Things to Do
![The steps of Bethesda Terrace framed by fall foliage](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x990_crop_center-center_none/Bethesda-Terrace_20181107_0014.jpg)
THE BEST WAY TO SEE CENTRAL PARK
Our tours run seven days a week at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm and are the best way to experience Central Park—checking off everything on your must-see list.
![Park-goers play chess under the shade of trees](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x990_crop_center-center_none/20230722_ChessSimul_221.jpg)
Chess Lecture & Simul Series
Learn techniques from world-renowned chess experts and put your skills to the test.
![View of the Seneca Village landscape--green trees and grass, a rocky outcrop--with a blue sky strewn with white clouds.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x990_crop_center-center_none/SenecaVillage_20210620_1027.jpg)
Seneca Village Tour
Learn about Seneca Village, the largest community of free African-American property owners in pre–Civil War New York, and gain insight into its unique history on this tour.
![A Conservancy staff member helps a visitor at a gift shop.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.centralparknyc.org/media/images/_1650x990_crop_center-center_none/Dairy_Retail_20240119_09.jpg)
Shop with Purpose
Visit one of our gift shops in the Park and make a purchase that will directly support this greenspace.
THE BEST WAY TO SEE CENTRAL PARK
Our tours run seven days a week at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm and are the best way to experience Central Park—checking off everything on your must-see list.
Chess Lecture & Simul Series
Learn techniques from world-renowned chess experts and put your skills to the test.
Seneca Village Tour
Learn about Seneca Village, the largest community of free African-American property owners in pre–Civil War New York, and gain insight into its unique history on this tour.
Shop with Purpose
Visit one of our gift shops in the Park and make a purchase that will directly support this greenspace.
Explore Central Park with the Conservancy as Your Guide
The opportunities to engage with Central Park are as diverse as the City it calls home. The Conservancy's year-round lineup includes daily programs, seasonal and holiday events, educational opportunities, and ways to give back to your 843-acre backyard.
If you’re planning a field day, game tournament, birthday party, or any other type of event that includes activities for twenty people or more, you’ll need to request a special event permit from NYC Parks.