Festivals and events in New York: Cheap NYC activities

These days, it might feel like there’s not much reason to dance, which is why it’s more important that we do, actually. Luckily, we live in a city that makes small displays of joy pretty accessible, and Bryant Park is hosting a slate of dance parties to keep our spirits (and heartbeats) up all spring.  Every Wednesday from April 30 to May 15, you'll find dance classes happening near Bryant Park's iconic fountain starting at 6pm, followed by dance parties from 7pm till 8:30pm. RECOMMENDED: Little Island just announced its summer programming, and it looks pretty great Hosted by dance curator and producer Talia Castro-Pozo, this year's dance series will feature music from all over the world, including salsa, Motown and more. The best part? There's no reservation needed, and walk-ups are welcome.  @timeoutnewyork This free, outdoor dance party at @Bryant Park NYC is a great way to blow off stream after-work activity. #nyc #thingstodoinnyc #newyorkcity #fyp ♬ SALSA HABANERO - MICHAEL WAYNE JONES It’s not everyday that you get the chance to take free dance classes and actually get to practice your dance moves in a crowd of people who won’t judge. If you get winded and need a break, though, there will be plenty of food and drink vendors curated by the Hester Street Fair, as well as a selection of beers, wine, themed cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages from Stout NYC.  The celebrations will kick off on April 30 with Cuban violinist Alfredo de la Fe and his band, who will play...

Cherry blossoms tend to steal the spotlight this time of year—and deservedly so. But another pastel flower is worthy of our attention, too: the tulip. These colorful flowers are about to make their seasonal debut, emerging from bulbs deep underground that have survived the winter freeze. One of the best spots to see these botanical marvels is at the West Side Community Garden, a hidden oasis of springtime splendor that is home to more than 10,000 tulips. The volunteer-run garden will host its 47th annual tulip festival from April 12–April 27. Best of all, the massive festival is free and open to all. RECOMMENDED: The best places to see cherry blossoms in NYC Enter through a wrought iron gate on West 89th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues to find the secret garden, open daily from dawn 'til dusk. Inside, weave through paths packed with plants. How many exactly? Well, volunteers plant about 13,000 tulip bulbs every year!  Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out You'll see tulips in every color and variety imaginable. Pink, yellow, red, purple and orange tulips—plus a few cool multi-color  blooms—fill the garden's raised beds. As for varieties, see if you can spot the differences between parrots, darwins and triumphs—all different types of tulips. Adding to the scene are pink cherry blossom petals dropping from the trees, the sweet smell of hyacinths in the air and the vibrant pop of color from azaleas.  Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for...

Free and cheap tickets to NYC's best museums? It's possible! One of the benefits of living in or visiting New York City is all the incredible cultural institutions and museums are at your beck-and-call like The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, MoMA or the Guggenheim. They are among the finest in the world—there’s just one hitch: They’re often pricey to get into. Unlike cities such as London or Washington, D.C., New York isn’t big on publicly funded museums, which is too bad, especially if you actually live here and have to pay most of your wages on food and rent. Granted, there are senior and student discounts, and memberships that let you get in gratis if you’re willing to pay for the annual fee. There is one alternative, however: most museums offer free hours or days and pay-what-you-wish admission. You just have to know where and when they are. We’ve got the info you need in our guide to all the free museum days and cheap admission in NYC you should know about, whether you live here or are planning a visit. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best museums in NYC

Groups! Can’t live with ‘em, can’t try almost everything on the menu in one sitting without 'em! Ok, maybe some can, but many will, at one point, still need to find restaurants perfect for large parties celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, big promotions, belated or pre-lated holidays and general getting the band back together events.  Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island each have options for your next fête, and these are our favorites for those expanded occasions. Most allow you to book space for up to six via conventional platforms, save for noted exceptions that go up to about ten, and all have room for more when you connect via email or phone. RECOMMENDED: See all of the best restaurants in NYC

This new immersive art exhibit is like a playground on steroids—and you can visit, climb on it and snap some incredible photos for free. In a tongue-in-cheek nod to Jeff Koons' iconic balloon animal sculptures, the exhibition by artist Cj Hendry is titled "Keff Joons."  Imagine if a tangled mess of balloon animals expanded in size to fill a warehouse. That's what Hendry has created with "Keff Joons." It's a wild sight to see—and experience—and you can see it for yourself from April 11–20 at 50 Gold Street in Brooklyn's Vinegar Hill neighborhood from 10am-5pm daily. Just be prepared to wait in line.  RECOMMENDED: Incredible immersive experiences to do in NYC right now As an artist, Hendry is known for her playfulness and sense of humor in creating truly immersive exhibits. In this exhibition, long, oversized balloons in pink, red, yellow, green and yellow hues fill the warehouse from floor to ceiling. They look almost like giant sprinkles or wiggly worms. When climbing through the colorful display, you'll feel the squish of balloons under your feet and notice that nostalgic, rubber-like aroma of a bounce house. It's impossible not to smile as you get your bearings, climb and explore. Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out New York "Balloons are so simple, yet they carry this enormous emotional weight—joy, nostalgia, fragility. I love that they float so effortlessly, but at any moment, they can pop," Hendry said in a statement.  In this adaptation of...

