Weekend Fun for NYC Kids: Family Concerts, Lincoln Center Kids and Hawk Watching April 18-19

It's a great weekend for cool kids' culture in NYC. Families can sing along with Broadway greats at Carnegie Hall's Family Concert, marvel at the Little Orchestra Society's lush musical fairy tale Cinderella & the Prince Who Slays the Magic Dragon or watch acclaimed storyteller David Gonzalez's retelling of Sleeping Beauty at Lincoln Center's new kids' series. Plus there are three circuses on tap: the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Cabaret, Séquence 8 and Catch Me.

Other fun includes great outdoor events like the Queens County Farm Museum's annual Children's Carnival and hawk watching on Staten Island.

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

Bronx Culture Trolley: A Fun and Free Way to Explore the South Bronx

Taking a trip on the Bronx Culture Trolley had been on my activity wish list forever (along with things like visiting the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, swimming at Jacob Riis beach and getting a full eight hours of sleep). So earlier this month on a drizzly afternoon, I decided to finally cross it off. My five-year-old daughter and I put on our raincoats, grabbed her sketch book and headed up to Hostos Community College to catch the old-fashioned, green-and-red ride.

The free trolley, which is sponsored by the Bronx Council on the Arts, offers hop-on-hop-off service to various culture spots in the borough, and it’s great for art-loving families. We wrote about it back in 2007, when it used to leave from midtown Manhattan and go to famous institutions like the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden and Little Italy on Arthur Avenue. These days, the trolley departs on the first Wednesday of every month from the Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos Community College (easily accessible by the 2, 4 and 5 subways), and makes a loop through the South Bronx, stopping at lesser known but vibrant places like the Pregones Theater, BronxArtSpace and the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

If you’ve never been to the area (or heck, the borough!), this is a fun and free way to sample a bit of what the Bronx has to offer—beyond the Yankees and the zoo.

Pick-Your-Own Farms in Westchester and Lower Hudson Valley

Pick-your-own is not just for apples and pumpkins! Westchester and neighboring counties offer many options for getting down in the dirt (or up in the trees) to pick all kinds of fruits and veggies. This can be a great way to show kids where their food comes from--you might even get them to try a new vegetable or two. Plus, it just doesn't get any fresher than when you pick it yourself. It's been a long winter, but the taste of spring is finally here.

Read on for more about our top "picks" in the area. Also be sure to check out our post on strawberry picking farms in lower Hudson Valley.

25 Things To Do With Kids in Trumbull

Trumbull, CT. located in Fairfield County, without question, is a bedroom community.  But that doesn’t mean the only option for residents is to bounce out to neighboring towns for something ’to do’ -- there are plenty of hidden treasures, and several parks for you and your family to enjoy. We've made a list of 25 fun things to do with kids while in Trumbull!

10 Long Island Birthday Party Entertainers Kids Will Love

If you're looking to make your child's next party extra special, consider hiring a company or individual to provide fun entertainment that will be sure to put a smile on the face of the birthday boy or girl (and all of the guests). There are a wide variety of entertainers to choose from on Long Island, including characters, magicians, animal handlers and more.

For more inspiration, be sure to check out our LI Party Guide.

 

New Lincoln Center Kids: Awesome Family Shows, Festivals and Memberships

Lincoln Center is NYC's preeminent cultural hub. Mommy Poppins readers already know about the family-friendly performances and free fun on its 16-acre campus, but we're thrilled to announce the new Lincoln Center Kids (LC Kids) series, launching on Saturday, May 9. Our sponsor, Lincoln Center Kids, is offering family programs, special events and membership privileges, making world-class performing arts more accessible to children and families. Read on to learn more about the new programming, and how you can win great prizes in a contest celebrating the debut of LC Kids.

Where Westchester Kids Eat Free and Get Stuff on Their Birthdays

Before the advent of the e-mail lists, websites, apps, perk programs and loyalty cards, a kid’s best bet for a free birthday treat was a white candle in a scoop of ice cream and an embarrassing rendition of “Happy Birthday” sung by waiters and waitresses who had planned on making it big on Broadway.

Luckily, young people today have a lot more options available to them. From toys, desserts and cupcakes to entire breakfasts, lunches and dinners, there is a FREEbie just waiting out there for kids of every age (HINT: Grown-ups can sign up for the majority of these programs too!). Read on to learn where to score FREE birthday meals, gifts and more while you're out and about in Westchester. Speaking of free, don't forget to sign up for our FREE newsletter to have our latest news, reviews and tips delivered right to your inbox! 

Earth Day Activities for Families in the Hartford Area

How green is your family? In honor of Earth Day on April 22, there are lots of fun events in the Hartford area where families can celebrate the environment and learn how to be more ecologically responsible. Of course, you don’t need to attend a special event to help take care of the planet—just grab some gloves and go pick up trash at a local park, plant seeds, or repurpose natural materials in creative ways. But celebrating the Earth alongside other eco-conscious families is an engaging way to teach kids about respecting Mother Nature.

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