free things to do in New York City
Free events for Thursday, 10/30/25
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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 30, 2025?

25 free events take place on Thursday, October 30 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 30 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!

25 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Thursday, October 30, 2025

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Workshop | Pick-Up Pickleball


An exciting fusion of badminton and tennis, pickleball has been proven to strengthen muscles, boost cardiovascular health, and enhance brain function. First come first serve basis.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free
Workshops, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Pick-Up Pickleball

Workshop | Gentle Dance Workout


Enjoy a gentle workout that begins with breathing exercises, then moves into active aerobic dancing that strengthens body awareness.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:30 am
Free
Workshops, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Gentle Dance Workout

Birdwatching | Birding in Central Park


Did you know over 280 species of birds have been documented in Central Park? This birding adventure is led by expert birder Alan Drogin who will help you spot some of them! Whether you're a seasoned birder or a curious beginner, this program will introduce you to the basics of bird identification, including how to recognize birds by shape, behavior, and sound. Follow the fall migration and explore the natural wonders hidden in the heart of the city! Alan Drogin has been birding for over 30 years in 20 countries around the world and across 26 states.  He is a member of the NYC Bird Alliance (formerly Audubon), the American Littoral Society, NYS Ornithological Association, and the Linnaean Society of New York. Binoculars will be given on a first come, first serve basis.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Birdwatchings, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Birding in Central Park

Film | Tim Burton's Beetlejuice (1988): Dark Fantasy Horror-Comedy with Michael Keaton & Winona Ryder


The spirits of a deceased couple are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a rambunctious and unpredictable spirit to drive them out. Director: Tim Burton Cast: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton Tim Burton is an American filmmaker, animator, and artist. Known for pioneering goth culture in the American film industry, Burton is revered for his fantasy, horror, and romantic films. These include Beetlejuice (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Corpse Bride (2005), and more. Michael Keaton is an American actor. He is known for his leading roles in a wide variety of genre films. He has received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. Winona Ryder is an American actress. Originally playing quirky roles, she rose to prominence for her more diverse performances in various genres in the 1990s. She has received many accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for a Grammy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Academy Awards.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Films, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Tim Burton's Beetlejuice (1988): Dark Fantasy Horror-Comedy with Michael Keaton & Winona Ryder

Birdwatching | Central Park Birding PhotoWalk


Enjoy a guided bird photography walk in the heart of Central Park with Oben Tripods, where you'll learn from industry professionals who will share hands-on tips for capturing stunning wildlife images. Tripods will be provided so you can focus on composition, camera settings, and steady, long-lens shooting without the hassle of extra gear. This experience is perfect for both beginners and seasoned photographers looking to refine their skills. Along the way, the group will cover bird behavior, framing techniques, and how to draw the most out of natural light while photographing iconic Central Park species. With a small group setting, you'll get plenty of personalized instruction and the chance to practice wildlife photography right here in New York City. Oben will provide tripods for use during the photowalk. Please bring your own camera, as cameras will not be provided.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Birdwatchings, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Central Park Birding PhotoWalk

Talk | Explore WWII through Soviet Journalist's Accounts


Attend an event with Russian translator Robert Chandler. Moderated by Mark Lipovetsky. Vasily Grossman covered all the major battles of the Eastern Front for the Red Star, the official newspaper of The Red Army, during the Second World War. His brutally vivid reports were read by millions of soldiers and civilians alike. And, as the war draws to a close, he was one of the first to expose the horrors of the Treblinka death camp. In recent years, versions of his articles that had not been distorted by censors have been unearthed. Robert Chandler, who has translated Grossman’s epic novels of the war and its aftermath, will demonstrate what an extraordinary amount Grossman witnessed during only a few years.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Talks, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Explore WWII through&nbsp;Soviet Journalist's Accounts

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 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Serene Organ Meditations in Intimate Venue

Workshop | Creative Wellness: Fashion Candy Art


Join fashion creative Sheila Gray for a hands-on workshop making keepsake ornaments, bookmarks, and artwork using candy bars—a fun, therapeutic activity designed to inspire creativity and promote mental wellbeing. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Workshops, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Creative Wellness: Fashion Candy Art

Tour | Penn Station Architecture Tour


Guides lead a walking tours focusing on iconic buildings in the area, focusing on Penn Station's design and history.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free
Tours, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Penn Station Architecture Tour

Classical Music | Chamber Ensemble Reimagines Bach's Organ Repertoire (In Person AND Online!)


