free things to do in New York City
Free events for Friday, 05/31/24
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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 May 31, 2024?

33 free events take place on Friday, May 31 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 31 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!

33 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Friday, May 31, 2024

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc The Winter's Tale: Shakespeare's Tangled Traumas -- Outdoors
free events nyc The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged): All 37 Plays in One
free events nyc New York City Opera: Puccini Celebration
More Editor's Picks for 05/31/24
        

Concert | Anitta, Brazilian Singer


Anitta is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and occasional television host. She has received numerous accolades, including four Latin American Music Awards and eight Latin Grammy Award nominations. She has won eight MTV Europe Music Awards and was the first Brazilian artist to be named Best Latin American Act. Her latest album is Funk Generation. Check-in: By 5:15 a.m. (concert concludes at 9:30 a.m.)
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:15 am
Free

Workshop | Tai Chi


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
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10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Catch-and-Release Fishing


The Harlem Meer is a thriving aquatic ecosystem that supports a wide variety of fish, waterfowl, turtles, plants and microorganisms. Some of the fish living in the Meer include large-mouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill sunfish, carp, and chain pickerel. Fishing poles are available to borrow. Instruction and bait are provided.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Poetry Walk in the Park


Calling all poetry enthusiasts! This is a walk exploring a unique poetic experience. They will find places where poetry appears in the parks’ urban/natural setting. Read and discuss! A fun activity to celebrate your impressions will follow.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Adult Zumba


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

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: Sue Maskaleris.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Film | Oppenheimer (2023) Directed by Christopher Nolan, Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., and More


During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spend years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work comes to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witness the world's first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history. Director: Christopher Nolan Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh Christopher Nolan is a British and American filmmaker. Known for his Hollywood blockbusters with complex storytelling, Nolan is considered a leading filmmaker of the 21st century. His films have grossed more than $6 billion worldwide. The recipient of many accolades, he has been nominated for five Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards and eight Golden Globe Awards. In 2015, and he was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time. Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor. His early film credits include the horror film 28 Days Later (2002), the dark comedy Intermission (2003), the thriller Red Eye (2005), and more. He played a transgender Irish woman in the comedy-drama Breakfast on Pluto (2005), which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination. Murphy began his collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Nolan in 2005, playing Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy (2005-2012) as well as appearing in Inception (2010) and Dunkirk (2017). For portraying the lead role of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Nolan's Oppenheimer (2023), he earned a second Golden Globe nomination. Emily Blunt is a British actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for three British Academy Film Awards. Forbes ranked her as one of the highest-paid actresses in the world in 2020. Matt Damon is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. Ranked among Forbes' most bankable stars, the films in which he has appeared have collectively earned over $3.88 billion at the North American box office, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He has received various awards and nominations, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for three British Academy Film Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards. Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor. His career has been characterized by critical success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, and a surge in popular and commercial success later in his career. His films as a leading actor have grossed over $14 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. In 2008, Downey was named by Time magazine among the 100 most influential people in the world, and from 2013 to 2015, he was listed by Forbes as Hollywood's highest-paid actor.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free

Film | Loving Pablo (2017) with Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz


In the early 1980s, Colombian journalist Virginia Vallejo begins a tumultuous love affair with Pablo Escobar, the world's most feared drug lord. Director: Fernando Leon de Aranoa Cast: Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz Javier Bardem is a Spanish actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as assassin Anton Chigurh in the Coen Brothers' western drama film No Country for Old Men (2007). Bardem has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for playing Reinaldo Arenas in Before Night Falls (2000), a criminal with cancer in Biutiful (2010), and Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos (2021). Penelope Cruz is a Spanish actress. Prolific in Spanish and English-language films, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award, in addition to nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:15 pm
Free

Birdwatching | Evening Birding Tour


Discover the surprising diversity of birds that call the park home during migratory season, with guided tours led by environmental educator and urban naturalist Gabriel Willow. The park is a hotspot for avian visitors and birders alike. Past sightings include warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, and even a Chuck-will’s-widow!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Workshop | New Games Social


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 | Actor, Songwriter, and Musician


Claire DeJean is a New York City based actor, songwriter, and musician. She is a graduate of The University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre program. Most recently, you can find her on FX’s p, but she got her start on NBC’s The Voice when she was 17. Between acting projects, Claire has a deep passion for music and looks forward to sharing her original music with the world soon.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:45 pm
Free

Concert | 7-Piece Band Play Soulful, Danceable Songs


simmerr is a seven-piece band including saxophone and trumpet, with high-energy danceable original songs and soulful vocals. Led by vocalist/keyboardist James Acre and guitarist/vocalist Jairo Campo, simmerr infuses a bedrock of 80s soul with the indie-rock stylings of Mac DeMarco, a carefree yacht rock energy, and Latin jazz rhythms, to put an irresistible smile on the faces of audiences. Their next single, “Parallel,” is set to release this June.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Opera | From Hell to Antigone: A Distillation of Handel's Admeto


