Friday December 8, 2017
Saturday December 9, 2017
Sunday December 10, 2017
Looking for free and cheap things to do in New York City this weekend? We have scoured the internet to find fun, interesting, artsy, tasty, active, educational and unique experiences that you can do this weekend in the city for free or cheap.
If you’re on a budget (or even if you’re not), check out the list below for ideas on what to do this weekend without breaking the bank. Whatever your interests – food, music, movies, theater, dance, comedy, classes, tours, art or games – there’s definitely something here for you!
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting | Fair/Festival
- Hendrick I. Lott House (Brooklyn), 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Free!)
- Celebrate the holidays with the annual tree lighting at the historic Dutch farmhouse, the Hendrick I. Lott House! Hosted by Senator Marty Golden and Friends of the Lott House, the festivities will feature holiday music, cookies and cocoa, and, in true Dutch fashion, a visit from Sinterklaas.
- Event Website
Winter Village | Fair/Festival
- Bryant Park, 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Free!)
- The Winter Village features ice skating, holiday shopping, food, and artisanal boutiques offering delicious eats and exquisite gifts, from distinctive apparel to decorative goods, local food vendors, and more.
- Open through the end of December.
- Event Website
Grand Central Holiday Fair | Fair/Festival
- Grand Central, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Free!)
- 40 vendors will take over half of the historic Vanderbilt Hall to sell artwork, clothing for all ages, men’s/women’s accessories, children’s clothing/toys and home goods. A range of products and price points guarantees that New Yorkers, commuters, and tourists alike can find interesting gift items for others as well as covet-worthy items for themselves.
- Recurs through Christmas Eve.
- Event Website
Holiday Market | Fair/Festival
- Union Square, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Free!)
- A must-visit destination for unique gifts created by local craftsmen and artists.
- Recurs through Christmas Eve.
- Event Website
Museum of Modern Art | Museum/Art
- 11 W. 53rd St., 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Free!)
- Free admission to the MoMA courtesy of Uniqlo
- Recurs every Friday.
- Event Website
Free Music Fridays | Music
- American Folk Art Museum, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Free!)
- This week’s features Southern, roots, and folk music by Stephen Babcock, Billy Woodward, and Floyds Row.
- Recurs every Friday.
- Event Website
Pregame Your Brain: Smarts and Crafts | Fun & Games
- Caveat (Manhattan), 6:00 PM ($7)
- Get some post-work drinks in your face, and some brand new knowledge in your brain! Several stations of experts on the week’s theme will be set up around the bar – grab a drink, and choose your own adventure. Each expert has a 10 minute speed-lesson, so you can get the basics or go deep. This week’s theme: Smarts and crafts.
- Event Website
Chamber Music | Music
- King Manor Museum (Queens), 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM ($15)
- The program for our last concert of the year features the King Manor Museum’s very own Longman, Clementi & Co. fortepiano (London, c. 1800) and chamber music from the time of Rufus King — sonatas by J. C. Bach, Luigi Boccherini, and Muzio Clementi.
- Light reception preceding the music.
- Event Website
American Whiskey Tasting | Food
- Old Stone House (Brooklyn), 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM ($45)
- Swirl, smell and sip your way through an evening with Tonya Hopkins, tasting an array of American whiskeys, accompanied by delicious cheeses and breads.
- Event Website
Morgan Library & Museum | Museum/Art
- Madison Ave & 36th St., 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Free!)
- Free admission to the library and museum.
- Recurs every Friday.
- Event Website
Whitney Museum | Museum/Art
- 99 Gansevoort Street (Chelsea), 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Free!)
- Free/pay what you wish admission to the Whitney Museum.
- Recurs every Friday.
- Event Website
Another Round: Heben & Tracy’s Kwanzaa Spectacular | Podcast Comedy
- The Bell House (Brooklyn), 8:00 PM ($25)
- Join Tracy Clayton and Heben Nigatu for a very special holiday party + live taping of their hit BuzzFeed podcast Another Round.
- Event Website
Relationshit! | Comedy
- Q.E.D. (Astoria), 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM ($8 Advance, $10 Door)
- Features a mix of stories about all kinds of relationships and good old-fashioned new-fangled advice from real-live therapists on stage.
- Event Website
Pulitzer Surprises | Comedy
- Union Hall (Brooklyn), 10:00 PM ($6 Advance, $8 Door)
- Comedians perform their submission for a Pulitzer. Then they interview a real-life Pulitzer Prize winner who has actually done something good. At the end of the show the audience will cast their vote on who deserves a Pulitzer, and then it will really be submitted for a Pulitzer Prize. That winner walks away a “Pulitzer Prize Entrant.”
