free things to do in New York City
Free events for Wednesday, 10/22/25
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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 October 22, 2025?

35 free events take place on Wednesday, October 22 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 22 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.
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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!

35 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, October 22, 2025

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

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
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8:30 am
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Outdoor Tai Chi for All Ages

Workshop | Autumn Indoor Yoga


Yoga instructor Meg SantaMaria leads a morning practice. Suitable for all fitness levels. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring your own mat.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:30 am
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Autumn Indoor Yoga

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
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10:00 am
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Figure Drawing in the Park

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
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10:00 am
Free
Museumss, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, New York City: History, Architecture, Social Movements, Cultural Diversity

Workshop | Learn the Art of Origami


Come learn how to make some cool origami! Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding and we will be folding sheets of paper into different shapes and designs! All materials provided, limited to 10 participants. First come, first served.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Learn the Art of Origami

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
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11:00 am
Free
Museumss, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, 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
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12:00 pm
Free
Tours, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, 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
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12:20 pm
Free
Concerts, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Serene Organ Meditations in Intimate Venue

Workshop | Family Portrait Workshop in the Park


Step into the charming landscape of Central Park during peak fall foliage for a family portrait workshop designed to spark creativity and elevate your craft. Whether you're new to lifestyle photography or looking to refine your growing portfolio, this hands-on session will guide you through the art of capturing heartfelt family and lifestyle portraits in a natural, authentic way on both film and digital cameras. Family portrait photographers Maria Perez and Lotta Milde share tips on posing, connection, and storytelling, while working with real families on-location. In this workshop you will: Build confidence in photographing families on-location Learn how to incorporate film photography into your digital portrait workflow Create a lifestyle portfolio that attracts future clientele
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Family Portrait Workshop in the Park

Workshop | Wedding Photography Tips & Tricks


In this exclusive session, acclaimed husband-and-wife photography duo Connie and Stewart unveil their meticulous planning process, share how they orchestrate a wedding day with grace and intention, and demonstrate their signature approach to capturing timeless imagery. Attendees will also experience a live showcase of their craft—offering a rare glimpse into how Connie and Stewart translate life’s most meaningful moments into heirloom photographs.  Connie and Stewart celebrated for transforming weddings into elegant visual narratives. With a seamless blend of intuition and artistry, their partnership allows them to capture fleeting emotions and refined details from two distinct yet harmonious perspectives.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Wedding Photography Tips & Tricks

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
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1:00 pm
Free
Concerts, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Weekly Bagpipe Tribute: Honoring 9/11 Lives and Legacies

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
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1:30 pm
Pay-What-You-Wish, reservation required
Museumss, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum

Film | Poltergeist (1982): Classic Supernatural Horror Film


A family's home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a doorway to the "other side". With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back. Director: Tobe Hooper Cast: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Films, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Poltergeist (1982): Classic Supernatural Horror Film

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
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2:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Outdoor Landscape Art Class

Film | Night Watch (2004): Russian Urban Fantasy Supernatural Thriller


In present-day Moscow, the respective forces that control daytime and nighttime battle.  Director: Timur Bekmambetov Cast: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Valeri Zolotukhin, Mariya Poroshina In Russian with English subtitles. Popcorn will be served.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:30 pm
Free
Films, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Night Watch (2004): Russian&nbsp;Urban Fantasy Supernatural Thriller

Workshop | Art-Making in the Park


Enjoy drop-in art making activities led by Art in the Park that promote wellness through a variety of creative genres, including collage, drawing, and sketching. Please arrive 15 minutes early.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Art-Making in the Park

Workshop | Evening Rowing Along the New York City Skyline


Open to all and led by experienced coxswains, these outings take place in stable, traditional Whitehall gigs, offering a hands-on introduction to rowing, teamwork, and river navigation. Sessions include orientation and group rowing excursions lasting 1-3 hours. Participants assist with launching and cleaning the boats. Bring water and sunscreen. Life jackets are provided; a waiver is required for participation.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Evening Rowing Along the New York City Skyline

Workshop | Forest-Bathing Techniques: Mindfulness, Grounding, & Sensory-Based Learning


Through practices of mindfulness, grounding, and sensory-based learning, discover how you can take these forest-bathing techniques with you wherever you go. Meet in a gathering space to immerse yourself in the park's beauty and let the seasonal sights melt your worries away. In the 1980s, shinrin-yoku—which translates to “bathing in the forest atmosphere”—emerged in Japan as a public health effort to ameliorate and prevent feelings of burnout and overload in densely populated cities.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Forest-Bathing Techniques: Mindfulness, Grounding, & Sensory-Based Learning

