GUIDE

Free & Cheap Date Ideas in NYC

Date ideas that cost little or nothing

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.

270 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
SUN, NOV 1 · 6 PM–8 PM
55°F · Mostly Clear
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Astor Wines & Spirits, Manhattan · official listing on astorwines.com · checked Oct 25
Drinks & tastings

Free wine & spirits tastings at Astor Wines

📍 Astor Wines & Spirits · NoHo, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 21h 51m
MON, NOV 2 · 5 PM–7 PM
64°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Flatiron Wines & Spirits, Manhattan · official listing on nyc.flatiron-wines.com · checked Oct 25
Drinks & tastings

Free tastings at Flatiron Wines

📍 Flatiron Wines & Spirits · Flatiron, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 3d 15h
THU, NOV 5 · 11 AM–12 PM
68°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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 3d 18h
THU, NOV 5 · 2 PM–5 PM
71°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · limited spots · at Pearl River Mart Foods (Chelsea Market), Manhattan · official listing on pearlriver.com · checked Oct 31
Drinks & tastings

Free tasting: Nusa Indonesian herbal drinks at Pearl River Mart Foods

📍 Pearl River Mart Foods (Chelsea Market) · Chelsea, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 5d 16h
SAT, NOV 7 · 12 PM–4 PM
62°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 23, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Bronx River House (in Starlight Park), Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 23
Painting & crafts

Traditional Indigenous crafts at Bronx River House

📍 Bronx River House (in Starlight Park) · Starlight Park, Bronx
Free
Starts in 5d 17h
SAT, NOV 7 · 1 PM–3 PM
63°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
✓ 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 5d 18h
SAT, NOV 7 · 2 PM–5 PM
64°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Pearl River Mart Foods (Chelsea Market), Manhattan · official listing on pearlriver.com · checked Oct 31
Drinks & tastings

Free tasting: Nusa Indonesian herbal drinks (Saturday) at Pearl River Mart Foods

📍 Pearl River Mart Foods (Chelsea Market) · Chelsea, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 6d 17h
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
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 3d
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 1w 5d
SAT, NOV 14 · 10:30 AM–2 PM
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Roebling Rink, Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge , Brooklyn · official listing on brooklynbridgepark.org · checked Oct 31
Painting & crafts

Roebling Rink Opening Day: Free Morning Skate Sessions

📍 Roebling Rink, Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Park · DUMBO, Brooklyn
Free · registration required · Free admission for the 10:30 AM-12 PM and 12:30-2 PM sessions with a free ticket, while supplies last. Later opening-day sessions follow regular rink ticketing.
Starts in 1w 5d
SAT, NOV 14 · 12 PM–2 PM
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn · official listing on green-wood.com · checked Nov 1
Painting & crafts

Día de los Hongos: Free Myco-Drawing and Mushroom Walk at Green-Wood

📍 The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery · Brooklyn
Free · registration required · Free with RSVP
Starts in 1w 5d
SAT, NOV 14 · 12:30 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Fairfield University Art Museum, Lower Connecticut · official listing on events.fairfield.edu · checked Oct 26
Painting & crafts

Fairfield University Art Museum Family Day

📍 Fairfield University Art Museum · Fairfield, CT
Free
Starts in 4w 3d
THU, DEC 3 · 2 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor, Staten Island · official listing on noblemaritime.org · checked Oct 26
Painting & crafts

CloseKnit at Noble Maritime

📍 Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor · Livingston, Staten Island
Free
Starts in 4w 6d
SUN, DEC 6 · 2 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Port Jefferson Free Library, Long Island · official listing on portjeff.librarycalendar.com · checked Oct 26
Painting & crafts

Dickens Festival Carols & Crafts

📍 Port Jefferson Free Library · Port Jefferson, Long Island
Free
Starts in 5w 5d
SAT, DEC 12 · 12 PM–2 PM
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Icahn Stadium, Randall's Island Park, Manhattan · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 25
Painting & crafts

Winter Wreath Workshop

📍 Icahn Stadium, Randall's Island Park · Manhattan
Free (per NYC Parks listing).
Starts in 6w 1d
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 6w 6d
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?

270 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.