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GUIDE

Free Things to Do with Kids in NYC

Free family fun, no tickets required

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.

139 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Starts in 33m
Every Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat · 8 AM–6 PM
44°F · Light Rain
✓ 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
Starts in 33m
FRI, NOV 13 · 8 AM–10 PM
44°F · Light Rain
✓ 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)
Starts in 3h 33m
Daily · 11 AM–10 PM
43°F · Light Rain
✓ 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
Starts in 3h 33m
Daily · 11 AM–6 PM
43°F · Light Rain
✓ 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 3h 33m
FRI, NOV 13 · 11 AM–8 PM
43°F · Light Rain
✓ 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 1d 3h
SAT, NOV 14 · 11 AM–7 PM
44°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 4, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at 182 Lafayette Street, Manhattan · official listing on gruns.co · checked Nov 4
Markets & pop-ups

Grünsgiving

📍 182 Lafayette Street · 182 Lafayette Street, New York, USA, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 1d 11h
SAT, NOV 14 · 6:30 PM–8 PM
44°F · Partly Cloudy
✓ 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 2d 1h
Every Sun · 9 AM–11 AM
44°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Rink at Bank of America Winter Village, Manhattan · official listing on bryantpark.org · checked Nov 5
Family & kids

Bryant Park sensory quiet skate mornings (Sundays)

📍 The Rink at Bank of America Winter Village · Midtown, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free admission with your own skates (timed reservation required). Music off 9–11 AM Sundays Nov 1–22.
Starts in 2d 2h
SUN, NOV 15 · 10 AM–1 PM
46°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at National Museum of Mathematics, Manhattan · official listing on momath.org · checked Nov 7
Family & kids

MoMath Free Play Sunday morning

📍 National Museum of Mathematics · Flatiron, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free general admission; register all attendees; first-come, first-served once capacity is reached
Starts in 3d 8h
MON, NOV 16 · 3:30 PM–4:30 PM
51°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 6, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at 58th Street Library, Manhattan · official listing on nypl.org · checked Nov 6
Family & kids

STEAM Time: Air-Dry Clay Cornucopia at 58th Street Library

📍 58th Street Library · Midtown East, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free walk-up craft for ages 5–12; limited seats, arrive early
Starts in 4d 8h
TUE, NOV 17 · 3:30 PM–4:30 PM
55°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at St. Agnes Library, Manhattan · official listing on nypl.org · checked Nov 5
Painting & crafts

Perler Bead Art at St. Agnes Library

📍 St. Agnes Library · Upper West Side, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 4d 9h
TUE, NOV 17 · 5 PM–8 PM
54°F · Sunny
✓ 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 6d 9h
Every Thu · 5 PM–6 PM
57°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 4, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Shops at Columbus Circle, Manhattan · official listing on theshopsatcolumbuscircle.com · checked Nov 4
Markets & pop-ups

Broadway Under The Stars

📍 The Shops at Columbus Circle · The Shops at Columbus Circle, New York, USA, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 1w 3d
MON, NOV 23 · 3 PM–4:30 PM
✓ Verified Nov 6, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Epiphany Library, 3rd floor program room, Manhattan · official listing on nypl.org · checked Nov 6
Family & kids

After School STEAM: Perler Bead Pixel Art at Epiphany Library

📍 Epiphany Library, 3rd floor program room · Gramercy, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free; first come, first served; limited to 12 participants
Starts in 1w 5d
WED, NOV 25 · 11 AM–12 PM
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Inwood Hill Nature Center, Manhattan · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Nov 11
Family & kids

Ranger Tot Time at Inwood Hill Nature Center

📍 Inwood Hill Nature Center · Inwood, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 1w 5d
WED, NOV 25 · FROM 12 PM
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Streets around the American Museum of Natural History, Manhattan · official listing on macys.com · checked Nov 8
Family & kids

Macy's Balloon Inflation

📍 Streets around the American Museum of Natural History · Upper West Side, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 1w 6d
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 2w 4d
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 2w 6d
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 3w 1d
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 3w 2d
SUN, DEC 6 · 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Brick Presbyterian Church, Manhattan · official listing on brickchurch.org · checked Nov 5
Family & kids

Park Avenue Tree Lighting at Brick Church

📍 Brick Presbyterian Church · Upper East Side, Manhattan
Free

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

139 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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