Things to do with kids in NYC
Best upcoming events and festivals
New York’s biggest block party hits town once more, offering free access to six museums (from the Met to the Museum of the City of New York) along a car-free mile sprinkled with music, art and entertainment. Kids can color up the sidewalk with chalk, get their faces painted, and enjoy performances. Stop in to enjoy amazing exhibits celebrating many different cultures and styles at El Museo Del Barrio, the Jewish Museum, Guggenheim and more. The festival runs along Fifth Avenue between 82nd St and 105th St. All ages.
Celebrate the cultures of Jewish, Chinese and Puerto Rican communities at the crossroads of the Lower East Side and Chinatown. Only here can you and your little ones marvel at Chinese opera and acrobatics, listen to klezmer and dance to mambo music. Encourage your brood to look over the shoulders of a mah jongg pro, make bomba drum and practice Yiddish dancing. True to the festival’s name, kosher egg rolls, classic New York–style egg creams and fresh empanadas will also be in abundance. Don't forget to R.S.V.P. to the event! All ages.
Coney Island’s answer to Greenwich Village’s infamous Halloween parade might be a little risqué for some tiny ones, but plenty of families scope out King Neptune and Queen Mermaid as they presides over wacky floats, marching bands, drill teams, vintage cars and a dazzling array of scantily clad seafaring sirens. From W 21st St and Surf Ave to the Boardwalk at W 10th St, Coney Island, Brooklyn. All ages.
The Big Bounce America—which holds the Guinness World Record for the largest bounce house in the world—will delight urbanites with a summer experience like no other. We guarantee 2019's bouncing activities will have you jumping for joy...literally. The Bouncer is a massive, multi-colored castle complete with inflatable basketball hoops, slides, a ball pit and more exciting features. Though it's certainly a big draw, we'd be remiss not to swoon over The Giant, a 900-foot inflatable obstacle course, and airSPACE, an interactive, intergalactic jumping adventure fit for an alien thanks to spaceships, moon craters and other-worldly features. All ages.
This feast for the eyes (and Instagram feeds) will feature 100 hot air balloons from around the globe that take flight twice each day—a scene the whole family will certainly appreciate. You and the family can make your way nearby to the Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ (July 26–28) for the jaw-dropping display. (And yes, there's an option to ride the balloons, too.) But the balloons are but one part of this exciting festival. What better way to ring in the summer with a performance from none other than The Beach Boys? This is the perfect way to celebrate the season! Additionally, ABBA the Concert tribute band (performing July 26 at 8pm) and kids' musicians Dan Zanes and Claudia Eliaza (performing July 26 at 7:30pm) will take the stage. Families can also look forward to a lot of other exciting entertainment such as amusement park rides, food vendors, crafters and more. All ages.
This wacky one-wheeled weekend rolls into town and begins with a pitstop in Battery Park (10 am on Aug 29), followed by a ride over the Brooklyn Bridge and ending with a stage show at Coney Island (Aug 30, meet at 2pm in front of City Hall in Manhattan on the base of the Brooklyn Bridge). Don't miss the main event—a giant festival on Governors Island with races, competitions, exhibitions, unicycle sports (basketball, hockey and sumo on wheels!), music, live performances and more one-wheeled activities for the whole family (Aug 31 and Sept 1 from noon–5pm). Learn more about the lineup on the festival's website. All ages.
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This musical prequel to The Wizard of Oz addresses surprisingly complex themes, such as standards of beauty, morality and, believe it or not, fighting fascism. Thanks to Winnie Holzman’s witty book and Stephen Schwartz’s pop-inflected score, Wicked soars. The current cast includes Jackie Burns as Elphaba and Amanda Jane Cooper as Glinda.
