GUIDE

Free Things to Do with Kids in NYC

Free family fun, no tickets required

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🎨 Arts & culture3🍕 Food & giveaways2🎶 Music & nightlife1🧘 Fitness & wellness1🧸 Family & kids32🥕 Farmers markets1🖌️ Painting & crafts1🤝 Volunteering1🧺 Markets & pop-ups5
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Free things to do with kids in NYC: story times, family days, parades, park programs and kid-friendly pop-ups. We only list events we’ve checked on the organizer’s own site, and the list updates itself as new ones are added.

127 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
Every Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat · 8 AM–6 PM
64°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 23, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at Union Square, 17th St between Broadway & Park Ave South, Manhattan · official listing on grownyc.org · checked Oct 23
Farmers markets

Union Square Greenmarket

📍 Union Square, 17th St between Broadway & Park Ave South · Union Square, Manhattan
Free to walk in · produce is paid
Happening now
MON, NOV 2 · 8 AM–10 PM
64°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 30, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · registration required · kid-friendly · at The Rink at Bank of America Winter Village, Bryant Park, Manhattan · official listing on bryantpark.org · checked Oct 30
Fitness & wellness

The Rink at Bryant Park (free-admission ice skating)

📍 The Rink at Bank of America Winter Village, Bryant Park · Midtown, Manhattan
Free admission with your own skates (book a free timed slot online; released a week ahead)
Happening now
MON, NOV 2 · 10 AM–7 PM
64°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St, Manhattan · official listing on bfplny.com · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Canstruction: giant sculptures made of food cans

📍 Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St · Battery Park City, Manhattan
Free admission · canned-food donations welcome
Happening now
MON, NOV 2 · 11 AM–10 PM
64°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Times Sq - 42 St, Manhattan · official listing on envoyevents.com · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

The Grand Ofrenda at Times Square

📍 Times Sq - 42 St · Times Square, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Daily · 11 AM–10 PM
64°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, 65 Bayard St, Manhattan · official listing on chinatownicecreamfactory.com · checked Oct 26
Food & giveaways

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

📍 Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, 65 Bayard St · Chinatown, Manhattan
Free to walk in; scoops priced in store
Happening now
Daily · 11 AM–6 PM
64°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at Economy Candy, 108 Rivington St, Manhattan · official listing on economycandy.com · checked Oct 26
Food & giveaways

Economy Candy: old-school candy store since 1937

📍 Economy Candy, 108 Rivington St · Lower East Side, Manhattan
Free to walk in; candy priced in store
Starts in 1d 21h
WED, NOV 4 · 10 AM–4 PM
64°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 28, 2026
Why this place: Free · at 1 West 58th Street, Manhattan · official listing on theplazanystore.com · checked Oct 28
Markets & pop-ups

Eloise at the Plaza Event

📍 1 West 58th Street · 1 West 58th Street, New York, USA, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 2d 0h
WED, NOV 4 · 1 PM–3 PM
70°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Arts and Crafts Room (in Blood Root Valley), Staten Island · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Family & kids

Senior Happy Hour

📍 Arts and Crafts Room (in Blood Root Valley) · Blood Root Valley, Staten Island
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 2d 22h
THU, NOV 5 · 11 AM–1 PM
69°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at High Rock Gate (in High Rock Park), Staten Island · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Family & kids

Greenbelt Adult Hike - High Rock Park - Pouch Camp

📍 High Rock Gate (in High Rock Park) · High Rock Park, Staten Island
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 4d 19h
SAT, NOV 7 · 8 AM–12 PM
59°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan · official listing on rockefellercenter.com · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

Meet the Tree Day (Rockefeller tree arrival)

📍 Rockefeller Plaza · Midtown, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 4d 20h
SAT, NOV 7 · 8:30 AM–11 AM
59°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Intrepid Museum, Manhattan · official listing on intrepidmuseum.org · checked Oct 29
Family & kids

Early Morning Opening: To the Stars! Space Exploration (sensory-friendly)

📍 Intrepid Museum · Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Free · advance registration required · for kids 3–18 with autism or sensory sensitivities + families
Starts in 5d 0h
SAT, NOV 7 · 1 PM–4 PM
66°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 30, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Asia Society, Manhattan · official listing on asiasociety.org · checked Oct 30
Family & kids

Diwali Lights Up Asia Society

📍 Asia Society · Upper East Side, Manhattan
Starts in 5d 22h
SUN, NOV 8 · 10:30 AM–12 PM
58°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley), Staten Island · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Family & kids

The Owls of Staten Island

📍 Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley) · Blood Root Valley, Staten Island
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 1w 2d
WED, NOV 11 · 1 PM–3 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Arts and Crafts Room (in Blood Root Valley), Staten Island · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Family & kids

