Things to Do with Kids in NYC this Weekend

Plan your kids' best weekend yet in Manhattan!

By NYMetroParents Staff February 22, 2021

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.

*Be sure to call venues ahead of time to make sure events are still happening in the wake of COVID-19 concerns.*

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!

ONLINE Feathers of Fire--The Movie
WHEN: Jun. 4 - 4, Anytime
WHERE: Vimeo, 155 First Ave., New York, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

"Feathers of Fire--The Movie" is an ingenious production of theater-on-film, conceived and directed by Hamid Rahmanian. It is intended for audiences aged 5 to 105. This film is a video version of "Feathers of Fire," the most elaborate shadow theater experience ever created, which was presented by BAM and other venues worldwide from 2016-2018 and won the UNIMA USA award for excellence in live performance and design. The plot is an action-packed tale of two star-crossed lovers of old Persia, based on a story from Shahnameh (the Persian Book of Kings). Zaul, an outcast albino boy, is brought up by a bird-goddess and grows up into a wise ruler. He enters into a forbidden love with Rudabeh, a princess who is the granddaughter of the dreaded Serpent King. Their young, impetuous romance survives many precarious adventures before they finally receive blessings for their union. When they ultimately have a child, it is Rostam, "the Hercules of Iran." Aspects of the story are reminiscent of "Romeo and Juliet," "Rapunzel," "The Firebird" and "Jungle Book." The piece is created and directed by Hamid Rahmanian, a 2014 Guggenheim fellowship-winning filmmaker/visual artist living in Brooklyn. It is endorsed by Francis Ford Coppola, who called the production "Fantastic! One of the greatest epics of all time and my favorite Shahnameh brought to life in a spectacular fashion by Hamid Rahmanian with shadow puppets design and cinematic wizardry."

WANT TO GO? $4.95. 212-924-0496. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/feathersoffire.

POST-PAUSE Cruises
WHEN: Aug. 11 - 11, 8:30am-5pm, daily
WHERE: Castle Clinton, Battery Park, New York, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: A trip on Statue Cruises to Liberty Island allows individuals to enjoy Liberty Island with plenty of outdoor space to safely explore the island and the spectacular views of New York Harbor. WANT TO GO? $19.25; $14 seniors 62 and older; $9 children 4-12 years; free for children three years and younger. 877-523-9849. https://statuecruises.com/cruises/new-york-reserve/.

ONLINE New Victory Arts Break: Explore a World of Arts [VIRTUAL] FREE
WHEN: Oct. 19 - May. 1, Any time (pre-recorded)
WHERE: New Victory Theater, 229 W42nd Street, New York, NY
AGES: 5-8, Adult
WHAT:

Explore the arts at home! New Victory Arts Break offers ideas for teachers and families to incorporate performing arts into their online learning. Each week will focus on a different art form with a selection of free activities for kids guided by New Victory Teaching Artists. In the special "Explore a World of Arts" series, New Victory travels from continent to continent, visiting the international artists who have appeared on the New Victory stage to see what creativity, culture and community look like where they live.

WANT TO GO? 646-223-3010. newvictory.org.

IN PERSON Ice Skating at the Bank of America Winter Village
WHEN: Oct. 31 - Mar. 7, 8am-10pm, daily
WHERE: Bryant Park, 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is Manhattan’s winter wonderland where you can enjoy New York City’s only free admission ice skating rink. The whole family will enjoy skating outdoors! Advanced reservations are required.

WANT TO GO? Admission is free; $21-$36, skate rental. 212-768-4242. https://bryantpark.org/?/amenities/bank-of-america-winter-village-at-bryant-park.

IN PERSON The Rink at Brookfield Place
WHEN: Nov. 10 - Apr. 4, Mondays-Fridays, 2-9:15pm; Saturdays-Sunday and Holidays, 9am-10pm
WHERE: Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St. , Financial District, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Skate on the 7,350 square-foot outdoor rink while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Hudson River and cityscape. WANT TO GO? $15 per hour; $5 skate rental; see website for more options. 212-978-1673. https://therinkatbrookfieldplace.net/.

