Our roundup of fun and FREE/low-cost things to do with kids in Manhattan this August includes the FringeJR theater festival, outdoor movies in the parks, and family-friendly concerts throughout the borough.

Aug. 2, 7, 9

Rock Out…doors!

It’s been a hot summer, but you know the moment fall rolls around we’ll all regret not spending every second we could have in the great outdoors. Take advantage of the heat and go outside to enjoy things often done inside: picnics instead of dinner at the dining room table, tennis games instead of Wii fitness competitions, and my personal favorite: outdoor concerts. A bright blue sky, energetic (kiddie) rock stars, and all the space you need to have a giant dance party? Bring on the music!

Perfect for the avid concert-goer, Madison Square Park wraps up its 10th season of Mad. Sq. Kids this month with three FREE outdoor performances for children and their families:

Aug. 2: Get ready to dance with Princess Katie & Racer Steve

Aug. 7: Sing along to tunes about real-life kid issues with The Suzi Shelton Band

Aug. 9: Take a musical tour through different cultures with Father Goose

Aug. 10-26

Life on the Fringe

FringeNYC, more formally known as The New York International Fringe Festival, is the largest multi-arts festival in North America. Exploding onto the theater scene in 1997 with its particular brand of weird and wacky entertainment, the festival now spans 16 days and 20 venues, boasting 1,200 total performances.

If that sounds a bit overwhelming for the junior members of your family—or for yourself!—fear not. That’s why there’s FringeJR, which presents shows specifically recommended for families. This year’s FringeJR selections include Blown Away by Poetry, GRIMM: A New Musical, Super Sidekick: The Musical, and The Great Pie Robbery…Or, We Really Knead the Dough.

If your kids like the idea of getting up close and personal with the actors, be sure to attend Fort FringeJR to meet the casts (FREE!).