New York City Kids Columbus Day Weekend Events: Free Fall Fun, Concerts, OpenHouse NY and More

This extra-long weekend is even more packed out than usual, with Columbus Day events, harvest and fall events, OpenHouse NewYork events galore. The smallest and tallest members of the family (and even the furry ones, too) can all find something fabulous to do over these three days, and if you’re (unfortunately) not off Monday, there’s plenty going on to make up for that. Grab your favorite hats and boots--especially if you're heading to the last weekend for Governors Island this season--and round up the troops for a fall-tacular weekend.

Click through to the full listing in our event calendar for more info on any of these events.

ALL WEEKEND:

OpenHouseNewYork—All 5 Boroughs
The big story this weekend is OpenHouseNewYork, an annual festival that gives New Yorkers a sneak peak behind some of the most famous and spectacular sites around the city that are usually off limits to average Joes. To learn more about OHNY and kids events and highlights, read the post here. FREE (Both Sat 10/10 and Sun 10/11)

Scarecrow and Harvest Festival—NY Botanical Gardens, Bronx
This weekend-long festival celebrates the fall harvest, with two gardens designed especially for kids. Hands-on activities will introduce the thrill of science and joy of gardening. Some events include pressing apples to make cider, making applesauce, a corn-husking contest and building a scarecrow. Free with garden admission. (Sat 10/10, Sun 10/11 and Mon 10/12)

Saturday, Oct 10

Julie Andrews Book Reading & Signing-Flatiron, Manhattan
The legendary Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, as well as illustrator James McMullan sign copies of Julie’s new collection of poems, songs and lullabies, and read from the collection. FREE

Schoolhouse Rock Live!—Flushing Meadows Park, Queens
Bring the tube outside--Junior brings science and math to life with songs from the hit TV show. Free with admission to NY Hall of Science.

Oktoberfest and Craft Fair—Sunnyside, Queens
Food, music, and pumpkins, plus handcrafted items like jewelry, eco-friendly products, toys and clothing, and lots of it made right in the neighborhood. FREE

Wildflower Walk—Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx
Bring the over 5 crowd for some fall foliage spotting in the Bronx. Before the first frost, asters and goldenrods have their time to shine. FREE

Sunday, Oct 11

The Fuzzy Lemons—UWS, Manhattan
Tune up your air guitars as you rock-n-roll to NJ’s family-rock favorites, The Fuzzy Lemons. Lots of audience participation and FREE.

The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon—Flatbush, Brooklyn
Target FamilyFun Series’ first 2009-10 season event is the Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon, based on the book series by Crockett Johnson. $6/ticket

Climate Change Awareness-Mid-Island, Staten Island
This kid-friendly educational event is all about climate change being more than just the temperature of the earth. Learn how food sources, migration patters, wildlife and ecosystems have all been altered and what we can do to help the planet. FREE

Monday, Oct 12

What's open on Columbus Day in NYC? Check out our list of venues and museums that are open on Columbus Day and offering special programs for kids.

Columbus Day Parade and Festival—Midtown/Uptown-Batter Park City, Manhattan
Columbus Day might be named after a man, but the celebration is of Italian heritage and culture. Music, floats and performances flood the event; and food, cultural displays and entertainment happen at the festival downtown. FREE

Introductory Art Workshops—Lower East Side, Manhattan
If you’re not heading to the parade, consider trying out a Young Artists’ program (read: take home awesome kid-art). The 2-hour workshop is $10, materials included, and you can choose from pottery, cartooning, photo-grams and drawing.

Columbus Day Mini Camp at the Textile Arts Center-Park Slope, Brooklyn
If you need something for the kids to do all day, send them to an interesting and fun-filled day at the Textile Arts Center. $75 includes materials and snacks. 9am-5pm call to register, space is limited. textileartscenter.com

If you’re looking to venture out of the city, see what’s happening on Columbus Day weekend in Long Island, and in New Jersey, plan one of these great family mini-vacations in Pennsylvania for Columbus Day Weekend or go apple or pumpkin picking. Don't forget there's also lots of Pumpkin Picking/Corn Maze/Hay Rides and more Fall festivals in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island this weekend. Read about them in our pumpkin picking round-up, or visit our calendar for even more events going on.