Free and Fun Things to Do This Weekend for NYC Kids: Purim Parties, Story Pirates, Cool Kids' Concerts, Tom Sawyer March 3-4

The New York International Children's Film Festival, Purim parties, Women's History Month celebrations, Dr. Seuss' birthday—this weekend is jam-packed with family fun.

The month-long NYICFF kicks off this weekend and although many screenings are already sold out, some are still available. Or you can head to your local cineplex to see Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, which is being released on the author's birthday. My son and I saw a preview screening and it was so good I cried.

There are also a couple of wonderful stage shows this weekend, like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer at the New Victory and a free performance by the Story Pirates; rockin' concerts like  The Dirty Sock Funtime Band and the day-long Brooklyn Kids Rock music fest. And we haven't even gotten to all of the Purim celebrations around town, including carnivals at the JCC and the 92nd Street Y.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Winter Fun Guide.

All Weekend

Playing Moliere – Battery Park City
New York Classical Theatre performs its latest "panoramic" production (i.e. you literally follow the actors around) at the Winter Garden in the World Financial Center. Playing Moliere comprises three one-act comedies by the famous French playwright. FREE

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Midtown West
The New Victory debuts its latest production, a very faithful stage adaptation of Mark Twain's classic 19th-century American novel. Keep in mind that "faithful" means the language, situations and characters haven't been cleaned up for our politically correct age. $14-$38.

The Hundred Dresses – Midtown West
Raven, a big fan of Atlantic for Kids' prior work went to see this show last week with her daughter. Here's her mini-review: "It's based on Eleanor Estes’ 1944 picture book about an immigrant girl who's taunted for wearing the same dress to school every day. It takes place around World War II and Wanda, who emigrated from Poland, is also teased about her accent. It's a far cry from the kind of bullying kids experience today, what with Facebook, texting and cell phone cameras. But its moral is still timely, and there's something wonderful about such a quaint tale without gimmicks or technological bells and whistles."

Little Orchestra Society’s Musical Toy Store – Upper East Side
This classical kids' concert features childhood toys like tops, rocking horses and bouncing balls, moving to music by Prokofiev, Bizet, Schumann and Haydn.

Science & Engineering Weekend – Midtown West
In honor of Women's History Month, the Intrepid Museum kicks off a month-long Salute to Women. This weekend, meet pioneering females (and a few guys) in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Free with admission: $24 for adults, $19 for children ages 7-17, $12 for ages 3-6, free for kids under 3.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! – Crown Heights
Although Dr. Seuss' birthday is on Friday, the Brooklyn Children's Museum celebrates the iconic author all weekend long with readings of his beloved books and a Cat in the Hat craft. Free with admission: $7.50.

Saturday, March 3

Meet the Artist Saturdays: The Story Pirates – Upper West Side
This is a rare chance to see one of the best kids' theater troupes in the city for free at Lincoln Center. The Story Pirates perform mini-musicals based on stories submitted by grade schoolers. After the show, kids can take part in a book making workshop presented by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. FREE

Brooklyn Kids Rock – Fort Greene
This day-long family concert features well loved local bands like Rolie Polie Guacamole, Jeremy Plays Guitar and The Deedle Deedle Dees. Other attractions include face painting, balloon animals and carnival games, all to benefit Brooklyn's Maple Street School. In advance: $14 per person, family four-pack $48. at the door: $17 per person.

Caribbean-American Festival – Greenwich Village
The Children's Museum of the Arts throws a Caribbean-American Festival. Kids can marvel at Haitian drummer Gaston Jean-Baptiste, known as Bonga, and his drum and dance troupe. Other activities include drumming workshops, mask-making and storytelling. Free with admission: $10.

Annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade – the Rockaways
Time to don your best green duds. NYC's second-largest St. Patty's Day procession features bag pipers, marching bands, dance troupes, floats and community organizations. The parade kicks off on Newport Avenue and heads east toward its final destination at Beach 102nd Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard. FREE

Family Art Workshop: Carl Beam – Financial District
The Drawing Center and the National Museum of the American Indian team up for a drawing workshop inspired by the latter's Carl Beam retrospective. Reservations suggested. FREE

An Ocean of Story – Morningside Heights
In conjunction with its The Value of Water: Sustaining a Green Planet exhibit, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine hosts an afternoon of water-themed storytelling with Laura Simms. She'll share tales from India, Africa, Zuni Nation, Haiti and Russia, and afterward kids can participate in a scavenger hunt. FREE

Uummannaq Music presents Greenland Children’s Day – Murray Hill
Head to Scandinavia House for Greenlandic music, games, stories, films, workshops and art projects. Kids can even learn a bit of Kalaallisut, the language spoken across Northwestern Greenland. Reservations suggested. Afterward, stay and play at the Heimboldt Children’s Learning Center. $7 for Greenland Children’s Day, $8 for the Children’s Center.

Spooky Stories of New York State – Midtown East
In conjunction with the New York Public Library’s new exhibit Shelley's Ghost: The Afterlife of a Poet, featuring manuscripts by Mary "Frankenstein" Shelley, storyteller Robin Bady will share some haunted tales of ghosts and ghouls living right here in New York State. FREE

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, March 4

Wild Animal Masks for Purim and The Dirty Sock Funtime Band – Upper East Side
At the Jewish Museum, families can celebrate Purim with a pair of programs. In the morning, kids can craft animal masks and then go on an animal scavenger hunt in the galleries. In the afternoon, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band plays its annual Purim concert, with ClownaHagila and other festive tunes. Art workshop: $12 for adults, $10 for children. Concert: $16 for adults, $11 for children. Both activities: $24 for adults, $18 for children.

Bari Koral Family Rock Band – Tribeca
The NYC singer-songwriter brings her sweet power-pop tunes about backpacks and rubber duckies to 92YTribeca. $15, free for kids under 2.

Open Studio: Sculpting Spaces – Long Island City
Head to the serene Noguchi Museum to explore its sculpture galleries and create art with the educators. $5 per family.

Poppy Seed Players: Poppy Seed Purim – Upper West Side
The Poppy Seed Players perform an interactive musical about the story of Queen Esther and the origins of Purim. $20

Purim Family Carnival – Upper West Side
Raven and her daughter hit this fun holiday carnival at the JCC in Manhattan last year. Festivities include bouncy houses, arts and crafts, live music, a petting zoo, face painting, and lots of games where kids can win little tchotchkes. Free admission but you must buy activity tickets.

Purim Carnival – Upper East Side
The 92nd Street Y also throws a Purim carnival today, with games, mask making, entertainment and hamentashen. $15 for children, $10 for adults.

See all Sunday events.

Outside NYC

The mild weather means the sap is running in the maple trees, which makes it a great time to take a maple sugaring day trip. This weekend there are maple sugaring festivals in New Jersey at Chatham’s Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, at Westchester's Hudson Highlands Nature Museum and at Connecticut's Stamford Museum and Nature Center.

The Nuclear Cowboyz, a big motocross spectacle that really wows kids, takes over the Izod Center in New Jersey on Friday and Saturday.
 

Don’t forget: There are lots of other options in our Event Calendar.

Planning an event? Submit it to our Event Calendar.

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