Hi everyone! I hope you had a lovely week and are looking forward to a fun Mother’s Day weekend here in NYC!
This weekend check out The New York Bike Jumble in Washington/JJ Byrne Park, Sheep Shearing at Queens County Farm Museum, Summer on the Hudson: Play Dates! in West Harlem Piers, a Mother Nature Hike in Allison Pond Park, Make an Enchanted Forest by ArchForKids, Flower Patch at Queens Botanical Garden, Green Meadows Farm: Mother’s Day at Aviator Sports and Events Center, Alley Pond Environmental Center Goes “Animals Alive”, Little Feet Yoga and Art in the Garden: Spring Weekends with Sachiyo Ito and Company at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Also check out long running events like Roller Skating at Lakeside in Prospect Park, The Wizard of Oz 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, Urban Farm Exploration Days! in Randall’s Island Park and Free Bike Mornings and The Yard – Adventure Playground on Governors Island.
There are more events this weekend so check the calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for last minute events and updates.
Happy Mother’s Day and have a wonderful weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday May 7th
Free Bike Mornings on Governors Island
Fridays 10a-12n and also Monday-Thursday 10a-12n. Free. Blazing Saddles offers bikes, surreys, pedal cars, scooters and more for rental. Free Bike Mornings allow visitors to borrow a bike from Blazing Saddles for free for up to one hour every weekday between 10 AM and noon. Come visit Blazing Saddles at the north end of Colonels Row and bike the Island! This year you need a reservation for the ferry. See the website for all the details.
Little Feet Yoga (virtual)
Fridays 1030-1120a until June 25th. $15/class. For ages 2.5-5y (adult participation required). Register here. Little bodies love to move and learn about the world around them! This class is a great introduction to the world of yoga geared for kids moving in the world. We’ll read books and integrate yoga poses, sing songs, play games, learn the magic of sound and quiet, develop the art of savasana or rest pose and plant the seeds of mindfulness in little bodies and minds! So much to learn and explore- join us!
Make an Enchanted Forest by ArchForKids (virtual)
Friday May 7th 330-430p. Free. Be a landscape designer for an imaginary land. Design a wooded area for unicorns, witches, elves and other magical creatures. We will show some examples to get your imagination fired up. Then build your model along with the founder of ArchForKids, Janny Gedeon. A great family activity for all ages! This pre-recorded program will air on the Pacific Library Facebook page and remain there for 48 hours, then will be taken down. See the website for the materials list.
Alley Pond Environmental Center Goes “Animals Alive” (virtual)
Friday May 7th 4-445p. Free. Alley Pond Environmental Center’s “Animals Alive” program allows students to see and learn about a variety of both familiar and exotic animals. Watch live on the Queens Public Library Facebook page.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday May 8th
The New York Bike Jumble in Washington/JJ Byrne Park (Park Slope)
Saturday May 8th 10a-4p. Free admission. The New York Bike Jumble returns to Washington/JJ Byrne Park around the Old Stone House at Fifth Avenue and 4th street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. for the twelfth year in a row. Fulfill all your cycling needs for the summer! Get yourself a new or used bike, new and used accessories, clothing, collectibles, artwork, overstocks, and bargains galore. Wear a mask and please wash or sanitize your hands often for your safety and ours!
Sheep Shearing at Queens County Farm Museum
Saturday May 8th 11a-4p with timed tickets. Tickets are $12/adult; $8/child (ages 12 & under). Advance tickets required. Purchase tickets here. Time for a haircut! Watch as our sheep get their much-needed spring trims. Visit fiber arts stations for quick demos in wool spinning. Celebrate the growing season with farmer-led tours and a plant sale. Mama Juke will be bringing their New Orleans-influenced music to the mix, so bring your lawn chair and find a crop circle to listen! Kids can learn to compost and Adopt-a-Worm at the Con Edison Ecology Booth. Local brews, tasty food, and hayrides will keep you coming baaa-ck for more.
Green Meadows Farm: Mother’s Day at Aviator Sports and Events Center
Saturday-Sunday May 8th-9th 11a-5p. Admission: $12 per person age two and above. Register here. Treat Mom! Have a wonderful day outside with Mom at Green Meadows Farm. With your paid admission, you can treat Mom with one-free admission. So relax, enjoy your picnic, play on the farm playground, and pet our animals. This special day features MOM plus with your paid admission includes: 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.
