The Best FREE Things to Do in NYC

Free things to do in NYC

Find the best events on Oct 21 for tweens (9–12)

Find fun free things to do

Post an Event

Saturday Dec. 13, 2025

DSCF2012

9 am – 7 pm

Gingerbread City

Ages: All
Christmas
Classes

The Gingerbread City at The SeaportSeaport

10 – 11:30 am

Swiss Institute Family Hours

Ages: 3 – 12
Art
Craft & DIY

Swiss InstituteLower East Side

cranberry+bog+preserve+riverhead+news-review.jpeg copy

10 – 11 am

Cranberry Bog Preserve Walk]

Ages: 5 and up
Community
Free

Cranberry Bog PreserveRiverhead

11 am – 4 pm

Gingerbread Cookie Decorating

Ages: 12 and under
Craft & DIY
Free

The Hampton LibraryBridgehampton

Noon – 3 pm

Swish & Skill at Faber: Free Instructional Basketball Clinic for Kids

Ages: 5 and up
Free
Sports

Faber ParkStaten Island

1 – 4 pm

Hands on History: Children’s Magic Lantern Show

Ages: 12 and under
Christmas
Free

King Manor MuseumJamaica

WNT-Santa-This-Saturday-2025

1 – 4 pm

Meet Santa at Willy Nilly Trading

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Willy NillyBay Shore

cornerstone artwork

3 – 4 pm

EVC Intergenerational Choir

Ages: 5 and up
Classes
Community

Union Theological SeminaryHarlem

4:30 – 6:30 pm

Chanukah Havdalah Pajama Party

Ages: 3 – 12
Free
Holiday

Merrick Jewish CentreMerrick

Sunday Dec. 14

DSCF2012

9 am – 7 pm

Gingerbread City

Ages: All
Christmas
Classes

The Gingerbread City at The SeaportSeaport

stem-events-featured-e1764172870752_1f1eb3

10 am – 5 pm

Hofstra University Science and Engineering Festival of Long Island

Ages: 5 and up
Festivals
Free

Hofstra University David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition ComplexHempstead

12142025_sunday family funday train crafts

11 am – 5 pm

Sunday Family Funday: Trains!

The New York HistoricalUpper West Side

12142025_Hablemos

11:30 am – 1 pm

Hablemos: Holiday Express

Ages: 3 – 12
Art
Christmas

The New York HistoricalUpper West Side

WNT-Santa-This-Saturday-2025

1 – 4 pm

Meet Santa at Willy Nilly Trading

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Willy NillyBay Shore

Monday Dec. 15

DSCF2012

9 am – 7 pm

Gingerbread City

Ages: All
Christmas
Classes

The Gingerbread City at The SeaportSeaport

WNT-Santa-This-Saturday-2025

1 – 4 pm

Meet Santa at Willy Nilly Trading

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Willy NillyBay Shore

Screenshot 2025-09-26 145630

3 – 6 pm

Jennifer’s Playground Free Afterschool Program

Ages: 5 – 12
Community
Free

Jennifer’s PlaygroundStaten Island

Tuesday Dec. 16

DSCF2012

9 am – 7 pm

Gingerbread City

Ages: All
Christmas
Classes

The Gingerbread City at The SeaportSeaport

WNT-Santa-This-Saturday-2025

1 – 4 pm

Meet Santa at Willy Nilly Trading

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Willy NillyBay Shore

Snack Night

2:30 – 4 pm

International Snack Night

Ages: 9 and up
Food & Drink
Free

Hampton LibraryBridgehampton

Screenshot 2025-09-26 145630

3 – 6 pm

Jennifer’s Playground Free Afterschool Program

Ages: 5 – 12
Community
Free

Jennifer’s PlaygroundStaten Island

4 – 5 pm

Faber Recreation Center Youth Drop-In Program Current Event Journaling & Debate

Ages: 5 and up
Community
Free

Faber ParkStaten Island

4 – 5 pm

Teddy Bear Storytime & Sleepover

Ages: 3 – 12
Books & Readings
Free

Richmondtown LibraryStaten Island

Wednesday Dec. 17

DSCF2012

9 am – 7 pm

Gingerbread City

Ages: All
Christmas
Classes

The Gingerbread City at The SeaportSeaport

WNT-Santa-This-Saturday-2025

1 – 4 pm

Meet Santa at Willy Nilly Trading

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Willy NillyBay Shore

image000000 (1)

3 – 4 pm

Faber Recreation Center Youth Drop-In Programs Seasonal Crafts

Ages: 5 and up
Art
Community

Faber ParkStaten Island

Screenshot 2025-09-26 145630

3 – 6 pm

Jennifer’s Playground Free Afterschool Program

Ages: 5 – 12
Community
Free

Jennifer’s PlaygroundStaten Island

20250222_103710

3:30 – 5:30 pm

Faber Recreation First Lego League Robotics

Ages: 9 and up
Community
Free

Faber ParkStaten Island

14CB9238-AD95-4AF5-BEDB-B0A3A794EACB

5 – 6 pm

Faber Recreation Center Youth Drop-In Programs Game Zone

Ages: 5 and up
Community
Free

Faber ParkStaten Island

Thursday Dec. 18

DSCF2012

9 am – 7 pm

Gingerbread City

Ages: All
Christmas
Classes

The Gingerbread City at The SeaportSeaport

LatinJazzParranda (63)

11 am – noon

Holiday & Latin Jazz Parranda with Papo Vázquez: Weekday Specials

Ages: 5 – 12
Christmas
Free

Hostos Center for the Arts and CultureBronx

LatinJazzParranda (63)

12:30 – 1:30 pm

Holiday & Latin Jazz Parranda with Papo Vázquez: Weekday Specials

Ages: 5 – 12
Christmas
Free

Hostos Center for the Arts and CultureBronx

+ Export Events

More from Around NYC

The New York State Gaming Commission voted Monday to approve all three bids for downstate gaming licenses, with three casinos now set to open in New York City by 2030. Photo by Shane O'Brien.

Gaming Commission approves all 3 NYC casino bids, including Metropolitan Park & Resorts World in Queens

NYS gaming commission approved NYC-area casinos

JACKPOT! All three NYC-area casino bids for Queens and Bronx approved by NYS Gaming Commission

FIS Alpine Ski World Cup – Women’s Super G

New York LGBTQ ski weekends slated for January and February

pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668481

East Flatbush man gets 15 years for kidnapping, near-fatal stabbing of ex