We know the best of New York City.
We know the best places for margaritas, desserts, and even where to go when you want to get out of NYC.
But the best of the best don't come cheap, and that's why we're lucky we're spending our summer in one of the greatest hubs for free events.
You'll probably stumble upon some kind of free entertainment on any given day in NYC, but thankfully you have us to tell you where exactly to go to get down fo free.
You can thank us later.
1. Harlem Week
Basically, Harlem Week is everything you want focused into one area. With outdoor/indoor concerts, the Upper Manhattan Auto Show, film festivals, sporting events, and even career fairs, you simply can’t go wrong with this event.
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The event will be running from July 31st through August 27th and will be hosting different events every day. A full list of those events can be found here.
2. Free booze
Good news: you can find free booze around the city, if you know where to look. We’re here to point you in the right direction.
The Delancey offers Laid-Off Mondays, giving you a free tequila shot with proof of unemployment, to accompany their two-for-one deal on drinks.
Wicked Willy’s will give you a free drink of choice if you get on stage during their Karaoke Night, hosted on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
The city also offers a lot of beer and wine tastings, which can be found at Bierkraft, Union Square Wine and Spirits, and Bottlerocket, to name a few.
3. Central Park Summerstage
Summerstage is something that everyone should experience at least once, if not more. From kids shows to poetry gatherings, Summerstage is something you can visit again and again. A full lineup of their events can be found here.
4. Rooftop Film Screenings
Take your movie watching to new heights -- literally -- with these rooftop film screening events. Found in every borough in NYC, these films aren’t only a great experience, but they’re easy to get to. And they’re free, obviously.
You can find the schedule for August film screenings here.
5. Bryant Park
Not only is Bryant Park a good place to just relax after a long day, but it’s also chock-full of free events.
From a yoga class in the morning to a writing class with Gotham Writers in the evening, you could potentially spend an entire day at Bryant Park. But you probably shouldn’t, because you need to make room for every event on this list.
You can find a list of free events on the daily here.
6. Museums
Once you feel you’ve sweat enough for the day, head on over to some sweet AC’d shelter in one of NYC’s renowned museums. Might as well get a little cultured while you’re at it, right?
A list of free days and hours for museums citywide can be found here.
7. Outdoor Pools
If the AC isn’t enough for you, get yourself to a free outdoor pool. Although few know about them, they’re out there. And we have a list of them on hand just for you.
8. Concerts
The other concert suggestions (link?) we have for you are totally worth the tickets, but we understand that sometimes you just want to keep your hands out of your pockets.
We found a list of free concerts for this summer that you can indulge in for a while. Whether it’s classy or punk, you’re sure to find something to your liking in NYC this summer.
Save your money in the meantime for the next big bucks concert.
9. Queens Night Market
The Queens Night Market is an event you should never miss out on. Back for their second season, the Night Market is open on Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to midnight, until August 20th.
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It’s featuring independent vendors, cultural performances, and, of course, food. More info about the Queens Night Market can be found here.
10. Street fairs
Street fairs are happening in all shapes and sizes this summer. Some are ongoing, like St. Anthony’s Market and the West Village Marketplace, while others are a one time event, like the Festival of the Americas, the 30th Avenue Astoria Festival, and the Grand Central Food Fair.
Check out the event calendar here.
11. Party on a boat
Partying it up on a boat may seem like one of the more glamorous things you can do in Manhattan, but this opportunity is easier to catch than it seems.
All you have to do to get on board HOOCH's Happy Hour boat on August 4th is be a verified member, and if you join with the invite code "spoiled" you can be a verified member for just $1 a month.
You can live the dream and drink on this cruise along the Hudson, all while enjoying 30+ free drinks around the city all month, all thanks to your HOOCH member status.
[Feature Image Courtesy Tablelist.com]