Hi everyone! Get ready for a busy weekend in NYC now that the Summer is winding down.
This weekend enjoy the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival and Public Seining in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Farmhouse Family Day: Creative Composting at Wyckoff House Museum, the Flatbush Frolic, Family Music Concert Series: Divinity Roxx at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Pop-Up Performance: Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra at Brooklyn Museum, the 95th Annual the Feast of San Gennaro, BPC Back to School in Rockefeller Park, Sunday Social on Montague Street, Green Meadows Farm: Petting Zoo Magic at Aviator Sports and Events Center, Mini Mid-Autumn Celebration for Families at Museum of Chinese in America, Cooking on the Farm with Families in Randall’s Island Park, Chinese Theatre Works: “HAO BANG-AH!” Hand Puppet Program at Museum of the City of New York, STREB EXTREME ACTION at Manhattan West Plaza and the Smithsonian Museum Day.
Also check out long running events like The Amazing Maize Maze at Queens County Farm Museum, Family Discovery Days at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Rumpelstiltskin 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, Tall Ship Wavertree at South Street Seaport, Free Bike Mornings and The Yard – Adventure Playground on Governors Island and the Putting Green Mini Golf.
There is so much going on this weekend so check calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for last minute events and updates.
Enjoy the last weekend of the Summer with the family!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday September 17th
The Amazing Maize Maze at Queens County Farm Museum
Fridays 12n-430p, Saturdays-Sundays 11a-430p until October 30th and also Monday October 11th 11a-430p. Advance tickets: $12 and $8 for ages 4-11y (free for ages 3 and under). Purchase tickets here. Andy Warhol’s Cow at Queens Farm? This year The Amazing Maize Maze celebrates the genius of Andy Warhol’s pop art in NYC’s only corn maze. The adventure begins with a Stalk Talk to prepare you for the 3-acre challenge of finding clues, solving puzzles, and making your way to Victory Bridge where the full vista of Warhol’s Cow is revealed.
STREB EXTREME ACTION at Manhattan West Plaza
Friday-Saturday September 17th-18th 1230-130 & 6-7p and Sunday September 19th 1230-130p. Free. Register here. The STREB Extreme Action Company comes to Manhattan West with a series of stunning, jaw-dropping performances featuring a brand-new piece commissioned by Arts Brookfield, titled KALEIDOSCOPE, as well as two works premiering publicly in the U.S. for the first time, PLATESHIFT and MOLINETTE. Founded in New York City in 1985 by choreographer Elizabeth Streb, STREB EXTREME ACTION combines virtuosity and technical skill with openhearted popular appeal. The company has traveled—artistically as well as geographically—from the heights of the experimental dance world to the cutting-edge of popular entertainment. Streb’s choreography confronts gravity, rotational force, acceleration, and essential notions of time, highlighting the agility and athleticism of the performers – deemed “action heroes.” Free Kid PopAction Classes will precede Sunday’s performance at 9a & 10a. Learn more and register for these classes HERE.
BPC Back to School in Rockefeller Park (Battery Park City)
Friday September 17th 430-9p. Free. Register here. School’s back! Celebrate the return to school at this family community event with beats by DJ Susan Z. Anthony, chalk drawings, a picnic area, and an array of classic lawn games. Fast break to the basketball court for a New York Red Bulls freestyle soccer show. The evening ends with a screening of The Sandlot complete with popcorn. 430p: freestyle soccer show, 530p: festivities, 730p: movie.
95th Annual the Feast of San Gennaro (Little Italy)
Friday-Sunday September 16th-26th various times. Free to attend. Location: Mulberry Street. The Feast of San Gennaro 2021 in Little Italy, NYC runs from Thursday September 16 through Sunday September 26. See the website for the schedule of events. The Feast celebrates the life of San Gennaro of Naples who was Bishop of Benevento, Italy and was martyred in 305AD. We’re happy to announce that our Grand Marshall for the 2021 Feast of San Gennaro is is NYC Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro. In honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 this year’s feast is in honor of all of our First Responders and their families!
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday September 18th
Smithsonian Museum Day (citywide)
Saturday September 18th. Museum Day is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity hosted by Smithsonian magazine. Participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. See the participating locations and get your ticket here.
Public Seining in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday September 18th 10a-12n. Free. Location: Pier 4 Beach. This event is now walk-up only. We will also do our utmost to accommodate as many walk-ups as space allows. Discover the amazing biodiversity of the Hudson River Estuary as our staff and scientists use a seine net to catch and release incredible creatures that live below the water’s surface!
Farmhouse Family Day: Creative Composting at Wyckoff House Museum
Saturday September 18th 11a-3p. Farmhouse Family Day is free and open to all ages, ideal for children ages 4-10. RSVP here. Join us in giving back to the earth by composting food scraps and learning about different ways to keep our earth healthy. Come explore the life cycle of the farm during our September Farmhouse Family Day, where we’ll be exploring compost and our worm bin(composting workshop begins 1p). Families can help us turn the compost heap, bring compost to drop off, play the compost-sorting game, and do fun farm crafts. Stay for a tour of our historic house, a scavenger hunt, and plenty of outdoor toys and games.
Mini Mid-Autumn Celebration for Families at Museum of Chinese in America (SoHo)
Saturday September 18th 1-4p. Tickets: Free. Advanced booking required! All visitors, including Museum members, must reserve a ticket prior to visiting. Capacity is limited. We’re over the moon to celebrate our Mini Mid-Autumn Celebration (in-person) on Saturday. Join us for an afternoon of arts & crafts and a lively dance workshop led by the New York Chinese Cultural Center at 230p. Please note: All visitors two years and older must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth during the entire length of their visit. See website for the schedule of events.
