New York City never slows down - not even on Easter or Passover. There is a ton of holiday fun in the city this weekend, egg hunts, spring carnivals and other egg related fun. And, if you have never been to the annual NYC Easter Bonnet Parade, this is the perfect year to check out the festive Manhattan tradition. For Passover, try something a little different and head on down to the Eldridge Street Synagogue for their Preservation Detective program which features a Passover Party.

It is also the first weekend of April which means some area museums have special free admission times and family programs. For a weekends worth of free museum going, start out Friday at The Children’s Museum of Manhattan it is free from 5:00 – 8:00 pm, then visit the Brooklyn Museum on Saturday it is free from 5 to 11 pm, and then spend Sunday afternoon at the Queens Museum of Art it is free from 1:00 to 4:30 and they are both offering some special programming for families to boot.

No matter what you decide to do - have a wonderful weekend and a lovely holiday. Here are our event picks for this Easter and Passover Weekend:

Love camping but don't want the drive, the dirt, the packing, the setup—frankly any of the hassle? Or maybe it's rainy, wet, or cold and kids are clamoring for a campout. Try a indoor camping trip, and turn a regular old day into an adventure.

Add to the camping fun with these Classic and Funny Campfire Songs for Kids, and next time you're ready to pack up the tent and do some real camping, check out our Camping Travel Guide for Families for more camping tips and fun.

We recently took our son to The Whitney to experience The 2010 Biennial, the premiere contemporary art exhibition that sets the trends and tone in American modern art.  Not something you would expect to be kid friendly, right? Well think again.  

It is totally kid friendly, first of all, the museum is full of exciting, large scale installations, not just room after room of paintings hanging on the walls.  There is art you can walk through, around and even into, not to mention, video and film exhibits, giant sculptures and even cars in the displays!  Plus, there is a tremendous amount of programming available for families with the fantastic Whitney Museum Educators.

Assuming you don’t already know the awesome NYC kids’ band, The Deedle Deedle Dees, you should, and seeing one of their new Family Variety Shows at The Knitting Factory in Williamsburg is a great way for you and your kids, small and tall, to get your dance on and learn a thing or two about American History besides.  

While seeing a regular Deedle Deedle Dees concert is always mighty fine entertainment, because these are bona fide Variety Shows, not only do you get the show’s eponymous stars but you’ll also get down with some righteous musical guest artists, lend a listen to a sparkling story, and delight in the onstage diversions of some truly talented kid-performers.

What the Village Halloween Parade is to Downtown, the Easter Fancy Hat parade is to Uptown; a chance to get dressed up and take to the streets in your quirkiest, home-made Easter bonnet. Not so much a parade, people mill about looking for the best bonnets, occasionally breaking into a waltz, swing dance or even song. It's as close as you're going to get to stepping into a classic movie.

Find out about this and other Easter Parades:

A parent in my son’s class recently said to me “We might as well be living in Little Rock Arkansas for all we do in the city.”  Although she is a really nice person with two adorable little boys - I am really glad that is not me.  Me and my family take full advantage of the city and thrive on all there is to do here.  This weekend is no different, we can choose from children’s music and theater performances, interactive story telling, scavenger hunts and live animals presentations.  Not to mention all the funegg hunts, Passover activities and events happening in the parks.  And most of it is FREE so why not take a bite out of the big apple this weekend.    

Did you miss our Spring Break post?  Click here for camps, events and fun ideas for the week ahead. and if you are traveling this weekend, kids can learn all about the amazing owl on Long Island or beekeeping, trout fishing and mineral collecting for families in New Jersey.

Have a great weekend.  

If you think 46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes is just what it sounds like, you're only half right. Yes, the ticking of an onstage clock makes for a whirlwind of impressive tricks and tumbles. But precision is hardly the name of the game here, and the time piece is forgotten almost as soon as it is introduced. All eyes are on the Australian ensemble, Darcy, Louie and the Emmas—yes, there are two of them— who infuse the show with cheeky charm and slapstick antics that appeal to all ages.

What's happening in NYC this week for kids? There's new playground in Brooklyn, a new IMAX space show at the Liberty Science Center, a viking ship has docked in Times Square, and for parents, a revealing new TV series about the food our kids are eating. Plus it's free cone day at Ben and Jerry's and free pastries at Starbucks today only. Get the scoop!

Opening this week: