Fun Things To Do This Weekend with Kids in New York City

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 concerts and performances to museum exhibits, shows, crafts activities, seasonal events, and parades, 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 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, Sugar Hill, Tribeca, the Bronx, and Lower Manhattan.

RELATED: Get Great Weekend Activities in Your Inbox!
 

FREE Fleet Week NYPD/U.S. Navy Association Remembrance Ceremony and Celebration
WHEN: Friday, May 24, 10am-12pm
WHERE: NYPD Headquarters Auditorium, 1 Police Plaza Path, Two Bridges
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: NYPD/U.S. Navy Association will honor fallen Sailors and police officers during a remembrance ceremony
WANT TO GO? militarynews.com/app/fleetweeknewyork.

FREE Outdoor Movie Night at Randall's Island Park: Incredibles 2 (PG)
WHEN: Friday, May 24, 8:30-10:35pm
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 20 Randall’s Island Park, New York
AGES: 3 and older
WHAT: See the Incredibles family take on a new mission!
WANT TO GO? FREE. 2128307722. https://randallsisland.org/events/outdoor-movie-night-incredibles-2/.

FREE Fleet Week Navy Dive Tank in Times Square
WHEN: May 23-25, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Military Island, 43rd and 44th streets, Midtown
AGES: All
WHAT: U.S. Navy divers will dive in the Navy Dive Tank right in Times Square throughout the day. Come by and play tic-tac-toe, see their gear, take photos and learn about U.S. Navy Divers
WANT TO GO? militarynews.com/app/fleetweeknewyork.

FREE Fleet Week Navy Band Concert
WHEN: May 24-25, Friday, 8-9:15pm; Saturday, 6-7:15pm
WHERE: Military Island, 43rd and 44th streets, Midtown
AGES: All
WHAT: Navy Band Northeast's "Rhode Island Sound" will perform a concert at Military Island in Times Square.
WANT TO GO? militarynews.com/app/fleetweeknewyork.

FREE Fleet Week Marine Day in Prospect Park
WHEN: Saturday, May 25, 9am-4pm
WHERE: Prospect Park - Westside, 95 Prospect Park W., Prospect Park
AGES: All
WHAT: The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) will host Marine Day in Prospect Park featuring interactive and aviation static displays, demonstrations, and a performance by the USMC Battle Color Detachment
WANT TO GO? militarynews.com/app/fleetweeknewyork.

New York City Ballet Family Saturdays
WHEN: Saturday, May 25, 11am-12pm
WHERE: David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: Join for a one-hour interactive presentation featuring excerpts from New York City Ballet's diverse repertory.
WANT TO GO? $22-$32. 212-496-0600. nycballet.com.

Watson Adventures’ Hamilton: The Family Scavenger Hunt
WHEN: Saturday, May 25, 11am-1pm
WHERE: Watson Adventures Meet-Up Location, Broad Street and Exchange Place, Financial District
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT: Follow in Alexander Hamilton's footsteps on a unique family scavenger hunt
WANT TO GO? $17.50-$21.50. 877-946-4868. watsonadventures.com.

FREE Sensational Senses Family Sundays
WHEN: May 5-26, Sundays, 1-4pm
WHERE: Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St., Flatiron
AGES: 3 and older
WHAT: Explore the power of touch by creating a sensory activity filled with color.
WANT TO GO? 212-620-5000. rubinmuseum.org/familysundays.

Celebrate Ramadan!
WHEN: May 25-26, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: Explore the holiday of Ramadan with storytelling, a navigation station, and paint activity.
WANT TO GO? $14 children and adults; $11 seniors; $11 visitors with disabilities; free for children ages 1 and younger. 212-721-1223. cmom.org.

Premiere of Galli's 'The Frog Prince'
WHEN: May 25-26, Saturdays-Sundays, 2pm
WHERE: Galli Theater, 74 Warren St., Tribeca
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: Through her adventure with the frog, a young girl learns the value of keeping her word and facing her fears.
WANT TO GO? $20; $15 children . 212-731-0668. gallitheaternyc.com.

FREE Mamapalooza Festival
WHEN: Sunday, May 26, 12-5pm
WHERE: Riverside Park South, 72nd Street and Riverside Drive, Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: Enjoy music, family-focused vendors, wellness activities, face painting, art, and activism.
WHY WE LOVE IT: The fun includes a Gymboree play area, a chair yoga session, and sungazing with the Amateur Astronomers Association.
WANT TO GO? nycgovparks.org.

