Things to Do with Kids in NYC this Weekend

Plan your kids' best weekend yet in Manhattan!

By NYMetroParents Staff June 29, 2022

Enjoy these fun things to do with your kids in New York City this weekend. Start planning your weekend now with our editorially curated list of happenings for kids and families.

Editor's Picks for This Weekend

Gazillion Bubble Show

WHEN: Nov. 5 - 27, Fridays 7pm; Saturdays 11am, 2pm, 4:30pm; Sundays, 12pm, 3pm; Check website for Added Thursdays & Holiday Times
WHERE: New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, Stage 2, Hell's Kitchen, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Mind-blowing bubble magic, spectacular laser lighting effects, and momentary soapy masterpieces will make you smile, laugh, and feel like a kid again. WANT TO GO? $59-$99.50. 212-239-6200.
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Wake up, Daisy!

WHEN: Feb. 18 - Dec. 23, Fridays-Sundays, 11am and 1pm
WHERE: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park, W. 79th Street and West Drive, Enter Central Park at w 81st St. and Central Park West , Upper West Side, NY
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: This original take on "Sleeping Beauty" is set on New York City’s Upper West Side and is perfect for today’s modern age. WANT TO GO? $12; $8 child. 212-879-0794.
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Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Children’s Books

WHEN: Apr. 1 - Jul. 24, Wednesday-Thursday, 11am-5pm; Friday, 11am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm
WHERE: New-York Historical Society Museum, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: See the first exhibition to delve into the events, people, and themes of the civil rights movement through children's picture books. WANT TO GO? $22; $17 Seniors, Educators, Active Military; $13 Students; $6 Kids (5–13 years old); free for children younger than 5; Admission is pay-as-you-wish from 6–8 pm on Fridays.. 212-873-3400.
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Even More Weekend Fun

Sharks, A New Exhibition

WHEN: Dec. 15 - Jun. 30, Wednesdays–Sundays, 10am–5:30pm
WHERE: The American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park W., Upper West Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: The new exhibition Sharks features dozens of life-sized models, fossils, touch-free interactive exhibits, and more WANT TO GO? Starting at $16.50 for Children (3-12) and $28 for Adults. 212-769-5100.
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Wings Over Water Giant-Screen Film

WHEN: Mar. 2 - Jul. 3, 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, and 4:30pm when museum is open
WHERE: American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, Upper West Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: The film captures the triumphs and challenges of the Sandhill Crane, Yellow Warbler, and Mallard Duck, as they defy all odds and soar across mountains, deserts, cities, and forests to migrate home to raise their young. WANT TO GO? Tickets that include admission to Wings Over Water start at $28 for adults, $16.50 for children (ages 3-12), and $22.50 for seniors and students. . 212-769-5100.
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Urban Farm Volunteers FREE

WHEN: Mar. 27 - Oct. 16, Sundays, 10am-1pm **NO SESSIONS May 1, May 22, and June 19**
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 10 Central Road, East Harlem, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Volunteer to help manage this one-acre Urban Farm. WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899.
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Farm Exploration Days FREE

WHEN: Apr. 2 - Oct. 8, Saturdays and Sundays, 10am-4pm **NO SESSION 9/10**
WHERE: Randall's Island Park Alliance, 10 Central Road, Harlem, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Explore the Urban Farm's variety of crops, rice paddies, and fragrant herbs! WANT TO GO? 212-8601-899.
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Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace

WHEN: Apr. 15 - Oct. 16, Mondays-Wednesdays, 10am-10pm; Thursdays-Fridays, 10am-12am; Saturdays, 8am-12am; Sundays, 8am-10pm
WHERE: The Rink at Rockefeller Center, 600 5th Avenue, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Roller skate all summer long in NYC at Flipper’s at iconic Rockefeller Center. WANT TO GO? $12-$40.
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Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace

South Street Seaport Museum Seaport Discovery: Exploring Our Waters with Eric Carle

WHEN: Apr. 15 - Jun. 30, April and May: Fridays-Sundays, 11am-5pm; June: Wednesdays-Sundays, 11am-5pm
WHERE: South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton Street, New York, NY
AGES: Newborn-5
WHAT: Immerse yourself in the world of Eric Carle with activities, driving ferries on a giant play-table, learning about cargo ships through the eyes of a rubber duck., and more- all while exploring Carle's use of color and pattern. WANT TO GO? $5 ages 1-12; free for accompanying adult. 646-765-4773.
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Roller Rink at The Standard, High Line

