Looking for free things to do in NYC this weekend? From Halloween parades and pumpkin patches to free concerts, street fairs and the Queens Night Market, New York City is packed with things to do from Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Every pick below was checked against the organizer's or venue's official page. Admission is free at all ten, but a few need registration, and food, rides and transportation can cost extra. We've noted each one.
At a glance
| Event | Day | Borough | Time | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governors Island Pumpkin Point | Sat–Sun, Oct 24–25 | Manhattan (Governors Island) | 10 AM–5 PM | Free (ferry fare may apply) |
| suhREEtah at Lincoln Center | Fri, Oct 23 | Manhattan | 7:30 PM | Free |
| 41st Annual Bronx Halloween Parade | Sat, Oct 24 | The Bronx | 12–4 PM | Free |
| Fort Greene Halloween Fest + Great PUPkin | Sat, Oct 24 | Brooklyn | 12–4 PM | Free |
| Vanderbilt Hall-O-ween | Sat, Oct 24 | Manhattan | 11 AM–2 PM | Free (registration required) |
| Bay Ridge Halloween Fest | Sat, Oct 24 | Brooklyn | 4–7 PM | Free |
| Ocean Breeze Fall Festival | Sat, Oct 24 | Staten Island | 10 AM–3 PM | Free |
| Queens Night Market | Sat, Oct 24 | Queens | 4 PM–Midnight | Free entry |
| Court Street Spectacular Street Fair | Sun, Oct 25 | Brooklyn | 10 AM–6 PM | Free |
| Jazz in the Park at Ralph Ellison | Sun, Oct 25 | Manhattan | 2–5 PM | Free |
ALL WEEKEND: SATURDAY–SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24–25
1. Governors Island Pumpkin Point
Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday (rain or shine)
Location: Nolan Park, Governors Island
Admission: FREE. The ferry may cost extra: Trust-operated ferries are free before 11 AM on weekends; otherwise the standard adult round trip is $5, with some fare exemptions. Food and drink from vendors are sold separately.
Official link: Pumpkin Point 2026
The island's annual pumpkin patch fills historic Nolan Park with thousands of pumpkins (one per person per household, so bring a tote bag). Add trick-or-treating, ghost tours, fall foliage walks, pumpkin painting and live folk music, and it's one of the best fall days out in the city. Go early to ride the free morning ferry.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
2. suhREEtah: Free Hip-Hop and Spoken Word at Lincoln Center
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: David Rubenstein Atrium, 1887 Broadway (between 62nd and 63rd Streets), Upper West Side, Manhattan
Admission: FREE. Entry is first-come, first-served; arrive early for a seat.
Official link: suhREEtah at Lincoln Center
suhREEtah makes her Lincoln Center debut with music from her first album, blending rap, spoken word and jazz. It's an easy, free way to start the weekend on the Upper West Side.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24
3. 41st Annual Bronx Halloween Parade
Time: 12:00–4:00 PM (rain or shine)
Location: Steps off at Southern Boulevard and Westchester Avenue, heads south on Southern Boulevard, turns onto Intervale Avenue and ends at Dawson Street and Rogers Place, followed by a festival in Bill Rainey Park, The Bronx
Admission: FREE to watch
Official link: Bronx Halloween Parade
This year's theme is "Carnival of Nightmares." Expect marching bands, dancers, costumed characters, live music and giveaways, plus a costume contest with cash prizes. Marchers line up on Simpson Street and need wristbands from the organizer; spectators don't.
4. Fort Greene Halloween Fest + The Great PUPkin
Time: 12:00–4:00 PM; Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest 12:00–1:00 PM (rain date: Sunday, October 25)
Location: Monument Plaza, Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Admission: FREE, no RSVP required. Watching the dog contest is free; entering a dog is handled separately by the organizer.
Official link: Halloween Fest 2026
Spooky stories, face painting and games fill the plaza, and the Great PUPkin costume contest, hosted by Fort Greene PUPS, is one of Brooklyn's most photographed Halloween traditions.
5. Vanderbilt Hall-O-ween at Grand Central
Time: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal, 89 East 42nd Street, Midtown, Manhattan
Admission: FREE, but advance registration is required. Every attendee needs a completed waiver and must show confirmation at the door. Entry is first-come, first-served and subject to capacity, so you may be asked to come back later.
Official link: Vanderbilt Hall-O-ween
Grand Central's grand hall hosts pumpkin crafting, a costume parade contest for kids ages 5–12, raffle prizes, treats and a live set from The Rock and Roll Playhouse. Check the official page for its costume rules before you go.
6. Bay Ridge Halloween Fest
Time: 4:00–7:00 PM
Location: Fifth Avenue from 72nd to 85th Streets, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Admission: FREE. Food from local restaurants is sold separately.
Official link: Bay Ridge Halloween Fest
Ten car-free blocks of Fifth Avenue become a Halloween block party with pumpkin decorating (while supplies last), trunk-or-treat, haunted trucks, games, crafts, giveaways and a 4 PM puppet show. Come in costume.
7. Ocean Breeze Fall Festival
Time: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex, Staten Island
Admission: FREE, no registration required. Pumpkins are available while supplies last.
Official link: Ocean Breeze Fall Festival
Staten Island's fall tradition brings a pumpkin patch, music, games, entertainment and dozens of local organizations together for a day outdoors.
8. Queens Night Market
Time: 4:00 PM–Midnight
Location: Behind the New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Admission: FREE entry. Food and merchandise are sold by vendors; many prefer cash.
Official link: Queens Night Market
More than 100 independent vendors sell food from around the world, most at low, capped prices, along with art, merchandise and live cultural performances. The 2026 season wraps up on October 31, so this is one of the last two chances to go this year.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25
9. Court Street Spectacular Street Fair
Time: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Location: Court Street from Atlantic Avenue to Joralemon Street, Downtown Brooklyn
Admission: FREE. Food, shopping and kiddie rides cost extra.
Official link: Meteor Festivals event calendar
Billed as one of Brooklyn's last big street fairs of the year, the Court Street Spectacular lines the avenue with vendors, merchants, street food and rides. Note: some listings say 11 AM, but the organizer confirms a 10 AM start.
10. Jazz in the Park at Ralph Ellison
Time: 2:00–5:00 PM
Location: Ralph Ellison Plaza, Riverside Drive at West 150th Street, Hamilton Heights, Manhattan
Admission: FREE, no tickets required. Seating is limited and first-come, first-served. The concert is canceled in heavy rain; check NYC Parks' Summer on the Hudson page two hours before.
Official link: Jazz in the Park at Ralph Ellison
The final date of this season's free Sunday series. Local musicians and vocalists play "Let the Music Play" community jazz by the Hudson, a relaxed way to close out the weekend.
More free things to do in NYC
Want more ideas? Browse upcoming NYC events, see last weekend's guide, or explore all of our Weekend Guides.
Cover photo: Nolan Park, Governors Island, by Brian W. Schaller, Free Art License, via Wikimedia Commons.