Things to Do
Things to do with kids in New York, including events this week, free things to do, fairs and festivals, story time, theater for kids, and kids' entertainment
Things to do in New York
The best things to do in New York with kids
Upcoming NYC events and festivals for kids
Hudson RiverKids
(SPONSOR CONTENT) Hudson River Park will keep little New Yorkers entertained all summer long with a series of free performances and interactive activities. Visit the park on Monday and Thursday afternoons from June to September to take advantage of a wide variety of outdoor fun. Your little ones will love a jam session with Ramblin Dan and the Free Wheelin’ Band (July 8 and 11), they'll get creative with projects from the Children's Museum of the Arts (Aug 26 and 29) and they'll sit for story time with picture book author Elisha Cooper (Sept 16 and 19), among other happenings. Visit the Hudson River Park website for the complete lineup. Meet at Pier 25 on Mondays and Pier 62 on Thursdays. Ages 1–6.
Big Bounce America
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.
Slime Expo NYC
Love that green goo? Well, we have the ultimate Slime fest for you! Meet your favorite Slime brands this summer at the Brooklyn Expo Center. You just might get lost in the sauce because there is so much to do at this slick event! There will be a Play to Play Slime Area and a Samples and Trade Area where your young scientists can go wild with the sickest slime out there. But, there are also VIP Slime Workshops (so your cutie can get all the attention he or she deserves). Surprise slime stars will interact with the little ones throughout the duration of the class. Ecstatic yet? We’re not done. Live Slime demos and recipes will be on display as well as wide range of slime vendors. And if you think your goo is the greatest, enter it in one of the contests to see if you really are the best chemist. Round out the day will an hour in one of the bouncy houses and you’ve got yourself an action-packed, fun-filled day! All ages.
QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning
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.