Shop 'til you drop at FAD Market, a curated fashion, art and design pop-up marketplace, which is back for 2025. Expect to see your favorite makers plus brand new creatives to help you live smarter, gift better and support local businesses.  FAD—which stands for Fashion, Art and Design—takes over different venues with a horde of independent vendors and creators. Admission is free and dogs are welcome! Peruse handmade jewelry, apparel, skincare products, tableware, artisanal packaged food, and more. Whether you're shopping for you or a friend (or even getting an early on that holiday shopping), there are plenty of local gems to pick up.  Here's the upcoming FAD Market schedule for 2025 April 5-6: Brooklyn Creates at Empire Stores in Dumbo April 26-27: Earth Month pop-up at Center for Brooklyn History in Brooklyn Heights May 10-11: Mother's Day Pop-up at Empire Stores in Dumbo May 17-18: NYCxDESIGN at St. Paul in Cobble Hill May 31-June 1: Brooklyn Brewery Pop-up at Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg

Every summer, the Public Theater produces a beloved NYC democratic tradition and one of the best free things to do in NYC: Shakespeare in the Park, presented at the open-air Delacorte Theater in Central Park. There’s nothing quite like hearing the Bard’s immortal words performed outside in New York, with a backdrop of natural splendor and the Belvedere Castle looming in the background like the world’s most impressive set decoration. The Delacorte was closed for much-needed renovations in 2024, but Shakeapeare in the Park is set to return in grand form in the summer of 2025. The popularity of the series means that tickets aren’t always easy to come by—but if you persevere, you can get seats. What is Shakespeare in the Park? Created by the late Joseph Papp in 1962, the Public Theater's series offers free, large-scale productions of works by William Shakespeare (as well as the occasional musical or non-Shakespearean drama). The productions often feature some of the most talented actors of our day. Past casts have included including Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Al Pacino, Philip Seymour Hoffman, George C. Scott and Denzel Washington. What is being performed this season? Shakespeare in the Park seasons sometimes include two productions. There is only one show in 2025, but it's one of the Bard's best: Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's ever-popular comedy of cross-dressing, cross-purposes and cross-gartered socks. Public Theater resident director Saheem Ali directs a starry cast:...

Under the sticky heat of the afternoon sun yesterday, dozens of fully nude models and artists (some of them nude, as well), gathered in Union Square for the final NYC Bodypainting Day. Each painter brought their artistic vision to life on the exquisite canvas of the human body, with some designs featuring intricate patterns and others with bold sweeping decorations.  Artist Andy Golub founded the annual event a decade ago and said this year would be the last for NYC Bodypainting Day in this form. It's likely that the news of the last hurrah attracted some of the throngs of onlookers who gathered around to watch the painters at work. Other attendees stumbled upon the event as they passed through the park, some suppressing surprised gasps or nervous giggles.  RECOMMENDED: This NYC vegan dinner party requires you to have dinner naked The event celebrates the human body in all of its beautiful shapes, sizes, genders, ethnicities and ages (ranging from the 20s to the 80s at the event). Artists carefully wield paintbrushes to cover their subjects from head to toe in theatrical makeup.  "I wanted people to take a moment and really celebrate humanity," Golub told Time Out New York. "I think the event is really about spreading joy and feeling joy." When thinking back on the first bodypainting day, Golub describes it as "magical" with "this incredible feeling of positivity."  Ten years later, that energy imbued this year's event as well. While this is farewell to NYC Bodypainting...

New York is a hotbed of artistic expression. The city’s art museums—including The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum—display some of the best artists spanning centuries. And with more than 1,000 galleries, you can check out the latest and greatest artists at any time, in all mediums from painting to sculpture. You’ll find the best galleries in NYC concentrated in Chelsea, but also Brooklyn and Queens to the Upper and Lower East Sides of Manhattan. Visit NYC’s legendary art galleries and you’ll see some of the best artists from around the world.

Amid the hustle and bustle of Chelsea, where moving fast is a requirement, the Museum at FIT invites us to slow down and peek into its gigantic cabinet of curiosities. “Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities,” now on view through April 20, is a new exhibit that features more than 200 garments and accessories inspired by the many objects you might have found within these encyclopedic collections, typically owned by the wealthy. The influence of colonialism on early collections and the misattribution of items from around the world is made clear, setting the stage for a nuanced look at the way objects from around the world have been collected, admired and (mis)understood—through the lens of fashion. Some of the objects on view are being showcased for the very first time. All of them are meant to pique curiosity through their rarity, beauty or originality, according to the museum. RECOMMENDED: NYC art exhibitions we’re most excited about in spring 2025 What is a cabinet of curiosity? A sort of precursor to the modern museum, the cabinet of curiosity or “wonder-room” (wunderkammern in German,) is a collection of natural specimens or human-made artifacts that inspired a sense of awe (much like you’d find inside the American Museum of Natural History: seashells, taxidermied animals, dried butterfly specimens, paintings, weapons, tools, gemstones, etc.), held within a piece of furniture or contained with a room. You’d typically be invited to see one personally in the home of...

Every summer, people flock to Central Park in New York to score Shakespeare in the Park tickets. This beloved free annual tradition is produced by the Public Theater at the open-air Delacorte Theater. Sure, you could stay at home and stream Shakespeare movies, but the live outdoor theater experience is unique—and certainly one of the best free things to do in NYC. As has been the case since Shakespeare in the Park began in 1962, the Public distributes free tickets, but it takes some dedication to get your hands on them. After two years in which distribution shifted largely to a digital lottery, the traditional in-person lineup in Central Park has returned as one of six different ways to get tickets. RECOMMENDED: Complete guide to Shakespeare in the Park 1. In Central Park at the Delacorte Tickets are distributed in front of the Delacorte Theater on a first-come, first-served basis at 12pm on the day of the show, so you’ll have to wait in line—likely for a long time—if you want to get in. But it's worth it. Before you go, you'll need to register for a Public Theater Patron ID. Click here do that. Central Park doesn’t open until 6am, and although the Public Theater doesn’t condone it, it is legal to camp out before then by the park entrance at Central Park West and 81st Street. A line monitor from the Public will escort any early birds in when the park opens. We recommend this option only for the very desperate; otherwise, arrive no later than 10am—though we recommend much...

No matter where you are or where you work in New York, you’re probably stressed out. As great as our fair city is—with so many amazing things to do, fabulous restaurants and top-notch bars—it’s hard to find time to chill out. Taking a weekend getaway or relaxing on a nearby beach are good ways to relax, but often we need serenity NOW (and let’s face it: sometimes planning that beach trip or weekend getaway can lead to even more stress!). A relaxing spa treatment can be just the thing for a quick fix. Problem is, most of us can’t afford the luxurious spas that promise instant bliss. Fortunately there are a number of spots for affordable spa treatments in NYC. Whether it’s a facial, a massage, a mani-pedi or a body scrub, one to two hours at a spa will give you the re-set you need. You’ll feel refreshed and glowing in no time. RECOMMENDED: Find more spas in NYC

The New York International Fringe Festival folded up its tent five years ago, but its successor keeps growing in size and reach every year. Organized though Frigid New York York, this version is programmed by lottery and gives 100% of proceeds to the productions involved, making it unsually appealing for new artists. The 2025 edition features more than 60 productions, each less than an hour long and each performed four or five times at the East Village's Under St. Marks and wild project and midtown's two Chain Theatre venues (plus four at the Rat NYC in Brooklyn)—which means you can choose among at least ten shows every weekday and about twice that many on weekends. Options include an abundance of solo shows, new adaptations of Machinal and Uncle Vanya, and several projects by established names: The End of All Flesh, a postapocalyptic bluegrass musical by Urinetown co-writer Greg Kotis; Gabe Mollica: Horse Lawyer, by the comedian behind 2023's Solo: A Show About Friendship; 90 Years of Song and Scandal, a showcase for the world's oldest female stand-up, D'yan Forest; and The Retreating World, a monologue by Naomi Wallace (One Flea Spare). As at the Fringe of old, there are also many productions with grabbily funny titles, such as Jaws: The Musical, F***ed Up Fairytales, Love in the Time of Piñatas, Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger, Swipe This! My Life in Transit, Adam Driver and The Phantom of the Opera’s Friend. You can peruse the full list of offerings here,...

