free things to do in New York City
Free events for Saturday, 09/23/23
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More
39 free events take place on Saturday, September 23 in New York City.
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39 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Saturday, September 23, 2023

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Famed Dance Group in the Park
free events nyc Academy Award Winner Yentl (1983) Directed by and Starring Barbra Streisand
free events nyc For All People From All Roads: Public Art Tour
free events nyc Bringing It All Back Home: Music in the Park
free events nyc Mischief Everywhere You Look: A Playful Site-Specific Dance Performance
More Editor's Picks for 09/23/23
        

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
   Unknown, Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free

Workshop | CANCELED***Moves with Limon Dance***CANCELED


Move to live accompaniment and experience the joy of dance with dancers from the Limon Dance Company. Open to all levels and ages - no experience required. Bring friends, family, water on hot days, and enjoy dancing on the grass. Class meets on the northeast corner of the lawn.
   Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free...

Festival | Community Day 2023


Art, music, and fun. Go on behind-the-scenes tours of the historic Tilden Mansion (free with registration). See this season's exhibition: In a New Light: American Impressionism from 1870-1940. 12 pm - 1 pm: Enjoy live music on the stoop featuring Dennis Lichtman and his band 10 am - 2 pm: Check out family arts activities for hands-on fun
   Gramercy Park, Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free

Workshop | Drawing in the Park


Paint in watercolor or use pastels and other drawing materials to capture the magical vistas of the Hudson River and the unique landscape of South Cove. An artist/educator will help participants of all levels with instruction and critique. Materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media
   Battery Park City, Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free...

Workshop | Kayaking in the Park


Glide along the water this summer and fall! Kayaking is offered throughout the summer. All levels are welcome including first-time kayakers - life vests and all equipment provided, as well as instruction. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present.
   Unknown, Brooklyn, New York, NY
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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.
   Meat-packing, Manhattan, New York, NY
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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.
   Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free...

Workshop | Learn 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.
   Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
free...

Workshop | Shape Up NYC Dance Fitness


A fun dance fitness class. Colorful outfits are encouraged.
   Harlem, Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
free...

Fair | CANCELED***44th Annual GreenThumb Harvest Fair***CANCELED


GreenThumb community gardeners celebrate the start of fall with a fun-filled day of activities for all. The GreenThumb Harvest Fair is a family-friendly free event with activities for all to enjoy, including: Environmental Programming: Microgreens Workshop: Learn how to grow greens for your salad on your windowsill Free daffodil bulbs from New Yorkers for Parks' Daffodil Project Free seedlings from Gotham Greens BioBus: Learn about plant and food science in this mobile science lab Tea Arts and Culture: Explore teas from different origins around the world Greening Partner Tabling: Organizations will be on-site to answer questions and share information about their programming Fun and Games: GreenThumb Domino Tournament Finals Make your own bandana with EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop Program Build your own scarecrow for your garden Get creative at Street Lab's DRAW NYC and Street Marker programs Activities with NYC Parks Recreation and fitness classes by Shape Up NYC Bike New York will be offering a free Bike Skills 101: Learn to Ride -- Kids class: Register in advance on Bike New York's website Wheely Good Smoothies: Pedal your way to a delicious smoothie Pick and decorate a pumpkin from the harvest patch Pumpkin carving demonstrations by Hugh McMahonLive Entertainment: Live entertainment: Batala New York Czechoslovak American Marionette Theatre Musician Ray Santiago
   Alphabet City, Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:00 pm
free...

Festival | Our Common Ground Festival


A day of events, music, and child-friendly activities both in and around the park      
   Morningside Heights, Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:00 pm
free...