This steamy love triangle saga unfolds in bittersweet beauty, one ravishing aria after another. Betrayal, longing, jealousy, and bewilderment just scratch the surface. A curse reversed, a rejection amended, but then she's back from the dead... how can a heart survive it all?? Opera Essentia's new distillation of Handel's (1685-1759) Admeto.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Matthew Craven: Rendezvous with Rama


An exhibition of drawings by Matthew Craven. Each work is titled after a classic work of science fiction, with the show’s title being an homage to Arthur C. Clarke, best known for “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Craven’s style rests on a pleasing fusion of drawing with a fine point marker girded onto a grid of cells, resembling an early digital interface. It is one of many ways Craven finds parallels from antiquity to the present, as his work posits that all geometric abstraction, no matter the time or origin, plucks from a universality of forms and patterns. Craven’s central insight is that the unfamiliar must always be couched in the understood, just as science fiction can dream up a futuristic or alien world only by relating back to what we can easily observe. Adept at the call and response to printed material, Craven now plumbs dusty paperbacks whose patinas mirror the faded, ripped, and taped up ‘60s and ‘70s B-movie posters he uses, long the substrate to his feverish drawing. The graphic boldness of book covers of the era meets its match - in Craven’s series, their minimalism refracted into baroque variations. A glowing orb floats in Chapterhouse, suggesting an unknown planet or distant sun, or perhaps a flying saucer. Pictographs abound, a hint of intra-universe communication.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Play | The Winter's Tale: Shakespeare's Tangled Traumas -- Outdoors


Barefoot Shakespeare Company is proud to bring this production to life for their 11th Season producing free Shakespeare in Central Park. The Winter's Tale will be directed by Barefoot Artistic Director and President Emily Gallagher. Step into the web of The Winter's Tale, where time slips through fingers like grains of sand and the stubborn weed of jealousy takes root, choking out reason and sowing discord. In this tale of tangled narratives and generational trauma, powerful women stand as pillars of support and strength, cultivating gardens of forgiveness amidst the barren landscape of lost time. This is a journey where stories intertwine like vines as hope blossoms, and where the only certainty is the transformative power of love. This summer's cast includes alumni and friends: Laurel Andersen, Carl Bindman, Andrew Dunn, Johnny Gottsegen, Kelly Blaze, Malavika Nair, Joe Raik, Tyler Riley, Regina Russell, Emily Thaler, and Ray Wilbur.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Welcome Home: Group Show


This exhibition mobilizes art as a radically transformative tool for healing trauma and rehumanizing the 21st century's urban "outcast". Combining photography, poetry, painting, storytelling and performance, directly impacted artists interrogate the intersection of punitive oppression and emancipatory struggles for justice. Welcome Home claims the gallery as a pedestal to display and debate the rampant hostility and acute need for hospitality in the urban environments we collectively construct. What kind of "welcome home" does one encounter when coming home homeless? And which pathways towards a more just urban world are spearheaded by avant-garde grassroots actions? Featuring work by: Alex Anderson (and the Reentry Theater of Harlem) - Gregory Frederick - Bruce Blake - Felix Guzman - Iman LeCaire - André P. - Joshua Lopez
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Play | The Comedy of Errors: An Outdoor Musical Adaptation of Shakespeare


The Comedy of Errors will be performed in English and Spanish by the Public Theatre's Mobile Unit.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Play | The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged): All 37 Plays in One


Three actors will perform all of Shakespeare's 37 plays in 97 minutes! Presented by The Hudson Classical Theater Company.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:30 pm
Pay-what-you-wish...

Concert | Alt-Pop SInger-Songwriter in the Park


Catch a concert accompanied by the incomparable sunset. AERI is an alt-pop singer-songwriter who exposes inner dialogues often invisible or silenced, in hopes to foster collective tenderness. She is currently working on her second body of work, Shelter Tide, a 7-song EP that wades in the unknown, unending cycles and patterns and search for safety—an atmospheric journey of overflow, depletion and possibility.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

City Walk | Pride Tour of Greenwich Village


Visit historic sites where revolutions began, riots were sparked, and history was made. See common threads within the LGBTQ+ generations who have lived life in New York City, sharing their stories throughout the tour. You’ll learn more about individual stories of Queer activists and the major political and social movements that have shaped the LGBTQ+ community over time. During this tour there will be plenty of opportunities to get to know your fellow walkers, and they’ll finish at a local LGBTQ+ bar where you can keep the conversation going and have a drink on them. Sites include the historic Stonewall Inn, the Gay Liberation Monument and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Opening Reception | 2024 Opening of the Uptown Arts Stroll


Celebrate the opening of the exhibition Uptown Treasures: Past & Present and the 22nd Uptown Arts Stroll in Washington Heights, Inwood & West Harlem.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | On the Couch: Writers Analyze Sigmund Freud