Give city kids a chance to explore lush landscapes on this 250-acre expanse
Theater review by Adam Feldman The world of Harry Potter has arrived on Broadway, Hogwarts and all, and it is a triumph of theatrical magic. Set two decades after the final chapters of J.K. Rowling’s world-shaking kid-lit heptalogy, the two-part epic Harry Potter and the Cursed Child combines grand storytelling with stagecraft on a scale heretofore unimagined. Richly elaborated by director John Tiffany, the show looks like a million bucks (or, in this case, a reported $68 million); the Lyric Theatre has been transfigured from top to bottom to immerse us in the narrative. It works: The experience is transporting. Jack Thorne’s play, based on a story he wrote with Rowling and Tiffany, extends the Potter narrative while remaining true to its core concerns. Love and friendship and kindness are its central values, but they don’t come easily: They are bound up in guilt, loneliness and fear. Harry (Jamie Parker) is weighted with trauma dating back to his childhood, which hinders his ability to communicate with his troubled middle son, Albus (Sam Clemmett); it doesn’t help that Albus’s only friend is the bookish outcast Scorpius Malfoy (the exceptional Anthony Boyle), son of Harry’s erstwhile enemy, Draco (Alex Price). Despite the best intentions of Harry’s solid wife, Ginny (Poppy Miller), and his friends Hermione (Noma Dumezweni) and Ron (Paul Thornley), things turn dark very fast. Set designer Christine Jones and lighting designer Neil Austin keep much of the stage shroude
Get in on a cool indoor hangout at Grand Central! This event transforms Vanderbilt Hall into a fun–filled dining area with live, family-friendly entertainment. Kiddos can make arts & crafts and get their faces painted courtesy of Kidding Around Toys, dance and sing along in the event's Jam to the Music perfomance courtesy of Brooklyn Children's Museum, watch performances from Grammy Award–winner Tim Kubart (Aug 24) and cast members of Wicked (Aug 25) and Something Rotten (Aug 26), too. There's also great food from the likes of Shake Shack and Zaro's Family Bakery available for purchase! Event located in Grand Central's Vanderbilt Hall. All ages.
Your favorite show has been extended due to popular demand! This 60-minute performance adapts four of Eric Carle's most timeless tales.
Physics demonstrator David Maiullo performs scientific magic through a variety of cool experiments.
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Itching to get out of town? The newly opened Kartrite Indoor Resort & Waterpark has made quite a splash in the Catskills, so plan those family weekend getaways accordingly! Vacationers are treated to a dose of summer fun year-round, and the resort is one of the coolest indoor water parks New York families can find. With action-packed features, comfy amenities and mountain views from the (indoor) beach, what's not to love? The Empire State's largest indoor water attraction will be a hit for fishes of all ages. Thrill-seekers will opt for the twists and turns of the Nor'easter and race with their friends down the gnarly Jiggerty-Jaggerty. Swimmers can also hang 10 on the waves of the Flowrider and athletes can score a slam dunk in an aqua version of a basketball court! Have tiny ones in tow? Not to worry! The gentle Puddle Ducks or the low-key Empire Bay lazy river are great picks for the smaller set. Photograph: Courtesy The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark Fortunately for vacationers, the fun doesn't stop after the water park. Options are aplenty at this entertainment oasis, thanks to other cool features such as laser tag, a virtual reality experience, rock climbing, a bowling alley and so much more! Don't forget to take a look at the calendar for fun activities and workshops! Photograph: Courtesy The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark Plus, there are plenty of perks for parents. The serene Affinity Springs in the water park is perfect for m
Smorgasburg is a foodie's feast for the senses, and no list of things to do in spring is complete without a visit to the behemoth of outdoor markets. The beloved Brooklyn phenomenon will open for the 2019 season this weekend, so ready your napkins and Instagram feeds for savory dishes and eye-catching concoctions. Hungry visitors can make their way to East River State Park in Williamsburg on Saturday, April 6 at 11am or Prospect Park on Sunday April 7 at 11am to indulge. For the first time in 2019, Smorgasburg will also take place at the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center, which kicks off on April 12 at 11:30am. Mature palettes will have no problem finding something to satisfy their appetites, but as any parent knows, traveling with kids in tow is no easy feat. Fortunately, delicious ice cream shops in NYC and fun restaurants in NYC are on hand to make the experience epic for foodies of all ages. Breathe that sigh of relief, mom and dad—you'll find quite a few kid-approved vendors. This year, the new Pizza Cupcake (available Saturdays and Sundays) will be on hand to wow visitors. Photograph: Courtesy Brooklyn Flea Fluffies Soufflé Pancakes (available Saturdays and Sundays) are a new breakfast-dessert hybrid that the kiddies will love. Photograph: Courtesy Brooklyn Flea You can never go wrong with rolled ice cream from 10 Below, a returning vendor (available Saturdays and Sundays). Photograph: Courtesy Smorgasburg + Georgia Frierson No kid can
For those who are sick of wearing winter sweaters, we have some good news: Cherry blossom season is underway, and the gorgeous blooms are beginning to appear in our go-to gardens throughout the city.