- Event Website
Karaoke Tremendous | Music Fun & Games
- Union Hall (Brooklyn), Midnight – Late (Free!)
- Karaoke!
- Recurs every Friday.
- Event Website
Midnights: “Space Jam” Screening + Drinking Game | Film
- Videology Bar & Cinema (Brooklyn), Midnight ($12)
- Synopsis: Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny team up with other basketball greats and Looney Tunes characters in this combination animated/live-action feature.
- Event Website
SantaCon | Fair/Festival
- Various Locations, 10:00 AM – After Midnight ($10)
- The famous all day, all night annual pub crawl in which all participants dress up like Santa Claus or other Christmas characters.
- Event Website
Winter Wildlife Viewing | Active
- Corona Park (Queens), 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM (Free!)
- NYC is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
- Event Website
North Shore Coastal Cleanup | Volunteer
- Snug Harbor Cultural Center (Staten Island), 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Free!)
- Join in a coastal cleanup on SI’s north shore. Volunteers will help remove debris from the Snug Harbor shoreline. Come dressed in clothes that can get dirty, durable boots or sneakers, and a water bottle.
- Pre-register.
- Event Website
Shape Up NYC: Zumba | Active
- Poe Park Visitor Center (Bronx), 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Free!)
- Have fun with Zumba for fitness, health, and well-being.
- Event Website
Grand Central Holiday Fair | Fair/Festival
- Grand Central, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Free!)
- 40 vendors will take over half of the historic Vanderbilt Hall to sell artwork, clothing for all ages, men’s/women’s accessories, children’s clothing/toys and home goods. A range of products and price points guarantees that New Yorkers, commuters, and tourists alike can find interesting gift items for others as well as covet-worthy items for themselves.
- Recurs through Christmas Eve.
- Event Website
Holiday Market | Fair/Festival
- Union Square, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Free!)
- A must-visit destination for unique gifts created by local craftsmen and artists.
- Recurs through Christmas Eve.
- Event Website
WormShop | Class
- Snug Harbor Cultural Center (Staten Island), 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Free!)
- Learn how worms convert your food scraps into compost for your plants. This free workshop will teach you how to set up and care for a worm bin, as well as how to harvest and use vermicomposting.
- Pre-register.
- Event Website
Nature Exploration Hike | Tour
- Van Cortlandt Park (Bronx), 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Free!)
- Explore nature with a guided hike, discover the city’s urban forests, or just unplug from the world to clear your head. This hike is vigorous.
- Event Website
Holiday Workshop Weekend | Class Fun & Games
- Wave Hill House (Bronx), 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM ($15+)
- Drop by this weekend to create your own gifts and holiday decorations inspired by the gardens at Wave Hill. Create mulled cider/wine kits, natural wreaths, or miniature holiday arrangements.
- Event Website
Bike Park Orientation | Class Active
- Highbridge Park (Manhattan), 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Free!)
- Led by professional ride leaders and master trail builders, participants learn what it takes to build and ride the most progressive urban bike park in America! Participants earn their turns through the valuable experience of volunteering and riding. There will be light trail maintenance tasks for all ages, followed by free guided rides for all volunteers, including use of bikes and protective gear.
- Recurs the second Saturday of January.
- Event Website
FAD Market | Fair/Festival
- Invisible Dog Art Center (Brooklyn), 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Free!)
- Featuring over 50 designer makers showcasing unique handcrafted jewelry, apparel, bath and body care, tableware and home furnishings. Holiday shoppers will delight in discovering one-of-a-kind handmade items and unique stocking stuffers.
- Event Website
From Freight to Flowers | Tour
- The High Line, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (Free!)
- Hear the story behind New York City’s park in the sky on a special winter walking tour! Join a 45-minute long tour led by High Line Docents, knowledgeable volunteer guides who offer you an insider’s perspective on the park’s history, design, and landscape.
- Recurs Saturdays.
- Event Website
Winter Village | Fair/Festival
- Bryant Park, 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Free!)
- The Winter Village features ice skating, holiday shopping, food, and artisanal boutiques offering delicious eats and exquisite gifts, from distinctive apparel to decorative goods, local food vendors, and more.
- Open through the end of December.
- Event Website
Chelsea Flea Market | Fair/Festival
- West 25th Street, between 6th Ave & Broadway, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM ($1 admission)
- Features up to 135 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, ephemera, decorative arts, vintage clothing, jewelry, and other types of antiques (items more than 100 years old), vintage items (including Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern items), and other desirable items from the past.
- Recurs weekly.
