12 fun and mostly free things to do in New York City this May

Published Apr 30, 2024 at 7:01 a.m. ET

Share

 

Published Apr 30, 2024 at 7:01 a.m. ET

Share

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2024. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

May is here!

No more false springs, sunlight lasts late into the evening and the city has a lot to offer. New York being New York, enjoying all the city has to offer can get expensive – not everyone has access to exclusive rooftop parties or booze cruises around Manhattan or a table at Tatiana.

Below you’ll find the best things to do around the city in May without setting fire to your checking account.

May might be the best month of the year to enjoy New York’s most famous park. Thanks to the Central Park Conservancy, you don’t have to explore randomly: The Conservancy offers a plethora of self-guided tours you can download based on theme. Whether you’re a tree-hugger or statue-lover, you’re sure to find a tour that suits your interests. (There's even a playful guide to bringing dogs to the park at the Conservancy's website.) You can also pay for guided tours and other activities if you want to meet other Central Park fans – most of the tours are priced at less than $35.

People and dogs have reasons to love Central Park in the spring.

America’s favorite Mexican holiday falls on a Sunday this year, so you can expect plenty of brunch deals, tacos, and margaritas to honor Mexico’s famous victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Check out the party at Time Out Market, venture to the block party in Hoboken, stroll around Stone Street’s weekend-long festival in downtown Manhattan, or dance the day away at the Seaport’s Pier 17. There are countless other events throughout the city, so plan your day wisely.

The first weekend in May 2024 will be a big one, with the Kentucky Derby (May 4) and Cinco de Mayo coming back to back. The annual horse race serves as a marker of spring’s peak, and you have several opportunities to don an enormous gaudy hat and cheer on your favorite equine athlete for two minutes. Williamsburg bar Pete’s Candy Store has a self-aware throwback party (complete with pie contest), ART Soho will stream the race live on their rooftop, and Eastpoint Bar in Alphabet City is hosting a best-dressed contest (“Derby dress code" required for entry). If the weather is nice, you also have the option of heading to Hudson Yards to watch the race on the Big Screen outside.

Comedian Andrew Fung performs at Asian Comedy Fest 2023.

The fifth annual Asian Comedy Fest brings more than two dozen comics and performers to Sugar Mouse in the East Village. The festival is spread over three dates: May 7, 14, and 15, with separate shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. each day. It's hosted by popular comedians like Kareem Rahma and featuring sets from Jenny Arimoto, Raj Belani, Tiffany Ng and more. Proceeds from this year's festival will be donated to the nonprofit Welcome to Chinatown.

May 1 is an international holiday celebrating workers, and this year there will be a free concert and party in Bushwick’s Maria Hernandez Park to “build the global movement for justice.” There will be a youth cumbia band, plus DJs and art-making activities suitable for kids and families. The event takes place on May 4 this year, so you can mingle with the people early in the day before dressing up and brushing shoulders with the elites at a Kentucky Derby party.

A scene from a previous year's Japan Parade.

Now in its third year, the Japan Parade promises to “celebrate, express, and bring awareness to the friendship between NYC and Japan.” The parade starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, and runs down Central Park West from 81st Street to 67th Street. There will also be a street fair on 72nd Street that runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., so you should have plenty of time to pick up some Japanese munchies and watch the festivities.

Nice weather signals the start of summer festival season, so May is a good time to whet your appetite with a free one-day party to celebrate the healing power of music. Featuring performances by MisterWives and Kevin Morby (of The Babies), the Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health happens Saturday, May 18 from noon to 7 p.m. in Bushwick, and will also showcase art, yoga, sound baths, and other healing modalities. If you’re so inclined, you can purchase VIP tickets for access to the afterparty at House of Yes, but the main event is free for all ages.

Huma Bhabha: “Before The End”

Spring may have sprung way back in March, but it’s May that makes spring feel adequately “springy.” On Saturday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5 will put on its Spring Festival, which celebrates the colors and sounds of the season. Kite-making workshops (and subsequent kite-flying) will be available, and you can listen to live music throughout the day. And while you’re at the park, check out a new public art exhibit: “Huma Bhabha: Before The End.”

The Greenwich Village music scene isn’t quite what it used to be in the 60s (to massively understate the reality), but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy live performances without paying exorbitant cover charges. Groove, just down the block from the legendary Cafe Wha?, offers multiple free shows most days of the week. You may have missed Dylan and Hendrix, but you can still have a good time.

"Liberty" is on view at at Satellite Tribeca, which runs from May 9 through May 22 .

The artist group Satellite Collective is putting on a two-week show from May 9 through May 22 in Tribeca, featuring dance, visual art, and film. Many of the events – including a reception after the New York premiere of Sad Blimp Twins, which displays two 40-foot blimps, are free. Paid events typically cost $20, and you can find a list of all activities at the Satellite Collective website. It takes place at 101 Reade St.

Thursday is traditionally the day when art galleries around New York open their new exhibits. And strolling between them on the long blocks of Chelsea or Tribeca is more fun when the evenings are warm enough to take your time. You can see a list of what’s on at the website artcards.cc or via the app SeeSaw and create your own itinerary. As a bonus – openings, which are generally held from around 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – often serve complimentary drinks.

The Red Blanket Singers

Members of the Lunaapeew/Lenape community and The Museum of the City of New York are hosting a celebration of “the resilience and cultural heritage of the First People of the New York City region.” It will feature live performances, arts and crafts activities, storytelling, guest speakers and more. Admission is pay-what-you-wish, with a suggested donation of $20 for adults and $14 for seniors; children under 20 are free. The today-day event, is called “We Are Still Here!” and it happens Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. both days. Registration is encouraged and you can sign up here.

Additional reporting by Ryan Kailath.

Tagged

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE arts-entertainment

“Birding is punk,” says the club’s founder, Michael Lombardo.

Published Apr 29, 2024

Tommy Tomlinson's "Dogland" examines the inner life of man's best friend.

Tommy Tomlinson's "Dogland" examines the inner life of man's best friend.

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Gothamist is a website about New York City news, arts, events and food, brought to you by New York Public Radio.