IN PERSON Wollman Rink
WHEN: Nov. 30 - Mar. 31, Mondays and Tuesdays, 10am-2:30pm; Wednesdays-Saturdays, 10am-10pm; Sundays, 10am-9pm
WHERE: Central Park, 830 5th Ave., 59th Street and 6th Avenue, Upper Manhattan, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Situated in the heart of Manhattan at 59th Street and Sixth Avenue, the iconic Wollman Rink offers spectacular views of the NYC skyline and programs that cater to the entire family—ideal for visitors and local skating enthusiasts.

WANT TO GO? $19 weekends and holidays; $12 weekdays; $9 seniors weekends; $6 ages 11 and younger; $5 seniors weekdays; $10 skate rental. 212-439-6900. https://wollmanskatingrink.com/.

IN PERSON and ONLINE 'Hollywood Dogs' Exhibit
WHEN: Jan. 6 - Apr. 11, Wednesdays-Sundays, 11am-6pm
WHERE: American Kennel Club Museum, 101 Park Ave, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Take a closer look at your favorite Hollywood dogs at this exhibit. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 seniors 65 and older, students 13-24, and active military; $5 children younger than 12; free for virtual tour. 212-696-8360. https://museumofthedog.org/.

IN PERSON Meet & Greet With The Animals
WHEN: Jan. 27 - Apr. 2, Mondays, 11:30am and 12:30pm; Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 11:30am; Wednesdays, 12:30pm
WHERE: The Art Farm, 403 E. 91st Street, 4th Floor , Upper East Side, NY
AGES: Newborn-5
WHAT:

Join The Art Farm for arts and crafts, limited playtime, storytime, and…live animals! Advanced registration required.

WANT TO GO? $25 per session includes 1 adult per child. 917-757-7366. https://theartfarms.com/.

IN PERSON Juggling FREE
WHEN: Feb. 3 - May. 22, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 12pm
WHERE: Bryant Park, 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Join the Bryant Park Jugglers throughout the year for a free juggling lesson! WANT TO GO? 212-768-4242. https://bryantpark.org/programs/juggling.

IN PERSON LUNAR NEW YEAR DECORATIONS DIY FREE
WHEN: Feb. 10 - 23, 12-6pm, daily
WHERE: Chelsea Market, 437 West 15th Street, Chelsea, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Join Pearl River Mart and Chelsea Market to celebrate the Year of the Ox! Help spread good fortune with DIY Lunar New Year Decorations, right outside of Pearl River Mart.

WANT TO GO? 917-463-3833. https://chelseamarket.com/events-all/lunarnewyeardiy.

ONLINE Isle Full of Noises FREE
WHEN: Feb. 18 - Mar. 6, Thursdays, 7pm; Saturdays, 1pm
WHERE: Emit Theatre, , New York, NY
AGES: 5-12
WHAT:

Shakespeare and his band of merry players are back again to create some theatre magic with you from home! Adapted from Shakespeare's The Tempest, Emit Theatre's production of Isle Full of Noises allows families to enjoy this classic story retold with a contemporary audience in mind right from the comfort of your own home. This story begins when the magician Prospero creates an enchanted storm to bring a ship filled with his enemies to the island where he and his daughter have been stranded. Along with his fairy helper Ariel and other island spirits, Prospero creates a wild adventure for everyone on the island. As his plans come to pass, he must not only confront his past but also reckon with his own actions. He especially must confront his treatment of the half-human, half-fish Caliban to whom the island actually belongs to. Attendees who RSVP will receive Zoom access details the day before the performance. All performances feature live CART captioning. Audio descriptions of characters are included in the performance dialogue. For more information on accommodations, see our Accessibility page at emittheatre.org/accessibility. The theater recommends viewing this performance on a laptop if available. A tutorial of basic Zoom functions, including the optional use of Snap Camera filters, is available on their website at emittheatre.org/virtual-play-along-series.

WANT TO GO? 917-719-6766. emittheatre.org.

