Labor Day weekend 2013: Things to do in New York City with kids

This wacky one-wheeled weekend rolls into town with a 13-mile ride from City Hall to Coney Island, where a party at Deno’s Wonder Wheel and fireworks honor Brooklyn Unicycle Day (yep, that exists) with a bang. The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus also invites those more comfortable standing on two legs to Governors Island for two full days of races, competitions and exhibitions, a chance to test your skills in a workshop or cheer for teams competing in one-wheeled basketball, hockey and even sumo wrestling. All ages.

Grab the fam and head to Historic Richmond Town, a preserved museum-village dating from the late 17th century, for its 34th annual county fair. Three stages of live music, puppetry, dance performances and rides are sure to keep the little ones occupied all day. Plus, check out the Ultimate Air Dogs: These athletic pups perform tricks while jumping off a dock into water, catching mad air (20 feet!) in the process. All ages.

The New York Baroque Dance company leads culture-hungry kiddos on a tour through Renaissance Italy with silly performances in traditional commedia dell' arte style (think musical comedy). Then, little ones get to learn the popular branle dance. Ages 5 and up.

Kids focus on their finned friends this weekend, specifically the goldfish swimming in Wave Hill’s Aquatic Garden. After observing these slippery swimmers, youngsters will turn paper bags into 3-D marine animals that can float home with them. Ages 3 and up.

Board a Circle Line spectator boat ($25, children $12) or grab a spot on the pier as you witness the tug parade, race and bow-to-bow pushing contest. Landlubbers will then channel Popeye in a spinach-eating contest and test their might in a line-toss competition. All ages.

Grab the fam and head to Historic Richmond Town, a preserved museum-village dating from the late 17th century, for its 34th annual county fair. Three stages of live music, puppetry, dance performances and rides are sure to keep the little ones occupied all day. Plus, check out the Ultimate Air Dogs: These athletic pups perform tricks while jumping off a dock into water, catching mad air (20 feet!) in the process. All ages.

The New York Baroque Dance company leads culture-hungry kiddos on a tour through Renaissance Italy with silly performances in traditional commedia dell' arte style (think musical comedy). Then, little ones get to learn the popular branle dance. Ages 5 and up.

Kids learn about the history of Labor Day and craft a worker-themed collage. Ages 4 and up.

This Caribbean celebration, known for having lively music and lots of skin, is never short on costumed stilt dancers, floats blaring soca and calypso music, and plenty of flags from countries such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Look for vendors stationed along Eastern Parkway selling island eats like jerk chicken, curry goat and oxtail, to name a few dishes. Eastern Pkwy from Schenectady Ave and Flatbush Ave Ext, Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

Governors Island, along with one of our favorite festivals of summer 2013, Fete Paradiso, will stay open for business this Labor Day. Use the holiday as an excuse for a quick (and free!) boat trip to Manhattan's southerly neighbor! All ages.