Hi everyone! October is zipping by so fast so get out and have fun this weekend!
This weekend check out Journey to the Stars in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Farmhouse Family Day: Lovely Leaves at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, Movies Under the Stars: Coco in Sunset Park, Go Fish! in Wagner Park, the Vale Park Annual Pumpkin Patch at The William Vale, Alley Pond Park Adventure Course: Free Public Sundays, A Spooky Halloween Music and Comedy Concert for Kids! with Queens Public Library, Picture This! People + Portraits with The Jewish Museum, Little Red’s Hood in Poor Richard’s Playground, Movies Under the Stars SHOCKTOBERFEST: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark in Monsignor McGolrick Park and A Quiet Place Part II in Cooper Park, Open House New York at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, Flamenco Dance Class at New Lots Brooklyn Public Library and Reading into History: “Esperanza Rising” with DiMenna Children’s History Museum.
Check out long running events like The Amazing Maize Maze and the Pumpkin Farm at Queens County Farm Museum, Village Ghost Tours at Historic Richmond Town, 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, the Putting Green Mini Golf, Green Meadows Farm: Pumpkin Picking Weekends at Aviator Sports and Events Center, Pumpkin Picking at Historic Richmond Town’s Decker Farm and the Pumpkin Patch at Queens Botanical Garden.
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 with the family this weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday October 15th
Little Red’s Hood in Poor Richard’s Playground (East Harlem)
Friday October 15th 11a (Spanish) & 1p (English). Free. #LittleRed’sHood is a fresh retelling of the classic ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ tale updated with a modern sensibility that appeals to kids. In this story, Little Red is a smart, young city dweller who is obsessed with her smartphone. Wulfric, a misunderstood wolf with a sweet tooth, crosses paths with Little Red on her travels to deliver her Grandma cupcakes and the trouble begins. This story offers a comical lesson on the importance to disconnect from our digital lives and enjoy real life moment with friends and family.
Flamenco Dance Class at New Lots Brooklyn Public Library
Friday October 15th 4-5p. Free. Come join us for an exciting Flamenco dance class with Sol “La Argentinita”. This class will introduce you to the basic rhythms and dance forms of flamenco. The class is appropriate for all ages, fitness, and experience levels. Participants will explore movement, rhythm, and culture. The program will take place outside of the library on Barbey Street (between New Lots Ave and Livonia Ave) weather permitting. The rain date is Friday, October 22nd. Masks are required.
A Spooky Halloween Music and Comedy Concert for Kids! with Queens Public Library
Friday October 15th 4-5p. Free. This event will engage children with comedy, singing, the itsy-bitsy spider, bats, goblins, ghouls, bubbles, music technology, and a monster mash dance party! The show is crafted to be inclusive for children of all abilities and a great time for parents and caregivers. Watch on the Queens Public Library Facebook page.
Movies Under the Stars SHOCKTOBERFEST: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark in Monsignor McGolrick Park
Friday October 15th 615-8p. Free. Join NYC Parks and New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment at SHOCKTOBERFEST with these spooky films! Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Rated PG-13): This 2019 horror follows Stella and her two friends as they discover a notebook of sinister stories by Sarah Bellows, a tortured teen. These terrifying tales soon have a way of becoming all too real for a group of unsuspecting teens who stumble upon Sarah’s spooky home. Know Before You Go: You should arrive before 615p 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 Friday events here.
Saturday October 16th
Open House New York at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park)
Saturday-Sunday October 16th-17th 10a-3p. Free. Situated in Central Park since 1877, the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre offers architectural charm as well as marionette performances for families all over New York City and those visiting from elsewhere. For OHNY Weekend, the Swedish Cottage staff will be opening the Cottage to the public from 10am – 3pm, as well as offering two guided presentations of the space and short performances at 11am and 1pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Come see original marionette puppets, learn what it’s like to be a professional puppeteer, and experience this architectural gem in the heart of Central Park, open to the public for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check the website to see all the Open House New York events this weekend.
