Hi everyone! This weekend celebrate Juneteenth, Father’s Day and the Summer solstice with so many fun events for the kids.
This weekend check out Farmhouse Family Day: Celebrate Juneteenth at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, NYC Lavender Festival and Ju-Bee-Lee on Governors Island, Celebrate Juneteenth at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Summer Solstice Festival with Healing Sound Bath in Socrates Sculpture Park, Puppetmobile: Puppet Time at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Nature Discovery: Freshwater Invertebrates in Canarsie Park, Movies Under the Stars: Harriet in Brower Park, Birding: Hawk Watch in Tompkins Square Park, Drag Queen Story Hour at Walt Whitman Library, Laughter in the Park in Belvedere Plaza, Free Family Art-Making in Hudson Square, Movies Under the Stars: A Dog’s Purpose at Twenty Four Sycamores Park, NYPL: Virtual Juneteenth Jeopardy and Laurie Berkner Virtual Family Concerts: Father’s Day.
Also check out long running events like The Wizard of Oz at Puppetworks, 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, Splash Pad in Prospect Park, Tall Ship Wavertree at South Street Seaport and Free Bike Mornings and The Yard – Adventure Playground on Governors Island.
The calendar is full of weekend events so check it out and go have fun. Also like us on Facebook for last minute events and updates.
Enjoy the weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday June 18th
Drag Queen Story Hour at Walt Whitman Library (Fort Greene)
Friday June 18th 11a-12n. Free. This event will be held outdoors. Registration is not required yet space is limited. Enjoy songs and stories for kids aged 3-8 during an in-person story time! Drag Queen Story Hour NYC provides a range of fun and fabulous educational experiences for children and teens from 3 to 18 years old in libraries, schools, museums, and community spaces in all five boroughs of New York City. Through storytelling and creativity, DQSH teaches children about gender diversity and all forms of difference to build empathy and give kids the confidence to express themselves however they feel comfortable.
Puppetmobile: Puppet Time at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center (Bronx)
Friday June 18th 11a & 1p. Free. Puppet Time is a family-friendly variety show featuring songs from past Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre performances including Pippi, Peter Pan, Princess, Emperor and The Duck, Hansel and Gretel’s Halloween Adeventure, Bessie’s Big Shot, and more! Performance will be outside in front of the recreation center building. Please bring blankets or small chairs to sit on.
NYPL: Juneteenth Virtual Jeopardy!
Friday June 18th 1-230p. Free. For children, ages 5 to 12 years, ages 13 to 18 years, children. Register here. Have you ever wanted to learn more about Juneteenth, but aren’t sure where to get started? Come join us for this fun, informative virtual Jeopardy! game at the Countee Cullen Library. Learn fun facts about the history and significance of this important holiday, and of the people who celebrate it. Come test your knowledge and invite your friends to play along. Everyone who registers will receive a book list and activity sheet at the end of the program. The more the merrier. We hope to see you there!
Movies Under the Stars: A Dog’s Purpose at Twenty Four Sycamores Park
Friday June 18th 830-1145p. This event is FREE and open to the public, but seating is limited. Reservations are not taken. Join NYC Parks and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment for a free film! This heartwarming comedy-drama follows a dog as he is reincarnated as different breeds belonging to various owners. Over the course of multiple lifetimes, the canine’s existence intersects with that of a young boy who rescued him in 1962. Rated PG. Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park or playground! This summer, NYC Parks will host family-friendly movie showings across the five boroughs. Movies begin at dusk. You should arrive before 830p to get your spot. Feel free to bring a blanket to sit on. Please see the website for Covid-19 protocols.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday June 19th
Celebrate Juneteenth at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Saturday June 19th 10a-1p & 2-5p. BCM will mark and celebrate this historic date of emancipation alongside education and achievement. In partnership with Friends of Brower Park and the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, BCM will present live music, a community mural, and art-making activities in Brower Park from 11am-3pm. At BCM, a special ColorLab program will feature Brooklyn-based artist Joanne Petit-Frѐre, who will be demonstrating the braiding technique she uses in her unique artworks and practice and will share inspiration objects selected from BCM’s collection. BCM will offer Pay-As-You-Wish admission during the first play session, 10am to 1pm. Purchase tickets here.
Farmhouse Family Day: Celebrate Juneteenth at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum
Saturday June 19th 11a-3p. Free and open to all ages, ideal for children ages 4-10y. Celebrate summer and commemorate Juneteenth with family at our free outdoor Family Day! Enjoy the outdoors and reconnect with family at our June Farmhouse Family Day! We’ll be celebrating both Juneteenth and Caribbean Heritage Month with a creative flag-making activity. Plus, explore the farm, play with colonial-era toys and lawn games, enjoy a scavenger hunt or bring a picnic to share with your pod! The house museum is currently closed to the public; all activities will take place outdoors in the park and comply with social distancing protocols. The flag making activity will begin at 1p. Farm activities (i.e. planting, weeding) and garden tours are limited, first-come first-served. Make sure to wear close-toed shoes and prepare to get dirty.
Free Family Art-Making in Hudson Square with Children’s Museum of the Arts
Saturdays 11a-3p in June (rain or shine). Free. Location: Dominick Street between 6th Ave and Varick Street in Hudson Square. Calling all artists! Have you ever noticed murals on buildings as you walk around your neighborhood? Do you wonder what it might be like to have your own art on the side of a building? In partnership with public art organization ArtBridge, CMA is proud to present a mural by artist Tomashi Jackson, which will be installed on the exterior of 550 Washington Street in Manhattan in early Summer 2021. Join CMA Teaching Artists to create your own art inspired by Jackson’s work, and have a chance for it to be included on this building!