Family Music Concert Series: Divinity Roxx at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Saturday September 18th 4-6p (performance 430-530p). Tickets: $13 (children under 1 free). Purchase tickets here. Concert will be on the roof. Four artists, four messages. Join us this fall at BCM’s first annual “We Got Something to Say” Family Music Series, where Brooklyn families connect to Black artists who are using music to inspire change. Hear what each artist has to say while enjoying dance, food, community art, and award-winning family music. September 18th: Divinity Roxx combines virtuosic bass playing with an eclectic mash-up of hip-hop, rock and funk that she calls ‘Alternative Soul.’ Additional performances Saturdays until October 9th. See website for information on the performers. Note: all visitors ages 12 and older are required to provide proof that they have had at least one dose of vaccine, along with valid ID. Masks are required throughout your visit to the Museum.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday September 19th
Flatbush Frolic
Sunday September 19th 11a-6p. Free to attend. Flatbush Frolic is back after a very long and difficult year! Come out to the 45th Annual Flatbush Frolic on Cortelyou Road. Food, games, music, vendors and more. COVID-19 Safety precautions will be in place.
Chinese Theatre Works: “HAO BANG-AH!” Hand Puppet Program at Museum of the City of New York
Sunday September 19th 11a. Free. Registration required. Family Programs are geared to families with children ages 7–12 years old and are intergenerational for adults to attend with their children. Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, and experience the art of hand puppetry and live music in this special performance by Chinese Theatre Works at the Museum of the City of New York. 10:30am: Doors open and families can begin seating. 11am: Performance begins. Note: Masks must be worn at all times by all participants older than 2 years old.
Sunday Social on Montague Street (Brooklyn Heights)
Sunday September 19th 12n-5p. Sunday Social, a free outdoor, family-friendly event returns to Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, on Sunday following a one year hiatus due to the pandemic. The annual event, presented by the Montague Street Business Improvement District and the businesses on Montague Street, will feature an Entertainment Zone full of music and dance, more than 25 free activities in two Kids Activity Zones and specials and promotions at Montague Street businesses. Sunday Social, a car-free day, is open to the public, and will follow all recommended CDC, New York State and City COVID guidelines for outdoor events. See the website for details on all the activities.
Cooking on the Farm with Families in Randall’s Island Park
Sunday September 19th 2-4p. Free. Location: Urban Farm. Join Chef LeeSandra as she inspires us with Farm to Table summer recipes. Two dishes that highlight the transition from summer to fall will be prepared. We will provide you with all the ingredients, many picked that day on the farm, so that you can follow along and make your own Warm Root Vegetable Salad with Orange Ginger Dressing and fresh fruit on a skewer with a yogurt dipping sauce. Fun and delicious snacks for any time!
Pop-Up Performance: Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra at Brooklyn Museum
Sunday September 19th 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.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
Family Discovery Days at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Fridays & Saturdays 1030a-1230p and also Wednesdays until October 30th (no programs Saturday, October 9). This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Free with Garden admission. Use your senses to explore plants, create nature art, and pot up a plant to take home! Visit the Hamm Children’s Learning Courtyard inside the Discovery Garden for hands-on activities alongside BBG staff. On Saturdays, learn about birds with teens from the Garden Apprentice Program. All programs are outdoors and canceled in inclement weather. Check this webpage for updates. Please note that face coverings are required for all BBG program participants under 12 and those who are not fully vaccinated. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. Purchase tickets here.
Brooklyn Americana Music Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday-Sunday September 18th-19th 3-730p. The event is free for all ages and open to the public. Join Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy and Brooklyn Americana Music Festival for two days of free live music. In celebration of women artists, Liberty View Stage at Pier 6 Liberty Lawn features twenty women identified singers, songwriters and musicians. Original and traditional songs on fiddle, banjo, mandolin, upright bass, ukulele, and more span a range of genres including Country, Folk, Blues, Old Time, Bluegrass, and Jazz.
Green Meadows Farm: Petting Zoo Magic at Aviator Sports and Events Center
Saturday-Sunday September 18th-19th 11a-5p. Admission: $12 per person age two and above. Register here. Who doesn’t love magic? Join Green Meadows Farm for a remarkable show of discovery, mystery, and wonderment. With laughs, tremendous tricks, and incredible antics that will leave you amazed. And of course, visit with their farm family — Ponies, Alpacas, Llamas, Calves, Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Bunnies, and more. Next, explore the farm play areas, hop on a hayride, and take advantage of our picnic areas. You’ll end this fabulous day saying, ”voila!”. Your $12 paid admission includes: Magic show, hayride, sit on 10 different tractors, BIG!! BIG!! Bulldozer to Operate, bumpy roller slide, Milk “Katie” the Cow, Play in our huge Farm Playground, Plenty of Picnic Tables and so much more! Extra charge: Animal Feed.
Rumpelstiltskin at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Ongoing Fridays 1230p and Saturdays-Sundays 1230p & 230p until October 31st. Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each. Suggested for 4 and up. Rumpelstiltskin from the Brothers Grimm (1823) adapted for Marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. Call for reservations: 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: puppetworksinfo@gmail.com. Masks required to protect the unvaccinated (especially children).
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.
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.
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 December 5, 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.