Free Festivals and Weekend Events in New York City for Kids: June 5 - June 6, 2010

I am really glad we are staying in town this weekend and I hope you will, too. There is SO much to do that you don’t want to miss any of it. Seriously, not only is Governors Island opening with a huge family festival, but also, the lower east side is hosting the fabulous Egg Rolls and Egg Creams event.  And, there is the super-fun World Science Festival Street Fair in Washington Square Park plus other smaller but still very cool events, like Taste, a day of fine food tastings to support The Lab Schools or the community-minded festival at The Glass Garden in NYU or one of the other 22 festivals taking place in June.

If a huge festival isn’t quite your thing, there is also the Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk where you can visit with artists at work (and a lot more), a couple of high end craft fairs, great author-led book readings or the Fish Tales Extravaganza at the aquarium.  Parades, concerts, nature activities, chess and even an old fashioned subway ride are all on offer for you.

Don’t forget that this is the first weekend of June and some area museums have free admission and special family programming, including CMOM on Friday night, The Brooklyn Museum on Saturday night and The Queens Museum of Art on Sunday.

This weekend is packed with lots of fun events. Choose one or two from the list below and have a great weekend.

 All Weekend:

 Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk—Brooklyn Heights and surrounding areas
This is one of those cool, community based, only in NYC sort of events, that make living here so special.  Take a self guided tour of artist studios, exhibits, and public art on Atlantic Avenue.  The whole area gets involved with special events, receptions and even deals in the local eateries.  Family friendly highlights of the weekend are exploring the rooftop mural at 388 Atlantic Avenue, movie night at Atlantic Gardens, the huge block party on Saturday and the special events going down in the new Brooklyn Bridge Park playground. Plus the Transit Museum is offering  2-for-1 admission. There is so much that goes into this event that it is hard to wrap it up in so few words – just go. FREE

Fish Tales Extravaganza—Coney Island
This weekend and each weekend in June the NY Aquarium will be hosting fishy readings, performances and arts and crafts for families.  On deck this weekend are readings by The Manhattan Children’s Theater, a performance of the new glow in the dark puppet play ImaginOcean and make and take underwater adventure books for kids.  FREE with admission

Makers Market – Long Island City
High end design market held in tents through out the CityScapes sculpture exhibit in the Socrates Sculpture Park.  This may not seem like something that families would enjoy unless your kids like browsing, but the organizers are offering special artist led “young makers workshops” where kids can learn the from the masters.  FREE

Renegade Craft Fair – Williamsburg
A juried craft fair with all sorts of top shelf wares for moms, dads and kids.  Free craft workshops, live music and fun for kids are all part of this event.  Kids will love getting their photo taken in the free photo booth, trying their hand at sewing or shopping for kid friendly goods.  FREE

Maloof Money Cup – Flushing
Something for the teenage boy in the family, amateur and pro skateboarders are taking over Flushing Meadows Corona Park.  Tickets are available to watch them compete. Plus there is a skateboarding village where kids can get autographs or participate in skateboarding activities, grab a bite or listen to the tunes.  You need a ticket to watch the competitions but not to enter the village.  Tickets are being distributed at the village on Saturday or at the Queens Museum of Art on Friday starting at 6:30. FREE.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Story Time at the Greenlight Bookstore: Lyle Walks the Dog – Fort Greene
Lyle the NYC Crocodile is back!  Original author Bernard Wabar will read from his brand new book while his daughter and co-creator of the new title draws Lyle for the kids. FREE

Picnic in the Park – Gramercy

A fun community festival highlighted by a production of Sleeping Beauty by the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, get your pet sketched by a local artists along with baked goods, gardening and more. FREE

Fantastic Felt – Brooklyn Heights
Kids can create with soft and fuzzy felt material at BRICs family day using art work created as part of BRICs in-school contemporary art program as inspiration. FREE

3^rd Annual Children’s Day Parade – Staten Island
Join in or just watch as NYC school children celebrate their public schools with a parade and other festivities. FREE

Yard Sale for PS 234 – TriBeCa
Support the kids at PS234 by shopping their first ever yard sale with fabulous finds and a re-gift table. You are sure to find something for everyone.  FREE

Sea Lion Samba – ProspectPark
Learn to Samba with Samba NY or watch as the Sea Lions, BeeBee and Stella, perform their own choreographed dance moves during the Sea Lion show.  Part of Jazz: Brooklyn’s Beat. FREE with zoo admission.

Fuzzy Lemons Concert – Williamsburg
Don’t miss this kiddie-set rock and roll show that parents will love, too.  Get down with their fun lyrics and toe-tapping melodies. And it is a great deal, adults go free with each paid kids ticket. $10 per kid.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

 Book Reading and Signing – Christoph Niemann’s Subway – UWS
Little New Yorkers will love Niemann’s latest title all about the subway! Hear him read his new book and then get it signed. FREE

A Clearing in the Forest – Moey’s Music Party – Upper West Side
This wonderful series of outdoor programming for families kicks off Sunday with a fabulous, interactive, concert by Moey’s Music Party.  FREE

Moses Mountain A to Z hike – Staten Island
Get out in nature, get a work out and share a lesson with the kiddos all at the same time.  Take a hike through the Staten Island Greenbelt while looking to find one item in nature for each letter of the alphabet.  FREE

Chess for Children – Park Slope
No need for chess camp this summer, starting this Sunday Chess for Children is offering a free chess program nearly every Sunday this summer.  Boards and chess sets provided – drop in and play. FREE

Evening Hike – Inwood
Cap off the weekend with a hike through one of NYCs most rustic areas looking for nocturnal wildlife. FREE

Vintage Train Ride – Low V’s Take A Spin – BrooklynHeights
Here is a chance to take ride on one of the city’s first subway cars – this one is from the 1910s.  Find out why we are called straphangers and how loud and warm those train rides actually were.  Reservations required. $45 for adults, $20 for children.

Outside of NYC:

If you insist on heading out of town, try Edison Day in West Orange, NJ, and spend Saturday at the National Park exploring the inventions of Thomas Edison and even trying a few of your own.  Or let the kids see how music used to be recorded in the days before MP3s by watching the park rangers make actual recordings on the old-time wax cylinders.  FREE

Or try a Greek Festival on Long Island, there are two this weekend, one in West Babylon and one in Hempstead. 

Still looking for something to do? This is just a sample of what is in our events calendar .

If you are planning an event, don’t forget to let us know.  Enter it into our calendar.
 

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