Book Discussion | The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We the People Can Take It Back


The notion that the Constitution's meaning is fixed in time and must be interpreted today the same way the public would have understood it when it was originally written was once confined to the fringes of academia. But now that idea--originalism--has been embraced by a Supreme Court stacked with reactionaries hellbent on turning back the clock on civil rights. Madiba K. Dennie's debut book ditches the so-called "originalist" model of constitutional interpretation and the rights rollback that comes with it for something new and improved that works for all of us. Seamlessly blending scholarship with sass, Dennie's book is for law-people and laypeople alike. Rigorous yet readable, fierce and fun, this book will galvanize readers to reclaim the Constitution from an extremist Supreme Court and strive towards the ideals of democracy. The Originalism Trap is more than a takedown. It's a rallying cry.
   Morningside Heights, Manhattan, New York, NY
12:10 pm
free

Film | The Greatest Showman (2017): PT Barnum's Story with Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams


Biopic that celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. Director: Michael Gracey Stars: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron 105 min.
   Morningside Heights, Manhattan, New York, NY
1:00 pm
free

Book Discussion | Abyss: World on the Brink: The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 (online)


Bestselling author Max Hastings offers a welcome re-evaluation of one of the most gripping and tense international events in modern history—the Cuban Missile Crisis—providing a people-focused narrative that explores the attitudes and conduct of Russians, Cubans, Americans, and a terrified world that followed each moment as it unfolded.
   Unknown, Manhattan, New York, NY
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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.
   Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free...

Film | A Thousand and One (2023): drama


Unapologetic and free-spirited Inez kidnaps her 6-year-old son, Terry, from the foster care system. They set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability in a rapidly changing New York City. Director: A.V. Rockwell Cast: Teyana Taylor, Will Catlett, Josiah Cross, Aven Courtney, Aaron Kingsley Adetola
   Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Film | Nimona (2023): Animated Film About Futuristic Shapeshifting Teen


When a knight in a futuristic medieval world is framed for a crime he didn't commit, the only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona -- a mischievous teen who happens to be a shapeshifting creature he's sworn to destroy. Directors: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang 101 min.
   Chelsea, Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free

Film | Academy Award Winner Yentl (1983) Directed by and Starring Barbra Streisand


Rebbe Mendel is a single father who teaches the Talmud, a sacred text of Judaism, to the boys of his small Polish town. Behind closed doors, he also instructs his daughter, Yentl, despite the fact that girls are forbidden to study religious scripture. When Yentl's father dies, she still has a strong desire to learn about her faith -- so she disguises herself as a male, enrolls in a religious school, and unexpectedly finds love along the way. Director: Barbra Streisand Cast: Barbra Streisand, Mandy Patinkin, Amy Irving Barbra Streisand is an American singer and actress. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT).
   Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY
2:00 pm
free, registration required

Dance Performance | Famed Dance Group in the Park


Mark Morris Dance Group returns for a special, outdoor performance and an all-ages family-friendly workshop. Their performance repertoire will include Water, Dancing Honeymoon, and Greek to Me, among others.
   Unknown, Brooklyn, New York, NY
2:00 pm
free...

Birdwatching | Island Bird Tour


Nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island, which provides excellent habitat all year round. Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the birdlife the island has to offer. Binoculars are available to borrow.
   Governor's Island, Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free...

Lecture | Musical Creation Based on Chilean Folklore: Works of Carlos Isamitt Alarcón


The Chilean painter, researcher, pedagogue, and modernist composer Carlos Isamitt Alarcón (1885-1974) began to make foundational contributions to Chilean arts institutions in the 1920s. As director of the School of Fine Arts in 1927, he launched an unprecedented reform in the teaching of visual and applied arts based on popular and indigenous practices which he had studied since the first decade of the 20th century. Later, in the 1930s, he spent long periods living together with indigenous Mapuche people in their territory, enabling him to compile a rich documentary collection of songs, dances, ceremonies, and musical instruments, among other community practices. In this hybrid lecture/performance musicologists Freddy Chávez Cancino and Elizabeth Mendieta team up with pianist Contreras to share musical examples from Isamitt’s folkloric collections and discuss how these materials became the basis for new pedagogies of visual and musical arts, and for the creation of innovative musical works. Registration required.
   Lincoln Square (once San Juan Hill), Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, registration required

Play | One-Act Slam! 2023


Break A Leg Productions showcases 8 short plays. It’s a great way to see various works all in one place. At the end of the performances, the audience votes on which play they liked the best and the winning playwright is awarded a cash prize.
   Columbus Circle, Manhattan, New York, NY
2:00 pm
$10 suggested donation...

