54 FREE Things to do in NYC with Kids this Summer | Free Admission by Day Guide

54 FREE THINGS TO DO IN NYC WITH KIDS THIS SUMMER | FREE ADMISSION BY DAY GUIDE

What I love most about raising my children in New York City is that there is always something fun to do with them!  I’ve gotten a few emails and DM’s  from moms planning to visit this summer so I put together this major bucket list of 54 free things to do in NYC with kids this summer. I broke down this list by things that are always free and those that are free only certain days or dates. Be sure to share this post with any of your friends or family members who will find it useful for summer planning.

Things to do with kids in the summer in NYC.

ALWAYS FREE

  1. Shakephere in the Park. Sign up here for the free ticket lottery.
  2. Bryant Park also has over 50 free board games that are available until 8pm. We love playing with our kids there and their bathrooms are the cleanest public bathrooms in the city. 
  3. FDNY Fire Zone
  4. National Museum of the American Indian
  5. Riverbank State Park.
  6. Ride the Staten Island Ferry.
  7. Brooklyn Museum (pay as you wish)
  8. Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
  9. The brand new Domino Park. Cool playground, splash pad, volleyball courts, picnic area and view of the city. Dapper Style: Boys Suit with Leather Sneakers
  10. Brooklyn Bridge ParkRattles and Heels
  11. Gantry State Park
  12. Coney Island Beach/Boardwalk accessible by subway. 
  13. Governors Island
  14. Times Square
  15. Highland Park
  16. Central Park
  17. Kayaking at Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse Pier 1 and Pier 2.
  18. Hudson River Park
  19. Rockaway Beach (accessible by A train).Maximize Family Time
  20. Jones Beach (accessible by LIRR and Long Island bus).
  21. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
  22. South Street Seaport
  23. Flushing Meadows Park
    54 FREE THINGS TO DO IN NYC WITH KIDS THIS SUMMER | FREE ADMISSION BY DAY GUIDE
    The Unisphere at Flushing Meadows.
  24. Juniper Valley Park
  25. City Island
  26. Battery City Park
  27. Fort Tryon Park
  28. Cunningham Park

Activities that are free only certain days, dates and times. 

Mondays

29. Bryant Park Free Movie Night. 

Tuesdays

30. Workshops at Lego Flagship Store

bronx-zoo
The Bronx Zoo

Wednesdays

31. The Bronx Zoo (pay as you wish)

32. Prospect Park: A Summer Movie Under the Stars

33. Madison Square Park Concerts for Kids

34. Atlas Park: Movies on the Green (get dates here)

Thursdays 

35. Brooklyn Children’s Museum 2-6pm (Pay as you wish)

36. Brooklyn Bridge Park: Movies with a view

37. Outer Space Outdoor Movies: Albee Square, Brooklyn

38. Summer in the Square: Union Square Park  – Stories and performances for children.

39. Children’s Museum of the Arts (pay as you wish) 4-6pm. My kids LOVE it there.

Fridays 

40. Brooklyn Botanical Gardens (free before noon)

41. Manhattan Children’s Museum (First Friday evenings of the month are FREE)

MoMA-kids
MoMA Kids

42. Museum of Modern Art MoMA  (Friday evenings are FREE)

43. The New-York Historical Society 6-8 pm on Fridays (pay as you wish)

44. Museum of the Moving Image, 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Saturdays

45. Governors Island Kayaking 

46. Le Carrousel Story Time at Bryant Park 2:00pm

47. Guggenheim Museum (Pay as you wish 5–7:45 pm)

48. July 14th – City of Water Day at South Street Seaport

49. July 21st –  Come Out & Play Family Day

50. July 28th – Lincoln Center Out of Doors Family Day 

51. September 1st – Kiddies Carnival Brooklyn

52. First three Saturdays in August Summer Streets 

Sundays

53. Sundae Sermon – Central Park

54. Zipline at Alley Pond Park. Register here

edited to add:

55. Sugar Hill Children’s Museum FREE every third Sunday of the month.

Enjoy your summer and don’t forget to SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! 

 

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