IN PERSON STUDIO BFPL: LUNAR NEW YEAR FREE
WHEN: Feb. 19 - Mar. 14, Fridays, 5-7pm; Sundays, 1-4pm
WHERE: Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St. , Financial District, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Studio BFPL returns in partnership with New York Chinese Cultural Center. Experience intimate, one-of-a-kind, live performances that are socially distant, within the indoor spaces of Brookfield Place. Up to six people who have traveled together can expect to be entertained for up to 15 minutes. Registration opens on the Monday before each show at 10 AM. Friday performances features the Dance China NY performers and Sundays feature singers Sun Wei, the principal performer of Guzheng of the Chinese National Orchestra in New York and Yang Wang, who plays the erhu and has performed at Lincoln Center, New York Carnegie Hall, and the Chinese National Center for Performing Arts.

WANT TO GO? 212-978-1673. https://bfplny.com/studiobfpl/.

ONLINE Thunderbird American Dancers Dance Concert and Pow Wow
WHEN: Feb. 20 - Mar. 7, Premiers 2/20 at 7pm
WHERE: Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., East Village, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Theater for the New City will present its 46th annual Thunderbird American Dancers Dance Concert and Pow Wow live-streamed from the Johnson Theater. This “virtual Pow-Wow” will be accessible from TNC’s website and available there on-demand until February 28, 2021. There will be dances, stories, and traditional music from Native Peoples of the Northeast, Southwest, and Great Plains regions. The event, emceed by Bessie-winner Louis Mofsie (Hopi/Winnebago), has become a treasured New York tradition for celebrating our diversity by honoring the culture of our first Americans. TNC donates all proceeds from this event to college scholarship funds for Native American students.

WANT TO GO? $5. 212-254-1109. https://theaterforthenewcity.net/shows/thunderbird-american-indian-dancers-dance-concert-and-pow-wow/.

ONLINE Little New-Yorkers @ Home: Tar Beach FREE
WHEN: Feb. 23 - 26, Tuesday and Friday, 3:30pm
WHERE: DiMenna Children's History Museum at New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side, NY
AGES: 3-8
WHAT:

Celebrate Presidents’ Day and join special guest Erin McGill, author of If You Want a Friend In Washington: Wacky, Wild & Wonderful Presidential Pets, Enjoy her reading and ask questions about the presidential pets that have passed through the White House. Advanced registration required.

WANT TO GO? 212-873-3400. https://nyhistory.org/programs/little-new-yorkers-home-44.

ONLINE Virtual: Moore Family
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 26, 6pm
WHERE: Tenement Museum, 103 Orchard , New York, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Travel back to 1860's New York to visit Joseph and Bridget Moore, Irish immigrants living with their children at 97 Orchard Street. As on the Irish Outsiders building tour, you'll visit their tenement apartment to understand daily life and discuss the Moore's experiences as Irish New Yorkers. How were they making an Irish home in the heart of the "Little Germany" neighborhood? What discrimination might they have faced, and what opportunities did they have as Irish immigrants? Advanced registration required.

WANT TO GO? $10 per device; free for members. 877-975-3786. https://tenement.org/tour/virtual-tour-moore-family/?tour_date=2021-02-26.

ONLINE Watson Adventures’ Wizard School Virtual Scavenger Hunt
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 27, 5pm
WHERE: Watson Adventures, , New York, NY
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT:

Grab your magic wands for a wizarding adventure that takes you to museums across America in search of art that echoes characters, places, and magical objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies, all without leaving your home. You'll track down slithering serpents, Hagrid-like giants and eerie figures as scary as any Dementor. This hunt references the books and provides a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. For ages 10 and up. This game can be played either together or remotely with up to six players per team. Advance booking is required.

WANT TO GO? $19 per person. 877-946-4868. https://watsonadventures.com/hunt/the-wizard-school-virtual-scavenger-hunt/.

IN PERSON Italian Masquerade Carnevale Workshop
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 27, 3:45-4:45pm
WHERE: Speakitaly NYC, 49 West 28th street, FL 3, New York, NY
AGES: 3-12
WHAT:

If you can't go to Venice then Venice must come to you! Decorate and make one of the more famous things: maschere di carnevale! Advanced registration required.

WANT TO GO? $35. 212-603-9685. speakitalynyc.com.