Filament chamber ensemble (Evan Few, violin, Elena Kauffman, viola da gamba, and John Walthausen, harpsichord, performs Bach Revisited, a reinterpretation of Bach’s organ repertoire, re-arranged or the unusual team of violin, treble viola da gamba, and harpsichord. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:15 pm
Free
Concerts, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Chamber Ensemble Reimagines Bach's Organ Repertoire (In Person AND Online!)

Classical Music | Art Songs & Arias in a Historic Venue


Seton Hall Univeristy Choir performs "A Millenniumof Motets," which consists of motets from different centuries.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:45 pm
Free
Concerts, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Art Songs & Arias in a Historic Venue

Film | Drop (2025): Mystery Thriller Film 


A widowed mother's first date in years takes a terrifying turn when she's bombarded with anonymous threatening messages on her phone during their upscale dinner, leaving her questioning if her charming date is behind the harassment. Director: Christopher Landon Cast: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Jeffery Self
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Films, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Drop (2025): Mystery Thriller Film&nbsp;

Screening | Fandango at the Wall (2020): Music Documentary, Discussion, & Live Fandango


Experience the festival that became a social movement, a film, an album, and a phenomenon. An event that speaks to our timeliest issues, with artists responding to our political moment. Fandango at the Wall follows Multi Grammy Award winners Arturo O’Farrill and Kabir Sehgal, as they prepare to record a live album at the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The project is inspired by the annual Fandango Fronterizo Festival, which unites people on both sides of the Tijuana-San Diego border. This festival features son jarocho, a 300-year-old folk music tradition. Director: Varda Bar-Kar Schedule: 4:00-5:30pm Film Screening, followed by a moderated panel assembled by Achilles Kallergis, Assistant Professor and Director of the Project on Cities and Migration at The New School for Social Research 7:30-9:00pm A Live Fandango! with The Conga Patria Son Jarocho Collective, New School College of Performing Arts musicians, and Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro Latin Jazz Octet
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Screenings, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Fandango at the Wall&nbsp;(2020): Music Documentary, Discussion, & Live Fandango

Book Club | Classic Book Conversation: Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann


Discuss Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann, which chronicles the decline of a wealthy north German merchant family over the course of four generations
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:30 pm
Free
Book Clubs, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Classic Book Conversation: Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann

Museums | Thursday Evening Exploring the Photography Museum


This museum is the world’s leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture. It was founded in 1974 to champion “concerned photography”—socially and politically minded images that can educate and change the world. Through its exhibitions, education programs, community outreach, and public programs, the museum offers an open forum for dialogue about the power of the image.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
$5, tickets required
Museumss, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Thursday Evening Exploring the Photography Museum

Concert | Vocalist with 2M+ Spotify Streams Lights Up the Stage


Vocalist Camille Trust has quickly established herself as a strong female force in the music scene, garnering praise from the likes of Billboard, Nylon, DuJour, Popdust, and more. Her music has garnered over two million streams on Spotify as an independent artist. Camille is a proud member of the Resistance Revival Chorus and is one of the founders of Brooklyn's all-female led jam session called "Femme Jam." She also sings back-up for various artists including Shawn Mendes, Fleet Foxes, and Nathaniel Rateliff, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
Free
Concerts, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Vocalist with 2M+ Spotify Streams Lights Up the Stage

Film | Hero (2002): Oscar-Winning Chinese Martial Arts Film


In this visually arresting martial arts epic set in ancient China, an unnamed fighter is being honored for defeating three of the king's most dangerous enemies. When Nameless recounts his battles with the assassins -- Broken Sword, Flying Snow, and Moon--the king begins to question some of the details. As Nameless goes on, the king challenges the tales, interjecting his own take on these perhaps suspect version of events. Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen In Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Films, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Hero (2002): Oscar-Winning Chinese Martial Arts Film

