Hi everyone! April has flown by so quickly and get ready for another fun weekend here in NYC!
This weekend check out Earth Day in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Celebrate Holi! at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Downtown Brooklyn Car Free Earth Day in Albee Square, Redbird Reef Puppets with NY Transit Museum, Mushroom Hike in Prospect Park, The Jewish Museum: The Paper Bag Players, Story, Song and Dance: N’ap Danse, N’ap Chante, Spring Blossoms Walk in Fort Greene Park, NYPL: Family Caribbean Storytime, Birding: Spring Migration in High Rock Park, Junior Arborist Day in Conference House Park, Flower Patch at Queens Botanical Garden It’s My Park at Owl’s Head Park and Rolie Polie Guacamole Concert at Old Stone House.
Also check out long running events like The 3 Wishes & 3 Little Lambs at Puppetworks, Dynamic H2O at Children’s Museum of Manhattan, The Nature of Color Exhibit and Worlds Beyond Earth at the American Museum of Natural History and Urban Farm Exploration Days! in Randall’s Island Park.
Check the calendar to see everything going on this weekend. Also like us on Facebook for last minute events and updates.
Enjoy the weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday April 23rd
Story, Song and Dance: N’ap Danse, N’ap Chante (virtual)
Friday April 23rd 10-1045a. Free. Enjoy singing, dancing, and listening to stories in Haitian Creole. Jwi chante, danse ak koute istwa an kreyòl. This pre-recorded program will air at 10a on the BPL Facebook page.
NYPL: Family Caribbean Storytime (virtual)
Friday April 23rd 1130a-12n. Free. Register here. Join us for a special Caribbean-themed live online program with songs, rhymes, and favorite read-aloud books as we show you that storytime is fun for the whole family. Ideal for caregivers with children of many ages. West Farms librarians invite you to celebrate the Library’s World Literature Festival with this special Caribbean-themed storytime, featuring books and songs about the Caribbean islands.
The Jewish Museum: The Paper Bag Players (virtual)
Friday April 23rd 4-445p. For ages 3 and up. This performance is Free with RSVP, one ticket per household. YouTube link sent with RSVP. See The Paper Bag Players present Out and About and Together Again, a virtual show conceived for the little screen yet bursting with big imagination and fun. This delightful performance, filmed all around New York City, is filled with sing-along songs, freewheeling dances, colorful paper and cardboard costumes, as well as a guided draw-your-own-picture experience. The outdoor adventures include stories such as a dancing bear doorman, a wondrous world of pointing and spinning Arrows, and the premiere of Anywhere Chair, a hand-drawn animated story about twins Tinsley and Tobias who encounter a lost but lovable chair that travels to outer space. Gather a pencil and paper to draw along during one of the segments. While you enjoy the show, and inspired by Earth Day, think of ways to sculpt, play with, and reuse paper, cardboard, and other found materials together.
Rolie Polie Guacamole Concert at Old Stone House (Park Slope)
Friday April 23rd 5p. $20 suggested donation. venmo: @roliepolieguac. Come down to the Little Lawn on the 5th Ave side of the House to dance and sing along! Please maintain social distancing with your neighbors. There will be additional performance Thursday April 29th 5p.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday April 24th
Celebrate Holi! at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Saturday April 24th 10a-1230p, 1-330p & 4-630p. Admission: $13 per person (children under 1 free) . Join us for Holi, BCM’s annual celebration of the holiday celebrating springtime, renewal, color and play. Known as the “Color Festival,” Holi originated in India and is now enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. Come hungry, and ready to play as we celebrate a day of art, dance, food, music, and wonder that will make your whole family feel like you’ve been transported to the streets of India (or Trinidad or Guyana). It wouldn’t be Holi without color powder. We’ll be taking over neighboring Brower Park with pounds of color powder to throw in the air. Make sure to wear WHITE for color powder play and secure your tickets and powder early for this unforgettable day! Purchase tickets here.
Earth Day in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday April 24th 10a-3p. Free. Location: Main Street Terrace. Join Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy for Earth Day 2021 in Brooklyn Bridge Park! The Conservancy is excited to celebrate Earth Day with a series of FREE fitness classes, self-led volunteer opportunities, and education programs on Saturday. Please see the website for the schedule of events and event descriptions. All events and activities will adhere to Covid-19 safety protocols and precautions. Click here for details.
Redbird Reef Puppets with NY Transit Museum (virtual)
Saturday April 24th 11a. Free. Register here for the Zoom information. For children 4-7. Runtime: 45 minutes. Presented by New York Transit Museum. Come meet our puppet friends Cecil and Fiona and listen to a story all about Redbird Reef! Find out about retired Redbird subway cars that took a dive into the Atlantic Ocean to create a new home for fish, and make a simple hand puppet from materials we can find at home!
Spring Blossoms Walk in Fort Greene Park
Saturday April 24th 11a-12n. Free. Location: Fort Greene Park Visitor Center. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a leisurely spring walk along the trails of Fort Greene Park to look for spring blossoms. Please see the website for Covid-19 protocols.
Downtown Brooklyn Car Free Earth Day in Albee Square
Saturday April 24th 130-3p. Free. Join DTBK for an exciting earth-friendly celebration at Albee Square Plaza and Albee Square West – which will be closed to traffic all day. Bring your bikes, roller skates, and beach chairs, and enjoy a car free street! Check out all the event details on the website.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday April 25th
Birding: Spring Migration in High Rock Park (Staten Island)
Sunday April 25th 9-10a. Free. Location: Parking lot. New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. To enhance your experience we encourage you to bring binoculars and field guides. Please see the website for Covid-19 protocols.