A host of contributors celebrate this new collection of colorful and candid essays and other pieces about Freud and his legacy today, featuring twenty-five leading writers. Filled with insights, provocation, and humor, On the Couch offers an original and nuanced portrait of Freud as a complex figure who, for all his flaws, forever changed how we see ourselves and the world.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
$5

Film | The Vow from Hiroshima (2020): Surviving the Bomb


An intimate portrait of Setsuko Thurlow, a passionate, 85-year-old survivor of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Her moving story is told through the lens of her growing friendship with a second generation survivor, Mitchie Takeuchi. Director: Susan C. Strickler 82 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Dancing | All-Ages Silent Disco Pride Party


Celebrate Pride Month with a silent disco dance party featuring Gotham Cheer and queer DJ’s from Quiet Events in Downtown Manhattan. Headphones are free,on a first come first serve basis. A deposit is required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Concert | Friday Freshen Up Concert in the Park


Get out to the park and kick off the weekend with some local sounds at this monthly musical get-happy hour. Laura Lizcano is a Colombian-born singer-songwriter based in New York, known for her personal blend of Latin, jazz, folk, and pop. Drawing inspiration from artists like Norah Jones, and Natalia Lafourcade, Lizcano crafts her compositions with lyrics in both English and Spanish. With a background in jazz vocals and a deep passion for various genres, Lizcano's music resonates with listeners through its eclectic fusion of styles. Her songs are marked by introspective storytelling showcasing her unique perspective as an immigrant in the United States.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Opera | New York City Opera: Puccini Celebration


Honoring the 100th anniversary of the passing of Giacomo Puccini, one of the greatest opera composers in history, this event features the New York City Opera celebrating Puccini's immense and indelible legacy. Featuring the New York City Opera Orchestra and Chorus and conducted by Maestro Joseph Rescigno, the concerts will include selections from each and every Puccini opera, performed by some of the brightest stars of the opera world singing some of the most beloved arias, duets, and ensembles in all of opera.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Performance | Stories of War: Dance, Theater, Spoken Word


Exit12 is returning with workshops and dialogue about the effects of war on veterans and civilians. After a six-week series of creative movement workshops with a cohort of 20-30 participants who have experienced global conflict, Exit12 will present a performance of dance, theater, and spoken word. Exit12 will hold space for participants to share stories about their personal and cultural identities and the ways that war has shaped those identities. By sharing these stories, they aim to build cross-cultural dialogue, empathy, and healing.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Sunset Singing Circle


Singer/songwriter Terre Roche leads this weekly singing program with the beautiful backdrop of the setting sun in NY Harbor. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned crooner, the singing circle is perfect for mellow melodies and healthy harmonizing.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Staged Reading | The Bat: Disappearance and Distrust


In a kindergarten changing room, a rubber bat vanishes into thin air, setting off a chain of events igniting suspicion and resentment among the parents. What begins as mild distrust soon turns into full-blown hatred. The story unfolds, through a series of quotidian yet deeply resonant scenes, into a darkly humorous tale of absurdity. Against a backdrop of comedic chaos, it poignantly portrays the stark realities of contemporary Hungary. The Bat offers a biting commentary on a Hungarian society marked by hatred, recrimination, and ultimately sorrow. Written by Krisztina Toth Followed by a short reception
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Concert | Innovative Argentinian Musician


Carolina Mama’s debut album, Amina, is a powerful and inspiring expression of womanhood, blending folkloric/jazz elements and cinematography to take listeners on a journey that serves as a witness to women's strength, beauty, and resilience. Innovative Argentinian musician Carolina Mama’s live performances showcase her intimate singing style, masterful storytelling, and outrageous skill at imaginatively interweaving cultural treasures into something that challenges female norms and representation. The project originated during research in Morocco on folkloric music performed only by women, where Carolina discovered the story of Amina El Filali, a 16-year-old girl who took her own life after countless violations. Carolina's origins have also inspired this project as an Argentinian activist within the Ni Una Menos movement. The album is co-produced with Emily Elbert, Jacob Collier and Leon Bridges's guitarist, and the acclaimed Catalan guitarist Lau Noah, with the unique appearance of Munir Hossn.\
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | Sink or Swim (2018): Middle-Aged Men Do Synchronized Swimming


In their local swimming pool, Bertrand, Marcus, Simon, and their comrades—men in their forties teetering on the brink of mid-life crises—gather under the somewhat stern guidance of Delphine, a former swimming champion. Together, they embark on an unconventional journey: mastering synchronized swimming, a discipline predominantly associated with women. Despite facing skepticism and ridicule from their peers, this audacious challenge becomes a beacon of purpose in their lives. Directed by Gilles Lellouche  With Mathieu Amalric, Guillaume Canet, Benoît Poelvoorde 121 min. In French, English, Sinhala, and Norwegian, with English subtitles. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 pm
Free
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