Hi everyone! So much to do this weekend in NYC so get ready for a busy time with the family.
This weekend check out Pop-Up Performance: Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra at Brooklyn Museum, Farmhouse Family Day; Wonderful Wind Chimes at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, Piper Theatre Student Productions at Old Stone House, Sprinkler Day at Asphalt Green, Raya and the Last Dragon in Marine Park, ABCirque & Play at The Muse Brooklyn, Movies Under the Stars: The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water in Paerdegat Park, New York Classical Theatre: King Lear at Brooklyn Commons, “What Makes Home, Home?” with the Brooklyn Museum, Toy Story 4 in Helen Marshall Playground, Greenbelt Bug Club at Greenbelt Nature Center, SummerStarz Movies: Raga and the Last Dragon in Transmitter Park, 9th Annual It’s Your Tern! Celebration on Governors Island and Birding: Ospreys in Marine Park.
Also check out long running events like Camp Kids: Puppets, Crafts and Magic in Bryant Park, 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, Free Bike Mornings and The Yard – Adventure Playground on Governors Island and the new Putting Green Mini Golf.
These are just some of the weekend events so check calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for last minute events and updates.
Have a fabulous time this weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday July 16th
“What Makes Home, Home?” with the Brooklyn Museum (virtual)
Friday July 16th 930-1030a. Free. RSVP here. Brooklyn Museum Presents: What makes home, home? Explore the value of everyday objects in your homes and learn how different materials make home special. Start off by shaking off the stress of the week and loosen up on a Friday with mediation and mindfulness activities that will get you relaxed for the weekend! Then, explore art, design, and culture with the teen educators in the Museum Apprentice Program live from the Brooklyn Museum. These live virtual programs will explore different themes in connection to the world today, engage with the museum’s collection of art, and have you taking a closer look at the objects that surround you everyday with hands-on activities right at home.
Piper Theatre Student Productions at Old Stone House (Park Slope)
Friday July 16th 3p & 630p. All performances are free and open to the public on the Turf behind the Old Stone House; post-show donations to support Piper Theatre are appreciated! Piper Theatre’s student productions feature young performers age 7-16. July 16 @ 3p Pinocchio & The Blue Fairy and 630p My Robot
SummerStarz Movies: Raga and the Last Dragon in Transmitter Park (Greenpoint)
Fridays at 8p until August 13th. While the movie are free, you still need to reserve your free ticket here due to Covid policies. SummerStarz is a series of 6 free, wonderful family-friendly movies at Transmitter Park presented by Town Square, a local nonprofit organization. Also a great idea for date night! Come early to snag a good spot on the grass. Enjoy the gorgeous Brooklyn waterfront until the movie starts at sunset. Can’t wait! July 16th: Raga and the Last Dragon
Movies Under the Stars: Toy Story 4 in Helen Marshall Playground
Friday July 16th 830-1045p. Free. Join NYC Parks and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment for a free film! A new toy named “Forky” joins the gang when Bonnie turns a spork into a toy. But when he disappears, Woody, Buzz and co. set out into the world to find him, resolve his existential crisis, and reunite with Bonnie. Rated G. 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 8:30 p.m. to get your spot. This event is FREE and open to the public, but seating is limited. Reservations are not taken. See the website for Covid-19 protocols.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday July 17th
Farmhouse Family Day: Wonderful Wind Chimes at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum
Saturday July 17th 11a-3p. Free for all ages. Register here. Take a break from the hot July weather as we explore some cool breezes using all our senses. Make your own music from found and recycled objects with a homemade wind chime craft. Enjoy lawn games, colonial-era toys, a farm tour, or just a socially distanced picnic on the lawn.
9th Annual It’s Your Tern! Celebration on Governors Island
Saturday July 17th 12n-4p. Free. RSVP to let NYC Audubon know you are coming here. Come celebrate the terns of Governors Island! Common Terns, listed as a threatened species in New York State, have nested for several years on Governors Island’s waterfront. Learn about their history on the Island and what makes these little seabirds so special with free activities for the whole family.
Restart Stages Concerts for Kids: Story Pirates (UWS)
Saturday July 17th 12n. Free. Performance Length: Approximately 60 minutes, no intermission. Seats are available via the TodayTix Lottery. Enter for a chance to win a FREE pod (four seats) starting two weeks before the show. Entries close three days before a performance at 12:59 pm ET. Story Pirates believe kids are creative geniuses, which is why their shows feature stories written by kids, brought to life by talented comedians and musicians. From the stages of Kennedy Center to classrooms across the country, Story Pirates, the creators of the top podcast for kids and families, provide unforgettable experiences that inspire young authors to write. The show features classic stories written by kids, the debut of brand new stories, and improv comedy based on ideas of kids in the audience!
Sprinkler Day at Asphalt Green (UES)
Saturday July 17th 1-3p. Free. Location: Litwin Field at Asphalt Green’s Upper East Side campus. It’s hot, hot, hot! Don’t let the soaring summer temperatures discourage you from enjoying the outdoors. Cool off by splashing around in Asphalt Green’s sprinklers!Sprinkler Day is back with two summer dates. That means double the wet and wild fun. Kick off your flip-flops and enjoy free outdoor play in our high-powered sprinklers. You just can’t beat summers at Asphalt Green! This event will also happen Saturday August 14th.
