The best FREE events this weekend in New York City

The Global Beat Festival

Head downtown to Brookfield Place Winter Garden this weekend for a global music experience. The first-ever FREE four-day Global Beat Festival takes over the venue with performances by the likes of Mélanie Pain, former lead singer for indie-pop band Nouvelle Vague; Ukrainian folk-punk band DakhaBrakha; Pakistan underground indie, folk, art-rock band Poor Rich Boy; and many more. The fest kicks off this Friday and runs through next Tuesday. (Fri.-Tues., 7:30-10 p.m., daily, FREE, Brookfield Place Winter Garden, 220 Vesey St., brookfieldplaceny.com/arts-events)