- Event Website
Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market | Fair/Festival
- West 39th Street, between 9th & 10th Ave, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Free to enter, goods for purchase)
- A place where collectors and top-notch hagglers including fashion hunters, designers, celebs, tourists, and residents shop for antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, home decorations, furniture, ephemera, jewelry, and more
- Recurs weekly.
- Event Website
Long Island City Flea & Food | Fair/Festival Food
- 5-25 46th Avenue, LIC, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Free to enter, goods for purchase)
- The market has over 80 carefully curated vendors that sell items such as internationally inspired food & drink, antiques, art, furniture, fashion, jewelry, arts & crafts and much more
- Recurs weekly.
- Event Website
Smorg Square | Food Fair/Festival
- SoHo, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Free to enter, food and drink for purchase)
- 75-100 food and drink vendors
- Recurs through the holidays.
- Event Website
The Green Team | Active
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Free!)
- Volunteer with the Green Team: The Green Team provides essential horticultural care to the Park, including planting, mulching, and removing invasive plants. The Green Team is a wonderful opportunity to learn about gardening, enjoy nature, and make the Park look its best.
- Recurs Saturdays.
- Event Website
Winter Wonderland | Fair/Festival
- Brookville Park (Queens), 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Free!)
- Join Council Member Richards for an afternoon of crafts, a trackless train, photo station, hot chocolate, and more!
- Event Website
Whimsical Winter Wonder – Opening Reception | Fair/Festival
- Poe Park (Bronx), 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Free!)
- The Poe Park Visitor Center presents the Fifth Annual Whimsical Winter Wonder… exhibition. The exhibition, curated by Lucy Aponte, features the delightful works of over a dozen emerging and established artists from the Bronx and around. This year, the show includes works by students from the adult arts program.
- Event Website
Turn & Learn | Class
- Snug Harbor Cultural Center (Staten Island), 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Free!)
- Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful surroundings while working on the NYC Compost Project demonstration site. Learn sustainable landscape management practices and help us make compost.
- Pre-register.
- Event Website
African Diaspora International Film Festival | Film Fair/Festival
- Various Locations, 1:00 PM – Late ($13)
- ADIFF’s mission is to present these films to diverse audiences, redesign the Black cinema experience, and strengthen the role of African and African descent directors in contemporary world cinema. This is a truly international festival, featuring films from all around the world.
- Event Website
Monuments of Prospect Park | Tour
- Grand Army Plaza (Brooklyn), 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Free!)
- Urban Park Rangers specialize in the interpretation of historic turning points, both natural and man-made. This week, learn about the history and architecture of Prospect Park.
- Event Website
Brooklyn Brewery Tours | Tour Food
- Brooklyn Brewery, 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM (Free!)
- Tour the brewery and learn how beer is made.
- Recurs every Saturday & Sunday.
- Event Website
Humans Being Demonstration | Fun & Games
- The Strand (Manhattan), 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Free!)
- A team of improv pros and game inventors have just launched a brand new game and are here to share it! They’ll be demonstrating the ins and outs of their improv card game and taking audience volunteers to join in on the fun. The game splits players into teams, then teams into pairs as a pair draws a scene card, then a challenge card. The pair has to act out what the cards say as their team guesses. If their team doesn’t figure it out, the other team(s) can steal the point!
- Event Website
Create Your Own Holiday Wrapping Paper | Class Fun & Games
- Poe Visitor Center, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Free!)
- Adults will make their own, creative gift wrapping paper for the coming holidays. Participants will take inspiration from fall and winter seasons, as well as the holidays for each month.
- December: Whimsical Winter Wonder, Christmas, and Hanukah
- Recurs Saturdays through December.
- Event Website
Central Park Tour: Heart of the Park | Tour
- Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Free!)
- Highlights include: Conservatory Water, Loeb Boathouse, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, Cherry Hill, the lake, and Strawberry Fields.
- Event Website
Union Square Park Tour | Tour
- Union Square, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Free!)
- Explore the social and political history of the Union Square neighborhood and learn about the people and events that shaped this vibrant historical community.
- Recurs every Saturday.
- Event Website
Bargemusic | Music
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, 4:00 PM (Free!)
- Walk across the gangplank of a renovated coffee barge for a one-hour, family-friendly concert by Bargemusic.
- Recurs Saturdays.
- Event Website
Holiday on the Hudson | Fair/Festival
- Riverside Park (Manhattan), 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Free!)
- Riverside Park’s tree lighting party and celebrate the season with live music, dancing, decoration making, and hot chocolate.
- Event Website
Trivia Night | Fun & Games
- One Star Bar (Manhattan), 7:00 PM (Free!)