Workshop | Community Run


Lace up for a community run welcoming all paces!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Workshops, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, 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
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6:00 pm
Free
Partys, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Board Games Meet-Up

Lecture | Expert Discusses Matisse's "Late Style"


This event is a talk by Antoine Compagnon about Matisse’s last years, 1941-1954, in which he explores the artist’s “late style” and “senile sublime,” discernible in the drawings, the chapel in Venice, and the visionary cut-outs.  Antoine Compagnon is the Blanche W. Knopf Professor of French and Comparative Literature at Columbia and Professor Emeritus at the Collège de France, where he held the chair in Modern and Contemporary French literature: history, criticism, theory from 2005 to 2020. He is the author of 15 books of literary history and criticism and countless articles and essays, with a particular focus on Montaigne and Proust, as well as Baudelaire, Roland Barthes, Bernard Faÿ, and Charles Péguy, among other writers. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Lectures, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Expert Discusses Matisse's "Late Style"

Discussion | Leanr about the End of WWII with Experts


A conversation about World War II featuring Benjamin Hett, Hunter Professor of History, Craig Symonds, Professor Emeritus at the U.S. Naval Academy, and others.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Discussions, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Leanr about the End of WWII with Experts

Talk | Learn More about NYC's Bowery History (with Live Ragtime Music)


Author David Mulkins (with music by ragtime pianist Ramona Baker) offers a lively Illustrated talk about nearly 400 years on this storied “cradle of American popular culture.” The Bowery was a Native American footpath, Dutch farm road, site of the first free Black homesteads, and site of Lincoln’s epochal anti-slavery speech. The city’s first entertainment district, it has seminal links to tap dance, vaudeville, Yiddish theater, Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin, baseball, Houdini, and modern tattooing. The stomping ground for sailors, shopgirls, sporting men, gangs, grifters, and the immigrant Irish, Italians, Chinese, Jews, and Germans, it later became America’s iconic skid row, but rebounded in the late 20th century, impacting Abstract Expressionism, Beat literature, free jazz, and punk rock.   
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Talks, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Learn More about NYC's Bowery History (with Live Ragtime Music)

Concert | Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop, R&B Vocalist


Smooth, easy-listening music with a special guest, Melissa Jones. Enjoy light refreshments and limited-edition special crafted beverage. Please arrive 15 minutes early.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Concerts, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop, R&B Vocalist

Gallery Talk | Nuyorican Photography Explored through Poetry


Celebrate the work and legacy of photographer Frank Espada with his son & Poet Martin Espada alongside a multi-generational cohort of acclaimed Nuyorican photographers including Máximo Colon, David Rodriguez, and Erika P. Rodriguez! Nuyorican photographers have long sought to document and preserve Puerto Rican history in the city and beyond. Their talents have gifted us some of the most inspiring, heartbreaking, and indelible images of the 21st century. Bringing together the visual and the poetic, this event honors the legacy of Frank Espada and the practice, vision, ethics, and futures of Nuyorican social documentary photography. Afterwards, explore the exhibition, Diasporic Collage: Puerto Rico and the Survival of a People, on view.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Gallery Talks, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Nuyorican Photography Explored through Poetry

Book Discussion | Award-Winning Journalist Talks about Her "Startling" Book, Empire of AI (In Person AND Online!)


In Empire of AI (“startling and intensely researched” — Vulture) award-winning journalist Karen Hao lifts the veil on the industry defining our era. She speaks about her provocative new book with John Borthwick, a leader in the New York startup technology business for over three decades, who is founder and CEO of beta works. With access to the world of Sam Altman’s OpenAI from the beginning, Hao how had an insider’s view of the development of this world-changing technology, the breakthrough of Chat GPT, and the company’s path from idealism to a pursuit of power consuming vast information and resources. Hao has written for The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journal and was senior editor of the MIT Technology Review.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Book Discussions, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Award-Winning Journalist Talks about Her "Startling" Book,&nbsp;Empire of AI&nbsp;(In Person AND Online!)

Discussion | Cheryl McKissack Daniel (of McKissack & McKissack) Speaks with Charlamagne Tha God about Her Family's 200-Year History


Cheryl McKissack Daniel—fifth-generation leader of the nation’s oldest Black-owned design and construction services firm, McKissack & McKissack—sits down with multimedia mogul Lenard “Charlamagne Tha God” McKelvey to discuss her family's extraordinary 200-year history, as captured in her new book The Black Family Who Built America: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Discussions, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Cheryl McKissack Daniel (of&nbsp;McKissack & McKissack) Speaks with&nbsp;Charlamagne Tha God about Her Family's 200-Year History

Author Reading | German Literature Festival: Writers Discuss Identity/Familiarity & Their Works


