Fun things for kids and families to do this weekend in New York City, Festivals, Fairs and Storytimes: June 26 & June 27, 2010

6/24/10 - By Stephanie Ogozalek

It is the first weekend of summer vacation for most New York City school kids so let’s start it out with a bang!  There are some big festivals being thrown around town, like the annual Children’s Day at the Seaport with costumed characters, live entertainment and fireworks.  Up in the Bronx it is Family Day with a party featuring cool live music and dancing from BombaYo, Dan Zanes and Baby Loves Salsa, plus there is not one but two different fishing festivals uptown.  Hard to choose, huh? Families can also create their own fanzine, learn about space, check out some cool story times, dance and theater performances or ride on a brand new carousel.  You could also hit up one of the local amusement parks just right for the school aged set.

If you still can’t decide, you may want to visit our Summer Fun Guide or our recent post on 100 free things to do this summer.  And don’t forget the key to the city project. The last day to get a key is the June 27, 2010.

Saturday is a full moon which means if you dress up like a vampire (C’mon Twilight fans) you will get $2 off a ride on The Cyclone from 7 pm to close. (There is a height requirement to ride the Cyclone which means most kids can’t ride– this is for tween, teen and grown up vampires only.)

Read on to plan your great weekend. Happy Summer!

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All Weekend:

Weekend Walks – Williamsburg
Both weekend afternoons Bedford Avenue between North 4th and North 9th Avenues will be closed to traffic and opened to fun.  Tons of cool demos like perfume mixing, yoga, bike repair plus brewery tours, a giant picnic, food demos, 12 pieces of public art and an entire block of kids activities.  FREE


Saturday June 26, 2010:

Design Kids: Design a Zine
– Upper East Side

Play with layouts and design to create your own family fanzine with writer, illustrator and designer Mike Perry.  FREE

Children's Storytime and Craft with Carin Berger – Willamsburg
Listen to Berger read aloud from the books she penned and illustrated with cut paper collage designs and join in as she leads a craft time.  FREE

Family Fishing Celebration – Central Park
Join in on the fun at the Harlem Meer with a fish mobile take home project, story telling and try your best to catch (and release) some of the species that call NYC home: largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill sunfish, carp and chain pickerel. FREE

Fishing Festival – Harlem
Catch and release fish right out of the Hudson River with the Parks Department.  If you don’t know how, don’t worry, they will show you how and provide the rods and reels, too.  See some fish in action, make some crafts and learn about the biodiversity of the river. FREE

Mad Science: Space – Midtown East
Kids aged 5 to 12 will love this program where they can learn all about space -- meteors satellites and even make a comet ball. FREE

Word for Word Kids – Midtown East
Visit Bryant Park for their Saturday afternoon children’s reading in the outdoor library. This week catch Sam & Tudie, the loveable clowns, as they read from their book “Be A Thinker not a Stinker.” FREE

Astronomy: Moon Lighting – Queens
Gaze upon the full moon with the Urban Park Rangers and learn all about it. FREE

Grand Opening: Carousel at Pier 62 – Chelsea
The new state of the art carousel sporting indigenous species like bears and harbor seals is taking its first spin this weekend and your family can join in on the fun. In addition to carousel rides there will be magic, live animals, face painting and music. Rides are $2.00 and the rest of the fun is FREE.

Splash: Valerie Green Dance – Flushing
An all ages dance performance by Queens based modern dance troupe that will perform three audience participatory dances, including Splash which is danced in buckets of water. FREE with garden admission.

Taste of Front Street – Financial District
Get down to the historic Front Street to taste dishes from 23 of the best downtown restaurants all while supporting the kids at PS 397.  $25 for 5 tastes.

Little Mermaid Movie Sing-a-long Party– Williamsburg

You know the songs so sing them out loud in the theater! And if you don’t, during the musical numbers the lyrics are projected onto the screen. Kids will love it. Costumes encouraged. Tickets are $4 for children and $8 for adults.

Sunday June 27, 2010


Flying Squirrel Annual BBQ Picnic and Sale—Williamsburg
Grab a dog or a burger from the grill, join in on outdoor games all while stocking up on new and nearly new stuff for babies and kids.  FREE

Life On A Desert Island – Central Park

Catch this cool, special adaptation of Robinson Crusoe as an outdoor, interactive, one man show performed outside in the park.  Kids can help the hero as he discovers the challenges of living on a desert island, looking for food, making a bow and arrow and more.  FREE no reservations required – just show up.

Children's Concert: Fairytale Favorites from Scandinavia – Inwood

A special concert just for kids by the NY Scandia Symphony will include storytelling and music of the Ugly Duckling and The Troll and the Dinosaur.  Children will be invited to play and make music with Bronto the Dinoasuar.  FREE

Schools out for Summer—Rockaways

Start the summer off right with some fun and games, refreshments, a petting zoo, book giveaways, Ranger led programs and canoeing. FREE


Outside of NYC:

The fun doesn’t end at the city limits.  Cross the Hudson and head to New Jersey for the Whitesbog Blueberry Festival where kids can join in on a blueberry pie eating contest, make arts and crafts, take a wagon ride and dig the bluegrass music.  And at $8 a carload it is a bargain, too.

Cross the East River and take part in the fun at St. Anthony’s Feast in East Northport, Long Island where great food, tons of rides and fireworks are all in store for your family.  POP is $11.

 

Still looking for something to do? This is just a sample of the events you can find in our  calendar .
 
If you are planning an event, don’t forget to let us know.  Enter it into our calendar.
 
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