Free in May: 45 Things To Do in NYC with Kids

Relax in the serene garden at the Noguchi Museum during its free Community Day. Photo by Jody Mercier
Relax in the serene garden at the Noguchi Museum during its free Community Day. Photo by Jody Mercier
5/4/23 - By Drew Kristofik

We've got the lowdown on the best free things to do in NYC this May, including the start of the annual outdoor movies and music season.

Summer's unofficial start might not happen until month's end, but plenty of summer-like fun is popping up on our Family Activity Calendar with season-long series like Summer on the Hudson Play Dates making their annual debut. We're also thrilled to welcome back annual favorites, like Dance Parade and Fleet Week.

Read on for more than 50 free things to do this May in New York City, including fun events in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Find more top events in our list of the best things to do this May.

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As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including address and time. And keep in mind, in NYC, really cool things to do with kids often book quickly. In the case of these FREE events, arrive as early as possible.

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Places featured in this article:


Orchard Beach Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park

Base of 103rd St. Footbridge

Prospect Park Audubon Center

Urban Farm at Randall's Island Park

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York

Red Shade Plaza - Riverside Park South

Various locations