FREE Central Park Discovery Walk for Families: The North Woods
WHEN: Sunday, May 26, 11am-12:30pm
WHERE: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth avenues, Upper East Side
AGES: 5-12
WHAT: Learn how plants and trees contribute to the health of an urban woodland community.
WANT TO GO? 212-310-6600. centralparknyc.org.

Sunday Story Time: 'One Sunday Morning'
WHEN: Sunday, May 26, 11:30am
WHERE: DiMenna Children's History Museum at New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: Discover what Minho and his father explore during their day in the park, followed by a puppet-making craft.
WANT TO GO? $21; $16 seniors/educators/active military; $6 kids ages 5-13; free for children 4 and younger. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org/childrens-museum.

The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter
WHEN: Through May 27: daily, 10am-5:45pm
WHERE: American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street, Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: This exhibition, an annual favorite, features up to 500 live, free-flying tropical butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The butterflies are housed in a vivarium that approximates their natural habitat, includes live flowering plants that serve as nectar sources, and features controlled artificial light, temperature, and humidity.
WANT TO GO? $28; $22.50 students and seniors; $16.50 children ages 2–12. 212-769-5800. amnh.org.

FREE Fleet Week General Public Ship Tours
WHEN: May 23-27, Thursday, 10am-3pm; Friday-Monday, 10am-5pm
WHERE: The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum , Pier 86 , Midtown West
AGES: All
WHAT: Tour ships, watch the Parade of Ships, enjoy exhibits, military band concerts, and aviation events.
WANT TO GO? 212-245-0072. militarynews.com/app/fleetweeknewyork/.

FREE Fleet Week: Recreate the Saturn V Rocket
WHEN: May 25-27, daily, 10am-6pm
WHERE: The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86 , Midtown West
AGES: All
WHAT: In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, kids and kids at heart are invited to help recreate the iconic Saturn V rocket out of LEGO bricks with LEGOLAND New York Resort and LEGO Lady Liberty at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum during Memorial Day weekend of Fleet Week. Stop by the LEGOLAND New York Resort booth to hang with LEGO Lady Liberty and help construct a LEGO build of the Saturn V rocket.
WANT TO GO? 212-245-0072.

Memorial Day at the Museum
WHEN: May 25-27, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: Make a star-spangled wind chime.
WANT TO GO? $14 children and adults; $11 seniors; $11 visitors with disabilities; free for children ages 1 and younger. 212-721-1223. cmom.org.

FREE School Break Program
WHEN: Monday, May 27, 1-4pm
WHERE: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: Create works of art at The Met!
WANT TO GO? $25; $17 seniors; $12 students; free for children younger than 12 with an adult. 212-535-7710. metmuseum.org.

DreamWorks Trolls The Experience
WHEN: Through May 31: Monday-Friday, 10am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 9am-8pm
WHERE: 218 W. 57th St., Midtown
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: DreamWorks Trolls The Experience transports guests into the glittery world of DreamWorks Trolls through a visually-stunning, interactive journey to Poppy’s Best Day Ever Celebration. Guided by a rainbow path, visitors will sing, dance, hug, and celebrate alongside DreamWorks Trolls before meeting Poppy while creating unforgettable family memories and sharable social media moments.
WANT TO GO? $40. 800-844-3545. trollstheexperience.com.

Pip’s Island
WHEN: May 1-31, see website for schedule
WHERE: Pip's Island , 400 W. 42nd St, New York
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: The sixty-minute live and interactive narrative adventures its way through a dozen unique, hand-crafted environments.
WANT TO GO? $49 and up. https://showclix.com/event/pips-island.

'Puss in Boots'
WHEN: May 1-31, Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, times vary
WHERE: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park, West 81st Street and Central Park West, Upper West Side
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: A classic children’s fairy tale with a twist!
WANT TO GO? $12; $8 children 12 and younger . 212-988-9093. cityparksfoundation.org.

'Addy & Uno'
WHEN: April 7- June 2, Sundays, 12pm
WHERE: Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd St., Midtown
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: Through puppets and soaring music, Addy & Uno celebrates big dreams and differences.
WANT TO GO? $40. 212-239-6200. addyanduno.com.

The Frog Prince
WHEN: May 25- June 2, Weekends, 2:00pm
WHERE: Galli Theater, 74 Warren St., Tribeca
AGES: All
WHAT: A princess loses a precious gift from her father, a golden ball, down a well. In order to get it back, she must keep three promises to a frog.
WANT TO GO? $20 adults; $15 children. 212-731-0668. gallitheaterny.com.

FREE German Story Time
WHEN: April 19- June 7, Fridays at 4:30pm
WHERE: Book Culture on Broadway, 2915 Broadway (at 114th street), New York
AGES: 3-5
WHAT: Beatrice Beckmann reads funny and smart, classic and new picture books in German and sings a song or two.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 646-403-3000. kinderbooks.nyc/german-story-time.

