Things to Do with Kids in NYC this Weekend

Plan your kids' best weekend yet in Manhattan!

By NYMetroParents Staff June 16, 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.*

Editor's Picks for This Weekend

beU New York: Family Yoga at Battery Park

WHEN: May. 15 - Sep. 25, Saturday, 10:30-11:15am
WHERE: Battery Park, State Street and Battery Place, Meet at Giovanni da Verrazzano, New York, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Spend the morning practicing yoga poses with your family. WANT TO GO? $25. 917-791-2666.
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Show Up, Kids! Interactive Comedy

WHEN: Jun. 6 - 20, Sundays, 12pm
WHERE: The Kraine Theater, 85 E 4th Street, New York, NY
AGES: 3-12
WHAT:

This critically acclaimed, long-running, socially-distanced, interactive comedy show for children ages 3-10 (and their grownups) puts a twist on the traditional children's show. When the show's star doesn't show up for the show, the kids help Denisse create an entire show on the spot from the costumes to characters and props to plot. 60-minutes. Music by Michael Andrew. Direction by Michole Biancosino. Created by Peter Michael Marino. In Spanish on Saturdays in June!

WANT TO GO? $15. 212-777-6088.
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Juneteenth Freedom Flag Installation

WHEN: Jun. 16 - 19, Wednesdays-Saturday, 10am-12pm, 12:30-2:30pm, or 3-5pm
WHERE: Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Visit Inside Art (1st floor) for the Show Your Colors Origami Installation. Kick-off Pride month at CMOM by helping to create a unique Pride flag installation! Join the museum all month by adding your own colorful origami creations to a giant rainbow masterpiece.

WANT TO GO? $15; $12 seniors 65 and older and visitor with disabilities; free for children younger than 1. 212-721-1223.
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Superhero Party in Central Park

WHEN: Saturday, Jun. 19, 10:30-11:15am
WHERE: Turtle Pond, 79th street and 85th street, Upper West Side, NY
AGES: Newborn-5
WHAT:

Join Curated Care for a fun filled morning! Decorate your own capes and eye masks, create friendship bracelets, and finish with a superhero themed freeze dance! Bring a picnic blanket or towel for your crew while enjoying socially distanced fun outdoors. Fun for ages 2 - 10! Ticket includes one eye mask, cape and craft materials per kiddo

WANT TO GO? $25.
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Lavender Festival and Ju-Bee-Lee

WHEN: Jun. 19 - 20, 12-4pm
WHERE: Governors Island, Ferries depart from 10 South Street, Manhattan and Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park, SOUTH BATTERY - LAVENDER FIELD, Governors Island, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

The NYC Lavender Festival and Ju-Bee-Lee offers 2 days of tours, maker workshops, harvesting opportunities, demonstrations, and fun family activities, all connected with Earth Matter’s Lavender Field and The Bee Conservancy on Governors Island. Since 2017 the Lavender Field has provided a healing space for the community, pollinators and the earth. This fragrant and lush oasis is the only lavender field in all 5 boroughs of New York, featuring over 500 plants of 4 different varieties. Learn how to make your own hand sanitizer, or discover the ancient French skill of making lavender flower “magic wands”. Create a lavender sachet, or harvest your own fresh lavender bouquet. See how fragrance gets out of the flower and into a perfume bottle, discover the secrets inside a beehive, or just take advantage of the splendid photo opportunities.