The Festival Neue Literatur presents "Strangers at Home," which will feature readings by and a conversation among authors Franz Friedrich, Alois Hotschnig, Ariane Koch, and Katie Kitamura, and will be moderated by the writer and translator Tess Lewis. What are the obligations and limits of hospitality? When and how does familiarity tip into contempt? Can we ever truly know the people closest to us? Can we truly know our own slippery selves? In this conversation, acclaimed German- and English-language authors will read from their recent work and discuss how they use literature to disrupt conventional notions of the familiar and the strange, of self and other, of identity, intimacy, belonging and estrangement. Identity is pressure-tested to surprising and unexpected effect in these stories of time travelers haunted by phantom memories, of a man trying to piece together his suppressed memories from a childhood under the shadow of the Nazi Lebensborn program, of a puzzling visitor who may be a tourist, a refugee, a colonizer, opportunist, lover, vampire or pet, of an actress whose roles ultimately upstage her. The conversation will be moderated by award-winning literary translator and writer and festival curator Tess Lewis.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:30 pm
Free
Author Readings, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, German Literature Festival: Writers Discuss Identity/Familiarity & Their Works

Screening | African Animation on the Big Screen


Celebrate the vibrant creativity and groundbreaking storytelling of African animators and filmmakers with screenings, discussions, and family-friendly experiences that bring African animation to life. This event shines a spotlight on talented creators and honors the history of African animation, from its origins in the 1910s to the present day’s innovations in global media. Note: Registration does not guarantee entrance; please arrive early.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Screenings, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, African Animation on the Big Screen

Discussion | Artist & Entertainer Saul Williams Explores Black Art Experimentation & Political Engagement


Poet, musician, filmmaker, actor, and intellectual Saul Williams discusses the relationships between aesthetic forms and political education in conversation with Dr. Shana Redmond, Director of the Center for the Study of Social Difference. Reflecting on practices of Black experimentation--in language, music, and film--this dialogue explores the various sites of enclosure and foreclosure, from the nation state to the university, that bear upon the present and what practices are necessary to enact more just futures.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Discussions, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Artist & Entertainer Saul Williams Explores Black Art Experimentation & Political Engagement

Other | Feminism Celebrated through Performance 


NYU Tisch School of the Arts students have created a journal of feminist theory that maintains a deep commitment to feminist theory, criticism, and performance. The work is interdisciplinary, experimental, and intersectional. This event celebrates this magazine; in celebration, expect an evening of performances by Barbara Browning and Sébastian Régnier.  
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Others, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Feminism Celebrated through Performance&nbsp;

Performance | Genre-Defying "Fever Dream" Music, Art, & Drag Cabaret Experience


Enjoy listening to Apocalypse Noir, the genre-defying queer band, performance collective, drag cabaret, and immersive rock experience as the group marks a multitude of milestones. Described as "a gender-bending, mic-grabbing, bar-stomping fever dream" by Time Out New York, the band will host ta high-octane solo performance, celebrating the release of their first album--a Halloween-inspired collection of original anthems. For founder Andrew Barret Cox, it's also a personal first: debuting original music and choreography. Expect a wild ride with their entire legion of talented performers as Apocalypse Noir transforms the space into a gothic fantasyland of searing vocals, over-the-top performances, and seasonal costumes. There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Performances, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Genre-Defying "Fever Dream" Music, Art, & Drag Cabaret Experience

Opera | Operatic Scene Showcase (In Person AND Online!)


Student of the Manhattan School of Music's Opera Theatre graduate program perform various scenes from a diverse repertoire of significant operas.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
Free
Concerts, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Operatic Scene Showcase (In Person AND Online!)

Classical Music | Soprano Vocalist Performs Modern Art Songs & Arias (In Person AND Online!)


Soprano vocalist Lucy Shelton, the only artist to receive the International Walter W. Naumberg Award twice, performs a series of pieces by Modern and Contemporary composers. Program: Sofia Gubaidulina (1931-2025) Aus den visionen von Hildegard von Bingen Ana Sokolovic (1968-) Looking at the Moon Shulamit Ran (1949-) Selections from Moon Songs Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) Pierrot lunaire Karl Kohn, John Harbison, Miriam Gideon, Stephen Mosko,and Ursula Mamlok Selections from The Pierrot Project
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Concerts, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Soprano Vocalist Performs Modern Art Songs & Arias (In Person AND Online!)

Tour | Weekly Social Skate Through the City


Join a NYC tradition dating back to 1996! Every Wednesday night from April through October, skaters gather for a fun, social ride through the city streets. All skill levels welcome--just bring your skates and good vibes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Tours, October 22, 2025, 10/22/2025, Weekly Social Skate Through the City
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
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