60 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids

Put on your most creative costume, and head to Dumbo for a Halloween March to the Arch.  Photo by Hassan Mokaddam
Put on your most creative costume, and head to Dumbo for a Halloween March to the Arch. Photo by Hassan Mokaddam
10/3/24 - By Drew Kristofik

October is bubbling over with bushels of free things to do in NYC. In addition to our huge, spooky pile of free Halloween activities, we've found tons of cost-free fun happening in NYC this month, from St. John the Divine's heavenly Blessing of the Animals to Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, Diwali's big celebration in Times Square, Open House New York, and the return of Bryant Park's Winter Village. Then, Canstruction starts building anticipation for Thanksgiving!

Read on for 60 free things to do in New York City this October, including events in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Find more top events on our best-of-October list. Of course, our Guide to Fall Activities and New York City Kids Halloween Guide have all the seasonal must-do's.

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Places featured in this article:


Old Stone House at JJ Byrne Playground

Carroll Park Carroll Gardens

J Hood Wright Rec Center Rotunda

Brooklyn Bridge Park - Pier 5

Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine

Brooklyn Children's Museum

Bay 84th Street Community Garden

Citywide and online

David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center For The Performing Arts

BAM Peter Jay Sharp Lobby and Lepercq Space