Dumbo with Kids: 40 Things to Do for NYC Families

Apr 3 2012 By Petek

Dumbo has long been one of our favorite areas to roam, and throughout April we'll be exploring the neighborhood's best places to eat, shop and play with kids.

Short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, Dumbo is a cool artsy area located mainly between the majestic Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, and spilling a bit further East. This former industrial nabe is now a cultural hot spot filled with lots of family attractions, including the stunning waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is home to Jane's Carousel, treat spots like Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and Dewey's Candy Store, adorable children's boutiques, family-friendly restaurants, and lots of opportunities for kids to enjoy movies, music and art, or get creative themselves. So many families have moved to the area over the past decade, it even has a very active Dumbo Parents Organization listserv.

Although you can get to Dumbo by subway (the A or C to High Street or the F to York Street are the closest stops), walking or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge, or taking a Water Taxi or the East River Ferry will get you closer and they are all more picturesque journeys. From Jay to Old Fulton Streets, Prospect Street to the East River, here are our top 40 things to do with kids in Dumbo.

  1. Go for a spin on Jane's Carousel
  2. Participate in cool art projects at the annual Dumbo Arts Festival
  3. Grab delicious sweets at the colorful Dewey's Candy Store
  4. This free concert series is no longer happening Groove to live music at Jam on Dumbo's kids' concerts
  5. Pretend to be a pirate in Brooklyn Bridge Park's nautically themed Main Street Playground
  6. Indulge in a sweet treat at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
  7. Enjoy free Saturday classical concerts at Bargemusic
  8. Browse stylish kids' clothing and gear at Half Pint
  9. Go fly a kite with the Dumbo Kite Flying Society or at Brooklyn Bridge Park's annual Kite Flying Festival
  10. Brave the long lines and buy a pie (no slices sold here!) from the renown Grimaldi's
  11. Try one of the best croissants in the city at Almondine Bakery
  12. Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and take snaps of the view
  13. Take the mile-long walk through Brooklyn Bridge Park to the awesome Destination Playground at Pier 6
  14. Go kayaking and rowing for free at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse
  15. Check out powerHouse Arena's cool children's book section
  16. Enroll in a Music for Aardvarks class with AudraRox at Baco Dumbo Event Gallery
  17. Catch a Water Taxi or hop on the less expensive East River Ferry
  18. Watch free summer flicks at Brooklyn Bridge Park's Movies with a View series
  19. Grab a hot (or frozen) chocolate at Jacques Torres
  20. These sing-alongs are still happening, but not in Dumbo Croon your heart out at Rolie Polie Guacamole 's Tuesday sing-alongs
  21. See what's on view at the funky Dumbo Arts Center or the LAND Studio & Gallery
  22. Take an art workshop at Possum Paint Studio
  23. Due to ongoing Hurricane Sandy recovery, Brooklyn Bridge Park is not hosting its usual family events Celebrate the seasons at Brooklyn Bridge Park's annual Spring Fling and Harvest Festival
  24. Put on your best costume and join the annual Jam on Dumbo's Musical Halloween Parade
  25. Show off your moves at Celebrate Brooklyn!'s annual summer Bridge Dance Party
  26. Due to ongoing Hurricane Sandy recovery, Brooklyn Bridge Park is not hosting its usual family events Learn about the water's ecosystem at Brooklyn Bridge Park's free Seining the River Wild sessions
  27. Unfortunately this restaurant closed in October, 2012 Brunch at family-friendly favorite Bubby's
  28. Bring your tot to the Pier 1 playground and then picnic on the lovely lawns nearby
  29. Tumble on the mat and jump on a trampoline at Dumbo Gymnastics
  30. Learn fencing from an Olympian at the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club
  31. Go bird watching in Brooklyn Bridge Park
  32. Get your kid's hair cut and shop for adorable clothes and toys at Pomme
  33. Decorate and outfit a funky paper doll at Dumbelle
  34. Pick up used kids' books and enjoy storytime at P.S. Bookshop
  35. Browse high-end baby and maternity clothes at Egg by Susan Lazar
  36. Stop at Brooklyn Roasting Company, where kids get free steamed maple milk with the purchase of an adult coffee
  37. Catch a free outdoor Summer Recital by the Metropolitan Opera in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
  38. Look for whimsical monster murals created by artist Kylin O'Brien
  39. Try Brooklyn Bridge Park's tasty food trucks like Blue Marble and Ditch Plains at Pier 1
  40. Cool off in Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 2 pool, which is scheduled to open this July

This is the first in a series of posts about Dumbo. Check out our other in-depth family guides to the Upper West Side, Park Slope, Jackson Heights, Chinatown and Harlem.  Continue to check our borough tabs for new additions to our helpful neighborhood guides!

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