Hi everyone! Get out this weekend and have a lot of fun in NYC with the family!
This weekend check out Journey to the Stars and Family Fitness with Chelsea Piers Fitness in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Movies Under the Stars: Sonic the Hedgehog in Cadman Plaza Park, Thunderbird American Indian Powwow at Queens County Farm Museum, Puppetmobile: Puppet Time in Brownsville Recreation Center, Sunset Jams on the Hudson in Wagner Park, Moth Night at Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor, Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York’s Guelaguetza Festival NYC in Socrates Sculpture Park, Restart Stages: POP-UP – Poets on the Plaza, Movie Nights at the Garden: Raya and the Last Dragon at Queens Botanical Garden, New York Classical Theatre Presents King Lear in Carl Schurz Park, Birding: Shorebirds in Rockaway Beach, Summer on the Hudson: Sun Gaze in Riverside Park South, New York City Poetry Festival on Governors Island and Movies Under the Stars: Harriet in Brower 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 wonderful weekend with the family!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday July 23rd
Puppetmobile: Puppet Time in Brownsville Recreation Center
Friday July 23rd 11-1145a & 12n-1245p. Free. Puppet Time is a family-friendly variety show featuring songs from past Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre performances including Pippi, Peter Pan, Princess, Emperor & The Duck.
Sunset Jams on the Hudson in Wagner Park (Battery Park City)
Fridays 630p until August 13th. Free. Maguette Camara leads a weekly sunset drumming circle in the tradition of West African rhythm and dance. Drums provided.
Thunderbird American Indian Powwow at Queens County Farm Museum
Friday July 23rd performances 7–10p (gates open at 6p), Saturday July 24th performances 12n-5p & 7–10p (gates open at 10a), Sunday July 25th performances 12n-5p (gates open at 10a). Tickets: $15; $8 (Children ages 2-12). 3-Day Pass: $30; $16 (Children ages 2-12). Celebrate American Indian Culture through music, dance, Native American crafts and food. This spectacular 3-day powwow features intertribal Native American dance competitions by over forty Indian Nations. Program features an expansive market of authentic Native American art, crafts, jewelry and food (don’t miss the fry bread!). An experience not to be missed. Advance tickets recommended as tickets are limited. Purchase online tickets here. Ticket is required to enter powwow and craft/food market; no gate fee to enter farm grounds.
Journey to the Stars in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Friday July 23rd 8-10p (walk up only). Free. Free. Location: Pier 3 Plaza. Come out and see the stars, planets, and the moon from Brooklyn Bridge Park! Gaze across the New York sky and all the wonders it holds. On select Friday nights members of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York will set up hi-powered telescopes for stargazing sessions that are free and open to the public. Weather permitting. Note: this event will also happen on August 20, August 27 8-10p. There will be a socially-distanced queue to use the telescopes. We recommend arriving as early as possible.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday July 24th
New York City Poetry Festival on Governors Island
Saturday-Sunday July 24th-25th 11a-6p. Free to attend. Every year on the last weekend of July, The Poetry Society of New York (PSNY) invites poetry organizations and collectives of all shapes and sizes to bring their unique formats, aesthetics, and personalities to beautiful Governors Island for The New York City Poetry Festival, a free weekend of readings, workshops, open mics, installations, performances, writing activities, bookselling, children’s programming, a beer garden, delicious food, and a whole lot of lying around in the grass listening to poetry.
Restart Stages: POP-UP – Poets on the Plaza (UWS)
Saturday July 24th 12n. Free. NYC Youth Poet Laureates share their favorite poems, addressing issues within their communities. Open to the public; non-ticketed event on The GREEN.
Movie Nights at the Garden: Raya and the Last Dragon at Queens Botanical Garden
Saturday July 24th 815-1015p. Tickets: $15 adult non-member, $10 member, $12 child non-member, student, senior, individual with disabilities, $8 member, $50 non-member family of 4, $35 member family of 4 (free for children 3 and under). Purchase tickets here. Queens Botanical Garden’s first-ever Movie Nights series turns the urban oasis in Flushing into an outdoor cinema! Experience big screen magic with the beautiful backdrop of golden hour in the evening. In addition to enjoying seasonal, movie-themed food and refreshments and exclusive after-hours access to the Garden, participate in a hands-on craft activity or enjoy a live performance (varies based on featured film). Bring your friends, family, and a blanket or lawn chairs for this quintessential summer experience! Before the movie, experience a live fire performance by Hoopsie Daisies! Get a taste of Southeast Asia with bite-size appetizers at “Boun’s Shrimporium” and shop botanical plushies to take home!
Moth Night at Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor
Saturday July 24th 830-10p. $10 Adults/$5 Children. Limited capacity, registration is required. Presented in partnership with the Staten Island Children’s Museum. Stay up late for Moth Night! Revel in the beauty of moths and learn about their life cycles and habitats. Take a close look at Museum specimens, enjoy art activities, and a go on a short walk to find what the insects you see at night. Bring your own flashlight!
Movies Under the Stars: Sonic the Hedgehog in Cadman Plaza Park
Saturday July 24th 9-1030p. Free. Location Brooklyn War Memorial. Join NYC Parks and New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment for this free family film! Based on the video game franchise, this hilarious comedy follows Sonic the Hedgehog (voiced by Ben Schwartz), who runs supersonic speeds, as he teams up with local town sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) to find his lost rings and escape the mad scientist Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Rated PG. See website for the Covid-19 protocols.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday July 25th
Family Fitness with Chelsea Piers Fitness in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sunday July 25th and the 4th Sunday of the month. Free. Location: Liberty Lawn. Register here. Get the whole family moving together at this family-focused class for movers of all ages with Chelsea Piers Fitness — taking place the fourth Sunday of every month, May-August at the Pier 6 Liberty Lawn! This class starts with a dynamic warm-up followed by an introduction to a key element of fitness. Whether it’s a squat, plank, or push-up, your family will gain a new fitness skill. The class will also include classic games such as Minos and Sharks and Tag, as well as introduce skills including breathing techniques and meditation. Be prepared to engage with your family members at all times as this is not a drop-off class. This is a class specifically designed to bring families together.
Summer on the Hudson: Sun Gaze in Riverside Park South (UWS)
Sunday July 26th 1-4p and the last Sunday of every month between until 9/26/2021. Pre-registration for the event is required. Please register online. The Amateur Astronomers Association returns to Pier I with solar telescopes specifically designed to safely look at the sun and see sunspots and prominences under a summer sky. See the website for information on Covid-19 protocols.
Birding: Shorebirds in Rockaway Beach
Sunday July 25th 130-230p. Free. Location: Beach 17th Street and Boardwalk. 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. Shore birds such as piping plovers, oystercatchers and terns visit Rockaway Beach each year to nest and raise chicks from spring through the summer. Learn more about these and other species founds near the beach. To enhance your experience we encourage you to bring binoculars and field guides. See the website for the Covid-19 protocols.
Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York’s Guelaguetza Festival NYC in Socrates Sculpture Park
Sunday July 25th 2-5p. Free. Enjoy Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York back for their third glorious Guelaguetza Festival at Socrates and their eighth overall Guelaguetza Festival in NYC! La Guelaguetza originated in Oaxaca City, Mexico, where every summer people gather to celebrate traditional dances, music, and culture. Each Oaxacan region offers a unique contribution to the festivities – like the much-loved “Dance of the Pineapple!”
Movies Under the Stars: Harriet in Brower Park (Crown Heights)
Sunday July 25th 845-1045p. 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 830p 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 in Carl Schurz Park (UES)
Friday-Sunday July 23rd-25th 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.