Although some New York City outdoor music and culture series are created specifically with children in mind, there are lots of grown-up ones that families can enjoy, too. At these wonderful alfresco events—most of which take place in parks and plazas—families can pack a picnic, stake out a spot, lay down a blanket and soak up some culture at no cost. Don't worry if the kids aren't totally into it; sit along the perimeter and let them run around, dance and play and they'll be happy.

While many of the series including SummerStage, Celebrate Brooklyn! and Lincoln Center Out of Doors host dedicated family days, it's worth browsing their full schedules. There's no minimum age to enjoy jazz, classical or rock, right?

We've rounded up the city's best free outdoor music and performance series and highlighted the events we think will be of particular interest to families.

Are you ready for June? I know our kids are. Every morning, my second grader excitedly crosses off another day on the calendar as we count down to summer. If you're still trying to figure out what to do with the kids over school break, we just put up a list of high-quality summer camps that still have availability for all ages and interests. If you've got camp covered, then start poking around our Summer Fun Guide. We're still in the process of going over all of our popular seasonal posts from years past, but a lot of the big ones have already been updated like NYC beaches, water playgrounds, free outdoor sports programs for kids, June fairs and festivals and carousels—we even have info on the just reopened B&B Carousell in Coney Island.

Speaking of June, we just posted a brand-new Go NYC List, which highlights the best things to do with kids throughout the month. Many of our FREE annual favorites take place in June, like the Coney Island Mermaid Parade and the Figment arts fest on Governors Island. My family already has both of those marked in our calendar. If you're expecting or have a newborn, you'll want to put this Sunday's Brooklyn Baby Expo in your calendar, too. Hosted by A Child Grows in Brooklyn, the event features seminars, top baby gear, fun for the kids and more. And you can save 15% on tickets by using the discount code MP-BBE2013.

Our New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut sites are also all about summer fun. It's worth checking them out for great day trip and vacation ideas, like western heritage theme park Wild West City in Sussex County and Chatham on Cape Code. Our NYC Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways Guide and Travel site also have detailed info on hundreds of destinations near and far, including what makes each one special for kids and families.

And if you're feeling lucky, it's almost your last chance to enter to win a children’s birthday party package at the brand-new Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel—a $500 value. Enter on our Giveaways page. We're also excited to report that our Mommy Poppins App IndieGoGo campaign is at 26%. Help us get to 50% by next week and earn cool rewards for your support.

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

Since much of Memorial Day weekend was a washout, we're hoping that sprinkler and beach season starts in earnest this Saturday, especially since the MTA is finally restoring service on the A and S lines to Rockaway Beach! Looking for dry fun? There are a bunch of FREE festivals including two of our annual favorites: the Great Howl! Out Loud Kids Carnival in Tompkins Square Park and Washington Square Park's Ultimate Science Street Fair (that's my son in the photo at the 2010 fest).

Other cool activities include a walking (and eating) tour of the Lower East Side, an art-filled family day at the Whitney and the return of the FREE Sing for Hope pianos that are popping up all around town.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. And if you're looking to plan out your entire month, check out the new edition of our NYC Go List, which highlights the absolute best things to do with kids throughout June.