MommyPoppins.com
MAKE YOUR DAY
Get Listed Log In Sign Up My Profile Sign out Contact
New York City
  • Anywhere
  • New York City
  • Dallas Fort Worth
  • Atlanta
  • Boston
  • Chicago
  • Houston
  • Miami South Florida
  • Philadelphia
  • Washington DC
  • Orlando
  • Los Angeles
  • San Francisco Bay Area
  • Connecticut
  • Long Island
  • New Jersey
  • Westchester
Get Listed Log In Sign Up My Profile Sign out Contact

HOME - New York City

Activity Calendar

Providers

Calendar  
  • Events

  • Virtual

  • This Week's Picks

  • Activity Providers

  • Submit an Activity

NYC Guide  
  • News & Openings

  • NYC Baby Guide

  • NYC for Preschoolers

  • Tweens & Teens

  • Neighborhood Guides

  • Parks & Playgrounds

  • Free Activities

  • Visitors' Guide to NYC

  • Restaurants

  • NYC Moving Guide

Things To Do  
  • Crafts for Kids

  • Recipes

  • Science for Kids

  • Games & Activities

  • Outdoors

  • Online & Virtual

Camps & Classes  
  • Camps Guide

  • Classes Guide

  • Preschools & Schools Guide

  • Directory

Parties & Holidays  
  • Gift Guide

  • Birthday Parties

  • Party Providers

  • Holidays

  • Best of Spring

  • Best of Summer

  • Best of Fall

  • Best of Winter

Family Travel  
  • Day Trips

  • Family Vacations

  • Theme & Water Parks

  • Resorts & Hotels

  • Adirondacks

  • Hamptons & North Fork

  • Poconos Guide

  • Jersey Shore Guide

Contact

Sign up for our free newsletters.
The New York Botanical Garden's floral show Van Gogh's Flowers is inspired by the genius of the iconic artist Vincent van Gogh. Photo by Jody Mercier
Memorial Day Weekend 2025 in NYC: Fleet Week and More To Do in NYC with Kids
Mommy Poppins is set to host its first Family Travel Fest on Saturday, May 31 at the Atlantic Center.
Register for Travel Fest for a Chance to Win a Dreams Resorts & Spas Vacation!
The Parade of Ships is always a highlight of Fleet Week in NYC. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bradley Rickard
Guide to Fleet Week 2025 with Kids: Salute the Sailors, Tour the Ships, and More Fun for Families
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by  Jody Mercier
47 Fun Indoor Activities in NYC for a Rainy Day
Start the summer with free musical entertainment at Live at the Archway in Dumbo. Photo by Noemie Trusty.
Free 2025 NYC Summer Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals for Families
Strawberry picking at Bishop Farms makes for a sweet day trip.
Best Strawberry Picking Farms and Strawberry Festivals near NYC
Vinland Playground got a fresh upgrade in Bay Ridge. Photo by NYC Parks/Daniel Avila
Jaw-Dropping New Playgrounds in NYC to Explore with Kids Now
The splash pad in Domino Park puts a smile on faces young and old. Photo by Jody Mercier
Ultimate 2025 Guide to NYC Splash Pads and Water Playgrounds
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
Brooklyn Bridge Park celebrates spring with a Kite Fest on Saturday, May 17. Photo by John Eng
Best Things To Do in NYC May 2025 with Kids
Hop the ferry to Governors Island to explore all the island has to offer. Photo by Diana Kim
Spring Day Trips from NYC for Families
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
Dinosaur Safari returns to the Bronx Zoo this spring. Photo courtesy of the zoo
51 Spring Bucket List Ideas for Kids in NYC
There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
100 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
The 2024-2025 NYC public school calendar is out, and students return to school on Thursday, September 5.
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2024-2025
Brooklyn's Flying Apple offers action-packed fun for kids of all ages.
24 Best Kids' Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in NYC
Discover the NYC-themed play space hidden inside the Toys
27 Free Things To Do Indoors in NYC: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
Teens have the opportunity to explore arts careers and institutions with Whitney Museum Youth Insights Program. Photo by Diana Kim
Teens Can Apply Now for Summer Internships in NYC
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
Ultimate New York Bucket List: 100 Things To Do with Kids in NY State
Hell's Kitchen is a cool coming-of-age piece loosely based on Alicia Keys' life story. Photo by Marc J. Franklin
Best New Broadway Shows This Season Plus Can't-Miss Classics for Families
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in NYC
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids Guide
Visit the 180 Pool at the Crystal Springs Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort
14 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
Explore modern humanity through all-new world-wandering exhibitions at Mmuseumm.
Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Under-the-Radar Museums in NYC that Kids Love
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
For an only-in-NYC experience, head to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view. Photo by Jody Mercier
Best Attractions and Things To Do near NYC that are Kid-Friendly
Tea Around Town combines a sumptuous meal with a unique view NYC landmarks! Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Best NYC Tours for Families: From Boat Rides to Free Walking Tours and More
The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums in NYC
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
100 Things To Do in NYC With Kids Before They Grow Up
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
