Cheap and Free NYC August 2011 Events Guide (Free Tkts Still Available for Rooftop Films for August 4, 2011!)

As summer winds down in NYC, enjoy these cheap and free August events!

August 4, 2011-Show some R-E-S-P-E-C-T as Aretha Franklin performs at the Brooklyn Seaside Concert Series, http://www.brooklynconcerts.com/seaside.html

Aug. 4, 2011-What a wonderful world when there’s a free jazzmobile concert at the Louis Armstrong House Museum! http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/news/article.php?Summer-Events-Schedule-67 (scroll down!)

August 5, 2011-I don’t know if there will be any tequila, but there will definitely be bikes at this screening of Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, lawn of the Onderdonk House, http://onderdonkhouse.org/Documents/Wonderdonk-PeeWee-Web.jpg (rescheduled from earlier date)

August 6, 2011-Strike a pose at Lululemon’s all-day yoga festival on Governors Island! The day-long event will feature picnicking performances and more! http://www.facebook.com/lululemonNYC

August 11, 2011-Travel back in time to the early 20th century with a night out on the Jewish Rialto with the Museum at Eldridge Street! Period food will be served, you can participate in a beer tasting, and enjoy gypsy violins and a comedic performance, all inspired by the LES theater experience! http://www.eldridgestreet.org/index.php/august

August 12-28, 2011-Check out the multi-arts New York International Fringe Festival, which welcomes participants from around the globe! http://fringenyc.org/

August 13 and 14, 2011-No fire breathing reptiles at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival! http://www.hkdbf-ny.com

August 13 and 14, 2011-The Civil War lives again for a weekend on Governors Island! Speak with soldiers, and women and see weapons demonstrations and music and other diversions of that era! http://www.nps.gov/gois/index.htm

August 16, 2011-Travel to Korea via Central Park with the 2011 Korea Day! There will be free food, music, entertainment, and the chance to win a free trip to Korea using your vocal talents! http://www.koreanculture.org/?document_srl=15414

August 18, 2011-Do you want me to want you? Find out at the free Cheap Trick Concert! http://www.brooklynconcerts.com/seaside.html

August 20 and 21, 2011-Get those jazz hands ready for the Governors Island Jazz Age picnic on Governors Island. Dance the afternoon away with Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra! http://www.dreamlandorchestra.com/calendar.php

August 20, 2011-“Let’s go fly a kite up to the highest height! Tho I don’t think Mary Poppins will be there! The Cooper-Hewitt and NYC Parks are hosting the free FlyNY Kite Festival, which will include kite flying demonstrations by the American Kiteflyers Association, origami instruction, live music, and an appearance by the Parks’ mascot Pearl the Squirrel! Participants are encouraged to bring their own homemade or store-bought kites to fly! http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/events/output_pages/flyny.html

August 23-26, 2011-Watch balls fly at the Qualifying Tournament for the U.S. Open with free matches starting at 11 a.m. every day! http://www.usopen.org/Visiting_the_Open/tickets/ (scroll down for official info!) Plus you can also see the tennis greats practice for free on the 28th-gates open at 10 a.m., but get there early for seats!

August 23-27, 2011-Park your butt outside during the Central Park Conservancy Film Festival! This year’s theme is music, and includes films focusing on famous musical icons! Screenings are held north of Sheep Meadow (enter the park at 72nd Street) and start at 8 p.m., but the gates open at 6:30 p.m. http://www.centralparknyc.org/visit/things-to-do/family-community/cpc-film-festival.html

August 27 and 28, 2011-The Bird’s the word at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival! Two days worth of free concerts will be performed from Harlem to the LES (Aug. 27, Marcus Garvey Park; Aug. 28, Tompkins Square Park; 3 p.m., http://www.summerstage.org.)

August 27 and 28, 2011-Bring on the noise and perhaps a little funk at the free Afro-Punk Festival! Performances feature talented musicians like Cee Lo Green Fishbone, Santigold, Reggie Watts, Janelle Monae, and more! http://www.afropunk.com/page/afropunk-festival-11

Plus check out these August street Fairs (http://manhattan.about.com/od/eventsandattractions/a/augstreetfairs.htm), enjoy streets free of traffic during Summer Streets (http://www.nyc.gov/summerstreets), and Harlem Week events last all month (http://harlemweek.com/august.htm)!