Rough Trade is arguably the best loved record store in all of New York, in large part because they don't just sell music. Over the past few years, the iconic business has invited dozens of artists and hosted community parties for music lovers, but their crown jewel is their Indie music festival, iNDIEPLAZA, which is coming back for its fourth installment on Saturday, April 12. The free festival includes a pretty stunning lineup this year and will be headlined by Swedish rock group The Hives, with other live performances by the hardrock punk band Scowl, experimental hip-hop group Clipping, raggae artist Pachyman and many others.  RECOMMENDED: Forest Hills Stadium might not host any concerts this summer following permit issues This year's iNDIEPLAZA will take place at the Rockefeller Plaza from 12pm to 9pm and will also include merch, an arts and crafts booth, as well as food and drinks vendors, including Cool Sips, City Winery, Puya Tacos de Puebla, and others.  The festival will be a celebration of World Record Store Day, a super niche holiday that celebrates the culture of independently owned record stores, which have long been a pillar to the music ecosystem.  In addition to enjoying a great lineup of artists completely free of charge, attendees of iNDIEPLAZA will also get a sneak peek into Rough Trade's soon-to-open second location, also located at Rockefeller Plaza, called Rough Trade Below. That store will span a whopping 4,000 square feet of space and will be...

In New York City, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find cocktails under $18 (let alone, cheap things to do)— the idea of spending the same amount on a mixed drink as you might on a main course is absolutely ludicrous. But affordable imbibing doesn’t have to just take place at the best dive bars in NYC (love them though we do) or during an afternoon happy hour. Need proof? Consult our guide to the best cheap bars for lovers of beer, cocktails and pretty much anything with an ABV. (And if you want some top-notch cheap eats after those cheap drinks, we've got your back, too.) RECOMMENDED: Full guide to best bars in NYC

Let’s face it: NYC is expensive, both for visitors and locals. For those of us living here in the city, we’re constantly choosing between going out and, say, paying rent. While it’s certainly nice to splurge on one of the best restaurants in NYC, the reality is that we mostly have to focus on cheap eats and happy hour deals. We’re here to help: when it comes to going out in the city, you can still have fun without facing a hefty price tag. There are plenty of cheap things to do in NYC to fill your days without emptying your wallet. Some are even worthy cheap date ideas, if you’re looking. Simply walking the streets of New York can make for an entertaining day out, but if you look closely you can find fabulous things to without paying a fortune. Did you know that some of NYC’s top attractions are also affordable? Or how about comedy — a good laugh doesn’t have to cost much. Manhattan and Brooklyn have beautiful parks to stroll, and for a small fee you can get around on a bike or a boat. You can catch free shows from up-and-coming bands, or catch a movie for under $10. Entertainment in NYC can be cheap, or even free, so get out there and have some fun! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in NYC 

It's the surest sign of warmest weather ahead: Luna Park in Coney Island has set its opening date for the 2025 season. The iconic amusement park will open for the season on Saturday, March 29. Opening day festivities kick off at noon in front of the beloved Cyclone roller coaster with entertainment, speeches and the coaster's traditional egg cream christening ceremony. Even better, to celebrate the Cyclone's 98th birthday, the first 98 guests will get a free ride on the coaster and an egg cream treat, the classic Coney Island treat. As for the rest of the season, expect new arcade games, renovated retail outlets, and a new patio at Salt & Sizzle. Luna Park will also offer expanded hours. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Coney Island, NY After its opening weekend, March 29-31, Luna Park will be open daily during spring break (April 11–20), then every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until Memorial Day. Following Memorial Day weekend, the amusement park will be open daily. There's a full calendar of opening hours here. Admission to Luna Park is free, with ride prices starting at $4. Photograph: Courtesy Luna Park With a rich heritage spanning over a century, Luna Park is a renowned cultural institution of history and pop culture. It's the largest amusement park in New York City with over 50 attractions, including the go-kart ride Electric Eden Raceway, custom-made roller coaster Tony's Express, and log flume ride Leti's Treasure. Plus, there's entertainment, shopping,...

Come together with other eco-conscious New Yorkers to call for climate action and environmental justice, all while having a springy afternoon full of seasonal fun. On Thursday, April 17 from noon to 6pm, head to Union Square for the Earth Day Initiative’s free, open-to-the-public festival featuring exhibits from dozens of environmental non-profits and climate campaigns, as well as interactive workshops, climate art, yummy sustainable foods (Very Cool Ice Cream, Just Ice Team, GT’s Living Foods), and live performances from eco-rapper Hila the Earth and climate comedy act Apo-HA-HA-calypse. There will also be kids’ activities for the youngins because, duh, the children are our future. 

