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

Plan your best weekend yet!

Weekends are the best to spend quality time with your kids, whether you are planning a huge outing or are staying close to home. There’s lots to do this weekend, July 13-15, with your family, from concerts and performances to museum exhibits, shows, crafts activities, seasonal events, parades, and more. 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. Check out our picks for kids' activities in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Also see our guides for weekend fun on Long Island and Westchester, Rockland, and Bergen counties.

Manhattan Weekend Activities

FREE Summer on the Hudson: Birding Walks
WHEN: Friday, July 13, 6-7:30pm
WHERE: Riverside Park, 120th Street and Riverside Drive, Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: Explore Riverside Park on a family-friendly bird walk. Who knows what birds you'll discover while taking in views of the Hudson River?
WANT TO GO? nycgovparks.org.

 

Family Day: Design More, Waste Less
WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm
WHERE: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place, Greenwich Village
AGES: 5-12
WHAT: Families will explore the Center’s exhibition Designing Waste: Strategies for a Zero Waste City to learn how architecture can affect the way we manage and think about garbage in our cities. Participants will then work to design a sustainable invention for a zero waste city.
WHY WE LOVE IT: A new challenge! Can your fam create something beautiful from materials that may have otherwise ended up in the landfill?
WANT TO GO? $6; $12 children. 212-358-6133. centerforarchitecture.org.

 

FREE LC Kids Dance with Dancing Classrooms
WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 3pm
WHERE: Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, 60 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side
AGES: 5-12
WHAT: Bring the kids to this annual all-ages dance where they’ll learn the basics of merengue, tango, salsa, and swing before letting loose on the dance floor to high-energy tunes.
WHY WE LOVE IT: For parents who are tired of seeing kids dabbing!
WANT TO GO? 212-721-6500. lincolncenter.org.

FREE City of Water Day
WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Pier 17 in the Seaport District, Fulton Street at the East River, Seaport District
AGES: All
WHAT: Book a PortNYC boat tour, check out the Disney children's activities, plus a waterfront activity fair, live music, food, and more.
WHY WE LOVE IT: You can paddle a kayak, learn to canoe, and explore wetlands right in your own backyard.
WANT TO GO? 212-935-9831. waterfrontalliance.org.

 

FREE Bastille Day on 60th Street
WHEN: Sunday, July 15, 12-5pm
WHERE: East 60th Street, between Fifth and Lexington avenues, Upper East Side
AGES: All
WHAT: For more than 20 years, Bastille Day on 60th Street has been New York’s largest public celebration of France’s Independence Day and its historic friendship with the United States, abounding with French cuisine, music, dance, and more for the whole family.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Kids will love the can-can dancers, a mime workshop with Catherine Gasta, face painting, crêpes, éclairs au chocolat, macarons, and a vintage Citroën car show, plus the FIAF pop-up library and kids' corner.
WANT TO GO? 212-355-6100. bastilledayny.com.

'The Three Little Pigs'
WHEN: July 14-15, Saturday-Sunday, 2pm
WHERE: Galli Theater NY, 357 W. 36th St., 2nd Floor, Midtown
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: Gordy, Perkey, and Snoozy pigs have left the nest and must build houses of their own. The Wolf may huff and puff, but there is one house he cannot blow down!
WHY WE LOVE IT: Snatch one of two chances to see this kids' classic!
WANT TO GO? $20; $15 children. 212-731-0668. gallitheaternyc.com.

 

FREE Family Day
WHEN: Sunday, July 15, 2pm
WHERE: Central Park SummerStage: Rumsey Playfield Central Park, 14 E. 71st St., Central Park
AGES: All
WHAT: A New Orleans-themed Mardi Gras Celebration featuring the legendary Rebirth Brass Band and other guests. The fun continues with a traveling PuppetMobile presenting The Big Good Wolf, a modern-day fairy tale starring classic characters from The Three Bears and Three Little Pigs.
WHY WE LOVE IT: If you normally try to avoid Central Park in the summer, here's one really good reason to go!
WANT TO GO? cityparksfoundation.org.

 

Renowned Silhouette Artist Karl Johnson
WHEN: Sunday, July 15, 11am-5pm
WHERE: Monica + Andy, 410 Columbus Ave., Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: Third generation silhouette artist Karl Johnson will create hand-cut silhouettes in just minutes.
WANT TO GO? $30. 646-918-7879. monicaandandy.blog.

Teeny Tiny Rooms
WHEN: Sunday, July 15, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Children's Museum of the Arts, 103 Charlton St., Greenwich Village
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: Young artists will get to experiment with materials like pipe cleaners, wire, toothpicks, and other mini building materials to create their own tiny 3D rooms.
WANT TO GO? $12; free for children younger than 1. 212-274-0986. cmany.org.

