This Week: Best June Family Events in NYC, Summer Camps That Still Have Space, Hamptons Family Guide, Free June Festivals

5/29/14 - By Raven Snook

My family and I had Coney Island practically to ourselves on opening day last Saturday thanks to stormy skies. While in Luna Park, we got a sneak peek at its newest ride, the Thunderbolt roller coaster, tentatively scheduled to open next weekend. Also coming soon: a brand-new mini-amusement park at Staten Island's Midland Beach. Looks like this summer is shaping up to be a fun and dizzy one.

This week we launched our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide for the season, in case you're planning on a weekend getaway or perhaps a whole summer on Long Island's East End. Be sure to check our LI site for frequent posts about the best things to do in the area with kids, like family-friendly fishing charters and the best weekend events. You'll find other great summer day trip ideas, like New Jersey playgrounds with free mini zoos or boating in Westchester, on all of our regional sites, and more far-flung destinations such as San Antonio, Texas on our Travel site.

If you're sticking around the city this season like my family, make sure you check out our roundup of the best things to do with kids this June and our list of more than 50 NYC summer camps that still have space. Speaking of camp, we're currently giving away a FREE week of Summer Media Camp at Queens' Museum of the Moving Image. Enter now.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

We kicked off the week with a post about the launch of our jam-packed Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide

Our June Go List features many of our favorite annual events for families including Coney Island's Mermaid Parade, the Figment arts fest on Governors Island and the Museum Mile festival, all FREE

Stressed because you haven't booked summer camp yet? Don't be: We found more than 50 high-quality NYC camps with availability, and even a handful of sleepaway programs that still have space.

We updated two super-popular posts in our Summer Fun Guide: FREE outdoor kids' concert series and 30-plus June carnivals, festivals and street fairs, many of which are FREE.

Our biweekly news post has the scoop on FREE golf and tennis lessons for kids, .50-cent carousel rides at the Flushing Meadows Carousel and the new water play area at Prospect Park's Lakeside.

Love taking taxis but hate having to lug your car seat? We found five car services that offer car seats in NYC.

This week's WeeWork posts included an easy pancake recipe and how to make snazzy magnetic clothespins.

Best bets for the weekend include Drums Along the Hudson in Inwood Hill Park, the Ultimate Science Street Fair in Washington Square Park and an outdoor concert by Morgan Taylor of Gustafer Yellowgold fame, all FREE events!