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Looking for fun things to do with dinosaur-loving kids? Do we have some news for you!
This feast for the eyes (and Instagram feeds) will feature 100 hot air balloons from around the globe that take flight twice each day.
Central Park is due for a dose of Disney magic this summer, and all theatergoers need to mark their calendars. The Public Theater, which is known for its annual Shakespeare in the Park series, will put on an adaptation of Disney's Hercules at Delacorte Theater, the 1,800-seat outdoor attraction in Central Park. According to The New York Times, this is the group's first Disney production, and needless to say we're ready to find a spot at the venue immediately...if not sooner. We recommend sharpening your singing chops with the best Disney songs of all time and making a visit to the coolest Broadway shows for kids in anticipation of the Labor Day Weekend event (performances will be held from Aug 30–Sept 8). It's hard to resist Shakespeare in the Park, but we're welcoming this new addition to the summer theater lineup with open arms. Even better? It's a great way to get kids involved in the theater scene. We love a trip to the Great White Way, but when the warm weather hits, all outdoor activities in NYC are irresistible. The Public Theater further reports that popular tunes from the 1997 cartoon will appear, but attendees should expect new songs as well, all courtesy of Alan Menken and David Zippel. Lear deBessonet, the founder of Public Works, will direct the number. Snagging tickets might be tricky, so prepare ahead of time. According to the Public Theater's website, "Free tickets will be distributed on each performance day. Check back later in the spring for a detail
Hold onto your hardhats, young builders. LEGO is taking the fun to new heights.
Like Katz’s Deli, Delmonico’s, and Lombardi’s, Eddie’s Sweet Shop on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills is one of New York City's oldest eateries. It's also the city's oldest ice cream shop! Believe it or not, Eddie’s has been scooping homemade ice cream and toppings from behind the same marble countertops since around 1925! (Though other folks might claim otherwise: A publication innacurately reported that it opened in 1909, and the news spread quickly). After the original Jahn’s franchise locations closed, Eddie’s unofficially became the oldest ice cream shop in New York City, but owner Vito Citrano won’t own up to the superlative and does not advertise it anywhere. “We just keep doing what we’re doing day by day and don’t think about it,” he said. “We don’t change much, so you always know what you’re gonna get here.” Photograph: Joanna Fantozzi When you walk into the unassuming corner store, the first thing you might notice is that Eddie’s does not look like the typical retro ice cream parlor. Other soda fountains might have 1950s decor with chrome counters and bright red booths, but Eddie’s wooden and marble interior has not changed since it opened. Even the refrigerator is more than 80 years old. “When we bought this shop in 1968, it was already nostalgic,” Citrano said. The Citrano family and their team of scoopers make all 18 flavors of ice cream from scratch, using the same recipes that Giuseppe, Vito’s father, inherited (and perfected) from the shop’s prev
