Clowning Around: For the third year in a row, the CityParks Foundation is bringing a series of FREE circus performances to NYC parks this summer. The first show takes place this Friday, June 26 in Crotona Park and features the Hybrid Movement Company. Performances continue through Tuesday, August 17 in all five boroughs as part of the SummerStage Kids International Contemporary Circus Festival.

Cultural Fun for Free: If you missed the Museum Mile Festival earlier this month, here's another chance to explore some of NYC's cultural gems at no cost. This Tuesday, June 23, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council sponsors its second annual Night at the Museums as part of the River to River festival. Enjoy FREE admission to 15 downtown Manhattan museums, including the pricey National September 11 Memorial Museum, from 4 to 8pm. Prepare for lines!

Celebrate Summer Coney Island Style: Luna Park marks the end of the school year with a daylong celebration this Saturday, June 27. Enjoy interactive Frisbee, soccer, Zumba and double Dutch demos, a no-cost concert by Jake Miller and a deejay spinning cool tunes. Bonus: the amusement park is still offering FREE ride credits for report cards with good grades, so you can save a little money, too.

Sign Up for Lessons at Pier 2's Pop-Up Pool: The Parks Department's lottery for FREE swimming lessons at NYC's outdoor pools is already underway, but lovers of Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 2 Pop-Up Pool take note: You can register for two-week learn-to-swim sessions for kids for $125 for ages 2 to 8. It's not free but as swimming classes go it's a pretty good deal.

Charge Your Phone at the Beach The Parks Department is unveiling nine solar-powered mobile charging stations at four NYC beaches: Rockaway in Queens, South and Midland on Staten Island, the Bronx's Orchard and Coney Island in Brooklyn. The units store up solar power so they function day or night, rain or shine, and are part of AT&T’s Street Charge initiative. Of course, a trip to the beach should really be all about logging off. But if you're addicted like we are, well, this is great news.

New Public School Coming to Dumbo: A new public middle school is set to open in Dumbo for the 2017-18 academic year at 60 Water Street. In addition to the 333 middle school seats, the space will also house a public pre-K program for 72 students starting fall 2016. Stay tuned for more details as they are announced.