Mushroom Hike in Prospect Park
Sunday April 25th 10-11a. Free. Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse. Our Urban Park Rangers hiking guides will introduce you to the hidden gems of New York City and places often off-limits to the general public. On our hikes, you can gain orienteering skills, explore our city’s rich history, or just take an hour to unplug from the world. Join the Urban Park Rangers on this moderate hike through Prospect Park and learn about the different varieties of mushrooms found in Prospect Park. Please see website for Covid-19 protocols.
It’s My Park at Owl’s Head Park
Sunday April 25th 10a-12n. Free. This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Owl’s Head Park Volunteers to beautify Owl’s Head Park. We look forward to cleaning up the park with you! Please RSVP to: owlsheadvolunteer@gmail.com
Flower Patch at Queens Botanical Garden
Sundays 11a-530p until May 9th. Timed entry tickets every 30 min. Tickets: $15 per Adult ,$12 per Child (ages 4-12), Students, & Seniors. Free for Children 3 and under (pot of flowers not included). Free for Members (pot of flowers not included). Visit Queens Botanical Garden Flower Patch on the Farm for an intimate experience among spring flowers on Sundays. Unique floral and garden creature installations transform the QBG Farm into a fantastic flower spectacle creating an immersive environment and stunning backdrop for photos. Take home your own pot of flowers and a floral themed grab-and-go craft activity kit! Fee includes general Garden admission and entry to the Patch. Note: $10 parking rate in effect. Please arrive within an hour of the start time of your ticket. Purchase tickets here.
Junior Arborist Day in Conference House Park (Staten Island)
Sunday April 25th 1-3p. Free. Celebrate April’s Arbor Day Month with us! Join NYC Parks’ certified arborists to learn about trees. Learn some basic tree identification, trunk measuring, safety and proper planting of our wonderful arboreal partners. Children and families’ welcome. The program will also be available in Spanish language. All COVID-19 protection protocols will be followed.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
The 3 Wishes & 3 Little Lambs at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Ongoing Saturdays-Sundays 1230p & 230p until May 2nd. Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each. Suggested for 2 and up. The 3 Wishes a double-feature with 3 Little Lambs (a reimagining of The 3 Little Pigs) adapted for Hand Puppets by Nicolas Coppola. Call for reservations(recommended, due to our 33% capacity): 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: puppetworksinfo@gmail.com. Masks Required.
Green Meadows Farm: Floral Fantasy at Aviator Sports and Events Center
Ongoing Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p until May 2nd. Admission: $12 per person age two and above. Register here. Picture Perfect! They have transformed our farm into an endless family photo-op throughout your visit. Take a stroll to the family selfie stations with thousands of beautiful flowers then meet our animals and explore our play areas. This outdoor kid-friendly event truly will make you say, ”What a great day.” Bring the whole family and bloom into spring! The FLOWER-FILLED event with your paid admission includes these highlights and more: Visit with our Animals, Sit on Ten Different Tractors, Glide down the Hay Wagon Slide, Operate our Bulldozer, Milk “Katie” the Cow, Enjoy the Bunny Barn, Discover our Farm Playground and Open Areas for Picnics. Extra charges apply for: Animal Feed. Please note: this is an outdoor event rental. Due to National Park Service COVID-19 safety regulations, no public access is permitted to Aviator’s indoor facility.
Urban Farm Exploration Days! in Randall’s Island Park
Saturdays-Sundays 10a-4p until October 17th. Free. Explore the Randall’s Island Urban Farm’s variety of crops, rice paddies, fragrant herbs, and meet the chickens too! All ages welcome!
Urban Farm Volunteers at Randall’s Island Park
Saturdays-Sundays 10a-1p until April 24th. Free. Location: Urban Farm, 11 Wards Meadow Loop. Advance registration required through Eventbrite. Help us keep our urban farm running in tip-top shape! Volunteer with our Urban Farm Crew! Opportunities to help with the day to day operations may include: Weeding, Planting, Mulching & Composting and similar farm tasks! Volunteers of all backgrounds and experience are welcome to join us. No farming-skills are necessary! Staff will provide volunteers with task overview and tools. Note: Minors (14-17) years of age must also have a parent or guardian-signed Liability and Photo Consent Form. See website for all the details.
Dynamic H2O at Children’s Museum of Manhattan (UWS)
Starting Saturday April 17th and open weekends only. Reserve tickets for 11a, 1p & 230p here. Come play, learn and splash in CMOM’s seasonal outdoor exhibit Dynamic H20 (all ages)! Learn more about NYC’s amazing water cycle as you play on our new expanded 22-foot-long water table, located in CMOM’s Sussman Environmental Center. *Please be advised this exhibit may close due to inclement weather. All tickets are non-refundable, however we will be happy to reschedule your visit. On this 75-minute tour, families can: Interact with the table’s waterfalls, spinners, and spouts. Build bridges and direct water flow. Pretend to fish! Construct a city by the water’s edge!
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.
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 August 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. Worlds Beyond Earth at the Hayden Planetarium Space Theater is now open with limited seating to maintain health and safety. See all the details here.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan at Home
CMOM is now open Wednesday-Sunday 10a-5p. CMOM at Home is still ongoing. Activities are sent in a daily email newsletter. CMOM can still be a part of your day through videos, sing-a-longs, games and so much more for you to do together with your family at home! Sign up for emails here. From slime-making, dance parties and being transported to Japan with a recipe for sushi, to making animal puppets from recycled materials around the house, creating a bedtime routine and storytimes, “CMOM at Home” is sure to delight. Each day of the week will feature a different theme: Magical Monday, Move & Grove Tuesday, Our World Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, Feel Good Friday, Storytime Saturday and Surprise Sunday.