Re: Free: Your guide to getting something for nothing
Saving your pennies for a rainy day, then here’s the guide for you! All of these activities are right here in Jersey City, and best of all they are free! Don’t forget to check out the events calendar to see what else is happening for free today.
Always happening and always free….
Parks –
There are approximately 1,550 acres of parkland, with over 70 parks and playgrounds in Jersey City. Explore Jersey City’s most famous destination: Liberty State Park, or take a trip to Lincoln Park and play a game of tennis on one of the 21 tennis courts.
Hudson River Waterfront Walkway- The waterfront pathway goes from Bayonne, past Liberty State Park and the Statue of Liberty all the way north into Hoboken and is over 18.5 miles long. Rent a bicycle to enjoy it all. Along the Jersey City portion of the walkway you will find (South to North); Caven Point, Cochrane Athletic Field, US Army Corps of Engineers station, Liberty National Golf (The Barclays, 2009 - PGA Tour), Port Liberte, Liberty State Park, Black Tom site of World War I sabotage explosion, Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, The Interpretive Center, Statue Cruises ferry to Ellis Island and Liberty Island, Liberty Science Center, Morris Canal, Exchange Place (Jersey City's financial district), Colgate Clock, The Powerhouse, Harsimus Cove (Site where early European settlements), Pavonia/Newport –(former site of the Erie Railroad's Pavonia Terminal), Holland Tunnel Ventilation Tower (Twin across river).
Explore Little India
Newark Avenue & John F. Kennedy Blvd
Jersey City is home to over 90 different nationalities…the perfect place to soak up culture. Explore the richness of Little India in the heart of Journal Square.
Public Library Events
There are always events happening in the Jersey City Libraries; from poetry and crafts to lectures on history, from movies and music, to financial seminars…there is always some exciting happening in the libraries. Check their schedule to see what’s happening today!
Main Branch - 472 Jersey Ave
5 Corners Branch - 678 Newark Ave
Cunningham Branch- 271-285 Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Greenville Branch - 1841 John F Kennedy Blvd
Miller Branch - 489 Bergen Ave
Zabriskie Branch - 14 Zabriskie St
Fishing and Crabbing
The Upper New York Bay and Hudson River offer excellent opportunities for fishing. Common species include bluefish, shad, striped bass and blue claw crabs. Fishing and Crabbing are permitted in accordance with New Jersey's Fish and Wildlife Laws. Consumption advisories may exist for certain species. For more information, contact the park office. Please dispose of all stray fishing line properly.
HATHA YOGA – for beginners
678 Newark Ave
Jersey City Public Library Five Corners Branch, 2nd Floor
Every Monday from 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm
(201) 547-4543
Stanley Theatre (now the Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses)
2932 Kennedy Boulevard
Take a tour of the Old Stanley Theatre Monday through Friday 8-12 and 1-5. Built in 1928 as a vaudeville theater and movie house, the old Stanley Theater is a massive Gothic-style structure. Stage shows at the theater reflected the popular culture of the times with entertainers over the years that ranged from the Three Stooges and Jimmy Durante to Tony Bennett, Janis Joplin, Dolly Parton, and The Grateful Dead.
Listen to Music on Jersey City’s own radio station WFMU
Tune into 91.1 FM, for a listener-supported, non-commercial radio station which is currently the longest running freeform radio station in the United States. You can even stream live music on wfmu.org. Rolling Stone Magazine, The Village Voice, CMJ and the New York Press have all at one time or another called WFMU "the best radio station in the country" and the station has also been the subject of feature stories in The New York Times and on the BBC.
Creative Grove Artist Market
Grove Street PATH Plaza
Every Friday from 2 pm to 8 pm
Enjoy this outdoor artist’s market which features a wide variety of handmade goods, crafts and art from local creative people.
Drawing Club at LITM
LITM - 140 Newark Avenue
Every Tuesday from 8 pm-11 pm
Sketch or doodle with others who are creatively inspired. The club is free to join, but the cocktails are not…but there are drink specials.
