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.

128 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
Every Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat · 8 AM–6 PM
62°F · Mostly 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
62°F · Mostly 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
Daily · 11 AM–10 PM
62°F · Mostly 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
62°F · Mostly 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
Happening now
Daily · 11 AM–7 PM
61°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at Japan Village, 934 3rd Ave, Brooklyn · official listing on japanvillage.com · checked Oct 26
Markets & pop-ups

Japan Village food hall in Industry City

📍 Japan Village, 934 3rd Ave · Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Free to walk in; food priced at stalls
Starts in 4d 22h
Every Sat · 10 AM–12 PM
63°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 30, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at Audubon Center at the Boathouse, Prospect Park, Brooklyn · official listing on prospectpark.org · checked Oct 30
Outdoors

Introduction to Birdwatching Outings in Prospect Park

📍 Audubon Center at the Boathouse, Prospect Park · Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Completely free, no registration
Starts in 4d 22h
Every Sat · 10 AM–7 PM
63°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at DUMBO Archway, Brooklyn · official listing on dumbo.nyc · checked Oct 31
Markets & pop-ups

Dumboween

📍 DUMBO Archway · DUMBO Archway, Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Free
Starts in 4d 22h
Every Sat · 10 AM–4 PM
61°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, Bronx · official listing on poecottage.org · checked Nov 1
Family & kids

Edgar Allan Poe Cottage Weekend Visits

📍 Edgar Allan Poe Cottage · Bronx
Suggested donation; pay what you wish; free with Culture Pass; no one turned away
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 3w 1d
WED, NOV 25 · 9 AM–5 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Downtown White Plains, Westchester · official listing on hudsonvalleysojourner.com · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

Santa's Mailbox in White Plains

📍 Downtown White Plains · White Plains, Westchester
Free
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 3w 5d
SAT, NOV 28 · 4 PM–6 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Morristown Green, New Jersey · official listing on morristown-nj.org · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

Santa's Arrival & Lighting of the Morristown Green

📍 Morristown Green · Morristown, New Jersey
Free to attend; photos with Santa cost extra
Starts in 3w 5d
SAT, NOV 28 · 5 PM–8 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Mary Jane Davies Green, Long Island · official listing on north-hempstead.com · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

Manhasset Holiday Lighting Ceremony

📍 Mary Jane Davies Green · Manhasset, Long Island
Free
Starts in 3w 5d
SAT, NOV 28 · 5 PM–7 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Downtown Westfield, New Jersey · official listing on westfieldnj.gov · checked Oct 26
Family & kids

Westfield Christmas Tree Lighting

📍 Downtown Westfield · Westfield, New Jersey
Free

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

128 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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