WHEN: Apr. 22 - Aug. 31, Mondays-Fridays, 12-11pm; Saturdays, 10am-12am; Sundays, 10am-11pm
WHERE: The Standard Plaza at The Standard, High Line, 848 Washington at 13th Street, Meatpacking District, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Take a visually immersive trip into a 1960's Mod-inspired rink and restaurant, with black & white checkered turf and playful seating surrounding the stark white, 136 person skating rink. WANT TO GO? $12 to 'Drop In'; $3 to rent skates. 212-645-4646.
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Candytopia

WHEN: Apr. 29 - Jul. 31, TBA
WHERE: Candytopia New York, 111 West 32nd Street, Corner of 32nd and 6th, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Candytopia transports guests to an imaginative confectionary wonderland with a one-of-a-kind full sensory experience and welcomes people of all ages to explore their sweet tooth like never before. WANT TO GO? $36; $29 ages 4-12; free for children 3 and younger.
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The Museum of Modern Art Presents “Matisse: The Red Studio” May 1 - September 10

WHEN: May. 1 - Sep. 10, 10:30am-5pm
WHERE: Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd St. , Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: The exhibition focuses on the genesis and history of Matisse's The Red Studio (1911), a painting that has remained among MoMA's most important works since it was acquired in 1949. WANT TO GO? $14-25. 212-708-9400.
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Children's Read Aloud FREE

WHEN: May. 7 - Sep. 17, 11am-12pm; first and third Saturdays of the month
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 10 Central Rd. , Randall's Island, NY
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: Boogie Down Storytime is a family-friendly experience that cultivates early literacy awareness through joyful reading experiences. First and third Saturdays of the month, May-October WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899.
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Fun on the Farm FREE

WHEN: May. 7 - Oct. 8, 2-4pm
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 10 Central Rd. , Randall's Island, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Enjoy family fun inspired by the farm, rivers, green spaces and natural areas. Saturdays, May 7-Oct. 8. (not July 30, Sept. 10, 17, Oct. 1) WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899.
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THE BEAST

WHEN: May. 10 - Sep. 25, Tuesdays-Sundays, 11am-6pm
WHERE: Pier 83, West 42nd St. and 12th Ave. , Hell's Kitchen, NY
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: Rocketthrough the water at a heart-pounding 40 knots for this adventure on the water! WANT TO GO? $30; $25 child over 40 inches. 212-563-3200.
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Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field

WHEN: May. 13 - Sep. 4, Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-5:45pm
WHERE: The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, Upper West Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: A new exhibition immerses visitors in the spaces shaped by the groundbreaking 1972 legislation and reveals the crucial work of activists in demanding that their institutions live up to the law's promises. WANT TO GO? $22; $17 seniors; $13 students with ID; $6 ages 5-13; free for children 4 and younger. 212-873-3400.
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Sitting Pretty at FDR Four Freedoms Staten Park on Roosevelt Island FREE

WHEN: May. 24 - Jun. 30, Wednesdays-Mondays; 9am-7pm
WHERE: Four Freedoms Park, 1 FDR Four Freedoms Park , Roosevelt Island, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Guests can sit in style at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island. Fifty colorful chairs are set up on the Great Lawn for Park visitors to enjoy. WANT TO GO? 212-308-3351.
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Mickey & Friends x CAMP: An Extra Big Adventure

WHEN: May. 28 - Jul. 31, Mondays-Thurdays, 10am-4pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 9am-8pm; Sundays, 10am-7pm
WHERE: CAMP, 110 5th Avenue, Chelsea, NY
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: Join Disney's Mickey & Friends on an interactive, immersive, fantastical adventure that's literally larger than life. WANT TO GO? Tickets start at $24 on weekdays and $38 on weekends. 917-997-0439.
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ESPN Presents Fifty/50: Honoring the Stories of Title IX

WHEN: Jun. 1 - Jul. 10, Wednesdays-Sundays, 12-5:30pm
WHERE: The Paley Center for Media, 25 West 52 Street, Upper West Side, NY
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT:

The Paley Center for Media opens its doors to the ESPN Fifty/50 exhibit. Highlighting unforgettable moments of struggle and triumph, this immersive experience of compelling photography, film, and video brings to life the stories of the female athletes who served as vital agents of change in the fight for equality over the last fifty years, and continue to lead the way towards full equality for women in all fields. ESPN Fifty/50 includes examples of the actual uniforms these women sport stars wore and the gear they used, including Serena Williams's 2018 U.S. Open “Tutu” outfit, pioneering racecar driver Danica Patrick’s fire suit, Brandi Chastain’s sports bra from her 1999 soccer Women’s World Cup championship celebration, and a racket used in competition by tennis and equality icon Billie Jean King. Other icons include  Ibtihaj Muhammad, track star Wyomia Tyus, the 1976 Yale women’s crew team, the USWNT, WNBA, and many more.

