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There's always something exciting to do and see around the five boroughs that doesn't cost a dime. See our weekly picks below, and visit our calendar and special offers section for more free events.

September 23–29

Wednesday, September 23
Feel Free: A National Parks Celebration in Central park
Sure, colder temperatures might mean fewer outdoor concerts, but this star-studded event, put on by the National Parks Conservation Association, ought to more than make up for the weather. The day's highlights include clips from Ken Burns' new PBS documentary, The National Parks: Americas Best Idea, and performances by Alison Krauss, Gavin DeGraw, Counting Crows, Eric Benet, Carole King, Jose Feliciano and many more!

Thursday, September 24
Maya Lin:Recycled Landscapes
You know those toys that every four-year-old must have but only plays with for a week? Don't be surprised if you find one of them in Maya Lin's new show, Recycled Landscapes, at Salon 94. This exhibit features sculpture made from salvaged materials, built around eight spherical "asteroids" that evoke a constellation of small planets or geological formations. It's another stellar addition to Lin's superstar résumé (and it's beautiful, to boot).

Friday, September 25
Dance Manhattan: Open House
Ballroom and Latin dance definitely fall under the category of things we love to watch but think we could never actually do. Dance Manhattan is setting out to dispel that myth with an evening of dance events. Their monthly Open House includes a free class, followed by a free party and a free show! Even if you've got two left feet, this ought to get them moving in the right direction.

Saturday, September 26
Madison Square Music: Sierra Hull & Highway 111/Kelleigh McKenzie
This Saturday, Madison Square Park will feature the perfect accompaniment to the changing foliage. Sierra Hull, a critically acclaimed bluegrass musician, will set the tone with her signature mandolin picking. Award-winning Americana singer-songwriter Kelleigh McKenzie will also be performing. Grab some fries from the Shake Shack, find a comfortable space and enjoy the onset of fall.

Sunday, September 27
Target Free Sundays: United States of Poetry: The Land and the People
The Studio Museum in Harlem invites you to visit the museum for free every Sunday between noon and 6pm. This week the museum will show United States of Poetry: The Land and the People, a film about Americans' disparate origins and the collective poetry that has come to illustrate the genre. The film features former United States Poet Laureate Rita Dove, Indian cowboy poet Henry Real Bird, rap poet Tracie Morris and Palestinian-American poet Naomi Shihab Nye, among others.

Monday, September 28
Contemporary Dance: Lindsey Drury, Mina Nishimura, Niall Jones Judson Memorial Church
Every Monday, Movement Research, a progressive center for dance and movement, hosts a "high visibility, low-tech forum" at Judson Memorial Church. The artists will focus more on experiments in performance than on the finished product. Expect to see creativity embodied—not to mention plenty of entertainment.

Tuesday, September 29
Nick Hornby Reading: Juliet, Naked
British novelist Nick Hornby is the author of several best sellers, many of which have made the leap from the page to the silver screen. (Think Fever Pitch, High Fidelity and About a Boy.) This Tuesday, Hornby will read from his new novel Juliet, Naked, about a washed-up singer-songwriter looking for a second chance. (It's funnier than it sounds.) Fans can stop by the Union Square Barnes & Noble to listen and have the author sign a copy of their favorite Hornby novel.