Fodor's Expert Review Shakespeare in the Park

Some of the best things in New York are, indeed, free—including this summer theater festival (generally June through mid-September) presented by the Public Theater and performed at the Delacorte Theater, an open-air stage in Central Park. Many notable performers have appeared here, from Meryl Streep to Morgan Freeman. Tickets are given out (limit two per person) starting at noon on the day of each show, and they always run out. What you save in money, you make up for in time and tedium, since lines are usually long. Line up by midmorning or earlier if there have been good reviews. (A limited number of same-day tickets are also distributed via an in-person lottery at the Public Theater,  425 Lafayette St., at Astor Pl.) The easiest way to score these scarce tickets is to register via a digital lottery using the TodayTix app between midnight and noon on the day you'd like to attend; an email response after noon confirms (or denies) success. Making a tax-deductible donation to the Public Theater is one way to avoid lines and be sure you get a ticket.