The Best FREE Things to Do in NYC

Free things to do in NYC

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Thursday Dec. 4, 2025

Manhattan Selfies with Santa

10 am – 7 pm

Selfies with Santa

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Brookfield PlaceTribeca

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11 am – 6 pm

FAD Market: Holiday Pop-up [Dumbo]

Ages: All
Art
Community

Empire StoresBrooklyn

Santa Visit Event Souvenir Photograph

Various

Santa Claus visit at Tanger Outlets Riverhead

Ages: All
Christmas
Community

Tanger Outlets RiverheadRiverhead

Winter-Village_Bryant-Park_2024-12-19_Colin-Miller_137_908deb

Noon – 8 pm

Holiday Shops at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

Ages: All
Free
Holiday

Bryant Park 6th Avenue between 40th and 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018Manhattan

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Noon – 7 pm

IKEA House Warming

Ages: All
Free

IKEA House WarmingManhattan

Noon – 6 pm

Holidays on Atlantic Avenue

Ages: All
Christmas
Community

Brooklyn

Hicks-Nurseries-Santa-2024

1 – 8 pm

Hicks Nurseries Pictures with Santa

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Hicks NurseriesWestbury

2024 Nordstrom NYC Holiday

2 pm

Santa Snow Show and Elf-ies with Santa

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Nordstrom NYC FlagshipManhattan

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3 – 6 pm

Jennifer’s Playground Free Afterschool Program

Ages: 5 – 12
Community
Free

Jennifer’s PlaygroundStaten Island

3:30 – 6:30 pm

NYSE 102nd Annual Tree Lighting

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

New York Stock ExchangeManhattan

4 – 5 pm

Free Paint Watercolors

Ages: 13 and up
Art
Caribbean

Dongan Hills LibraryStaten Island

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4 – 5 pm

HOW TO DRAW EVERYTHING: UNICORNS, ANIMALS, SUPERHEROES, FAIRIES AND MORE

Ages: All
Art
Free

The Art Studio NYManhattan

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4 pm

DUMBO Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

Ages: All
Christmas
Community

Dumbo Archway PlazaBrooklyn

5 pm

Broadway Under the Stars

Ages: All
Free
Theater

The Shops at Columbus CircleManhattan

5 – 7 pm

Holiday Stroll

Ages: All
Free
Holiday

Forest AvenueStaten Island

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5 – 8 pm

Here Comes Santa Claus

Ages: All
Free

The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson YardsNew York City

5 – 9 pm

Meet Santa at the Tree

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Huntington Holiday SpectacularHuntington

5:30 pm

29th Annual Central Park Holiday Lighting

Ages: All
Community
Free

Charles A. Dana Discovery CenterManhattan

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6 – 7:30 pm

South Street Seaport Museum December Fresh Prints

Ages: 13 and up
Craft & DIY
Free

Bowne & Co. StationersDowntown Manhattan

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6 – 7:30 pm

Holiday Lights Celebration

Ages: All
Community
Free

Rockefeller ParkBattery Park City

2024 Nordstrom NYC Holiday

6 pm

Santa Snow Show and Elf-ies with Santa

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Nordstrom NYC FlagshipManhattan

6:30 – 8 pm

Reconnect Virtual Information Sessions

Ages: 13 and up
Free
Virtual

Friday Dec. 5

Festival of Trees 2023 Flyer (2)

All day

Port Jefferson Festival of Trees

Ages: 5 – 8
Free
Holiday

Port Jefferson Village CenterPort Jefferson

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Various

Photos With Santa at Queens Center

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Queens CenterQueens

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8 am – 10 pm

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant ParkManhattan

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8 am – 11 pm

The Rink at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

Ages: All
Attractions
Free

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant ParkManhattan

10 am – 9 pm

POP MART’s SKULLPANDA You Found Me Pop-Up Experience

Ages: All
Free
Markets

SKULLPANDA You Found Me Pop-UpManhattan

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10 am – 9 pm

Shine Bright at Hudson Yards Presented by Wells Fargo

The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson YardsNew York City

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10 am – 8 pm

Holiday Under the Palms at Brookfield Place

Brookfield PlaceTribeca

Manhattan Selfies with Santa

10 am – 7 pm

Selfies with Santa

Ages: All
Christmas
Free

Brookfield PlaceTribeca

231202+Yang_FAD+Market+-+Empire+Stores-75+Large-1

11 am – 6 pm

FAD Market: Holiday Pop-up [Dumbo]

Ages: All
Art
Community

Empire StoresBrooklyn

Santa Visit Event Souvenir Photograph

Various

Santa Claus visit at Tanger Outlets Riverhead

Ages: All
Christmas
Community

Tanger Outlets RiverheadRiverhead

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