Hi everyone! October is here and that means there are lots of events starting this weekend and ongoing all month long!
This weekend check out the Brooklyn Book Festival: Virtual Children’s Day, Family Dance Class with the Mark Morris Dance Group at The Plaza at 300 Ashland, Art on the Farm at Urban Farm in Randall’s Island Park, The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine: Feast of Saint Francis & Blessing of the Animals, Rubin Museum: Family Sunday Online, Online Drag Queen Story Hour: Princesses! with Yuhua Hamasaki, Star Stories with the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Virtual Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music Broadcast and The Yard on Governors Island.
Don’t forget to check out the long running events like Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm, Great Pumpkin Path at New York Botanical Garden, Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo, The Amazing Maize Maze® at Queens County Farm Museum, Jack & the Beanstalk at Puppetworks, Biking, Boating + Splash Pad and Rollerskating at Lakeside in Prospect Park, the Spineless Exhibit at The New York Aquarium and The Nature of Color Exhibit at American Museum of Natural History.
I can’t fit all the ongoing weekend events in the blog post so make sure to check the calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for last minute events and updates.
Happy October & enjoy the weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday October 2nd
Star Stories with the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Friday October 2nd 10-11a. Free. This program is intended for 9-12 years old and families. Register here. For millennia, people have gazed at the night sky and told themselves stories about the pictures they see there. These same stars and constellations also allowed sailors to find their way back to port. Using images of the night sky, stories from different cultures and examples of simple navigation tools, an Intrepid Educator will help participants view their sky in a whole new way!
Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo
Thursdays-Sundays until November 1st and Monday October 12th. Zoo hours are 10a-5p. Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance. Reserve tickets here. Included with zoo admission. Our annual Halloween tradition is back at the Bronx Zoo. We have family-friendly activities and have taken all safety precautions for you to have a great experience. Come dressed in your Halloween best and enjoy! See the website for all the event details.
Online Drag Queen Story Hour: Princesses! with Yuhua Hamasaki
Friday October 2nd 2p. Free. Drag Queen Story Hour NYC presents a special virtual storytime with Yuhua Hamasaki! A visual schedule guides your child through a princess-themed program that includes: Princess Hair by Sharee Miller, The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton, Guided activity: Make your own crown! (Materials: paper, scissors, glue, tissue paper) and Movement break. Join us here!
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday October 3rd
Brooklyn Book Festival: Virtual Children’s Day
Saturday October 3rd 10a-2p. Free. See the website for the schedule of events & to register. Join us for the 2020 Virtual Brooklyn Book Festival as we celebrate our 15th anniversary of presenting free literary programming! At our lively Children’s Day, more than 40 authors will participate in a full day of author readings and performances, workshops, and activities — all virtual. Some of our children’s authors in 2020 are Max Brallier, Tami Charles, Ben Clanton, Chris Grabenstein, Carlos Hernandez, Oliver Jeffers, Varian Johnson, Meg Medina, and R.L. Stine. Also check out Virtual YA Out Loud Saturday 1-6p if your big kids are young adult literature fans.
Great Pumpkin Path at New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Starting Saturday October 3rd and on display 10a-6p until November 1st (Tuesday to Sunday, and Monday federal holidays). Free with Garden admission. All visitors, including Members, must purchase or reserve timed-entry tickets in advance. Purchase tickets here. Discover plentiful pumpkins and hordes of gourds along the twists and turns of our Great Pumpkin Path on the Conservatory Lawn, culminating with some of the largest pumpkins in the world with the arrival of giant pumpkins on October 24. Keep an eye out for a display of whimsical scarecrows throughout the Garden as well. Note: Everyone is required to wear face coverings throughout the Garden grounds.
Art on the Farm at Urban Farm in Randall’s Island Park
Saturdays 12n-4p until October 24th. Free. Location: Wards Meadow Loop. Join us for unique family (to-go!) art projects inspired by the Urban Farm! Visitors can collect pre-packaged creativity kits including Urban Farm-inspired activity sheets and craft supplies.Art on the Farm at Urban Farm in Randall’s Island Park
Family Dance Classes with the Mark Morris Dance Group at The Plaza at 300 Ashland (Fort Greene)
Saturdays in October at 1p (none on 10/10). Classes are capped at 50 participants. Reserve tickets here. Join Mark Morris Dance Group for a fun, family-friendly series of dance classes, taught by their dancers and teachers! October 3: Dance with MMDG – Sunshine Fun for the whole family! This Dance with MMDG class will feature one of Mark Morris’ newest works, Sunshine, choreographed specifically for a video/virtual platform.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday October 4th
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine: Feast of Saint Francis & Blessing of the Animals
Sunday October 4th 10a-4p. Free. Livestream. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine welcomes you to a day of music, prayer, joy, blessings and fun in honor of Saint Francis, the patron saint of animals and the environment. While we cannot gather in person this year for the Service or the Outdoor Fair, we’re excited to offer an online extravaganza that will include pet blessings, children’s activities, and a behind-the-scenes look at the history of one of our most beloved days of the year! New videos will premiere throughout the day. Each video will be available beginning at its scheduled time and will remain available to view throughout the day. See the website for event schedule.
