Weekend Fun for NYC Kids: Free Festivals, Family Picnics, School's Out Celebration June 27-28

6/24/15 - By Stephanie Ogozalek

Summer break kicks off with a slew of awesome activities this weekend. In addition to NYC public pools opening on Saturday, there are many annual favorites like the ride-filled Astoria Park Festival, the interdisciplinary Harlem Arts Festival and Park Slope's Puppetry Arts Festival.

Of course all of those picks are outside but, if you believe NY1, we're looking at a monsoon this weekend. So we're highlighting plenty of indoor events, too, like riding on vintage subway cars in honor of the 100th anniversary of the BMT and hands-on Lego fun at Brick Fest Live! at the New York Hall of Science.

All of our best bets for this weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

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In case of rain, outdoor activities may be canceled or rescheduled. Before heading out, please check the event's official website for up-to-date info.

SummerStage Brooklyn Family Days – Brooklyn Heights
Canceled on Saturdays due to rain From our June GoList: Head to Brooklyn Bridge Park for two days of wacky antics by the comedic Swedish circus arts duo Magmanus. FREE

Astoria Park Festival – Astoria
Get ready for some old-fashioned thrills as the parking lot of the popular Queens green space hosts a colorful carnival with rides, games, food and live performances. Free admission but there are fees for activities

Brick Fest Live! Lego Fan Experience – Corona
Head to the New York Hall of Science for a multi-day Lego extravaganza featuring hands-on activities, gaming and a build-your-own derby challenge. Free with museum admission but buying advance tickets is recommended. Indoors!

Celebrate 100 Years of the BMT – Brighton Beach
Attention train lovers! Mark the centennial of the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) by heading to the Brighton Beach subway station for a trip back in time on one of four vintage trains running this weekend. Free with a MetroCard swipe. Indoors!

Ramadan Festival – Upper West Side
Learn about the Muslim observance of Ramadan at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Enjoy crafts, traditional dance performances and a holiday storytime. Free with museum admission. Indoors!

Harlem Arts Festival – Harlem
Celebrate Harlem's vibrant arts scene at this two-day interdisciplinary fest in Marcus Garvey Park. Attractions include live music, spoken word performances, and a kids' corner with face painting and cool craft activities. FREE
 

Saturday, June 27

Puppetry Arts Festival of Brooklyn – Park Slope
Meet some prehistoric residents from New Jersey's Field Station: Dinosaurs, pose with Star Wars characters and catch shows by Puppetry Arts, all right by the fabulous J.J. Byrne Playground. The first 200 kids to arrive snag free goody bags. Free admission but there are fees for activities

Family Day – Harlem
Head to Morris-Jumel Mansion in Roger Morris Park to learn how to make batik creations, take kid-friendly tours of Manhattan's oldest house and play outdoor games. Free with museum admission. Indoors!

Madison Square Park Art Yard: Weaving Workshop – Flatiron
Get craftsy with artist Jessi Highet, as she leads an outdoor, collaborative weaving project using a giant loom in Madison Square Park. FREE

School's Out Celebration – Coney Island
Celebrate the end of the school year at Luna Park with interactive Frisbee, soccer and double Dutch demos, a no-cost concert by Jake Miller and a deejay spinning cool tunes. Bonus: the amusement park is still offering FREE ride credits for report cards with good grades. Admission to the park and entertainment are free, but rides cost extra

Central Park Family Picnic – Central Park
Bring your picnic basket and spend the day on the picturesque Harlem Meer enjoying games, catch-and-release fishing, live music from Mil's Trills and a performance by Play Me a Story. FREE

Dragon Boat Family Festival – Chinatown
Head to the Museum of Chinese in America to make miniature dragon boats from repurposed materials, sample traditional rice balls, and learn words and numbers in Mandarin. Indoors!

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, June 28

Summer on the Hudson: RiverFish Celebration – Harlem
Cast a line in the Hudson with the Urban Park Rangers, and enjoy live music, arts and crafts, and a nature puppet show by the Arm-of-the-Sea Theater. FREE

Central Park Performance Festival – Central Park
Hit the Great Hill for a performance of The Hat Seller and the Squirrels by Play Me a Story (clearly a busy weekend for the troupe!). FREE

See all Sunday events.


Don't forget: There's more fun to be found in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.