WANT TO GO? Admission is free, prices vary for workshops.
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16th Annual NYC Kidsfest: NYC Open Culture presents 16th Annual NYC Kidsfest FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Jun. 20, 2-6pm
WHERE: Jackie Robinson Park: The Bandshell, 89 Bradhurst Ave., W. 146th St., Harlem, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

16th Annual NYC Kidsfest will be taking to the streets this year—literally! This creative initiative brings the performing arts to open street spaces. Headlliners include: SAUL PAUL GRAMMY Award-nominated artist SaulPaul has garnered an international reputation as a Musician with a Message. Part rapper/part singer-songwriter, SaulPaul blends his voice, his guitar, and his loop pedal to create a live show that is nothing less than an experience. From performing at two TEDx Talks, five Super Bowls, America’s Got Talent, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Austin City Limits, this seasoned and well-traveled artist has performed nationally and internationally in theaters, concert venues and festivals across the country. FYUTCH Fyütch is a multi-discipline artist who gained musical notoriety in Nashville as the lead singer of Hip-Hop/Soul band Biscuits and Gravy, opening for acts like Kanye West and Pharrell. And these days it’s songs for kids that are lighting up audiences. FLOR BROMLEY Flor Bromley is a singer, storyteller and puppeteer originally from Peru. Her love for music began at a very early age and she wrote her first song at the age of 14. Since then her career hasn’t stopped. From taking her stories and music to the most needed and isolated places in Peru to the busy venues of NYC, Flor is a master storyteller and musician with a magical imagination that inspires children to tap into their own. And make sure to catch children friendly band Uptown Social Club! Workshops and Presentations include: Hip Hop Workshop for festival attendees and Presentation featuring Hour Children Kids Harlem School of the Arts- Violin Madness Music Presentation And much much more to come!

WANT TO GO? 646-598-7743.
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Color For India FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Jun. 20, 12-1pm
WHERE: Hudson Yards, 20 Hudson Yards, Level 5, New York, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

An event to raise funds for COVID relief in India, while celebrating Holi, the Indian spring festival of colors. This will be a family event in which we will have performances and workshops to celebrate this colorful festival. Celebration includes: Puppet Show – Colors of Krishna’s Love Indian Dance Performance and Workshop Indian Drummer (Dholi) Powder Play (only outdoors) Indian food and more

WANT TO GO? 212-582-9280.
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Father's Day Concert

WHEN: Sunday, Jun. 20, 12pm and 5pm
WHERE: Laurie Berkner, , , NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Join Laurie Berknet for a special Father's Day concert featuring songs about family including "I Love You Daddy!" WANT TO GO? $10-$20.
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Even More Weekend Fun

ARTECHOUSE NYC

WHEN: Mar. 1 - Sep. 6, 10am-10pm, daily
WHERE: ARTECHOUSE, 439 W 15th Street, Chelsea, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: ARTECHOUSE presents large-scale exhibitions and installations that inspire wonder, awe, curiosity, and connection. WANT TO GO? $24; $20, Students, Seniors (65+), Military & First Responders; $17 children 4-15; free for children younger than 4.
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Life Forces FREE

WHEN: Apr. 26 - Jun. 30,
WHERE: Rockefeller Center Plaza, 48th Street , between 5th-6th Avenues, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Don't just see, experience this new art installation! WANT TO GO?
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A Year with Children 2021

WHEN: Apr. 30 - Jun. 20, Thursdays–Mondays, 11 am–6 pm
WHERE: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: A Year with Children 2021 will showcase selected artworks by New York City public-school students who participated in Learning Through Art. WANT TO GO? $25; $18 for students and seniors (65+) and visitors with disabilities; free for members and children 12 and younger. 212-423-3500.
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The GREEN FREE

WHEN: May. 10 - Sep. 30, 9am-12am
WHERE: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Visit "The GREEN" to relax and enjoy the open, park-like space, borrow books, enjoy snacks, and pop-up performances of all kinds. WANT TO GO? 212-875-5456.
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Sketch with Jeff FREE

WHEN: May. 29 - Jun. 26, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 3pm
WHERE: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Guggenheim teaching artist Jeff Hopkins will share stories about the museum’s iconic Frank Lloyd Wright building on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Each segment of Sketch With Jeff will feature Jeff sketching stories followed by a prompt to create drawings of your own at home. Children are encouraged to share their sketches on Instagram and Twitter @Guggenheim using the hashtag #SketchWithJeff.

WANT TO GO? 212-423-3500.
Click Here for More Information

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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