free things to do in New York City
Free events for Wednesday, 10/01/25
<

October 2025

>
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
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 October 1, 2025?

29 free events take place on Wednesday, October 1 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 October 1 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 October . 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.
Join the Club!

Go!
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!

29 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, October 1, 2025

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc New York City Hall Guided Tour
free events nyc Works by J.S. Bach for Organ, Choir, & Orchestra in a Historic Church
free events nyc Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum
free events nyc Outdoor Landscape Art Class
free events nyc Sense and Sensibility (2007): Period Drama Jane Austen Adaptation with Emma Thompson
free events nyc Award-Winning Musicians Perform Prokofiev's Violin Sonata and More
free events nyc "South Korea's Stephen King" Discusses Her New Book, Perfect Happiness
        

Workshop | Central Park Running Session (All Levels Welcome)


If you prefer not to run alone or are looking to improve your running performance, you can run with a club! Open to runners of all levels. Weekly changed routes through the park. Coaches, training, running company and inspiration!
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:30 am
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Central Park Running&nbsp;Session (All Levels Welcome)

Workshop | Outdoor Tai Chi for All Ages


Improve balance, strength, and focus through gentle exercises. The sights and sounds of the harbor provide a serene background for the ancient flowing postures.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
8:30 am
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Outdoor Tai Chi for All Ages

Workshop | Figure Drawing in the Park


This event offers a unique setting to observe and sketch the human figure. Each week a model will strike short and long poses for participants to draw. An artist/ educator will offer constructive suggestions and critique. Drawing materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
10:00 am
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Figure Drawing in the Park

Screening | Most Watched International Sporting Events on the Big (30-foot!) Screen Outdoors: Tennis, Baseball


Today's Schedule: 10:00am - 11:00am Tennis Courtside Beijing Final, Shanghai 1st Round 11:00am - 5:00pm Tennis Courtside - Tokyo, Beijing Semi Finals TBD MLB Wild Card Playoffs Yankees vs Red Sox TBD MLB Wild Card Playoffs Mets vs Dodgers *Scheduled programming subject to change. Seating is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Wells Fargo customers receive priority seating.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
10:00 am
Free
Screenings, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Most Watched International Sporting Events on the Big (30-foot!) Screen Outdoors: Tennis, Baseball

Museums | New York City: History, Architecture, Social Movements, Cultural Diversity


This museum holds over 1,5 million artifacts, including photographs, paintings, decorative arts, costumes, and documents that tell the story of New York's development and its inhabitants. Explore the galleries and discover the rich history and vibrant culture of New York City!
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
10:00 am
Free
Museumss, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, New York City: History, Architecture, Social Movements, Cultural Diversity

Workshop | HIIT Workout in the Park


Enjoy high intensity interval training that involves alternating short bursts of intense exercise with periods of rest or low-intensity activity. For adults 18+
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
10:30 am
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, HIIT Workout in the Park

Museums | Live from the Archive: Celia Cruz Letters, Diaspora Stories & More


This isn't your typical museum visit. Step into a live, interactive archive experience where nearly 50 years of Harlem, Caribbean, and African Diaspora history are being uncovered, in real time. Archivists are actively unboxing and cataloging cultural treasures, and visitors are invited to witness (and even take part in) the process. Some discoveries include a personal letter from a Latin music legend, rare conference recordings, and never-before-seen photographs from international gatherings. Chat with archivists, share stories, and engage with the living history of a vibrant community.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
11:00 am
Free
Museumss, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Live from the Archive: Celia Cruz Letters, Diaspora Stories & More

Tour | New York City Hall Guided Tour


One of the oldest continuously used city halls in the nation that still houses its original governmental functions, New York's City Hall is considered one of the finest architectural achievements of its period. Constructed from 1803 to 1812, the building was an early expression of the City's cosmopolitanism. City Hall is a designated New York City landmark, and its rotunda is also a designated interior landmark. Note: When registering, choose the "Individual Tour" option.
   New York City, NY; NYC
12:00 pm
Free
Tours, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, New York City Hall Guided Tour

Classical Music | Serene Organ Meditations in Intimate Venue


Enjoy a program of hymns, anthems, and voluntaries for the organ.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
12:20 pm
Free
Concerts, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Serene Organ Meditations in Intimate Venue

Jazz | Piano in the Park: Ragtime, Jazz, & Blues


Come on down and swing along to the best ragtime, stride, and jazz the Big Apple has to offer. “Charlie Judkins is the best performer of classic ragtime in the country!” - Terry Waldo, Ragtime Connoisseur Charlie Judkins is a practitioner of ragtime, jazz and blues piano. His piano playing has been in demand at various public and private events in the New York City area since debuting as a professional bar-room pianist in 2010. Currently, he works most often with singer and multi-instrumentalist Lauren Sansaricq (Miss Maybell) as a duo and in various trio combinations.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
12:30 pm
Free
Concerts, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Piano in the Park: Ragtime, Jazz, & Blues