NYC Lavender Festival and Ju-Bee-Lee: Lavender “Magic Wand” Workshop on Governors Island
Saturday June 19th 2-3p. $20/ticket. Purchase tickets here. Suitable for ages 12 and up. Sold out in 2019, back by popular demand, be sure to book early! Learn the traditional Provencal skill whereby lavender flowers are encased in a cage of their own stems with colorful ribbon woven over and under the “bars” of the cage. Create a unique and fragrant work of scent-filled art that will last for decades. See all the Lavender events ongoing this Saturday & Sunday here.
Movies Under the Stars: Harriet in Brower Park (Crown Heights)
Saturday June 19th 830-1030p. Free. Join NYC Parks and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment for a free film! This Oscar nominated biopic follows the incredible true story of one of America’s greatest heroes, Harriet Tubman. From her escape from slavery to the dangerous missions she led, setting free hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, who also wrote the screenplay with Gregory Allen Howard. This wonderful film stars Cynthia Erivo in the title role with Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, and Janelle Monáe in supporting roles. Rated PG-13. Know Before You Go: You should come before 8:30 p.m. to get your spot for the movie. Please bring your own picnic blanket or chair. Food is OK, but no alcohol or smoking is permitted. All are welcome!
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday June 20th
Nature Discovery: Freshwater Invertebrates in Canarsie Park
Sunday June 20th 11a-12n. Free. Ponds are home to many aquatic invertebrates, plants and other species. Get hands-on, using dip nets to comb the pond and learn all about these species. See the website for Covid-19 protocols.
Birding: Hawk Watch in Tompkins Square Park
Sunday June 20th 11a-12n. Free. Location: Saint Marks Place and Avenue A. 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. We offer birding programs throughout the year. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. To enhance your experience we recommend bringing binoculars.
Laurie Berkner Virtual Family Concerts: Father’s Day!
Sunday June 20th 12n & 5p. Tickets: $20 regular, $10 need based. Purchase tickets here. Join Laurie Berkner for an 80+min LIVE interactive, virtual performance for the whole family! Sing, dance, & play games through your device with Laurie as she performs fan favorites and songs from her new album, interacts with you through the screen, & brings in a few surprises – from her house to yours! Your ticket gives you access to BOTH shows (12p & 5pET) and helps the LBB team continue operations while we can’t tour! You can purchase a meet & greet add-on above. Group rates available, email katie@twotomatoes.com to inquire. Please note there will now be a 15% service fee added to tickets, which supports the wonderful folks at the platform that hosts our events. Thanks so much for understanding!
Laughter in the Park in Belvedere Plaza (Battery Park City)
Sunday June 20th 2-4p. Free. Register here. Laughter in the Park from NY Laughs features hilarious comedians enriching lives and making the world a better place with community building comedy events. This Father’s Day join us a for side-splitting afternoon of live stand-up outdoors featuring a cast of local comedians including the incredible Jackie Fabulous! Line up: Jackie Fabulous (headliner), Nore Davis, Anthony Devito, Jeff Wright & Sarah Tollemache. Note: Belvedere Plaza is a semicircular redoubt located on elevated northwest corner above North Cove Marina, above the Battery Park City Esplanade. Just south of BPC’s Ferry Terminal and steps away.
Summer Solstice Festival with Healing Sound Bath in Socrates Sculpture Park
Sunday June 20th 2-9p. Free. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year! Come celebrate this natural phenomenon – and Fathers’ Day – at the Park with live performances, art, and ceremony while watching the sunset over the East river and Manhattan skyline. See the website for all the event details. Note: pre-registration is needed for the Healing Sound Bath at 730p. Register here.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
Splash Pad in Prospect Park
Ongoing 10a-7p until September 6th. Free. Location: LeFrak Center at Lakeside. The Splash Pad, named Best of New York by New York Magazine, is Prospect Park’s largest water play area, with 47 water spray jets covering 16,000 square feet to provide hours of warm-weather fun. Open free to the public for children 12 years of age and under in season.
The Wizard of Oz at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Ongoing Fridays 4p and Saturdays-Sundays 1230p & 230p until August 1st. 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 35% capacity): 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: puppetworksinfo@gmail.com. Masks required to protect the unvaccinated (especially children).
Tall Ship Wavertree at South Street Seaport
Open Friday-Sundays 11a-5p through October 2021. The permanently-moored 1885 tall ship Wavertree will be open to the public for FREE with timed entry, from at Pier 16 (Fulton and South Streets). Visits will be self-guided along a set route and will include access to the main deck and quarter deck. Learn how people worked and lived aboard a 19th century cargo sailing vessel, from the captain to the ship’s officers, cooks, and crew. Then visit the cargo hold and stand atop the viewing platform where you can take in the massive main cargo area.The Museum will allow no more than 150 guests on board the ship at any time to encourage social distancing from different households. All guests above the age of 2 will be required to wear a face covering at all times aboard Wavertree and at the Museum’s pop-up gift shop. Reserve tickets here.
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.
Free Bike Mornings on Governors Island
Mondays-Fridays 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.
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.
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!
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.