Senior Happy Hour

📍 Arts and Crafts Room (in Blood Root Valley) · Blood Root Valley, Staten Island
Free (NYC Parks event)
Starts in 1w 2d
THU, NOV 12 · 3:30 AM–4:30 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley), Staten Island · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 29
Family & kids

Storytime: Lenape and Corn

📍 Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley) · Blood Root Valley, Staten Island
Free (NYC Parks event) · registration may be required
Starts in 1w 2d
THU, NOV 12 · 11 AM–8 PM
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · kid-friendly · at Union Square Park (south end), Manhattan · official listing on urbanspacemarkets.com · checked Oct 29
Markets & pop-ups

Union Square Holiday Market

📍 Union Square Park (south end) · Union Square, Manhattan
Free to enter; items for sale
Starts in 1w 4d
SAT, NOV 14 · 10 AM–2 PM
✓ Verified Oct 23, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park), Staten Island · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 23
Volunteering

Beach & park clean-up at Conference House Park

📍 Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park) · Tottenville, Staten Island
Free
Starts in 1w 5d
SAT, NOV 14 · 6:30 PM–8 PM
✓ Verified Oct 30, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Morse Hall, The Juilliard School, Manhattan · official listing on juilliard.edu · checked Oct 30
Music & nightlife

Juilliard MAP Open Recital (free)

📍 Morse Hall, The Juilliard School · Lincoln Square, Manhattan
Free; no tickets required
Starts in 2w 1d
TUE, NOV 17 · 5 PM–8 PM
✓ Verified Oct 28, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at West 125th Street, Manhattan · official listing on neighbors.columbia.edu · checked Oct 28
Family & kids

Harlem Holiday Lights

📍 West 125th Street · Harlem, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 3w 2d
THU, NOV 26 · 8:30 AM–12 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Central Park West to Macy's Herald Square, Manhattan · official listing on macysinc.com · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

📍 Central Park West to Macy's Herald Square · Upper West Side to Herald Square, Manhattan
Free to watch from public viewing areas
Starts in 3w 3d
FRI, NOV 27 · 10 AM–5 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Sam Bridge Nursery, 437 North St, Lower Connecticut · official listing on greenwichreindeerfestival.com · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa's Workshop

📍 Sam Bridge Nursery, 437 North St · Greenwich, CT
Free to attend; photos with Santa cost extra
Starts in 4w 0d
TUE, DEC 1 · 11 AM–7 PM
✓ Verified Oct 30, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · kid-friendly · at Columbus Circle (Central Park entrance), Manhattan · official listing on urbanspacemarkets.com · checked Oct 30
Markets & pop-ups

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

📍 Columbus Circle (Central Park entrance) · Columbus Circle, Manhattan
Free to enter and browse; vendor gifts and food are extra
Starts in 4w 3d
THU, DEC 3 · 3:30 PM–6:30 PM
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · seasonal special · at New York Stock Exchange, Manhattan · official listing on nyse.com · checked Oct 25
Family & kids

NYSE Tree Lighting

📍 New York Stock Exchange · Financial District, Manhattan
Free and open to the public.
Starts in 4w 4d
FRI, DEC 4 · 4:15 PM–5:30 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Greenwich Town Hall, Lower Connecticut · official listing on weeklyshenanigans.com · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

Greenwich Tree Lighting

📍 Greenwich Town Hall · Greenwich, CT
Free
Starts in 4w 4d
FRI, DEC 4 · 6 PM–9 PM
✓ Verified Oct 28, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Main Street, Lower Connecticut · official listing on chamber.inridgefield.com · checked Oct 28
Family & kids

Ridgefield Holiday Stroll

📍 Main Street · Ridgefield, CT
Free
Starts in 4w 4d
SAT, DEC 5 · 11 AM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island · official listing on statenislandmuseum.org · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

Snug Harbor Holiday Hop

📍 Snug Harbor Cultural Center · Livingston, Staten Island
Free
Starts in 4w 5d
SAT, DEC 5 · 4:30 PM–6 PM
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at West Harlem Piers, Manhattan · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 25
Family & kids

Holiday on the Hudson tree lighting

📍 West Harlem Piers · West Harlem, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 4w 6d
SUN, DEC 6 · 5 PM–7 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Landmark Square → Latham Park, Lower Connecticut · official listing on ctvisit.com · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

Stamford Heights & Lights

📍 Landmark Square → Latham Park · Stamford, CT
Free
Starts in 6w 4d
SAT, DEC 19 · 11 AM–12 PM
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at H.H. Biddle House, Conference House Park, Staten Island · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 25
Family & kids

Ranger holiday tea time at Biddle House

📍 H.H. Biddle House, Conference House Park · Tottenville, Staten Island
Free

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

127 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.

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