Concert | Weekly Bagpipe Tribute: Honoring 9/11 Lives and Legacies


A moving weekly bagpipe tribute honors those who lost their lives on 9/11, as well as individuals affected by the lasting health impacts of that day. The tribute begins with a performance near a symbolic column preserved from the site, followed by a second performance in a nearby outdoor space.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
1:00 pm
Free
Concerts, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Weekly Bagpipe Tribute: Honoring 9/11 Lives and Legacies

Classical Music | Works by J.S. Bach for Organ, Choir, & Orchestra in a Historic Church


Trinity's organist, Avi Stein, will lead Trinity Choir and Trinity Baroque Orchestra in one of Bach's most monumental works -- the Mass in B Minor. In this selection from the magnum opus, aficionados will recognize references to earlier compositions
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free
Concerts, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Works by J.S. Bach for Organ, Choir, & Orchestra in a Historic Church

Museums | Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum


Internationally recognized as a premier museum and research center, this museum is known for its distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:30 pm
Pay-What-You-Wish, reservation required
Museumss, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum

Film | Bride of Frankenstein (1935): Classic Monster Movie with Boris Karloff


Mary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Baron Henry Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate. Director: James Whale Cast: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Elsa Lanchester Boris Karloff was a British actor whose portrayal of Frankenstein's monster inthe original Frankenstein films established him as a horror icon. He also appeared as Imhotep in The Mummy (1932), and voiced the Grinch in, as well as narrating, the animated television special of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966), which won him a Grammy Award. He acted in 174 films during his career, and was also a stage, television, and radio actor. For his contribution to film and television, Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
2:00 pm
Free
Films, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Bride of Frankenstein (1935): Classic Monster Movie with Boris Karloff

Workshop | Outdoor Landscape Art Class


Artists of all skill levels can be inspired by park surroundings to create with drawing materials, pastels, and watercolors. Embolden your artwork amidst the flower-filled and seasonally evolving palette of verdant gardens. An artist/educator will provide ideas and instruction. Materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Outdoor Landscape Art Class

Workshop | Learn Chess Fundamentals


In this hands-on workshop led by NYC Chess Connections, participants will learn the fundamentals of chess, from how each piece moves to recognizing and executing basic checkmate patterns. Perfect for beginners, with plenty of opportunities for questions and interactive play. Please arrive 15 minutes early.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
4:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Learn Chess Fundamentals

Film | Sense and Sensibility (2007): Period Drama Jane Austen Adaptation with Emma Thompson


Rich Mr. Dashwood dies, leaving his second wife and three daughters poor by the rules of inheritance. Director: Ang Lee Cast: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant Dame Emma Thompson is a British actress and screenwriter. Her work spans over four decades of screen and stage, and her accolades include two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2018, she was made a dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to drama. Authorized by the publishers of Beatrix Potter, Thompson has also written three Peter Rabbit children's books.
   New York City, NY; NYC
4:30 pm
Free
Films, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Sense and Sensibility (2007): Period Drama Jane Austen Adaptation with Emma Thompson

Workshop | Financial Wellness Session: Understanding & Building Credit


In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn the basics of credit, including what it is and why it matters, how to check your credit score and reports, how to get started building credit and how to protect your credit.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
5:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Financial Wellness Session: Understanding & Building Credit

Workshop | Outdoor Hip Hop Class


Get ready to pop, lock, and groove with our high-energy outdoor Hip Hop dance class led by Go Hard Dance! Please arrive 15 minutes early.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
5:00 pm
$5, registration required
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Outdoor Hip Hop Class

Party | Play Settlers of Catan: All Levels Welcome


Play one of the most popular board games in the world. Organizers welcome players of all levels to this social! These socials are limited to 16 players, with 2 rounds. Organizers ask that participants arrive 15 minutes early to sign up.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
5:00 pm
Free
Partys, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Play Settlers of Catan: All Levels Welcome

Classical Music | Award-Winning Musicians Perform Prokofiev's Violin Sonata and More


Clara Neubauer, violin, and Umi Garrett, piano, perform two modern pieces. Program: Lera Auerbach (1973-) T'filah Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Minor
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:30 pm
Free
Concerts, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Award-Winning Musicians Perform Prokofiev's Violin Sonata and More

Workshop | Community Run


Lace up for ta community run welcoming all paces! 
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
5:30 pm
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Community Run