Opera | Song of the Nightingale: An Outdoor Opera Based on a Hans Christian Anderson Story


The world premiere of a site-specific opera that tells the story of a collector looking to gather up the world’s most beautiful objects. This opera is adapted from Hans Christian Anderson’s "The Nightingale."
   Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:00 pm
free

Dance Performance | Dance Works-in-Progress


Informal showings of new works in varying stages of development. Showings are followed by a reception, conversation, and Q&A between the artists. With: Nicole Mannarino + ms. z tye + Taylor Stanley
   East Village, Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:00 pm
free

City Walk | For All People From All Roads: Public Art Tour


Jordan Issac leads a look at the power of public art. Explore works by Siah Armajani, Scott Burton, and James Yaya Hough. Commissioned to create site-specific public art in Battery Park City's plazas and pedestrian crossroads, their art welcomes people to pause, gather, reflect, and converse. With populist idealism, familiar references, and imaginative use of sculptures, mosaic, poetry, history, and design, their art transforms plazas into free museums and vibrant examples of America's complex relationship to liberty and justice from the 1980's to the present.
   Battery Park City, Manhattan, New York, NY
3:00 pm
free...

Opera | Opera Essentia performs Handel's opera Imeneo


A 70-minute distillation of Handel’s practically unknown Imeneo from 1742. This brand new curation reveals one woman’s struggle with her impossible situation. Unwilling to reject one of her obsessed suitors, Rosmene is caught between "ingrata" and "infida". Hounded on all sides, which way will she turn?
   Unknown, Manhattan, New York, NY
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3:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Bringing It All Back Home: Music in the Park


This concert in the park brings together a stellar selection of New York City talent: People of Earth, The Peace Poets and BETTY, the award-winning indie rock trio which (as Gloria Steinem puts it) "spreads the most lasting kind of revolution". A program that's as diverse as the Village itself--three energizing and inspirational bands to get you dancing - and thinking! Explosive Latin and tropical rhythms from People of Earth, a powerhouse global collective. Hip-hop, heart and hope from The Peace Poets, a collective of poets, artists, performers, and educators. And rock from BETTY, a trio of women known worldwide for their soaring harmonies, upbeat live shows, and non-stop activism.
   Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York, NY
4:00 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.
   Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:00 pm
Free, donations are...

Concert | Fall Serenade Concert


Celebrate the Fall Equinox with singer and songwriter Cecily Music and her band in a sweet serenade for the new Fall season under the trees.
   Battery Park City, Manhattan, New York, NY
5:00 pm
free...

Dance Performance | Mischief Everywhere You Look: A Playful Site-Specific Dance Performance


General Mischief Dance Theater brings joyful dancing to the park, featuring exciting musical collaborations with TAIKOPROJECT, the 41street Ensemble, and Hodi Maputo Afro Swing. The performance route is fully stroller and wheelchair accessible.
   Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, NY
6:00 pm
free...

Screening | Flloyd’s Channel 69 Trilogy: Drag on Film


A special screening of Flloyd’s breakthrough drag performances of the 1990s, followed by live commentary with Flloyd and Linda Simpson. In the early 1990s, Linda Simpson hosted Channel 69, a variety entertainment program which brought the East Village drag scene to public television. The series featured new and upcoming queens of the era, including Flloyd’s special dedicated episodes, where he presented his groundbreaking “Drag Trilogy.” While many of the performances featured on Channel 69 constituted of regular drag performance, Flloyd’s “Drag Trilogy” marked a conceptual turn for the show, and for Flloyd as an artist. Prior to 1990, Flloyd performed as Felicia with his band The People Tree. Taking inspiration from RuPaul, Ethyl Eichelberger, and Lypsinka, Felicia soon transformed into a more daring performer who would go on to make a greater impact in the East Village scene. Flloyd would go onto the develop the “Drag Trilogy” for Channel 69 the same year. The cycle is broken down in three 30-minute specials: “This You Won’t Believe,” “Sex Clown,” and “Facility Girl (A Tribute to National Secretary’s Day).” Each of the numbers bleed into each other conceptually, innovating and expanding on performative elements first explored by artists like Lypsinka, such as the inclusion of dialogue. Flloyd’s “Drag Trilogy” marks an outstanding breakthrough in drag history and for Flloyd as an artist.
   East Village, Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free...

