19 fun and free things to do in New York City this November

As the holidays approach, the pressure of buying gifts for loved ones and potential holiday travel can make New York City can feel even more expensive than usual.

Fortunately, there are plenty of free entertainment options if you know where to look. This November, check out some of the activities below, which won’t cost you more than subway fare.

Ice skate at Bryant Park’s Winter Village

Admittedly you do have to bring your own skates for this to be 100% free, and most New Yorkers don’t have a pair tucked away in a closet. Skate rentals will run you anywhere between $18 and $55 (off-peak hours are cheaper), and then you can enjoy a skate session in one of the city’s most iconic parks. Skating is free. Open now through March 3, Bryant Park; details here.

Catch a 30-minute lunchtime performance of Bach

Every Tuesday through Friday at 12:20 p.m. sharp, Grace Church at Broadway and 10th Street features the keyboard works of Johann Sebastian Bach, played on the church’s magnificent Bicentennial Organ. These half-hour “meditations,” called “Bach at Noon,” are free and open to anyone who wants to stop by. Tuesdays through Fridays, 12:20 p.m., Grace Church; details here.

See the Jay-Z exhibit at Brooklyn’s Central Library before it closes

New York City has spent all year celebrating hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, and there is no living New York rapper who can top Jay-Z's fame. His company, Roc Nation, teamed up with the Brooklyn Public Library to create “The Book of HOV,” an exhibit that honors Jay-Z’s journey from the Marcy Houses to becoming a global brand. It closes in early December, so you've got a few weeks to check it out. Through Dec. 4, Grand Army Plaza; details here.

Celebrate Diwali around the city

Diwali falls on Nov. 12, but there are plenty of free events to celebrate the Festival of Lights leading up to that date. You can rave at HK Hall for its Bollywood Night Diwali Party on Friday, Nov. 3, celebrate in Jackson Heights on Saturday, Nov. 4, or enjoy dance and treats at the Seaport on Friday, Nov. 10. There are even more neighborhood celebrations throughout the city, so even if you can't make it to one of the events above, another is likely happening near you.

Go to Governors Island

Governors Island is now a year-round destination. Don’t wait until summer; head there now to explore the island's various public art installations, or go off the beaten path and learn how to produce sustainable goods at the Circular Economy Manufacturing MicroFactory. The factory takes post-consumer plastic and turns it into new products, all while running completely on solar power and creating no waste. It's open from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and staff at the factory offer tours, answer questions, and sell products. Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m., South Battery, Governors Island; details here.

View "can art" at Brookfield Place

At this contest-turned-exhibit, called “Canstruction,” 28 design teams transform canned food into giant art structures. Can fans can enjoy the creations until Nov. 13; afterwards, City Harvest will give the canned food to families in need. The exhibit runs from Nov. 2 until Nov. 13 at Brookfield Place; details here.

Center yourself with a free yoga class in Chelsea

Early birds can enjoy Chelsea Market’s yoga class, which is free at 7 a.m. on Thursdays and open to participants of all levels. The vinyasa class, which takes place at the Makers Studio, will help you ease into the weekend. You’ll need to bring your own mat, and a towel isn’t a bad idea either. Thursdays, 7 a.m., Chelsea Market; details here.

See Manet and Degas at the Met

Anyone who’s lived in New York more than a minute knows that the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s listed admission prices are merely a suggested donation for New York residents. If you can keep your nerve at the ticket counter, you’re welcome to view the Met’s "Manet/Degas" exhibition for free, featuring two towering figures of French painting. With more than 160 works on display, you’ll get unique insight into two friends (and, according to the Met, occasional antagonists) who helped usher in Modernism. Through Jan. 7, 2024, Metropolitan Museum of Art; details here.

Ponder nothing at LIC Culture Lab

Long Island City’s Culture Lab is putting on an exhibition titled "The Inevitability of Absence" through Nov. 19. What does that mean? Well, according to the Culture Lab, works in the exhibition “challenge viewers to consider how we process and continue to move forward through a world of ever inevitable absences.” In other words, you can’t avoid absence! Except by being present at the Culture Lab. Those interested in lighter fare can opt for the Culture Lab’s pay-what-you-want comedy shows, which take place every other Thursday at 8 p.m. Free comedy shows are Thursday, Nov. 2, Nov. 16 and Nov. 30; details here.

Visit the New York Aquarium at Coney Island

Normally, admission here will run you around $30, but if you plan for a Wednesday afternoon, you can get in for free. You’ll still need advance, timed tickets to enter, and after Nov. 4 the aquarium closes at 4:30 p.m. each day, but… it’s free! Since you’ll be planning in advance, you can pick and choose which creatures to see. But it’s always a good idea to check out the spineless section. Wednesdays after 3 p.m., Coney Island; details here.

Laugh it up at Arthur Avenue Free Comedy Wednesdays

Some say New York City’s true Little Italy is the Bronx’s Arthur Avenue, a historic neighborhood filled with great restaurants and shopping. On Wednesday nights there, you can see full-length sets – for free – featuring comedians who are veterans of top comedy institutions like "The Daily Show" and "The Tonight Show." Unlike many free comedy events, this one gives comedians plenty of stage time to flex their muscles (figuratively, of course). And you don’t have to spend a dime. Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m., The Bronx; details here.

Spend a day in Red Hook

Red Hook: difficult to get to, harder to leave! Start your day at Pioneer Works, a free gallery (though there is a $10 suggested donation) that features works by contemporary artists. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. While you’re in the area, you can also visit the Waterfront Museum, a converted old barge that’s free and open to the public on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Waterfront Museum here.

Visit the Old Stone House in Brooklyn

The Old Stone House is, no surprise, an old stone house. It's a replica of the Vechte-Cortelyou House, which dates to 1699. It's now a museum located in Washington Park on the Park Slope-Gowanus border, and it features permanent exhibitions about the neighborhood and the Revolutionary War’s infamous Battle of Brooklyn. On Sundays, you can combine this with a trip to the farmers' market, starting at 10 a.m. Fridays through Sundays, noon to 4 p.m, Washington Park; details here.

Attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

What would a list of free things to do in November in New York City be without the inclusion of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Whether you’re a fan of classic balloons like Snoopy, or prefer some of the newer additions, the long-running parade has you covered. You’ll have to line up on the streets along the parade route early; people start turning up at 6 a.m. Bring your coffee! Thursday, Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon, Upper West Side to Midtown; details here.