The Wizard of Oz at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Starting May 8th and ongoing Saturdays-Sundays 1230p & 230p until August 1st also Thursday May 13th 1230p. Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each. Suggested for 3 and up. The Wizard of Oz, L Frank Baum’s American classic with an original song score adapted for marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. Call for reservations(recommended, due to the 33% capacity): 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: puppetworksinfo@gmail.com. Masks Required.
Summer on the Hudson: Play Dates! in West Harlem Piers
Saturday May 8th 1-4p. Location: 125th Street and Marginal Street. Pre-registration for the event is required. Management reserves the right to cap participation in accordance with current COVID-19 outdoor safety guidelines. Register here. Join us at this fun family-friendly event featuring a children’s entertainer, grab-and-go arts and crafts kits, and neighborhood fun! Play Dates take place on the second Saturday of each month from May through August. All performances begin at 2p. May 8 – Flor Bromley / bilingual Latin music party. See website for information on future performances.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday May 9th
Flower Patch at Queens Botanical Garden
Sunday May 9th 11a-530p. 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.
Mother Nature Hike in Allison Pond Park (Staten Island)
Sunday May 9th 11a-12n. Free. Location: Prospect Avenue and Brentwood Avenue. Our Urban Park Ranger hiking guides will introduce you to the hidden gems of New York City. On our hikes, you may explore nature, discover our city’s urban forests, or just unplug from the world to clear your head. Hiking programs feature intensity levels; light hikes feature a leisurely stroll on mostly paved paths. Take a relaxing hike and play some games with the Urban Park Rangers while learning about how urban wildlife mothers take care of their young. Please see the website for Covid-19 protocols.
Water’s Edge Garden Tour in Randall’s Island Park
Sunday May 9th 1-230p. Free. Location: Touchdown of the 103rd Street Footbridge. The Randall’s Island Park Alliance (RIPA) maintains a variety of planted and themed gardens and landscaped areas throughout the park, all created using native species and sustainable practices. Located primarily along the water’s edge, they provide a beautiful and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of New York City. Enjoy a guided garden tour.
Art in the Garden: Spring Weekends with Sachiyo Ito and Company at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Sunday May 9th 2p, 3p, & 4p. Location: Magnolia Plaza. All programs free with Garden admission. Purchase timed entry tickets here. Celebrate the welcome return of spring at Brooklyn Botanic Garden with casual, pop-up music and dance performances on weekends until May 9th. The Japanese dance company performs three works: Sakura, Cherry Blossom; Yanagi no Wakaba, Young Leaves of Willows; and an excerpt from Shiki no Hana, Flowers in Four Seasons. See the website for information on the additional performances this Saturday and Sunday.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
The Carousel in Prospect Park
Thursdays-Sundays 12n-5p. Tickets are $2.50 or book of 5 for $11.50. The Prospect Park Carousel + Pony Express Snack Bar open on April 29! COVID-19 Update: The Prospect Park Carousel is open with COVID-19 protocols in place, including social distancing, enhanced cleaning and reduced capacity on the ride. Tickets are first come, first served.
The Yard – Adventure Playground on Governors Island
Saturdays-Sundays 12n-4p. Free. Welcome back to The Yard, New York City’s only adventure playground! The Yard offers free weekend play with Covid safety protocols in place. The Yard is a kids-only space recommended for young people ages 6 to 18, stewarded by trained playworkers. The Yard supplies young people with loose parts materials for building, exploring, imagining and destroying. Rules and more information: No more than 35 children at a time will be allowed in The Yard. Children must be over 5 years old. Masks are required. Shoes: Closed-toe shoes are required. play:groundNYC has a limited selection of loaner shoes on site. See the website for the waiver.
Roller Skating at Lakeside in Prospect Park
Mondays-Thursdays 11a-7p, Fridays 11a-630p, Saturdays 12n-8p & Sundays 12n-6p until May 28th. Admission: $6 weekdays, $10 weekends. Skate Rentals: $7 everyday. There will be Timed 90-Minute Public Skating Sessions. COVID-19 Safety Note: A safe experience for all our Guests and Staff is our foremost priority. Strict COVID regulations and cleaning protocols are in place including regular scheduled cleaning and sanitizing of the facility. Due to COVID restrictions, maximum skating capacity will be limited and strictly enforced to meet city and state mandated safety requirements. Masks and face coverings are required at all times. Please practice safe social distancing. Purchase timed entry tickets here. Bikes and boats are also open. See the website for the information.
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!
Dynamic H2O at Children’s Museum of Manhattan (UWS)
Now open Wednesday-Sunday. Tickets: $15 adult/child (children under 1 free). 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.