Discussion | The Latest on the Presidential Election


A discussion with Joan Walsh and D.D. Guttenplan of The Nation.
   South Street Seaport Historical District, Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
$5

Opera | Song of the Nightingale: An Outdoor Opera Based on a Hans Christian Anderson Story


The world premiere of a site-specific opera that tells the story of a collector looking to gather up the world’s most beautiful objects. This opera is adapted from Hans Christian Anderson’s "The Nightingale."
   Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free

Film | Call Jane (2022): Abortion Drama with Sigourney Weaver


A married woman with an unwanted pregnancy lives in a time in America when she can't get a legal abortion and works with a group of suburban women to find help. Director: Phyllis Nagy Stars: Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina 121 min.
   Chelsea, Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free

Film | You Were My First Boyfriend (2023): documentary


What if you could rewrite your adolescence? Filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo does just that in this documentary hybrid, embarking on a fantastical quest to reconcile her tortured teen years. She "goes back" in more ways than one, tracking down old foes and friends alike, and re-staging her most primal humiliations while casting herself as a teenager. In the cathartic, time-bending process of letting go, Cecilia is forced to confront the flawed memories she’s held onto for years. Oscillating between present and past, hallucination and reality, You were my First Boyfriend explores the power of adolescent fantasy, the subtle violence of cultural assimilation, growing older and making peace with the things that haunt us. Directors: Cecilia Aldarondo, Sarah Enid Hagey
   Union Square, Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, reservations required

Concert | Eerily Poetic Singer-Composer


Singer, composer, and multifaceted creator Joseph Keckler has been applauded by The New York Times as a "major vocal talent—phenomenal—with a trickster's dark wit." His eerie, poetic songs and bizarrely heroic operatic arias, chronicling his own adventures and mishaps, have been seen everywhere from punk dives to hallowed music halls and NPR's Tiny Desk series. In this evening performance, Keckler—joined by pianist Matthew Dean Marsh, violinist Lavinia Pavlish, and multi-instrumental Michael Hanf—will share recent and favorite works as well as songs from his forthcoming EP, releasing in early 2024.
   Lincoln Square (once San Juan Hill), Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free...

Movie in a Park | CANCELED***Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019): Teen Explorer Saves Her Parents***CANCELED


Teenage explorer Dora leads her friends on an adventure to save her parents and solve the mystery behind a lost city of gold. Director: James Bobin Stars: Isabela Merced, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Pena 102 min.
   Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:30 pm
free

Film | Blood In Blood Out (1993) with Billy Bob Thornton


Within the rich and colorful Chicano culture of East Los Angeles, three cousins raised as brothers fiercely live by a generations-old tradition of family– power stronger than law…a force deeper than friendship. In one life-shattering moment, the trio is torn apart, forcing them to follow three separate paths: one searching for truth in the law, one expressing his passion through art, and one finding power in prison. Yet through it all, family and honor keep their lives intertwined as each strives for survival.   Director: Taylor Hackford Cast: Benjamin Bratt, Billy Bob Thornton, Damian Chapa, Enrique Castillo, Jesse Borrego Billy Bob Thornton is an American film actor and director. He had his first break when he co-wrote and starred in the 1992 thriller One False Move, and received international attention after writing, directing, and starring in the independent drama film Sling Blade (1996), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. He appeared in several major film roles in the 1990s, including Oliver Stone's neo-noir U Turn (1997), political drama Primary Colors (1998), science fiction disaster film Armageddon (1998), the highest-grossing film of that year, and the crime drama A Simple Plan (1998), which earned him his third Oscar nomination.
   Union Square, Manhattan, New York, NY
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9:00 pm
free, reservation required

City Walk | Picture Book Bohemia: A Children's-Book Walking Tour


Greenwich Village was a vibrant creative crossroads for children's literature's greats. On this tour, visit significant sites. Greenwich Village--fabled bohemia of avant-garde poets, painters, and assorted rebels-was also a vibrant creative crossroads for children's literature's greats. On this walking tour, visit the sites where Where the Wild Things Are, The Very Hungry Caterpiller, and-yes-Make Way for Ducklings were all created; wander the park H.A. Rey sketched from his front window; pass the school where Goodnight Moon author Margaret Wise Brown launched her career and the nearby Wonderland cottage that became her writing studio; and inspect the architectural "ghost" where modern American children's book publishing was born.
   Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 pm
$5
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