- Hosted by Tony Hightower of TriviaNYC and John Chaneski of NPR’s “Ask Me Another“.
- Recurring every Saturday
- TriviaNYC Website
- Venue Website
My Gay Banjo & Ganessa James Perform | Music
- Union Hall (Brooklyn), 7:30 PM ($10)
- My Gay Banjo is Owen Taylor and Julia Steele Allen on guitar, banjo, uke and vocals. Singing homespun gay-themed duets and occasional queered-up mash-ups, My Gay Banjo plays songs for you and your kind. Followed by Ganessa James, who has 20 years of experience playing bass in soul, funk, and rock music bands.
- Event Website
3RA1N1AC | Film
- The Bell House (Brooklyn), 8:00 PM ($25)
- This year marks the 25th anniversary of Brainiac’s debut album and to commemorate this The Bell House is hosting a tribute concert in Tim’s memory. The night will also be filmed for the upcoming feature length documentary on the band by Dayton native and Brooklyn based filmmaker Eric Mahoney.
- Event Website
Conflicted: The Greatest Fights in History | Comedy
- Caveat (Manhattan), 10:00 PM ($10)
- History is written by the victors….and now that they did all the work, we’ll do the PowerPoint! Two comedians take you through some of history’s greatest fights. From rivalries and gossip to attacks and blood feuds, you’ll get the inside scoop on what (probably) happened, aided by the people responsible for each of these brawls. It’ll be so funny that you might actually learn something.
- Event Website
Last Stop Laughs | Comedy
- Q.E.D. (Astoria), 11:00 PM – 12:30 AM (Free!)
- Late night stand up.
- Recurs every Saturday.
- Event Website
FAD Market | Fair/Festival
- Invisible Dog Art Center (Brooklyn), 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Free!)
- Featuring over 50 designer makers showcasing unique handcrafted jewelry, apparel, bath and body care, tableware and home furnishings. Holiday shoppers will delight in discovering one-of-a-kind handmade items and unique stocking stuffers.
- Event Website
Seal Exploration | Tour
- Pelham Bay Park (Bronx), 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Free!)
- Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle for spotting seals.
- Event Website
Winter Wonderland Hike | Active
- Central Park, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Free!)
- Explore Central Park from top to bottom on a guided hike.
- Pre-register.
- Event Website
Holiday Workshop Weekend | Class Fun & Games
- Wave Hill House, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM ($15+)
- Drop by this weekend to create your own gifts and holiday decorations inspired by the gardens at Wave Hill. Create mulled cider/wine kits, natural wreaths, or miniature holiday arrangements.
- Event Website
Winter Village | Fair/Festival
- Bryant Park, 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Free!)
- The Winter Village features ice skating, holiday shopping, food, and artisanal boutiques offering delicious eats and exquisite gifts, from distinctive apparel to decorative goods, local food vendors, and more.
- Open through the end of December.
- Event Website
Grand Central Holiday Fair | Fair/Festival
- Grand Central, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Free!)
- 40 vendors will take over half of the historic Vanderbilt Hall to sell artwork, clothing for all ages, men’s/women’s accessories, children’s clothing/toys and home goods. A range of products and price points guarantees that New Yorkers, commuters, and tourists alike can find interesting gift items for others as well as covet-worthy items for themselves.
- Recurs through Christmas Eve.
- Event Website
Holiday Market | Fair/Festival
- Union Square, 11:00AM to 7:00PM (Free!)
- A must-visit destination for unique gifts created by local craftsmen and artists.
- Recurs through Christmas Eve.
- Event Website
Chelsea Flea Market | Fair/Festival
- West 25th Street, between 6th Ave & Broadway, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM ($1 admission)
- Features up to 135 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, ephemera, decorative arts, vintage clothing, jewelry, and other types of antiques (items more than 100 years old), vintage items (including Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern items), and other desirable items from the past
- Recurs weekly.
- Event Website
Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market | Fair/Festival
- West 39th Street, between 9th & 10th Ave, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Free to enter, goods for purchase)
- A place where collectors and top-notch hagglers including fashion hunters, designers, celebs, tourists, and residents shop for antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, home decorations, furniture, ephemera, jewelry, and more
- Recurs weekly.
- Event Website
Grand Bazaar | Fair/Festival
- 77th St. & Columbus Ave., 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Free!)
- Recurring every Sunday.
- The largest curated weekly market on the Upper West Side: indoors & outdoors, local artist, designers, and antique/vintage dealers sell one-of-a-kind and limited edition art, antique watches, vintage collectibles and fashion, handmade jewelry and furniture.
