Free October Events in New York City

Find free events and things to do in the most expensive city in the world. We've got the best free events in New York City this October.

• October Street Fairs in New York City -- Enjoy free street fairs of New York this October.



• Medieval Festival in Fort Tryon Park -- The area around the Cloisters Museum will be transformed into a medieval village on Sunday, October 4, 2009. Hang with knights, jesters, magicians, storytellers, and puppeteers in authentic medieval garb. Admission is free and featured events will include a Living Chess Game, a Children’s Costume Parade, and a Joust Tournament with knights on horseback.



• Exotic Animal Parade -- New Yorkers are invited to bring their pets to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine for a fair and exotic animal parade in honor of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals. The event is free, but a limited number of tickets is available.



• Light the Night Walk -- Join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for their annual Light The Night Walk in Manhattan on October 15, 2009. Thousands will walk from South Street Seaport across the Brooklyn Bridge and back to build awareness of blood cancers and fund research for cures.



• Open House New York -- Get an inside look at some of New York's most significant architectural and design sites during Open House New York weekend. Enjoy rare opportunities to tour fascinating places that are usually off-limits to the public. Sites include the High Line, Rockefeller Center rooftop gardens, the Chrysler Building, the United Nations, Ellis Island, and nearly 200 other sites.



• Astronomy on the High Line -- On Tuesday evenings this fall, join Friends of the High Line and the Amateur Astronomers Association (AAA) for evening stargazing using high-powered telescopes. Hear lessons from the experts on the celestial wonders of New York’s night sky. This program is FREE and will take place from dusk to 9:30 PM.



• Outpost Art Show -- As part of a larger inquiry into the value of art, “Outpost” is an artistic experiment where the public is invited to barter goods and services for works of art. An unused studio space will be set up as a colorful, welcoming store, and each work will have an accompanying “mailbox” where interested buyers can leave their written non-monetary offers to the artist. Works on view include paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures by School of Visual Arts students. The exhibit is free and runs October 15 - November 9, 2009.



• Jazz Greats on Film -- Scenes Through the Cinema Lens is an original retrospective focusing on the performing arts in film. A free screening at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 20 will feature classic, new, and rare footage of big bands led by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Lionel Hampton, Cab Calloway, Gene Krupa and Quincy Jones (including a few surprises).



• Bride on a Buck Wedding Dress Sale -- Housing Works is selling $300,000 worth of deeply discounted designer wedding dresses and accessories at their Bride on a Buck Wedding Dress Sale on October 21, 2009. Featured designers include Monique Lhuillier, Giovanni Ravello, Peter Langner, and Ulla Maier. Admission is FREE.



• Art in Odd Places -- Artists are taking to the street for this free public art and performance festival from October 22-26, 2009. Art projects include wearable sculptures, planted art objects, video projections on buildings, and live performances. Check out this map of what to see during Art in Odd Places 2009.



• Halloween in Central Park -- Celebrate Halloween in Central Park. Start early on the weekend of October 23-25 with free pumpkin carving, a Pumpkin Festival, and the famous Pumpkin Sail.



• Village Halloween Parade -- Don't miss the only Halloween parade rated as one of the 100 Things to Do Before You Die. Dress up, let loose, and make it a night to remember.



• More Free New York City Halloween Events -- If the parade's not your thing, check out our guide to what else is going on in New York City this Halloween. You'll find plenty of free and low-cost ways to scare yourself silly in New York this October.

See more NYC event listings for October.