Rubin Museum: Family Sundays Online
First Sunday of the month 1-230p. Free. At Home Art-Making. Ages 3 and older with accompanying adults. Sundays are for families! This fall join the Rubin Museum live on Zoom every first Sunday of the month from the comfort of your own home for an afternoon of activities both kids and grownups will enjoy. October Family Sundays: Glorious Ganesh ~ Many of the powerful deities in the Museum’s collection are hybrid creatures. From Ganesh, a human-elephant hybrid, to Naga, a snake-like creature, hybrid figures are a staple of Buddhist and Hindu art. Create your own hybrid creature with endless combinations and powers. The only limit is your imagination! See the website for the materials list and to register.
Virtual Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music Broadcast
Sunday October 4th 2-4p. Free. Sign up here to receive the Zoom link 24 hours prior. South Street Seaport Museum’s monthly Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music continues – virtually. From our living rooms and kitchens, and even from the deck of Wavertree, join us for our round-robin of shared sea songs, featuring members of The New York Packet and friends. Listen in, lead or request a song, and belt out the choruses for your neighbors to hear. Hosted by singers from the New York Packet.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
The Yard on Governors Island
Saturday October 3rd 12n-4p & Sundays October 4th & 11th 12n-4p. The Yard is free. Ferry tickets need to be reserved in advance and there are fees. See the website for the details. The Yard, NYC’s only adventure playground located on Governors Island will open to the public. Safety protocols will be different this year due to the current conditions. Timed slots will be available on a first-come first-served basis at the gate. Masks will be required. No more than 30 kids in the Yard and no children under 5. Waivers: Each child will need a separate waiver to participate in either adventure play or family play area. We recommend you fill out the waiver ONLINE HERE prior to your visit. Waivers are also available at the entrance of play:groundNYC and closed-toe shoes are required. See website for all the details.
Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm
Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p until October 25th. ONLINE – $6/person (adults and kids of all ages) AT THE GATE – $8/person (availability NOT guaranteed). Admission will be by timed entry ONLY, with a reduced number of tickets sold every hour starting at 11:00am and ending at 4:00pm. Any tickets remaining for each time slot can be purchased on-site on the day-of for an additional $2. Ticket availability is NOT guaranteed for any walk-up sales. Pumpkin Picking at Historic Richmond Town’s Decker Farm returns Saturday, October 3, with all of your favorite autumnal activities! Search the patch for the perfect pumpkin, learn about 19th century farm life, and indulge in delicious fall food favorites, all without leaving Staten Island! See the website for all the event details and to purchase tickets.
The Amazing Maize Maze® at Queens County Farm Museum
Fridays-Sundays 11a-430p (last ticket sold at 430p) in October. Advance Tickets: $12; $8 (ages 4-11) (plus fees). Free for ages 3 & under. Purchase tickets here. Get lost in NYC’s only corn maze! The Amazing Maize Maze adventure begins with a Stalk Talk to prepare you for the 3-acre challenge of finding clues on your way to Victory Bridge where the full vista of Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ masterpiece is revealed. Maze entry will be staggered in order to maintain event capacity.
Jack & the Beanstalk at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Ongoing Wednesdays-Fridays at 4p and Saturdays-Sundays at 1230p & 230p until December 23rd. Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each (suggested for ages 3 and up). Jack & the Beanstalk with an original song score adapted for Marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. Call for Reservations: 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: puppetworksinfo@gmail.com NO Same Day e-mail reservations please. Performances are @ 25% Capacity, Masks Required.
Brooklyn Public Library Vitural Storytimes
Daily usually at 11a & 2p. Free. Sometimes the storytimes are on the Brooklyn Public Library Family facebook page and other times they are on a specific branch facebook page. See the website for all the details.
Biking, Boating in Prospect Park
Open daily. Hours: Boating + Biking: daily, 10a- 8p until October 12 (note: biking + boating continues on weekends only, October 13- November 1 ) See website for biking & boating rates. LeFrak Center at Lakeside will be open daily for biking, boating, with food and drink available for takeaway from the Bluestone Cafe.
Rollerskating at Lakeside in Prospect Park
Daily 12n-6p until October 12th. Pricing: $6 admission & $7 skate rentals on weekdays and $10 admission, $7 skate rentals on weekends (weekend pricing begins 4p Fridays). Roller Skating is BACK! COVID-19 safety guidelines will be followed, including mask-wearing and social distancing protocols. Skating will operate at reduced capacity. Come get moving with us at Lakeside! Lakeside’s outdoor roller skating rink provides fun for kids, tweens, and adults alike. Skate to a mix of pop hits while taking in views of Prospect Park Lake. Skate rentals are available in children and adult sizes. See website for all the details.
Spineless Exhibit at The New York Aquarium (Coney Island)
Daily 10a-4p (park closes 5p) until October 31st. Admission included with ticket. All visitors must reserve a date-specific ticket in advance. Please check Know Before You Go for details. We have great news: The New York Aquarium is reopening on August 27! Buy tickets to see all of your favorite marine animals today and enjoy summer on Coney Island! Explore Spineless, our latest exhibit, and marvel and the jellies, octopus, and more. Come wave hello to Erie the sea lion and Murphy the Harbor Seal. Relax in Ocean Wonders: Sharks! and watch the rays, sharks, and turtles.
The Nature of Color Exhibit at American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
Museum is open Wednesdays-Sundays with timed entry tickets are available 10a-4p (museum closes 530p). Exhibit is open until March 8, 2021. Select a General Admission + One or General Admission + All ticket, choose date and time of entry to the Museum, then select The Nature of Color. Reserve tickets here. Our world is awash in color. Color makes the world feel vibrant and alive. But that’s not all. Color helps us make sense of the world. It contains vast amounts of information—about the natural world, and the human world. Come and explore the world of color in this immersive exhibition.