- Event Website
Smorg Square | Food Fair/Festival
- SoHo, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Free to enter, food and drink for purchase)
- 75-100 food and drink vendors
- Recurs through the holidays.
- Event Website
Long Island City Flea & Food | Fair/Festival Food
- 5-25 46th Avenue, LIC, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Free to enter, goods for purchase)
- The market has over 80 carefully curated vendors that sell items such as internationally inspired food & drink, antiques, art, furniture, fashion, jewelry, arts & crafts and much more.
- Recurs weekly.
- Event Website
Board Game Meet Up | Fun & Games
- Q.E.D. (Astoria), 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Free!)
- Break out the board games and bring your friends to play anything you like. This is a great chance to learn how to play new games or play ones that require extra players.
Brooklyn Brewery Tours | Tour Food
- Brooklyn Brewery, 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM (Free!)
- Tour the brewery and learn how beer is made.
- Recurs every Saturday & Sunday.
- Event Website
African Diaspora International Film Festival | Film Fair/Festival
- Various Locations, 1:00 PM – Late ($13)
- ADIFF’s mission is to present these films to diverse audiences, redesign the Black cinema experience, and strengthen the role of African and African descent directors in contemporary world cinema. This is a truly international festival, featuring films from all around the world.
- Event Website
Honoring the Fight for Women’s Rights | Tour
- Kingsland Homestead (Queens), 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM ($15 Advance, $20 Door)
- Each historic house offers tours, sponsors activities, and provides refreshments and snacks. Many of the houses will have musical performances throughout the day, holiday crafts to make and take, and historically- themed seasonal displays and decorations. Since this year is filled with important historic anniversaries, the overarching theme will be the celebration of The Centennial of the Women’s Suffrage Movement.
- Event Website
Central Park Tour: Stroll to Strawberry Fields | Tour
- Central Park, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Free!)
- Highlights of this tour include: Maine Monument, the Children’s District, Sheep Meadow, Tavern on the Green, and Strawberry Fields.
- Event Website
Dog Film Festival | Tour
- SVA Theatre (Manhattan), 2:45 & 4:45 PM ($15)
- A philanthropic celebration of the love between dogs and their people, offering dog lovers a shared audience experience of canine-themed films from around the world that inspire, educate and entertain about the human-canine bond.
- Event Website
The Anatomy of Racism | Class
- Neuehouse Madison Square, 3:00 PM ($20, coffee, tea, and snacks included)
- Why does racism persist more than fifty years after the passage of Civil Rights Legislation? Why do people have different understandings of what racism is? This two-part olio will lend some insight into these questions as we trace the evolution of racism, how it changed forms, and how this affects the way racism is defined. Participants will leave this session with a conceptual understanding of racism that will help them promote more productive conversations.
- Event Website
Astronomy | Class
- Fort Trotten Park (Queens), 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Free!)
- Urban Park Rangers will be your guides to the solar system, discussing the science, history, and folklore of the universe.
- Event Website
YouTube Jukebox | Fun & Games
- Caveat (Manhattan), 7:00 PM ($5)
- That part of the party where everybody takes turns putting on YouTube videos, but at a bar, and on a huge screen.
- Event Website
Trivia Night | Fun & Games
- Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor Soha (by Columbia), 7:00 PM (Free!)
- Recurring every Sunday
- Each week features an “On This Day In History” round, a rapid-fire “Name Threes” round, the best-curated audio round in the city, and tons of prizes, including books, theater tickets, & other prizes (many of them drinkable).
- TriviaNYC Website
- Venue Website
Comfort Zone | Music Comedy
- Union Hall (Brooklyn), 7:30 PM ($10 Advance, $12 Door)
- Comedian Brooke Van Poppelen and singer/songwriter Julian Velard are Comfort Zone, a musical duo that lampoons the state of modern thirty-somethings through original song. This month it’s holiday themed!
- Event Website
Secret Science Club Presents Oceans of Wonder | Class Fun & Games
- The Bell House (Brooklyn), 8:00 PM (Free!)
- Dissolve into the ocean’s vastness and explore its multitudes of unsung, unseen life. Just a liter of water from the surface of the sea contains 10 billion microbes and as many as 20,000 species—all invisible to the human eye and unknown to science until recent decades.
- Event Website
Musical Theatre Mayhem | Music Comedy
- Q.E.D. (Astoria), 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM ($5)
- Act 1: Broadway Bonanza: two comedians as musical theatre characters decide on who’s win in a physical fight. Act 2: Sing For Your Life: the audience chooses musicals that Patrick and a guest have to sing songs from. Act 3: 10-Minute Musical: three comedians improv a classic musical. Sing and all!
- Event Website