There's always something exciting to do or 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.

October 28–November 3

Wednesday, October 28
Carly Simon at Rockefeller Plaza
Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Carly Simon performs at 10am as part of the Today Show Concert Series. Simon will be promoting her new album, Never Been Gone, which features newly recorded versions of 10 of her greatest hits (including "You're So Vain" and "Anticipation")—along with two new songs. Rockefeller Plaza fills up quickly, so get there early to claim your spot.

Thursday, October 29
The Rimers of Eldritch at the New School for Drama
Just in time for Halloween, the students of the New School for Drama are reviving Lanford Wilson's 1966 murder mystery The Rimers of Eldritch, an exploration of the role of religious morality in small-town America. The production, part of the school's First Look workshop performance series, runs through Saturday.

Friday, October 30
Target Free Fridays at MoMA
Visit the Museum of Modern Art for free every Friday night, from 4 to 8pm (ideal for an after-work visit). Current exhibitions include Polish Posters: 1945–1989, In Situ: Architecture and Landscape and Monet's Water Lilies.

Saturday, October 31
New York's Village Halloween Parade
Every year, more than 50,000 folks parade up Sixth Avenue, decked out in some of the City's scariest, most innovative and hilarious costumes. Fifty-three bands will be on hand, to complement the ghoulish revelry. Come up with a creative costume of your own and join the festivities, or take it all in from the sidelines. For tips on navigating the parade and where to get your costume, here are some ideas.

Sunday, November 1
Day of the Dead Festival
The traditional Latin American Day of the Dead—or "Día de los Muertos"—festival gives family and friends an opportunity to celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed away. Live music, tons of vendors selling authentic Latin eats and thousands of participants will fill the streets of Spanish Harlem. Expect to see altars outside of many businesses on the festival route, in commemoration of the deceased.

Monday, November 2
The Pervasive Echo: Jenny Lind
The Museum of African Art pays tribute to celebrated 19th-century opera singer Jenny Lind with an outdoor performance at Castle Clinton in Battery Park, the site of her United States debut 159 years ago. A project by South African artist Ruth Sacks, The Pervasive Echo features singer Kathleen Berger as Lind, who was known as “the Swedish Nightingale.”

Tuesday, November 3
Poems & Pints: Peter Cole and Robert Polito
The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and the Poetry Society of America hosts Poems & Pints at the historic Fraunces Tavern. The ongoing event invites two poets to read from their own works and a few favorites from other authors. This week, Peter Cole, a Macarthur fellow, and Robert Polito, winner of a National Book Critics Circle award for his biography of Jim Thompson, will be kicking off the proceedings at 6:30pm. (The poetry is free, but you'll have to pay for the pints.)