WANT TO GO? $20; $16 for students, teachers, seniors, veterans, and first responders; free for children 12 and younger and members. 212-621-6600.
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ESPN Presents Fifty/50: Honoring the Stories of Title IX

WHEN: Jun. 1 - Jul. 10, Wednesdays-Sundays, 12-5:30pm
WHERE: The Paley Center for Media, 25 West 52 Street, Upper West Side, NY
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT:

WANT TO GO? 212-621-6600.
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Dior + Balenciaga: The Kings of Couture and Their Legacies FREE

WHEN: Jun. 1 - Nov. 6, Wednesday-Friday, 12-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
WHERE: The Museum at FIT , 227 W 27th St., Chelsea, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

The Museum at FIT (MFIT) presents Dior + Balenciaga: The Kings of Couture and Their Legacies, an exhibition featuring fashions by the two most important couturiers of the mid-20th century, Christian Dior (1905-1957) and Crist bal Balenciaga (1895-1972). Featuring approximately 65 garments and ensembles drawn solely from The Museum at FIT's permanent collection, it is the first exhibition to juxtapose the work of these legendary designers, side by side.

WANT TO GO? 212-217-4558.
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DiscOasis

WHEN: Jun. 16 - Jul. 31, 10am-4:30pm, daytime skate sessions; 5:30-10pm, nighttime experience
WHERE: Central Park Wollman Rink , 830 5th Ave., Upper East Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: ill find yourself dancing and skating your way through a glittering sonic fantasia for the soul with a soundscape curated by our Groovemaster, disco and funk legend Nile Rodgers. WANT TO GO? Daytime tickets start at $17 for children and $23 for adults; Evening tickets start at $29; $10 skate rental.
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All-Of-A-Kind Family Walking Tour

WHEN: Sunday, Jul. 3, 10:30am
WHERE: Museum at Eldridge Street, 12 Eldridge St. , Lower East Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Take the kids on a trip to the literary Lower East Side to enjoy this walking tour where you'll follow in the footsteps of Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie, the beloved sisters depicted in Sydney Taylor's children's classic All-of-a-Kind Family. WANT TO GO? $0-15. 212-219-0888.
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Sunday Story Time: Apple Pie 4th of July

WHEN: Sunday, Jul. 3, 1pm
WHERE: New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side, NY
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: Hear a story about one girls idea of how to celebrate the Fourth of July and then make a 4th of July fireworks painting. WANT TO GO? FREE with admission: $22; $17 seniors, educators, active military; $13 students; $6 children 5-13; free for children 4 and younger. 212-873-3400.
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4th of July: Bald Eagle Cupcakes Class

WHEN: Sunday, Jul. 3, 10:30-11:30am
WHERE: Taste Buds Kitchen NYC, 109 West 27th Street, Chelsea, NY
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: You'll have oh-so-much fun decorating cupcakes like America’s national bird. Ages 2-8. WANT TO GO? $65 per child and adult. 212-242-2248.
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South Street Seaport Museum Monthly Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music Live Sing-Along In-Person Aboard Tall Ship Wavertree FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Jul. 3, 2pm
WHERE: South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St. , Downtown , NY
AGES: All
WHAT: South Street Seaport Museum's monthly sea-music event Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music the original NYC chantey sing continues in-person aboard 1885 tall ship Wavertree. WANT TO GO? 646-765-4773.
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Looking for more events in your area? Search our comprehensive events calendar.

There’s a lot to do this weekend with your family, whether you're planning a day trip that's close to New York City or are looking for the best things to do with kids in Manhattan this weekend. After all, weekends are the best because you get to spend time with your kids, so make the most of your time together and check out our picks for the best kid-friendly activities in Manhattan! From storytimes and concerts to museum exhibits, crafts activities, seasonal events, and more, you're sure to find something to do that keeps everyone happy and having fun. Look no further for ideas and plan your weekend in New York City with our guide that highlights the best family-friendly (virtual and in-person) events happening in and around your neighborhood, including family fun in Central Park, the Lower East Side, the Upper West Side, Harlem, Midtown, the Upper East Side, Greenwich Village, Battery Park, Bryant Park, Tribeca, the Bronx, and Lower Manhattan. You can also find weekend fun in ourBrooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, and Rockland—and check out our Manhattan calendar for hundreds of things to do each month!

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