ShaJam!
WHEN: Through June 7: Fridays, 9:30-10:15am
WHERE: Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave., Upper West Side
AGES: 4 and younger
WHAT: Get ready, get set...Shabbat! Start your Fridays off right as we sing and dance with friends in a Jewish music class like no other. ShaJam is led by Carla Friend of Tkiya: The Jewish Community Music Initiative. Sign up for the whole season to enjoy a discounted rate, or register per session for the weeks you can join.
WANT TO GO? $25. 646-505-5708. ebiz.jccmanhattan.org/personifyebusiness/Programs/ProgramDetail.aspx?pid=653108695&_ga=2.73099286.448113896.1547475962-363256298.1532623624.

'The Wizard of Oz: A Jazz Musical for All Ages  
WHEN: March 9- June 8, 3pm
WHERE: Tato Laviera Theatre, 240 East 123rd Street , New York City 
AGES: All 
WHAT: Harlem Repertory Theatre stages "The Wizard of Oz: a Jazz Musical for All Ages," co-produced by the Yip Harburg Foundation, for young (and young-at-heart) audiences. 
WANT TO GO? $10 general admission; $20 premium seating. (212) 868-4444. http://wizardofozjazzmusical.com/. 

FREE Cerebral Palsy Soccer 
WHEN: Jan. 12- June 15, 1-3pm
WHERE: West End Secondary School, 277 W. 61st St., Upper West Side 
AGES: 5-17 
WHAT: Enjoy soccer training for kids with cerebral palsy, stroke, or traumatic brain injury who can walk and run independently. 
WANT TO GO? 347-328-3390. cpsoccer.us. 

FREE Track & Field
WHEN: April 7- June 23, Saturdays, 10am-12pm
WHERE: Thomas Jefferson Park, East 112th Street and First Avenue, Harlem
AGES: 9-17
WHAT: Learn the basics of the sport.
WANT TO GO? 718-760-6999. cityparksfoundation.org.

Art Class - Banksy (book via GoBambino)  
WHEN: Feb. 12- June 25, 3pm-4pm
WHERE: Playday, 122 E. 25th Street, New York 
AGES: 3-8 
WHAT: Join this stencil class inspired by the works of street artist Banksy in this drop-off class designed for children ages 4 to 10.  
WANT TO GO? $35. 646-410-5743. https://gobambino.com/activity/banksy-4-2553.html. 

FREE Frieze at Rockefeller Center
WHEN: April 25- June 28, All day
WHERE: Rockefeller Center, Between 48th - 51st Streets and 5th-6th Avenues, New York
AGES: All
WHAT: More than 20 sculptures will transform Rockefeller Center into a free public art park, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy and interact with renowned artwork free of tickets or time constraints.
WANT TO GO? https://rockefellercenter.com/.

FREE 35 Years of TMNT
WHEN: May 18- July 14, 12:00-6:00pm
WHERE: The Paley Center for Media, The Paley Center for Media, 25 West 52 Street, Midtown
AGES: All
WHAT: Upon entry to 35 Years of TMNT, visitors can enjoy a dynamic art piece showcasing the comic-book origins of our half-shell heroes, take a "shellfie" with a Turtles standee, enjoy screenings of Turtles animated episodes, and then sewer surf through a visual timeline of the evolution of the Turtles from the very first comics to the current series.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 2126216697. paleycenter.org.

FREE Sunset Singing Circle Ft. Terre Roche
WHEN: May 3- June 28, Fridays, 7-8:30pm
WHERE: Wagner Park, 16 Battery Place, Battery City Park
AGES: Adult
WHAT: Singer/songwriter Terre Roche leads this weekly singing program.
WANT TO GO? 212-267-9700. bpcparks.org.

Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady
WHEN: Through July 28: Check schedule for details
WHERE: Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway, Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: "My Fair Lady" tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.” But who is really being transformed?
WANT TO GO? $87 and up. 212-875-5788. chambermusicsociety.org/.

South Street Seaport Museum: Sail New York Harbor Aboard the Pioneer
WHEN: May 25- Sept. 8, see website for schedule
WHERE: South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St., Lower Manhattan
AGES: All
WHAT: Sail the New York Harbor aboard the historic 1885 schooner, Pioneer.
WANT TO GO? $32; $28 children and seniors . 212-748-8600. southstreetseaport.com.

