If you’re in town over Labor Day weekend, take advantage of these mostly-free only-in-NYC opportunities before they’re gone ‘til next summer.

Upper East Side

Richard Tucker Day Opera Concert in Central Park
Richard Tucker was a celebrated NYC-born operatic tenor who would have been 100 on this day, which will close with a commemorative concert. Performers include lyric soprano Ailyn Pérez, winner of the 2012 Tucker Award, 2013 Career Grant recipient soprano Erin Morley and many more.
Wednesday, August 28, 7:30 PM
Central Park, Naumberg Bandshell
$Free

Williamsburg

Levi’s Commuter Bike Shop
It’s a fashion show. It’s a rock concert. It’s a free bike repair clinic. It’s all of the above and it happens, courtesy of Levi’s, at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Simple bike repairs and tune-ups–as well as a performance by Javelin and other celebrated local rockers – are free.
Wednesday, August 28; bike shop: 5-9PM; concert: 8PM
Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 North Sixth Street, Brooklyn
$Free

Lincoln Center

Sound Art Performance: A Bookmobile for Dreamers
A haunting Theremin performance, mesmerizing video art and some new ways of looking at media converge at this unusual Target Free Thursdays event.
Thursday, August 29th, 7:30
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 62nd Street
$Free

Opera at the Met: Summer HD Festival
Some of the Met’s most popular Live in HD presentations will be screened in Lincoln Center Plaza in a free 10-day festival starting August 24.
August 24-September 2; see site for performances and times.
10 Lincoln Center Plaza
$Free

East Village

Bat for Lashes at Webster Hall
Brighton, England’s Mercury Prize-winning Natasha Khan–a.k.a. Bat for Lashes–unleashes her lovely voice in support of her brilliant new album, Two Suns.
Friday, August 30, 8PM
Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street
Tickets: $30

Brooklyn Heights

Last Chance: Pop Up Pool at Pier 2, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Tale a last dip in this temporary cool-off spot before it closes down for the season on Labor Day. After 6 pm, fresh fruit sangrias, craft beer and wine will be on tap, and activities such as trivia and bocce ball will be hosted on-site.
Pool hours: Daily 10AM-6PM through September 2.
Pier 2, Brooklyn Bridge Park
$Free to enter

Midtown West

Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition
If you’ve never witnessed a tugboat race, this is your opportunity–bring the kids! Events include a parade of tugs to the start line, the actual race ending at Pier 84, nose to nose pushing contests, an awards ceremony, an amateur line toss, a spinach-eating contest and more.
Sunday, September 1, 9:30-11:30AM
Pier 83, West 43rd Street
Tickets: $25 adults, $12 kids

Greenwich Village

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit
In its 83rd year, this small but beloved downtown arts fest brings the creative neighborhood gathering spot back to its roots as an artists’ paradise.
August 31-September 2, Noon-6PM
East 12th Street extending south along the east side of Washington Square Park ending at West 3rd Street

Across the Five Boroughs

US Open
Tennis fans will tell you: There’s only one and it happens right here in NYC. Score tickets or watch the nail-biting drama unfold on TV. Plus: check for kids’ events, clinics and meet-the-players events, unofficial matchups and more.
August 26-September 9, see site for details
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing, Queens

West Indian American Day Carnival
A Brooklyn Labor Day weekend tradition, this colorful, be-feathered, beat-driven party/parade rages well beyond the wee hours in Crown Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. Dive into the fun or head elsewhere if you’d like anything resembling peace and quiet along the parade route.
August 29th - September 2, see site for events and info
200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn