FreeNew York City · The Big Apple

Free things to do with kids in New York City, this week and every week.

Yes, plenty is free with little kids in New York City this week: we found 15 free outings, including Village Halloween Parade, Greenpoint Children’s Halloween Parade and Urban Meadow Halloween Parade and Party. Ten free days and events are coming up, including one museum or zoo free day, each with its date. And five places never charge admission, like New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library.

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

15free outings this weekrebuilt every Thursday10free days and events coming upincl. 1 museum or zoo free day5places that are always freeNew York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library3free storytime calendarsNew York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library

This week

Free things to do with kids in NYC this week

Every free outing on this week’s NYC list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.

Fri Oct 306–8pm

WBO Haunted House

Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center · Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx, NY

Creaky stairs and dusty cobwebs lead into the rec center’s yearly haunted house, free and open to families.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 4–12
Sat Oct 317pm

Village Halloween Parade

Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Village · Sixth Avenue, New York, NY

The 53rd year of the city’s giant costumed parade up Sixth Avenue, rain or shine. It runs after dark and the crowds are huge, so it’s best for older kids on shoulders.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 4–99
Sat Oct 313:30–5:30pm

Hippo Playground Halloween Parade

Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, Riverside Park · West 89th Street and Riverside Drive, New York, NY

Costumed kids gather at the monument at 89th Street and parade up to Hippo Playground, with music from Ramblin’ Dan.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–10
Showing all 15 free outings

Mark the calendar

Free days and free events coming up in NYC

Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.

Who gets in free:EveryoneResidents onlyCardholders only
Nov26

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Central Park West to Herald Square · West 77th Street and Central Park West, New York, NY

8:30am. The 100th parade starts at 77th Street and Central Park West and ends at Herald Square. Grandstand seats aren’t sold to the public.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree to watch from the sidewalk
Nov27
to
Dec24

Santaland at Macy’s Herald Square

Macy’s Herald Square, 8th floor · 151 W. 34th St., New York, NY 10001

Book a time; reservations open daily at 6:30am, 7 days ahead. A new Santaland this year, with a North Star Express ride to the North Pole before you meet Santa. Free reservations open Nov 20; waits after check-in run 30 to 90 minutes. Dec 2 and Dec 9 are sensory-friendly days.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree with a reservation; photo packages from $44.99; Premium Experience $250 per group
Dec2
to
Jan15

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

Rockefeller Center · Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY

Lighting 7–10pm. This year’s 76-foot Norway spruce comes from West Edmeston, New York, and gets more than 50,000 lights. The lighting night is packed, so with small kids, visit on a weekday morning after Dec 2.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree to see from the plaza

Any day

Places that are always free in NYC

Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.

New York Public Library

Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten IslandFree baby, toddler and preschool story times at the neighborhood branches.Official site ↗Report a problem

Queens County Farm Museum

Floral Park, Queens, 73-50 Little Neck ParkwayA working farm with fields, animals and a historic farmhouse. General admission is free most days of the year.Official site ↗Report a problem

Brooklyn Children’s Museum on Thursday afternoons

145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 · Crown HeightsFree every Thursday 2–5pm.Official site ↗Report a problem
Free to get in, but parking, special exhibits and seasonal extras can cost money. Check each place’s site before you go.

Every week

Free library storytimes

New York Public Library

Free baby, toddler and preschool story times in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.

Weekday mornings at most branches

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Brooklyn Public Library

Free story times at Central Library and the branches.

Weekday mornings

Free
Find a storytime near you ↗

Queens Public Library

Free story times at branches across Queens.

Weekday mornings

Free
Find a storytime near you ↗

Keep planning

More for little kids in NYC

November: things to do in NYCEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in NYCEvery dated listing for the month, by weekIndoor play in NYCIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesIce skating in NYCHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesThanksgiving weekend in NYCParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in NYCKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in NYCParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in NYCPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in NYCBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in NYCChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas break in NYCWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in NYCDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Free things to do with kids in New York City: the FAQ

This week we found 15 free outings for ages 0–6, including Village Halloween Parade, Greenpoint Children’s Halloween Parade, Urban Meadow Halloween Parade and Party and Hippo Playground Halloween Parade. See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

Hippo Playground Halloween Parade: Sat Oct 31. Urban Meadow Halloween Parade: Sat Oct 31. Community Access Thursdays at Brooklyn Children’s Museum: Thu Nov 5, Thu Nov 12 and Thu Nov 19. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Santaland at Macy’s Herald Square, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, Noon Year's Eve Rave at Hackensack's Johnson Free Public Library and Noon Year's Eve Party at Englewood Public Library and 2 more are free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.

New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, Queens County Farm Museum and Brooklyn Children’s Museum on Thursday afternoons don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.

Yes. New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 28, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.

Free things to do, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in NYC that weekend, free ones flagged.

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