Weekend Fun for NYC Kids: Queens Lunar New Year Parade, Cool Kids' Concerts & Funky New Exhibits February 8-9

2/5/14 - By Stephanie Ogozalek

Neither snow nor sleet nor ice can keep cool kids' culture down this weekend. So thrown on your boots and check out a pair of funky new exhibits: the graffiti-filled City as Canvas at the Museum of the City of New York and Cabinets of Wonder at the Children's Museum of the Arts. Or rock out to preschooler favorites AudraRox in Gowanus or David Weinstone and the Music for Aardvarks Band at the Jewish Museum. Is theater more your thing? Catch Bob Marley's Three Little Birds at the New Victory Theater or the Paper Bag Players' latest revue, Hiccup Help!, at Symphony Space.

Even though the Year of the Horse officially started last week, some of NYC's biggest Lunar New Year celebrations take place this weekend, including the annual parade in Flushing, Queens and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's day-long festival.

Those are just a few of the great things going this weekend. All of our best bets are below. As always, you can find more options in our Event Calendar and our Winter Fun Guide. Before heading out on your adventures, be sure to download our FREE Mommy Poppins Kids on the Go app so you can find the best family destinations wherever you happen to be in NYC.

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Bob Marley's Three Little Birds – Midtown West
One of our February Go List picks: Head to the New Vic to catch this musicalization of Cedella Marley's picture book about a perpetually nervous little boy featuring classic songs by her father, the late great Bob Marley. A wonderful way to introduce kids to his incredible musical legacy, and his message of peace and love. $14-$38

City as Canvas Opening Weekend – East Harlem
Marvel at classic graffiti in the Museum of the City of New York's brand-new exhibition featuring works by stars of the street art scene like the late Keith Haring, Lee Quiñones, LADY PINK and FUTURA 2000. Free with admission: $10 for adults, free for children under 13

Cabinets of Wonder: The Art of Collecting Opening Weekend – Hudson Square
Another February Go List pick: Check out offbeat collections of curios at the Children's Museum of the Arts' new exhibit. In this twist on the German concept of Wunderkammer, a.k.a. cabinets of curiosities, emerging and established artists recontextualize these collections as contemporary art. Free with admission: $11
 

Saturday, February 8

Queens Lunar New Year Parade – Flushing
Ring in the Year of the Horse in Flushing, Queens at the neighborhood's big annual bash. Expect dragon dancers, steel drummers and firecrackers in a celebration that rivals Manhattan's Chinatown parade. FREE

Lunar New Year Festival – Upper East Side
More Lunar New Year fun: This pan-Asian celebration at the Met features activities and entertainment from across the continent. Catch live performances by the New York Chinese Cultural Center Dancers, the Chinese Center on Long Island Lion Troupe, traditional Tibetan dancers, the China Youth Orchestra and Indonesian gamelan musicians. Try hands-on crafts like crown making, ink painting, calligraphy and paper folding, and work on a collaborative horse scroll. See Sesame Street puppeteers and Alan in action, and take kid-friendly tours of the exhibit Silla: Korea's Golden Kingdom. Free with suggested admission: $25 for adults, free for children under 12

Kidrockers Featuring Caveman and the Pizza Underground – Greenwich Village
Rock out to NYC-based quintet Caveman and The Pizza Underground, former child star Macaulay Culkin's Velvet Underground cover band with all the lyrics rewritten to be about pizza. (Really.) $28 but you can get $15 tickets through our affiliate Goldstar.

Paper Bag Players in Hiccup Help! – Upper West Side
Catch the always awesome kids' theater troupe in action with their latest comedic revue at Symphony Space. The show features classic skits like "Lost In the Mall," "That’s Good" and "A Perfect Picture" along with lots of new material. $15-$30

Seal Exploration – the Bronx
Winter is the best time of year to see seals frolicking off the coast of NYC. Try to spot a few with help from the Urban Park Rangers at Orchard Beach Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park. Bring your own binoculars or ask to borrow a pair. FREE

Family Films: Tales From Around the World – Midtown West
Watch a selection of international shorts including Anansi the Spider, The Chinese Word for Horse and Village of Idiots at MoMA. Afterward, stay and enjoy the museum at no additional cost. FREE but tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10am.

Olympic Fest at Sky Rink – Chelsea
Get into the Winter Olympics spirit with a day of ice-themed fun at Chelsea Piers. Catch skating exhibitions and hockey tournaments, and bring your own skates so you can enjoy no-cost time on the ice. Additional activities include raffles and prizes, complimentary coffee and hot chocolate, and live coverage of the Games from Sochi. FREE

Soul on Ice Winter Skating Party – Harlem
More ice-skating fun. Support local youth organization Figure Skating in Harlem at its annual benefit. Fifteen dollars gets you admission and skate rental at Central Park's Lasker Rink, plus a raffle ticket. $15

Family Art Workshop: Ferran Adrià: Notes on Creativity – Greenwich Village
Explore the Drawing Center's new exhibit Ferran Adrià: Notes on Creativity and learn about the master chef's unique creative process, which involves sketching out his recipes. Afterward, kids can draw their own inventive dishes. Preregistration recommended. FREE

Imagine Your Planet: What Planet Do You Come From? – Murray Hill
If you've been meaning to see the Morgan Library & Museum's The Little Prince: New York Story exhibit, this family art workshop is a great time to go. Check out original illustrations from the children's novella about a visitor from another world. Afterward, kids can create their own planet out of a variety of repurposed materials. $8 for adults, $2 for children

See all Saturday events.
 

Sunday, February 9

Fantasia's Big Bon Voyage Party – Crown Heights
Another February Go List pick: After 15 years, the Brooklyn Children's Museum's beloved Burmese python, Fantasia, is saying goodbye. She's going south for her old age... to the Staten Island Zoo. Kids can celebrate her big move by making python puppets, crafting cards and enjoying face time with all her reptile friends. Free with admission: $9

Open House at the Apollo Theater – Harlem
While the historic theater's open house takes place all weekend, Sunday is the best day for families. At Imani Uzuri's family music workshop, kids can sing along to “This Little Light of Mine”, “Deep River” and other traditional tunes. Bring your own shakers, tambourines and other small music makers. Preregistration required. FREE

David Weinstone and the Music for Aardvarks Band – Upper East Side
Head to the Jewish Museum to see NYC's original kindie band play preschool hits like "Taxi, " "Bagel" and "Race You to the Corner." $18 for adults, $13 for children

Hip Tot Music Fest: AudraRox – Gowanus
Catch local mom/punky songstress and her band at this Valentine's Day-themed concert, which also features crafts, giveaways and a reading of Down in the Subway by Brooklyn author-illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg. In advance: $10; at the door: $15

See all Sunday events.

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

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