Go Fish! in Wagner Park (Battery Park City)
Saturday October 16th 10a-1p. Free. Join experienced anglers for catch-and-release fishing and learn about life in the Hudson River. Help observe and identify the fish we catch, enabling us to share valuable data with research groups who monitor the health of our local waters. The day will also feature an art project and a nature walk. Plus: Don’t miss a live performance by Arm-of-the-Sea, a group that combines puppetry and ecology to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. See the website for the schedule of events.
Farmhouse Family Day: Lovely Leaves at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum
Saturday October 16th 11a-3p. Free and open to all ages, ideal for children ages 4-10. Let’s explore how leaves change from bright green to warm orange in just a matter of weeks during our October Farmhouse Family Day. Stop by and join us in creating textured leaf prints to get a closer look into the structure of many different leaves. Feel free to stay for a tour of our historic house or just to play with some outdoor colonial games and toys. Family Day takes place from 11a to 3p, with the textured leaf print activity beginning at 1p. Note: Farm activities (i.e. harvesting, weeding) are limited, first-come, first-served basis beginning at noon. Make sure to wear close-toed shoes and prepare to get dirty. See the website for the Covid-19 protocols.
Movies Under the Stars: Coco in Sunset Park
Saturday October 16th 615-8p. Free. Join NYC Parks and New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment for these free films! Coco (Rated PG): This Oscar-winning animated feature follows Miguel, an aspiring young musician, as he embarks on an extraordinary journey to the magical land of his ancestors to unlock the real story behind his family’s ban on music. This stunning film features wonderful voice performances of Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Gabriel Iglesias, and newcomer Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel. Know Before You Go: You should arrive before 615p 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 the Covid-19 protocols.
Journey to the Stars in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday October 16th 7-10p. Free. This event is walk up only and weather permitting. Journey to the Stars is back for one night only this fall for International Observe the Moon Night 2021! Join Amateur Astronomers Association of New York on Saturday as they set up high-powered telescopes to observe the moon from the Pier 1 promenade in Brooklyn Bridge Park. International Observe the Moon Night is a time to come together with fellow Moon enthusiasts and curious people worldwide. Everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon. Learn more about this international event on the NASA website. Gaze across the New York sky and all the wonders it holds at this fun, family-friendly stargazing session that is free and open to the public. This event is walk up only and weather permitting.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday October 17th
Alley Pond Park Adventure Course: Free Public Sundays
Sundays 930-12n and 130-4p in October. Free. The Alley Pond Park Adventure Course offers free outdoor adventure that fosters trust, communication, and team building at Alley Pond Park. The program is a two-hour adventure, which includes both low and high elements. The Adventure Course is open for individuals, small groups of friend, and family. Open to ages 8 and up. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Valid photo identification required. Sneakers required. See the website for all the event details.
Picture This! People + Portraits with The Jewish Museum (virtual)
Sunday October 17th 10-11a. Free with RSVP. RSVP for Zoom link, one ticket per family. See colorful portraits by Henri Matisse, Camille Pissaro, and Kehinde Wiley during a virtual interactive tour. Paint a playful portrait of yourself or a family member inspired by the bold patterns and bright figures you discover. Explore your creativity through this intimate and multi-faceted program featuring engaging activities inspired by works of art on view.
Vale Park Annual Pumpkin Patch at The William Vale
Sundays 1130-3p until October 24th. Free. RSVP here. The William Vale will host our Vale Pumpkin Patch on October 17th and 24th. Bring the whole family to Vale Park to pick your own pumpkins and get into the fall spirit.Both Sundays will end with a kid/pet parade through the plaza. Join us Oct 17th for a kids parade and/or Oct 24th for a kids & pet parade. Best costume wins a prize.We’ll even have a pumpkin decorating table and photo backdrop among other fun surprises. Autumnal treat options and pumpkins priced by varying sizes. This year’s Pumpkin Patch is now taking place in Vale Plaza. See you there!
Reading into History: “Esperanza Rising” with DiMenna Children’s History Museum (virtual)
Sunday October 17th 2-3p. Free. For ages 9-12y. Register here. Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with our October read, Esperanza Rising! Author Pam Muñoz Ryan will tune in virtually for Q&A with families! Join us online to discuss Esperanza Ortega’s story of tragedy and resilience as she navigates loss, immigration, and discrimination. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, follow Esperanza and her mother as they flee Mexico for California, finding themselves in an agricultural labor camp. Discuss the book with other families, look at historical artifacts, and learn from an expert guest to deepen your understanding and expand your knowledge.