Open Mic | Listen (or Recite) Poetry with Nuyorican Poets Cafe


Enjoy an exciting night of poetry! Come listen to (and recite!) some poetry and connect with your favorite poets. Across cities, islands, and generations, Boricuas remain connected - by memory, by struggle, by love. This open mic invites poets and performers to reflect on the relationships that shape us: to place, to each other, to freedom. Attendees will have an opportunity to recite their poetry, meet new poets, enjoy some delicious fritura, and celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Open Mics, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Listen (or Recite) Poetry with Nuyorican Poets Cafe

Opening Reception | Paintings, Sculptures & Works on Paper Exploring Chaos and Civilization


This exhibition presents new paintings, bronze sculptures, and works on paper that examine the relationship between nature, civilization, and technology. The works use layered compositions, archetypal forms, and varied geometries to reflect on cycles of history and the influence of the digital age. Titles such as Omen, Pandemonium of the Sun, and The Forest point to themes of myth, memory, and perception across different media.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Paintings, Sculptures & Works on Paper Exploring Chaos and Civilization

Dancing | Sunset Salsa on the Pier


Get ready to dance the night away! Sunset Salsa returns for summer rhythm, hosted by acclaimed dancer and choreographer Talia Castro-Pozo, hailed by Latina Magazine as "The Woman of Salsa." Each evening begins with a beginner-friendly salsa lesson and a vibrant open dance party under the setting sun. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or a curious first-timer, all are welcome to join this joyful, high-energy celebration of Latin dance. 6:30 PM: Beginner Lessons 7:15 PM: Open Dance
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:30 pm
Free
Dancings, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Sunset Salsa on the Pier

Poetry Reading | Kimiko Hahn & Rickey Laurentiis Celebrate Their Works (+ Signing)


A reading by Kimiko Hahn (The Narrow Road to the Interior, Toxic Flora, and Foreign Bodies) and Rickey Laurentiis (Boy with Thorn, Whipped), followed by a reception/signing with books for sale.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Kimiko Hahn & Rickey Laurentiis Celebrate Their Works (+ Signing)

Tour | Thursday Night Bike Ride


Get rolling with this weekly Thursday Night Bike Ride! Join fellow cyclists for a fun, social-paced loop through Central Park. All levels welcome--just bring your bike and good energy.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Tours, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Thursday Night Bike Ride

Classical Music | Contemporary Piano Works (+ Conversation with the Composer) (In Person AND Online!)


Piano students with the Manhattan School of Music perform the first six cycles of composer Vincent Ho's The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals, Vol. III. Following the performance, composer Vincent Ho joins Lisa Yui and the pianists in a conversation about the creation, collaboration, and interpretation of The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals. Program: Vincent Ho The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals, Vol. III
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Concerts, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Contemporary Piano Works (+ Conversation with the Composer) (In Person AND Online!)

Concert | Polish & American Rhythmically Wild Contemporary Compositions with Unique Staging


The Unsound Festival challenges traditional presumptions of contemporary composition with unique staging, unlikely instrumentation, and passionate presentation. This one-night-only Unsound program unites the USA and Poland through modern musical traditions for a rhythmically wild concert showcasing the beauty and energy of footwork. The heavily syncopated, high-velocity sound of footwork fuses Chicago house, Hip-Hop, R&B, and drum and bass into energetically unstoppable dance music. Footwork's impact reaches all the way to Poland, where Lodz-based drummer Gary Gwadera has reimagined its uniquely American sound through the prism of Polish folk traditions on his album Far, Far in Chicago. 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
Concerts, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Polish & American Rhythmically Wild Contemporary Compositions with Unique Staging

Open Mic | Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)


Join a weekly online showcase featuring poems, songs, and comedy. Performers can sign up for a 4-minute spot by reserving one of 20 Artist-RSVP tickets, available starting Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET. If all spots are filled, performers may join the “good-luck round” at the end of the session. Audience members are welcome to watch live via Zoom.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Open Mics, October 30, 2025, 10/30/2025, Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)
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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