 

RELATED: Where to Celebrate Bastille Day in NYC

Brooklyn Weekend Activities

'Pirate School!' with Billy Bones
WHEN: Sunday, July 15, 2pm
WHERE: Waterfront Museum, 290 Conover St. , Red Hook
AGES: All
WHAT: Learn to stand, talk, sing, and laugh like buccaneers in an immersive high-seas adventure led by pirate professor Billy Bones, which includes music, special effects, magic, puppets, and more.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Pirate School! aims to satisfy children’s universal curiosity about the briny buccaneers of yore while subtly boosting their self-esteem and citizenship skills.
WANT TO GO? $15; $13 children. 718-624-4719. waterfrontmuseum.org.

FREE Family Fun Day
WHEN: Sunday, July 15, 11am-4pm
WHERE: Governors Island, Ferries leave from Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 and 10 South St., Manhattan, New York Harbor
AGES: All
WHAT: This outdoor festival will feature live music, theatrical performances, arts and crafts, educational workshops, face painting, games, ice cream and other snacks, and a build-your-own playground. Performers include the Story Pirates, the Long Island Vegetable Orchestra, the Trusty Sidekick Theater Company, Tim Kubart and the Space Cadets, and more.
WHY WE LOVE IT: A celebration of Governors Island’s lush green spaces, plus there will be food by Blue Marble Ice Cream, Wafels & Dinges, and more!
WANT TO GO? 212-440-2200. govisland.com.

TDF Autism Friendly Performance: 'SpongeBob SquarePants the Broadway Musical'
WHEN: Sunday, July 15, 1pm
WHERE: Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway, Midtown
AGES: All
WHAT: A sensory-friendly performance based on the beloved cartoon and featuring original songs from some of the biggest names in music. This unique show reminds us that the power of optimism can save the world.
WANT TO GO? $25.50 and up. 212-912-9770. tdf.org/spongebob.

 

RELATED: Your Complete Guide to Raising Kids in Brooklyn 

Queens Weekend Activities 

FREE Queensboro Dance Festival
WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 2pm
WHERE: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 111th Street to Van Wyck, Unisphere, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Corona
AGES: All
WHAT: An annual season of performances and public events for Queens-based cultural and contemporary dance groups. Founded in 2014, the festival’s mission is to strengthen the dance community across Queens and garner a greater appreciation for Queens dance.
WANT TO GO? 516-671-4041. nycgovparks.org.

 

Family Cooking Class with Allergic to Salad
WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 11am-1pm
WHERE: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park
AGES: All
WHAT: A hands-on cooking experience using farm-fresh ingredients. With guidance from Allergic to Salad educators, families will explore and prepare simple recipes using seasonal, Queens Farm-grown produce. Reservations required.
WANT TO GO? $20. 718-347-3276. queensfarm.org.

Young Chefs: Happy 4th of July!
WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 10:30am
WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston
AGES: 5-12
WHAT: Celebrate Independence Day by making a delicious and unique ice cream sundae. Enjoy these summer treats while playing a patriotic trivia game in the Meditation Garden. Registration required.
WANT TO GO? $24. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

 

Hot Jazz Cool Garden: Byron Stripling
WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 2pm
WHERE: Louis Armstrong House Museum, 34-56 107th St., Corona
AGES: All
WHAT: Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster, and has played with and recorded with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, in addition to The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All Star Big Band.
WANT TO GO? $20. 718-478-8274. louisarmstronghouse.org.

 

Mets vs Nationals
WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 4:10pm
WHERE: Citifield, 123-01 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing
AGES: All
WHAT: Cheer on the Amazin's as they take on their division rivals from the Washington DC. The first 25,000 fans entering the game receive a Mets Reversable Rally Cap.
WANT TO GO? $26. 718-507-8499. mets.com.

 

Skatz the Clown
WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 2pm and 4pm
WHERE: Forest Park Carousel Amusement Village, Forest Park Dr, Woodhaven
AGES: All
WHAT: Combining magic and clownery, Skats makes everyone laugh out loud while also leaving them in amazement!
WANT TO GO? Shows are free; see website for ride and game ticket pricing. 718-788-2676. forestparkcarousel.com.

Cido the Clown
WHEN: Sunday, July 15, 2pm and 4pm
WHERE: Fantasy Forest Amusement Park, 111th St & 55th Ave, Corona
AGES: All
WHAT: From his red nose to his big feet, Cido is a professional clown to the fullest. This magical show is sure to be fun for all!
WANT TO GO? Shows are free, see website for pricing of the park's rides and games . 718-788-2676. fantasyforestnyc.com.

 

 

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