Movies Under the Stars: The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water in Paerdegat Park
Saturday July 17th 845-1015p. Free. Join NYC Parks and New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment for this free family film! The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water ~ This 2015 hilarious, mega-hit animated series finds a pirate named Burger Beard (Antonio Banderas) who steals the secret Krabby Patty formula using a magical book that makes any text written upon it come true. SpongeBob and his friends must travel to the ocean’s surface to confront Burger Beard and retrieve the formula. Know Before You Go:You should come before 8:45 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 the website for Covid-19 protocols.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday July 18th
Birding: Ospreys in Marine Park
Sunday July 18th 9-10a. Free. Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center. 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, or ask an Urban Park Ranger to borrow a pair. Learn about the behavior and habitat of this seaside raptor that nests across the Jamaica Bay Area during spring and summer. See the website for Covid-19 protocols.
Greenbelt Bug Club at Greenbelt Nature Center (Staten Island)
Sundays 10-11a until August 8th. Ages 5+. Free. Register here. Please register for each program date individually. Join us, for the Greenbelt’s Summer Bug Club. Participants will learn what it takes to be an Amateur Entomologist by exploring the world of insects! The Greenbelt Bug Club is an educational mini-series that explores the anatomy, life-cycles and the natural history of BUGS through engaging conversation, presentations and live insect demos. July 18th Bug Club: Welcome Junior Entomologists! Have you ever chased butterflies, collected fireflies, observed moths, or rolled a log to see what lives beneath it? Insects are the largest group of animals on earth with nearly one million different kinds. And this first meeting will explore what makes a Bug-A-Bug!
Pop-Up Performance: Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra at Brooklyn Museum
Sunday July 18th 2-4p. This event is free and takes place outdoors. Drop by our plaza to hear string players from the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra perform a festive, family-friendly selection of music by Vivaldi, Mozart, Copland, and Tchaikovsky, led by Associate Conductor Felipe Tristan.
ABCirque & Play at The Muse Brooklyn
Sunday July 18th 330p doors, 4p show, try-it stations 445-515p. $45 pre sale adult and child pair (+fees). Purchase here. The Muse Brooklyn and ABCirque welcomes you back to in person shows to celebrate Independent Venue Week!Watch NYC’s finest circus troupe, ABCirque, juggle, flip, and fly high with aerial acrobatics! But that’s not all stick around afterwards because then it will be YOUR turn to take center-ring! 45 minutes of show-time followed by 30 minutes of try-time for all with the pro’s: take a swing in an aerial hammock, hula-hoop your heart out, juggle everything in sight, and then pose with the stars for the photographic proof you need to show off to your friends! This is it, for the entire family: you get to SEE IT then TRY IT! Stretch those wings; this is your BIG chance to run away with the circus!
Raya and the Last Dragon in Marine Park
Sunday July 18th 845-1020p. Free. Location: Lawn near the flagpole. This Disney exciting, animated adventure follows a young warrior princess who sets out to find a missing dragon and gain her help in seeking parts of a gem that would banish the evil Druun from the land and reunite the tribes. This wonderful fantasy film is written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim and stars the voices of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Thalia Lucille Soong, and Alan Tudyk. Know Before You Go: You should come before 845p 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 the website for Covid-19 protocols.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
Putting Green Mini Golf (Williamsburg)
Mondays-Wednesday 12n-8p, Thursdays-Sundays 10a-8p. Admissions: $10 adults, $5 kids/seniors (Wednesdays before 5p & Saturdays before 1p $5 adults, $2 kids/seniors). All profits will be donated to local nonprofit organizations addressing climate change in NYC. PUTTING GREEN is an 18-hole mini golf course open to the public on the waterfront in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This neighborhood pop-up is designed to showcase the problems and solutions for some of the most pressing climate change issues facing our planet. Each of the 18 holes has been designed by a community partner, including artists and designers, community and school groups, environmental advocacy organizations and public agencies. See website for all the details.
New York Classical Theatre Presents King Lear at Brooklyn Commons (Downtown Brooklyn)
Friday-Sunday July 15th-18th 7p. Tickets are free, although reservations are recommended due to limited audience capacity for safety protocols. Register in advance here. This summer in Brooklyn Commons Park, New York Classical Theatre, New York City’s all-free Off Broadway Equity theatre company, will return to live performance with a production of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. NY Classical’s staging will feature the “happy ending” of Nahum Tate’s 1681 adaptation, which was popular in England for over 150 years until Shakespeare’s original tragic text was restored in 1838. In addition to the ending, several additional scenes from Tate’s version have been incorporated for NY Classical’s production. The Tate version of King Lear has not been performed in New York City in over 30 years.
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 1230p 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 50% capacity): 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: puppetworksinfo@gmail.com. Masks required to protect the unvaccinated (especially children).
Camp Kids: Puppets, Crafts and Magic in Bryant Park
Saturdays-Sundays 12n-230p until August 22nd. Free. Location: Upper Terrace near the William Cullen Bryant monument. Join Bryant Park for a fun filled afternoons with music, magic, puppet shows, and science projects, plus arts and crafts between shows! 12n puppet show, 1p arts & crafts & 130p music. Go to the website to see information on the performers.
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!
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.