GUIDE

Free & Cheap Date Ideas in NYC

Date ideas that cost little or nothing

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Free and cheap date ideas in NYC: gallery nights, free concerts, walking tours, tastings and markets worth wandering. Pair any of these with a walk and you’ve got a night out. For paid ideas, see Date night.

228 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
THU, OCT 29 · 2 PM–2:45 PM
69°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 28, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Wave Hill, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 28
Painting & crafts

Public Gallery Tour

📍 Wave Hill · Bronx
Free
Starts in 1d 23h
SAT, OCT 31 · 2 PM–2:45 PM
60°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Wave Hill, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Public Gallery Tour

📍 Wave Hill, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 2d 19h
SUN, NOV 1 · 9 AM–2 PM
54°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Bayside Historical Society (in Fort Totten Park), Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Experience Civil War Living History at Fort Totten

📍 Bayside Historical Society (in Fort Totten Park) · Fort Totten Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 2d 21h
SUN, NOV 1 · 11 AM–12 PM
59°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Native American Heritage Month: Lenape Botany

📍 Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park) · Highland Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 2d 21h
SUN, NOV 1 · 11 AM–12 PM
59°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Painting & crafts

Nature's Workshop: Fall Foliage Leaf Art

📍 Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park) · Crotona Park, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 2d 21h
SUN, NOV 1 · 11 AM–1 PM
59°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Fort Totten Park Visitors Center (in Fort Totten Park), Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Historic New York: Fort Totten

📍 Fort Totten Park Visitors Center (in Fort Totten Park) · Fort Totten Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 3d 1h
SUN, NOV 1 · 3 PM–4 PM
64°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Oak Ridge (in Forest Park), Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Day of the Dead Celebration featuring Mariachi Real de Mexico

📍 Oak Ridge (in Forest Park) · Forest Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 3d 2h
SUN, NOV 1 · 4 PM–6 PM
64°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Museum of the Moving Image, Kaufman Courtyard, Queens · official listing on movingimage.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Day of the Dead at Museum of the Moving Image

📍 Museum of the Moving Image, Kaufman Courtyard · Astoria, Queens
Free admission
Starts in 6d 21h
THU, NOV 5 · 11 AM–12 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Multi-Use Room B (in Detective Keith L Williams Park), Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Painting & crafts

Craft & Chill

📍 Multi-Use Room B (in Detective Keith L Williams Park) · Detective Keith L Williams Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 1w 0d
THU, NOV 5 · 2 PM–2:45 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Wave Hill, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Public Gallery Tour

📍 Wave Hill, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 1w 0d
1st Fri · 10 AM–5 PM
✓ Verified Oct 23, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Rd, Queens · official listing on noguchi.org · checked Oct 23
Arts & culture

Free First Friday at the Noguchi Museum

📍 The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Rd · Long Island City, Queens
Free admission · no reservation needed
Starts in 1w 1d
SAT, NOV 7 · 11 AM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 28, 2026
Why this place: Free · at King Manor Museum, Queens · official listing on eventbrite.com · checked Oct 28
Arts & culture

Queens Fiber Arts Festival

📍 King Manor Museum · Jamaica, Queens
Free general admission; optional purchases extra. Workshop costs and RSVP requirements unconfirmed.
Starts in 1w 1d
SAT, NOV 7 · 12 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Concrete Plant Park, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

5th Annual Community Banquet

📍 Concrete Plant Park, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 1w 1d
SAT, NOV 7 · 1 PM–3 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Multi-Use Room (in Kissena Park), Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Painting & crafts

Create Your Own: Seasonal Door Sign

📍 Multi-Use Room (in Kissena Park) · Kissena Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 1w 2d
SAT, NOV 7 · 2 PM–2:45 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Wave Hill, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Public Gallery Tour

📍 Wave Hill, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 1w 2d
SUN, NOV 8 · 9:30 AM–11 AM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Wave Hill, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Fall Birding

📍 Wave Hill, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 1w 2d
SUN, NOV 8 · 1 PM–2 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at 73rd Avenue and Hollis Hills Terrace (in Cunningham Park), Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Historic New York: Vanderbilt Motor Parkway

📍 73rd Avenue and Hollis Hills Terrace (in Cunningham Park) · Cunningham Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 1w 2d
SUN, NOV 8 · 1 PM–2 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Painting & crafts

Nature's Workshop: Create Your Own Nature Field Guide

📍 Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park) · Crotona Park, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 1w 2d
SUN, NOV 8 · 1 PM–2:30 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at David Dinkins Circle (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park),Ederl, Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Artist Talk with Cecile Chong and Alexander Zev

📍 David Dinkins Circle (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park),Ederle Terrace Lawn · Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 1w 2d
SUN, NOV 8 · 1 PM–3 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Bayside Historical Society (in Fort Totten Park), Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Second Sunday Castle Tours

📍 Bayside Historical Society (in Fort Totten Park) · Fort Totten Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 1w 4d
TUE, NOV 10 · 10 AM–12:30 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Hart Island, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Hart Island: Honoring Our Military and Veterans (North Island)

📍 Hart Island, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 1w 5d
WED, NOV 11 · 11 AM–3 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center (in Williamsbridge Ova, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Painting & crafts

Boogie Down Service Project

📍 Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center (in Williamsbridge Oval) · Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 1w 6d
THU, NOV 12 · 11 AM–12 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Multi-Use Room B (in Detective Keith L Williams Park), Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Painting & crafts

Craft & Chill

📍 Multi-Use Room B (in Detective Keith L Williams Park) · Detective Keith L Williams Park, Queens
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 2w 0d
THU, NOV 12 · 2 PM–2:45 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Wave Hill, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Arts & culture

Public Gallery Tour

📍 Wave Hill, Bronx
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 2w 2d
SUN, NOV 15 · 11 AM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 28, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Queens Museum, New York City Building, Queens · official listing on queensmuseum.org · checked Oct 28
Arts & culture

Community Archiving Day at Queens Museum

📍 Queens Museum, New York City Building · Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Free event; optional books and zines cost extra.
Starts in 6w 5d
TUE, DEC 15 · 3 PM–4:30 PM
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Oak Ridge, Forest Park, Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 25
Painting & crafts

Elf on the Shelf kids' craft at Oak Ridge

📍 Oak Ridge, Forest Park · Woodhaven, Queens
Free
Starts in 7w 0d
THU, DEC 17 · 4 PM–6:30 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Wave Hill, Bronx · official listing on wavehill.org · checked Oct 26
Arts & culture

Wave Hill Winter Solstice Wishes

📍 Wave Hill · Riverdale, Bronx
Free
Starts in 7w 2d
SUN, DEC 20 · 1 PM–2 PM
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Crotona Nature Center, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 25
Painting & crafts

Handmade nature ornaments workshop

📍 Crotona Nature Center · Crotona, Bronx
Free

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

228 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

How are these listings checked?

Every listing links to the organizer's own page: the venue, the city agency or park, or the official ticket or RSVP page. We don't copy listings from other event sites.