FREE Yoga in the Park
WHEN: May 2- Sept. 19, Thursdays, 6:30-7:30pm
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 20 Randall's Island Park, Randall's Island
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT: Stretch, breathe, and find inner peace at this yoga class.
WANT TO GO? 212-830-7722. randallsisland.org.

FREE Summer on the Hudson: Sun Gaze
WHEN: May 26- Sept. 29, Last Sunday of the month, 1:00-4:00pm
WHERE: Pier I, Riverside Park South, Riverside Drive between 65th and 72nd Streets, Upper West Side
AGES: 3 and older
WHAT: The Amateur Astronomers Association and solargazing return with solar telescopes specifically designed to safely look at the sun and see sunspots and prominences under a summer sky.
WANT TO GO? nycgovparks.org.

Choco-Story NYC
WHEN: Through Oct. 16: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Jacques Torres Chocolate, 350 Hudson St., Hudson Square
AGES: All
WHAT: Visitors will discover in the 5,000-square-foot museum the story of chocolate and its journey from tree to bar through a self-guided tour of original artifacts, eight premium tastings including original Mayan hot chocolate freshly ground by hand, and a bon-bon making demonstration, offering an educational–and delicious—experience for families, children, and chocolate lovers.
WANT TO GO? $10-$15. 917-261-4252. mrchocolate.com.

FREE Urban Farm Exploration Days
WHEN: May 11- Oct. 19, Weekends, 11:00am-5:00pm
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 20 Randall's Island Park, Randall's Island
AGES: All
WHAT: Explore the Urban Farm's variety of crops, rice paddies, and fragrant herbs, and meet the chickens, too! All ages welcome.
WANT TO GO? 212-830-7722. randallsisland.org.

FREE Art on the Farm
WHEN: May 5- Oct. 20, Weekends, 2:00-4:00pm
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 20 Randall's Island Park, Randall's Island
AGES: All
WHAT: Join us for unique family art projects inspired by the farm.
WANT TO GO? 212-830-7722. randallsisland.org.

FREE Hester Street Fair
WHEN: April 13- Oct. 26, Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-6pm
WHERE: Hester Street , Corner of Hester and Essex Streets, New York
AGES: All
WHAT: Spend the weekend perusing handmade goods, creative products, and artisanal food.
WANT TO GO? https://hesterstreetfair.com/.

Play N Go™ Friday
WHEN: Through Nov. 29: Fridays, 6-8:30pm
WHERE: P.S. 87, 160 W. 78th St., Upper West Side
AGES: 8 and older
WHAT: League Play (drop in players permitted) (3) Rounds, Players are paired in "Quads" starting with the (4) highest USCF rated players based on their current rating and continuing down to new and unrated players. *Unrated players will be matched by age, eldest to youngest, and receive a USCF provisional rating immediately following the play. Once the matches are complete, players have a 5-minute grace period to begin their next game. Players leave upon the completion of their (3) scheduled matches. Participants will earn points, (2) per win, (1.5) per draw and (1) for each game played. The Top 20 Point Earners (beginners and advanced) qualify for the Ca$h Prize Challenge at the end of each season. **Same school students will be separated by request at check in whenever possible**
WANT TO GO? $36. chessnyc.com/fridays-play-go-events.

Sam Eaton's The Quantum Eye - Mentalism and Magic Show 
WHEN: Aug. 13- Dec. 26, 5pm
WHERE: Theatre 80, 80 Saint Marks Place, East Village 
AGES: 5 and older 
WHAT: An exploration of mentalism and magic where ability and humor blend with audience participation. 
WANT TO GO? $49-$79. 347-294-0092. thequantumeye.com. 

Weekly Powerful Meditation to Manifest Your Best Life
WHEN: March 10-March 8, 2020, Sundays from 6-6:30pm
WHERE: Bode NYC Upper Eastside, 173 E. 83rd St., New York
AGES:
WHAT: A suggested donation of $10 benefits Super Happy Healthy Kids, a non-profit after-school program for New York City Public School children.
WANT TO GO? $10 suggested donation. 917-369-0032. http://superhappyhealthykids.com.

  T. rex: The Ultimate Predator
WHEN: Through Aug. 9, 2020: daily, 10am-5:45pm
WHERE: The American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: T. rex: The Ultimate Predator will introduce you to the entire tyrannosaur superfamily and reveal the amazing story of the most iconic dinosaur in the world through stunning life-sized models, fossils and casts, engaging interactives, and an immersive multiplayer virtual reality experience developed exclusively for this exhibition.
WANT TO GO? Free with admission: $23; $18 seniors and students; $13 for children ages 2-12. 212-769-5100.amnh.org.

RELATED: Check Out Our Calendar for Events Every Day of the Week!