Landmark Loew’s Theatre
54 Journal Square
Want to catch a performance or a movie at the historic Landmark Loew’s but don’t have the cash…become a volunteer. Try your hand at the concession stand, be an ushers, or work as a backstage, volunteers are needed for every event. You can also help bring the Loew’s back to its former glory by volunteering during the summer months, every Saturday on restoration projects, from 11:30 AM to 5PM!
Happening mostly Monthly…
The Actors Shakespeare Company at New Jersey City University
285 West Side Avenue
The Actors Shakespeare Company produces the works of Shakespeare as well as other classics and classically inspired pieces, most all of the performances are free. Check schedule.
JC Fridays
Four times a year Art House Productions serves up a full day of free art events throughout Jersey City.
Liberty State Park - Interpretive Center Lectures
Freedom Way
Open year round the center features exhibits focusing on the natural history and ecology of the Hudson River Estuary and offers programs for school and community groups and the general public.
Art Galleries
Great art is on display at galleries throughout the City. Stop by City Hall to visit the John W. Meagher Rotunda Gallery and explore this historical building which was built in 1894-97. Check out the gallery guide and events calendar for current listings.
Summertime Fun…
Farmers Markets - Enjoy the bounty at one the city’s many farmers markets offering local and organic produce.
Van Vorst Park Farmers Market
Jersey Avenue & Montgomery Street - Van Vorst Park
June - November, Saturdays, 8 am - 2 pm
Harvest Square Farmers' Market
Bramhall & Grand - St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church
July - October, Tuesdays, 3 pm - 6 pm
Grove Street Farmers Market
Grove Path Plaza
June - November, Mondays & Thursdays, 4pm - 8pm.
Journal Square Farmers' Market
Journal Square PATH Plaza
June - November, Wednesdays & Fridays 11am - 7pm
Newport Mall
Outside of Pay/Half on the first floor of the mall
Tuesdays, June - August, from 12 pm -7 pm
Hamilton Park
Hamilton Square building just east of the park.
Wednesdays, June – November from 4 pm - 8 pm
Paulus Hook Farmer's Market –
Washington Street, south of Dudley Street
Every Saturday, from mid June through mid December from 11am - 4pm.
Music
What better way to spend the day than listening to music outdoors. Jersey City has a variety of outdoor music events featuring local artist.
Grove on Grove 
Grove Street Path Plaza
– Mostly rock bands perform every Wednesday running from May – September 6 pm – 8 pm.
Jazz For Lunch
Owen Grundy Pier at Exchange Place
– Live jazz music performed on the pier. Every Thursday, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. from July through August.
Movies in Van Vorst
Montgomery and Jersey Ave
Wednesday Nights - Located at the corner of Montgomery and Jersey Ave. Movies during June and July will begin at about 8:30 or later depending on sunset. August and September screenings will begin at 8:00 pm.
Kayaking and Fishing at Reservoir 3
Summit Avenue and Jefferson Avenue
Free kayaking and canoeing at Reservoir 3! Located in the Heights District, here you will find wildflower meadows, a nature preserve, a beautiful lake, and family park all rolled into one. The park contains many species of wildlife, birds and fish. Come and explore this 13 acre park.
Annual events…that you won’t want to miss!
Independence Day Fireworks
Liberty State Park
Every July 4th at 9:15pm
Liberty State Park offers the best views for the Macy's Fireworks Extravaganza, from 9:15 to 10:45 pm. The park is huge and the views are gorgeous, so there’s plenty of diversion to be had once the exploding colors fade.
Cultural Festivals
Annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony
Tapestry of Nations – September Festival Series
Greek Festival
Italian Festival
African American Festival
Irish Festival
Annual Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival – August
Annual City-Wide Domino Tournament - September
Artist Studio Tour
The spectacular, incredible, infamous, one-and-only Jersey City Artists Studio Tour features hundreds of artists at nearly 100 locations every October. All events are free and open to the public.