ONLINE Shababa Palooza: Purim Family Concert FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 27, 9am
WHERE: 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., Upper East Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Get decked out in your favorite costume and get ready to rock — Purim style (all in the comfort of your home!). Join Rebecca Schoffer and her Shababa band as they bring the story of Purim to life and send your imaginations on a playful musical journey. This program was pre-recorded at last year’s Purim concert and will feature a brand new special message from Rebecca! You won’t want to miss out on the fun. All exclusively on the Shababa Facebook page. Register online.

WANT TO GO? 212-415-5500. https://92y.org/event/shababa-palooza.

ONLINE Glow-in-the-Dark Yoga
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 27, 7-7:45pm
WHERE: Karma Kids Yoga, 16 Madison Square West, New York, NY
AGES: 5-12
WHAT:

Don't miss this epic Glow-in-the-Dark Yoga event on zoom! All you need is a dark room and dark pajamas! Karma Kids Yoga will send you the rest in advance! Registration closes on Saturday, February 20th so that they can safely mail materials to your home. For ages 4 - 8 years.

WANT TO GO? $20 per child. 646-638-1444. https://karmakidsyoga.com/events_workshops.html.

ONLINE Virtual: Saez-Velez Family
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 27, 4pm
WHERE: Tenement Museum, 103 Orchard Street, New York, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Visit the 1960's home of the Saez Velez family, who migrated from Puerto Rico and lived at 103 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side. Like on the Under One Roof building tour, you'll explore the stories of Ramonita Rivera Saez and her sons Jos and Andy through photographs, objects, and oral histories. How did they establish themselves in New York, and what opportunities and challenges did they face migrating as US citizens? How did they meet those challenges to help make a more inclusive city? Hear directly from members of the family and from scholars of Puerto Rican history as we explore these questions and more. Advanced registration required.

WANT TO GO? $10 per device; free for members. 877-975-3786. https://tenement.org/tour/virtual-saez-velez-family/?tour_date=2021-02-27.

ONLINE Special Family Preview Screening of Netflix's Family Reunion FREE
WHEN: Feb. 27 - 28, Premieres on Saturday at 12pm
WHERE: The Paley Center for Media, , , NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

As part of the month-long celebration offerings for families, there will be a special sneak preview screening of a new episode from the upcoming season of Netflix’s Family Reunion, along with family watch party screening guides and fun recipes. The second season of the family comedy, starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Emmy-winner Loretta Devine, is in production now and slated to debut later this year. The new episodes will follow the McKellans as they settle into their new lives in the South and even more hilarious antics ensue as they learn to live together under M'Dear's roof and the family bonding gets real. New episodes will be coming this spring. Advanced registration required. RSVP by February 21 at 11:59pm.

WANT TO GO? https://facebook.com/events/419551105927472.

ONLINE Unicorn Yoga Rainbow Adventure
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 28, 10-10:45am
WHERE: Karma Kids Yoga, 16 Madison Square West, New York, NY
AGES: 3-8
WHAT:

It's time to soar across the rainbow to a land of sunshine and sparkles where the mythical and magical unicorns run free! Take a magnificent adventure where we will use the magical map to soar across the river of confetti, and over the laughing mountains into the sparkle jungle, in search of the mystical unicorn. Along the way we are likely to meet silly magical friends that will help us on our quest. If you love all things rainbows and sparkles, you won't want to miss this fantastical unicorn celebration. For ages 4 and up. Be sure to dress to express your inner unicorn! Advanced registration required.

WANT TO GO? $15 per child. 646-638-1444. https://karmakidsyoga.com/events_workshops.html.

ONLINE 19th-Century Spa Treatments: A Virtual Workshop
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2pm
WHERE: Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden, 421 East 61 Street, New York , NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

By the 19th century, women in America had developed skincare routines to meet the standards of beauty of the period. In this workshop, explore these ideas and recipes plus demonstrations how to create creams and cosmetics, popular in the antebellum era, but that fulfill our desire today for natural products.

WANT TO GO? $10 suggested minimum donation for non members; free for members. 212-838-6878. https://eventbrite.com/e/19th-century-spa-treatments-a-virtual-workshop-tickets-136900496069.

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