New Yorkers might know their city like the back of their hand, but there are some hidden pockets of NYC still to be discovered. There’s always something new taking the place of something old in NYC, but luckily for us, there’s still a plethora of old places to explore, you just have to know where to look. From historic residential groves and tiny roads that have been left behind by the requirements for vehicle traffic to alleyways that were only used for horses and carriages back in the day, below are 10 amazing hidden streets in NYC you can visit right now. RECOMMENDED: Secret NYC: 26 speakeasies, underground gigs and more 1. Washington Mews (Greenwich Village) Photograph: Shaye Weaver/Time Out A private, gated (but often open) street just north of Washington Square Park, between Fifth Avenue and University Place, is a trip back in time to the day of row houses and stables. These mews (a row of stables) serviced horses from homes in the neighborhood during the 18th and 19th centuries and some were also were homes. Around 1950, NYU rented most of these buildings and converted them into faculty housing and offices.  2. Doyers Street (Chinatown) Photograph: Shutterstock Once known as the Bloody Angle, Doyers Street is a 200-foot-long curved street between Pell Street to Bowery that was once one of the deadliest streets. Sure, it’s full of restaurants like Nom Wah Tea Parlor, barbershops and other stores now, but during the early 20th century, it was the site of numerous...

Situated behind the New York Public Library is Bryant Park, a well-cultivated retreat that hosts a dizzying schedule of free entertainment during the summer, including the popular Monday night outdoor movies. In the winter, look for an ice skating rink and pop-up shops for the holidays. The park also boasts free wireless access.

After graduating from NYU in 2006, Milwaukee native Kate Goldwater opened this funky shop, featuring a curated selection of vintage and thrift clothing ($5–$25) and accessories ($3–$30) that are easy on the eyes and the wallet. Most pieces inside are $30 or less and her finds are perfectly on-trend, which means you’ll find plenty of ’80s and ’90s pieces right now.  

We really like eating around the city, and we're guessing you do, too. So lucky for all of us, we've packed all our favorite restaurants under one roof at the Time Out Market New York. The DUMBO location in Empire Stores has fried chicken from Jacob’s Pickles, pizza from Fornino, delicious bagels from Ess-a-bagel and more amazing eateries—all cherry-picked by us. Chow down over two floors with views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline.  RECOMMENDED: The best things do in NYC

On a February morning in the early aughts, an ambitious public art project called “The Gates” filled Central Park with flowing orange flags that visitors could walk beneath. It was open for just two weeks, bringing some much-needed levity to the city. More than 4 million people visited Central Park during the show's short run, and it generated an estimated $254 million in economic activity across the city. Now, in celebration of these beloved artworks by the late artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, a cutting-edge augmented reality experience on the Bloomberg Connects app will allow New Yorkers to discover The Gates once again. It's available to view in Central Park, along with a complementary exhibition at The Shed, from February 12-March 23. RECOMMENDED: The best outdoor art in NYC this winter To try the experience in Central Park, you'll need to download the free Bloomberg Connects app on your smart phone. On the app, you'll find a map that will guide you through the experience. Start your walk at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue, then follow along with the signs from there. The app divides the experience into different sections. You'll need to recalibrate the augmented reality at each station stop (don't worry, directions at each sign will show you how). Photograph: Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out New York Then, you'll get to walk through the gates, virtually anyway. You can even pose for pictures and videos. I didn't live in New York City back in 2005, so I never got...

Located at the top of Museum Mile, the Museum of the City of New York is the place to explore the city’s past, celebrate its present, and imagine its future. The institution’s entire first floor is devoted to New York at Its Core, a sprawling exhibition including two galleries taking visitors on a tour of all 400 years of New York City history and a flagship space known as the Future City Lab where visitors use interactive technology to design the NYC of the future. Rotating exhibitions throughout the rest of the Museum focus on issues ranging from the city’s history of social activism to New York’s built environment, and include objects from the Museum’s extensive Collections of vintage photographs, costumes and textiles, theater memorabilia, furniture and decorative arts, and more. Don’t miss the amazing Stettheimer Dollhouse, created during the 1920s by Carrie Stettheimer, whose artist friends re-created their masterpieces in miniature to hang on the walls. Look closely and you’ll even spy a tiny version of Marcel Duchamp’s famous Nude Descending a Staircase.

Don’t scoff, jaded New Yorker—there are a lot of free things to do in NYC today. We understand: When you live in the most expensive city in the world, it’s hard to imagine how anything in this town could be gratis. But guess what? Every event on this list is free and actually awesome! That’s right, we found the free art exhibitions, comedy shows, cultural celebrations and NYC park activities, so you can have the time of your life without paying a dime. Whether you’re looking for fun date ideas or something to do with visiting relatives, we got you. Do you want more great stories about things to do, where to eat, what to watch, and where to party? Obviously you do, follow Time Out New York on Facebook for the good stuff.RECOMMENDED: See all free things to do in NYC