Direct Flight

Friday

JAZZ LEGENDS: CHARLIE PARKER TRIBUTE

Celebrating its 20th year, the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival is taking place at various New York City venues during the next couple of weeks. Some events are free, some aren't, but all aim to pay homage to the saxophonist known as Bird as well as the larger jazz scene he grew out of. The Sugar Hill Quartet performs 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Whole...

All month

TICKETS FOR “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”

If you want to sit in the audience of “SNL,” it's absolutely free, but you can only apply for tickets one month out of the year. And this is your month. Tickets for the 2012-2013 season are awarded via a lottery system, with recipients getting a pair of tickets. Get your name in the system by sending an email to snltickets@nbcuni.com by Aug....

Friday

INTREPID SUMMER MOVIE SERIES How's this for a backdrop to an outdoor film: The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Two films remain in the free summer series, with “Jurassic Park” Friday and “The Goonies” Aug. 17. Seating is limited, and you'll want to bring a chair or blanket. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with the film beginning at sunset. Check intrepidmuseum.org if the sky looks scary;...

Friday-Saturday

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKING LOT

No, not street theater. This is parking lot theater. You've seen Shakespeare in the Park? Well, what about the parking lot? A troupe with love for a good pun, the Drilling Company presents "The Merry Wives of Windsor" for free in the Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Ludlow and Broome streets in Manhattan at 8 p.m. through...

Friday

DEMI LOVATO, FLO RIDA

Your free "Good Morning America" show on Friday morning is singer-songwriter Demi Lovato. As usual, fans were milling about when the park opened at 6 a.m., and the show ran from 7 to 9 a.m. Over at the “Today” show (Rockefeller Plaza, also from 7 to 9 a.m.), rapper Flo Rida was the featured act.

Friday-Saturday

“A KING OF INFINITE SPACE”...

Friday

VERONICA FALLS IN CONCERT

The River to River Festival continues with British band Veronica Falls, with The People's Temple opening at 7 p.m. If you like the shoe-gazer stuff (Galaxie 500 et al), this one's for you. Just head to Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport, 19 Fulton Street in Manhattan. Info: rivertorivernyc.com

Friday-Saturday

“AS YOU LIKE IT”

A reminder...

Friday

THE BEACH BOYS

The Beach Boys haven't played Central Park since 1977, and they return for a free show with Brian Wilson. The moral of the story: This show is going to be packed, so get there when the park opens at 6 a.m. (We know. Sometimes the term “free” is so relative.) Performing as part of “Good Morning America's” Summer Concert Series, the band will play from about 7 to...

Friday-Sunday

THEATER

The “Shakespeare in the Park” series celebrates its 50th season at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park with “As You Like It,“ running June 5 - 30. Follow Rosalind (Lily Rabe) and Orlando into the Forest of Arden this weekend at 8 p.m. (Next up is “Into the Woods,“ in July and August.) While free, you do need a ticket, which you can either queue up for at the Delacorte...

Our picks for free events this weekend.

FRIDAY

Music

"Good Morning America's" 2012 Summer Concert Series begins Friday with singer-songwriter — and “Duets” judge — Robin Thicke. (The roster still has some holes, but other shows include the Beach Boys June 15, LMFAO June 29 and No Doubt July 27.) In its fourth year, the series takes place at Rumsey Playfield in Central...

To those who say, “living in New York is so expensive,“ they just aren't looking in the right places. Ignore the high rents and go forth: Our options multiply like bunny rabbits as the weather improves.

Families

Here's the tagline, and we agree: Moms rock! Celebrate — for free — all-things mom at the 9th annual Mamapalooza at Riverside Park South (enter at West 68 Street at the Hudson...