Mountaintop By Katori Hall Directed by Meikayla Thomany The Actors Studio Drama School presents its annual Repertory Season; in six weeks (through May 13) of theatre designed to introduce its graduating students to the professional world and the public in fully-professional productions of the work they have created during their three years of study. You will witness a weekly series of scenes, one-act plays, and full-length plays.  Vaccination proof is required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Lecture | The Foundations and Future of Biodesign


Biodesign is an expansive field that lies at the convergence of biotechnology, design, and speculation. This method of making draws inspiration from and collaborates with natural processes and biological organisms. Many designers, scientists, and investors see biodesign as an inevitable progression of the skills and techniques we use to create the objects and materials of our everyday lives. From construction materials to genome editing, biodesign is making an appearance everywhere. Additionally, increased interest in biodesign has come at a time when the convergence of science, technology, and near-intractable problems need multidisciplinary solutions. Many designers believe turning to nature will help humanity to solve some of our most pressing issues. This lecture series will explore the history of biodesign and new developments within the field, discussing its potential to be a leading field of the future. This course is perfect for those interested in learning more about biotechnology, biology, design, new developments in robotics, speculative design, and sustainability. Throughout the course, attendees will learn the techniques and science behind some of the most interesting and innovative design solutions and analyze their potential effects on the everyday systems of the future. Session 4, May 6: The Biodesigned Thing Biodesigners often mirror the forms, processes, and ecosystems of the natural world. The process is called biomimicry. Often, we see biomimetic designs in robotics, swimwear, and aeronautics. As the practice continues to convergently evolve alongside biotechnology, how close will biomimicry come to recreating complex biological systems from scratch? During this session, we will explore current advancements and research in soft robotics and cell biology to determine what the biomimetic designs of the future might look like. Registration required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Jazz | A Unique Instrumental Jazz Outfit


Milwaukee-born drummer Mark Johnson is held in high regard among musicians for his supportive work with Abbey Lincoln, Cassandra Wilson, Wallace Roney, George Braith and others. For this concert he presents his longtime project Edge of Jazz, a unique instrumental outfit.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free

Classical Music | Serene organ meditations in an intimate venue (In Person AND Online)


Enjoy a program of hymns, anthems, and voluntaries for the organ.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Screening | 2023 Russian Diaspora and Art Film Festival


A program presenting gripping stories of art and literature nested in a historical context. It continues a collaboration with the Belarusian-Jewish Cultural Heritage Center whose mission is to restore our unique heritage deliberately forgotten and trampled by the Soviet regime. Today, in view of the regime's pervasive oppression, as well as the brutal war against Ukraine, the discovery of a national cultural heritage continues in exile: most participants emigrated and continue their work remotely, producing by necessity virtual projects and programs. The program addresses the power of cultural origins and genealogical awareness to unite people in times of disorder and dispersion. Viewers will come away with a better understanding of how enduring an incubating milieu Belarus proved for creative innovation.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Concert | Coronation Day Festal Evensong & Garden Party: Choral Music by Handel and More


Celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Coronation Day, Saturday 6 May. Festal Evensong, sung by a professional choir, features music for royal occasions by Handel, Stanford, Gibbons, and others. Followed by a reception in the beautiful courtyard garden.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
Free

Festival | First Saturdays: Free Programs of Art and Entertainment


At the monthly First Saturdays, thousands of visitors enjoy free programs of art and entertainment, including dynamic performances and participatory experiences.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Four-Piece Band with Sikh Influences


Sonny Singh with Jonathan Goldberger, guitar; Jesske Hume; bass and vocals; Utsav Lal, harmonium and keys; and Rohin Khemani, drums and tabla. Simultaneously spiritual and rebellious, Sonny Singh’s music is a reminder of hope, love, and devotion. For more than a decade, he has brought his fiery trumpet playing and vocals around the world as an original member of the bhangra brass band Red Baraat, and he recently released his own debut album, Chardi Kala—a reference to the Sikh concept of revolutionary eternal optimism—called “vibrant, ebullient, and energized ... a prayer for our ailing world” (JazzTimes). Hear him with his four-piece band in this free performance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Discussion | Why Read Cavafy?


A spirited conversation between raconteur Paul Holdengräber and André Aciman– another Alexandria-born writer. They will give insight into their years-long fascination with Cavafy, and why so many artists share this passionate interest in his work.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
$5

Concert | Abolitionism and the Arts in the Long Eighteenth Century


A concert of rarely-heard abolitionist songs from the long eighteenth century performed by Awet Andemicael (soprano, Yale University) and Magdalena Stern-Baczewska (piano, Columbia University). Joy is the hallmark of Awet Andemicael’s artistry. A critically-acclaimed concert and recording soprano, she has sung across North America, in Europe, Asia, and Africa, with ensembles including the Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Handel and Haydn Society, and Bach Collegium Japan. She holds degrees from Yale University, Yale Divinity School (YDS)/Institute of Sacred Music (ISM), the University of Notre Dame, UC Irvine, and Harvard University. Dr. Andemicael has published articles and chapters on Christian theology, music and faith, and other topics, and is currently Associate Dean for Marquand Chapel and Assistant Professor (adj) in Theology at Yale. Magdalena Baczewska is a pianist, harpsichordist, recording artist, speaker, and an educator. She is a Senior Lecturer and the Director of the Music Performance Program at Columbia University. Baczewska has appeared internationally with the world’s leading orchestras, among them the San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, and China National Symphony. She has toured extensively with the Grammy and Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun. Her critically acclaimed discography spans many genres, from pre-Baroque keyboard music to collaborations with techno and hip-hop artists. Embracing the dual role of an educator and administrator at Columbia, Baczewska directs a program that gathers over 400 student musicians, including members of the elite Columbia-Juilliard Exchange.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free

Dancing | Cinco De Mayo: We Love to Dance


A happy beat leads to happy feet! Be a part of the annual "We Love to Dance" festivities, honoring Cinco de Mayo and focusing on the various Latin dancing styles followed by freestyle line dancing and instruction. An in-house Tango group will showcase a short demonstration.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:30 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Bisa Butler: The World Is Yours


Bisa Butler’s exhibition is at once a benediction and a mantra inspired by the lyrics of a song by the rapper Nas.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Talk | Artist Talk: Of Mythic Worlds


Artist Curtis Talwst Santiago will be joined by guest Greg Fox, a drummer, multidisciplinary artist, and teacher born and bred in New York City. Together, Santiago and Fox will explore the metaphysical and the sublime; recall myths passed down from ancient cultures; and expand our understanding of mysticism and immateriality.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Poetry Reading | Chrome Valley: Spoken Word and Music


What is it to be born Black in America, to grow knowing the love of a home and to confront the threat of existing outside of it? This immersive work is the investigation of this question through the musical and visual renderings of excerpts from Mahogany L. Browne’s newest anthology of poetry, Chrome Valley. With original compositions by Sean Mason and recitation/choreography by Marija Abney, this piece translates word into movement and sound. We stitch a quilt that journeys through this country’s legacy of collective/collected traumas and explore what has been heirloomed to Black bodies in spite of it all.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Play | The Mountaintop


The Mountaintop By Katori Hall Directed by Meikayla Thomany The Actors Studio Drama School presents its annual Repertory Season; in six weeks (through May 13) of theatre designed to introduce its graduating students to the professional world and the public in fully-professional productions of the work they have created during their three years of study. You will witness a weekly series of scenes, one-act plays, and full-length plays.  Vaccination proof is required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Festival | Illumination Spring Showcase


Step into a magical world of light and wonder at the Illumination Light Art Spring Showcase.. Kick off your spring with Illumination Light Art's first-ever Spring Showcase. Seven talented light artists, live performers, and DJs will transform the plaza into a dreamlike oasis. Explore and interact with exciting pieces produced by local New York-based light artists featuring a mixture of projection mapping, interactive video art, UV light art, and more! Dance to a different DJ every night Tuesday night to Saturday night as you wander and explore Illumination's outdoor gallery. Don't forget to bring your own light garb to take part in the festivities or check out our light shop where we will be selling all types of light merchandise!
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
Free

Classical Music | LIVESTREAM at an in-door public place: New York Philharmonic performs Shostakovich, Respighi, and More


This live-streamed performance is presented on the 50-foot Digital Wall at an in-door public place. New York Philharmonic; Leonidas Kavakos, violin; and Gianandrea Noseda, conductor, perform works by Shostakovich, Respighi, and George Walker. Program Shostakovich (1906-1975), Violin Concerto No. 1 George Walker (1922-2018), Sinfonia No. 1 Respighi (1879-1936), Roman Festivals About the Performers The New York Philharmonic, one of the leading world orchestras, was founded in 1842 by the American conductor Ureli Corelli Hill, with the aid of the Irish composer William Vincent Wallace. The first concert of the Philharmonic Society took place on December 7, 1842 in the Apollo Rooms on lower Broadway before an audience of 600. It is the oldest major symphony orchestra in the United States in continual existence and one of the oldest in the world. Leonidas Kavakos is recognised across the world as a violinist and artist of rare quality, acclaimed for his matchless technique, his captivating artistry, and his superb musicianship He works with the world's greatest orchestras and conductors and plays as recitalist in the world's premier recital halls and festivals. Kavakos has performed with YoYo Ma at Carnegie Hall, with the Singapore Symphony, the London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, and many more. Gianandrea Noseda is one of the world's most sought-after conductors, equally recognized for his artistry in both the concert hall and opera house. The 2022-2023 season marks his sixth as Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra. This event is an in-person livestream of the concert.
   New York City, NY; NYC
8:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Star Gazing


A summer evening in Manhattan is made complete with a great skyline and the stars, planets, and moon in full view. Peer heavenward to see celestial wonders with the help of the Amateur Astronomer’s Association.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
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