Finals are over and the relaxing can finally begin! You come home to the wonderful New York City and you're hit with the reality that New York is unreasonably expensive. But fear not, for there are plenty of free things in New York, but there are especially a boatload of free events this summer.
1. NYC Fleet Week and Memorial Day
Every year, thousands of New Yorkers and tourists line the streets to celebrate and honor those at our front lines. On May 30, 2016 Memorial Day parades will be held in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Leading up to Memorial Day is NYC's Fleet Week. This week is full of events free and open to the public all across the city with lots to do. For a full list of events and further details, visit Fleet Week NYC.
2. Jazz at Socrates
On June 2, 2016, cross the bridge over to Queens and head over to Socrates Sculpture Park. This year, Socrates and The Jazz Foundation of America has come together to provide this inaugural event where free jazz will be played in the park. There will also be three other jazz performances in the park. For dates and times of all the performances, visit Jazz at Socrates.
3. Museum Mile Festival
On June 14, 2016 at six p.m. the annual Museum Mile Festival will stretch 23 blocks across Fifth Avenue. Participating museums in this radius will offer free admission during extended evening hours to see some of the world's finest art collections. For more information on the participating and individual gallery times, visit Museum Mile Festival.
4. Night at the Museums
On June 21, 2016, get ready to see what really happens at New York City museums after dark. More than ten downtown museums and historic sites will be opening their doors between four and eight p.m., along with offering free admission. To see a full list of museums and historic sites that will take part in Night at the Museums, visit Night at the Museums.
5. River to River
Night at the Museums is part of a larger festival, River to River. River to River is an annual festival that hosts free art events in downtown Manhattan for 11 days. On June 16 - 26, 2016, there will be lots of performing and visual art exhibitions, all events are free, but some require a reservation. For a complete list of events, see River to River NYC.
6. Free Summer Concerts
Throughout the summer, there will be free concerts in New York City parks throughout all five boroughs. There is a range of concerts in the parks catering to all music tastes. For a full list of concerts, visit NYC Parks.
