Free Weekend Walks: Car-Free Street Fun for NYC Kids and Families

5/21/15 - By Stephanie Ogozalek

Beginning in May, the New York City Department of Transportation is sponsoring its sixth season of Weekend Walks, fun neighborhood gatherings that take place right in the middle of New York City streets. These aren't vendor-packed street fairs, massive festivals or the bike-filled Summer Streets; instead, they're casual community celebrations where local businesses, organizations and residents come together to dance, make art, eat, party and play in closed-to-traffic streets.

Activities vary by location, but Weekend Walks usually include live music, arts and crafts, classes and workshops, and kids' programming hosted by cultural institutions and businesses along the route. Since these events are low-key and neighborhood specific, it's probably not worth traveling a long distance to attend one. However, since there will be more than 60 different Weekend Walks throughout the five boroughs between May and September, there very well may be one near you.

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Since each of the Weekend Walks is overseen by a local community board or organization, the results are diverse, creative and reflect the unique flavor of the area. They're a great way to meet your neighbors and learn about everything your 'hood has to offer.

The official website has lists of Weekend Walks in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. It's hard to say which ones will be the most fun for families, since each one is so specific to its neighborhood and details aren't usually released in advance. However, if you happen to live nearby or come across one in your travels, it's worth dropping by. A few years back, one of our contributors went to one on the Upper West Side with her daughter and spent the afternoon lounging in a lawn chair as her kid decorated a box maze, got temp tattoos and ran around like a maniac in the middle of the street. For once she didn't have to yell at her to get back on the sidewalk. It was very relaxing and she learned about local restaurants and businesses she wasn't familiar with. You can find additional info about each Weekend Walk on the website.