Party | Board Games Meet-Up


Play a variety of board games, including Scrabble, Chess, Boggle, Bananagrams, Scattergories, and more! Bring a friend or join on your own--all levels are welcome. Studies have shown that playing board games can have positive effects on your mental, emotional, and physical health, including: o Improving memory and focus o Enhancing critical thinking skills o Making connections o Reducing stress (and screen time!)
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:00 pm
Free
Partys, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Board Games Meet-Up

Book Discussion | Quiet Reading Meet Up


Bring a book or check one out of the library to read to yourself for one hour. After that, spend an hour socializing with those around you!
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Quiet Reading Meet Up

Workshop | Relaxing Artmaking for All Ages


A relaxing, hands-on artmaking activity led by artist Martha Dao inspired by the lush greenery of Central Park and the unique architecture of the venue. Drop in and create meditative artwork in a welcoming, creative space—fun for all ages and no experience needed! Please arrive 15 minutes early.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Relaxing Artmaking for All Ages

Workshop | Sunset Yoga on the Hudson


Namaste! Unwind from the day with outdoor yoga. Immerse yourself in this meditative practice- surrounded by the Hudson’s peaceful aura. Strengthen the body and cultivate awareness in a relaxed environment as your instructor guides you through alignments and poses. All levels are welcome. Bringing your own mat is encouraged, as provided accessories are first come first serve.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Sunset Yoga on the Hudson

Author Reading | "South Korea's Stephen King" Discusses Her New Book, Perfect Happiness


Enjoy a conversation with author You-Jeong Jeong as she discusses her new novel, Perfect Happiness, with fellow writer Clay McLeod Chapman. Synopsis: With unparalleled psychological precision, master of crime and suspense fiction You-Jeong Jeong weaves a domestic nightmare centered on Yuna Shin: wife, mother, sister--and covert narcissist. Everyone in Yuna's life is desperate to keep her happy: her partners, parents, and terrified six-year-old daughter. Even when she's not blaming or hitting, the threat of her mood keeps her family from bonding, touching, or even speaking long enough to realize she's playing them against each other. But when little Jiyoo's feverish memories of loons hint at a troubling crime, Yuna's estranged sister and guilt-ridden husband begin to reconstruct her movements, the unexplained tragedies in Yuna's history, and the lies she's told for years. For the first time, Yuna's traumatized family members will have to confront the truth of her depravity and learn that no one--no matter how young--is safe from her wrath. After all, Yuna believes that happiness requires subtraction. And she wants nothing less than perfect happiness. You-Jeong Jeong, known as South Korea's Stephen King, is an award-winning and bestselling author of psychological thrillers and crime fiction. Her novels Seven Years of Darkness, 28, and The Good Son were selected as "Book of the Year" by major media outlets and bookstores, gaining widespread acclaim.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:30 pm
Free
Author Readings, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, "South Korea's Stephen King" Discusses Her New Book, Perfect Happiness

Screening | Paint Me a Road Out of Here (2024): Art & Activism Documentary (+ Filmmaker Discussion)


In 1971, artist Faith Ringgold created a monumental painting "For the Women's House" for the women incarcerated at Rikers Island jail in New York City. Fifty years later, artist Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, who gave birth in prison 15 years ago, finds herself banding together with an eclectic group of activists, politicians, artists, corrections officers, and Faith Ringgold herself to free the artwork with the ultimate goal of freeing the women. Paint Me a Road Out of Here is a wild tale of the painting's whitewashed journey and the two artists who challenged the same powerful and oppressive institutions, a half century apart, with their artwork, their voices and their shared, persistent goals. Director: Catherine Gund Following the screening, there will be a moderated discussion with Catherine Gund, Director and Producer of the film and Leah Faria, film participant and activist.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:30 pm
Free
Screenings, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Paint Me a Road Out of Here (2024): Art & Activism Documentary (+ Filmmaker Discussion)

Classical Music | Renowned Music Ensemble Performs American & European Contemporary Works


Constantly devoted to the artistic interpretation and expansion of experiential space, Klangforum Wien - one of the internationally most renowned ensembles for contemporary music - presents its recently founded Friends of Klangforum Vienna, a concert that invites guests to take part in fostering the next generation of American composers and building bridges between American and European contemporary music Program: Misato Mochizuki (1969-) Pas a pas Georg Friedrich Haas (1953-) Nach-Ruf... ent-gleitend
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:30 pm
Free
Concerts, October 01, 2025, 10/01/2025, Renowned Music Ensemble Performs American & European Contemporary Works
Complimentary Tickets

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

Play | Broadway Actor in a Play About a Towering Figure in Media

Regular Price: $59
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Concert | Iconic Rock Band's Guitarist at a Legendary Jazz Club

Regular Price: $75
CFT Member Price: $0.00
Join the Club!

Go!