Movies Under the Stars SHOCTOBERFEST: A Quiet Place Part II in Cooper Park
Sunday October 17the 615-8p. Free. Join NYC Parks and New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment at SHOCKTOBERFEST for these spooky films! A Quiet Place Part II (rated PG-13): Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path. See website for Covid-19 protocols.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
Pumpkin Farm at Queens County Farm Museum
Daily until October 30th. Free admission. Hours: Mondays-Fridays 12n-430p and Saturdays-Sundays 10a-430p (closes promptly at 430p). October is pumpkin month at Queens Farm! Enjoy the crisp fall air as you wander through the patch to scoop up the perfect pumpkin. Walk the farm grounds and soak in some New York history – Queens Farm is one of the longest continually farmed sites in New York State, dating back to 1697. (Pumpkins priced by size.) Don’t forget to BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag).
Pumpkin Patch at Queens Botanical Garden
Saturdays-Sundays 11a-430p until October 31st. Pricing: $10 Adult (pumpkin not includedd, $12 Child 4 and older (includes 1 pumpkin, 1 take home activity kit), FREE for Children 3 and under (pumpkin not included), FREE for Members (pumpkin not included), Additional pumpkins are $6 (pay on-site). The outdoor Pumpkin Patch at the QBG Farm will be full of harvest-themed photo opportunities. Ticket fee includes admission to both the Patch and the Garden. Children (age 4 and older) get to choose their own pumpkin and a grab-and-go craft activity to take home. Be sure to meet and take pictures with the friendly costumed nature creatures roaming the Farm! For adults 21 and older, available are harvest and pumpkin-themed beers and ciders for purchase. Purchase timed entry tickets here.
Village Ghost Tours at Historic Richmond Town (Staten Island)
Fridays-Saturdays 7p & 830p until October 30th. Tickets: $10. From authentic colonial ghost stories to creepy modern-day encounters, Village Ghost Tours explore historic houses by candlelight and delve into folklore and mysteries from the past. This ghost tour is led by costumed storytellers who share their own unexplained and unnerving tales. This one-hour candlelit walking ghost tour takes you through the village and into historic structures after-hours. The tour begins at the Historical Museum and is suitable for ages 8 and older. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Weather permitting: runs rain or shine, except in cases of severe inclement or cold weather. Pets are not permitted. Purchase tickets here.
Pumpkin Picking at Historic Richmond Town’s Decker Farm (Staten Island)
Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p until October 31st. Online tickets (with fees): $9 adults 13+, $4 kids 3-12y, under 2 free, $7 members. At the door: $11 adults 13+, $5 kids 3-12y, under 2 free, $9 members. Pumpkin Picking at Historic Richmond Town’s Decker Farm returns Saturday, October 2, with all of your favorite autumnal activities! Search the patch for the perfect pumpkin, learn about 19th century farm life, and indulge in delicious fall food favorites, all without leaving Staten Island! Admission will be by timed entry ONLY, with tickets sold every hour starting at 11a and ending at 4p. Any tickets remaining for each time slot can be purchased on-site on the day-of. Ticket availability is NOT guaranteed for any walk-up sales.Pumpkin Patch: Our pumpkin patch features pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Complete with photo-ops and fall decorations, you’re sure to experience a picture perfect moment as you decide which pumpkin to take home. (Patch will be set up in socially-distanced fashion. Additional $, pumpkins priced by weight). See the website for all the activities happening.
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 Quens 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.
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.
Green Meadows Farm: Pumpkin Picking Weekends at Aviator Sports and Events Center
Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p until October 31st and also Monday October 11th 11a-5p. Admission: $12 per person age two and above. Register here. Make your plans to enjoy a Fall day of farm fun. Visit Green Meadows Farm-friendly animals, have fun on the hayride, pick your own pumpkin, and be delighted by their Fall decorations. Your $12 admission per person includes: free pumpkin, fun 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.