Things to Do with Kids in NYC this Weekend

Plan your kids' best weekend yet in Manhattan!

By NYMetroParents Staff June 9, 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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Scandinavian Music Festival in Fort Tryon Park FREE

WHEN: May. 30 - Jun. 13, Sundays, 2-3:30pm
WHERE: Fort Tryon Park - Billings Lawn, Margaret Corbin Drive , Fort Washington, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Bring a blanket and enjoy The Scandinavian Music Festival featuring the music of various Scandinavian countries. WANT TO GO? 212-795-1388.
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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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Tie-Dyed Pride Flags

WHEN: Jun. 9 - 13, Wednesday-Sunday, 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? Wednesday-Sunday, $15; $12 seniors 65 and older and visitor with disabilities; free for children younger than 1. 212-721-1223.
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Summer on the Hudson: Play Dates! FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jun. 12, 1-4pm
WHERE: West Harlem Piers Park, W. 125th Street and Marginal Street, West Harlem, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Join Summer on the Hudson at this fun family-friendly event featuring a Flor Bromley and her bilingual Latin music party, grab-and-go arts and crafts kits, and neighborhood fun! Pre-registration for the event is required. Management reserves the right to cap participation in accordance with current COVID-19 outdoor safety guidelines.

WANT TO GO? 212-870-3070.
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Bring the Cool 2021: Joy Is Our Superpower! FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jun. 12, 11am-3pm
WHERE: Cool Culture, , , NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Bring the Cool is Cool Culture's annual family festival, celebrating the resilience and strengths of families and communities through art, storytelling and cultural celebrations. As we navigate a year of global health crises from COVID-19 to continued violence against communities of color, this year's festival is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our collective capacities to imagine, create and sustain joy. Through art-making, movement, dance and more, we will come together to laugh, move, explore and create together! The festival will bring together museums and cultural institutions across New York City, including the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora, Museum of Chinese in America and more, to offer an engaging, family-friendly day of virtual activities.

WANT TO GO?
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Skate Party! FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jun. 12, 2:30-6:30pm
WHERE: Mae Grant Playground, 60 E 104th St., East Harlem, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Join NYC Parks and Council Member Diana Ayala for a fun skate night at the park. Dance and enjoy an outdoor roller skating night with a live DJ, jumbo games and much more! Skates will be provided but are limited. Feel free to bring your own skates. Socks are required for all skaters. Reservations are valid for one session only, any duplicates will be eliminated.

WANT TO GO? 212-408-0243.
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Movies Under the Stars: The Lion King (2019) FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jun. 12, 8:30-11:30pm
WHERE: Peter Minuit Playground, Park Ave. & E 108th St., East Harlem, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Join NYC Parks and the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment for a free film! A young lion returns to reclaim the throne and the Pride Lands that was stolen from him and his father by his treacherous and fratricidal uncle after spending his adolescence in exile, under the care and supervision of a friendly warthog and meerkat. Rated PG. Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park or playground! This summer, NYC Parks will host family-friendly movie showings across the five boroughs. Movies begin at dusk. You should arrive before 8:30 p.m. to get your spot. Feel free to bring a blanket to sit on. This event is FREE and open to the public, but seating is limited. Reservations are not taken. Glass bottles and alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited.

Contact (212) 360-1430 or [email protected] for more information regarding accessibility.

WANT TO GO? 212-408-0243.
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Princess Play and Book Signing

WHEN: Sunday, Jun. 13, 1:30-3pm
WHERE: Let's Dress Up, 345 East 85th Street, New York, NY
AGES: 3-8
WHAT:

Join Let's Play Dressup for a fabulous enchanted princess play. They will have all the usual dress up and tea party fun of course. Then Laura Brown and Elly Kramer will read an excerpt from their new book series, the Trillium Sisters. Come hear about these triplets and their magical superpowers. Everyone who attends will receive a signed copy of the first book "The Triplets Get Charmed".

WANT TO GO? $40. 212-879-0956.
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'Oklahoma!' Children's Theater Performance in Fort Tryon Park FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Jun. 13, 3-5pm
WHERE: Fort Tryon Park, 741 Ft. Washington Ave., Fort Washington, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

The Pied Piper Children’s Theatre of NYC, based in Inwood in Manhattan, is thrilled to bring live theatre back to the northern Manhattan community with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s "Oklahoma!" This free theatre-in-the-round performance takes place at Fort Tryon Park’s Dongan Lawn. Face masks required. Free admission. Bring a blanket! Presented by the Fort Tryon Park Trust.

WANT TO GO? 212-795-1388.
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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?
Click Here for More Information

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.
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Family Fitness: Jazz Dance + Improvisation with Peridance FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jun. 12, 10-11am
WHERE: Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St. , Financial District, NY
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT:

Brookfield Place is excited to present Jazz Dance + Improvisation with Peridance on the Waterfront Plaza during this Family Fitness Series! Peridance's Youth Ensemble Director Diego Funes and members of Peridance's Youth Ensemble will lead an upbeat jazz inspired warm up followed by improvisation and movement exploration. Open to all levels of dancers, beginner to advanced. Ages 11+. Please come dressed in sneakers and comfortable clothing and bring water.

PLEASE NOTE:

There must be at least one adult per family present during the entire event - this is not a drop off event.
Ticket is valid for one child.
Advanced registration does not guarantee a spot. Spots will be held for registered participants until 10 minutes before class begins after which walk-ins will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you can't make it, please cancel your reservation to allow those on the wait list a chance to participate.

All participants must read and sign a waiver in order to attend class. Please read and sign prior to your arrival to ensure a speedy check in!

WANT TO GO? 212-978-1673.
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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