40 Best NYC Attractions to Do with Kids Right Now
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
GUIDE
NYC Kids Summer Guide: 728 Best Festivals, Deals, Activities & Free Things to Do
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Crafts for Kids Guide: Thousands of Craft Ideas
FIND AND BOOK ACTIVITIES
calendar icon
This Week In
New York City
Fleet Week NYC
Various locations - various times Pick
Opening Week of Life At The Limits: Nature's Superheroes at the AMNH
American Museum of Natural History - various times Pick
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Movies Under the Stars: Brooklyn
Various locations in Brooklyn - various times
Tea Around Town: Pink Winter Wonderland
TopView Sightseeing Bus Stop - various times
Locomotive Lawn Live in Riverside Park
Riverside Park South - 10:30 AM Pick
Qualeasha Wood Visits ColorLab at the Brooklyn Children's Museum
Brooklyn Children's Museum - 2:00 PM Pick
Celebrate AAPI Month at Brooklyn Children's Museum
Brooklyn Children's Museum - 3:00 PM Pick
Powerful Like a Dragon at Books of Wonder
Books of Wonder - 6:00 PM Pick
Fleet Week NYC
Various locations - various times Pick
Jones Beach Air Show 2025
Jones Beach State Park - 10:00 AM Pick
Teen Night: Centuries of Dreams at the Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum - 5:00 PM Pick
STEM Career Expo at New York Hall of Science
New York Hall of Science - 5:30 PM Pick
Free Movie Night on the Intrepid: Top Gun
The Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum - 7:30 PM Pick
Movies Under The Stars: Dog Man in Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park
Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park - 8:00 PM Pick
Featured
Van Gogh's Flowers at NYBG
The New York Botanical Garden - various times
Jones Beach Air Show 2025
Jones Beach State Park - 10:00 AM Pick
SOLD OUT - Brooklyn Bridge Anniversary Family Walk
Emily Warren Roebling Plaza - 10:00 AM Pick
Next Stop, New York City at the Skyscraper Museum
Skyscraper Museum - 10:30 AM Pick
BAM DanceAfrica Community Workshop in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Pier 6 @ Brooklyn Bridge Park - 11:00 AM Pick
Jones Beach Air Show 2025
Jones Beach State Park - 10:00 AM Pick
Elvis & Romeo at Books of Wonder
Books of Wonder - 11:30 AM Pick
Fleet Week NYC
Various locations - various times Pick
Lower East Side Festival of the Arts Street Fair
Theater for the New City - various times Pick
Movies Under the Stars: Queens
Various locations in Queens - various times Pick
158th Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade
- 11:00 AM Pick
Memorial Day in Prospect Park
Audubon Center, Prospect Park - 12:00 PM Pick
98th Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade
Northern Blvd between Jayson Ave & 245th Street - 2:00 PM Pick
Green-Wood’s Memorial Day Concert
The Green-Wood Cemetery - 2:00 PM Pick
Fleet Week NYC
Various locations - various times Pick
Stargazing on The High Line
The High Line - 7:30 PM Pick
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Child's Play NY Presents: Frozen Kids at the First Unitarian Congregation Society
First Unitarian Congregational Society - 5:00 PM
Tea Around Town: Pink Winter Wonderland
TopView Sightseeing Bus Stop - various times
Van Gogh's Flowers at NYBG
The New York Botanical Garden - various times
SEE ALL ACTIVITIES
SUBMIT AN ACTIVITY +
Van Gogh's Flowers at NYBG
The New York Botanical Garden
Broadway Magic Hour at the Broadway Comedy Club
Broadway Comedy Club
NY Family Travel Fest presented by Dreams Resorts & Spas
Atlantic Center
Sign up for our free newsletters.
FOLLOW US FOR ACTIVITY PICKS, DEALS, AND GIVEAWAYS
FaceBook Instagram Twitter Pinterest YouTube
Activity Guides
  • Beaches & Lakes
  • Best Of Lists
  • Birthday Parties
  • Boats
  • Boredom Busters
  • Camps
  • Childcare
  • Christmas/Hanukkah
  • City Guides
  • City Hacks
  • Classes & Enrichment
  • Community
  • Crafts & Recipes
  • Earth Kids
  • Easter
  • Fairs & Festivals
  • Fall Activities
  • Family Travel
  • Farms & U-Pick
  • Free Activities
  • GoList
  • Halloween
  • Holidays
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Indoor Activities
  • Museums
  • News & Openings
  • Outdoors
  • Parent Talk
  • Parks & Playgrounds
  • Play Gyms & Sports Centers
  • Pools & Spray Parks
  • Preschools & Schools
  • Restaurants
  • Shows
  • Skiing & Winter Sports
  • Special Needs
  • Special Occasions
  • Sports
  • Spring Activities
  • STEM
  • Stores & Services
  • Summer Activities
  • Theme & Water Parks
  • Trains, Dinos & Heroes
  • TV, Film & Movies
  • Virtual
  • Visitors Guide
  • Weekend Events
  • Weekend Trips
  • Winter Activities
  • Zoos & Gardens
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Pin It WhatsApp

Beyond Ringling: Best New Circus Shows for NYC Kids This Season

2/23/14 - By Raven Snook

You may have heard that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is currently wowing audiences (and angering animal rights activists) at the Barclays Center in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. But they're not the only big top in town. Circus season in the city is only getting started with ten different and diverse spectacles (in addition to Ringling) set to hit NYC between now and May.

Whether you're looking to splurge on a brand-new sensory-overload extravaganza by Cirque du Soleil or looking for a more traditional circus experience like the Big Apple Circus, there's a show coming up that's right for your family. There are also options for first-time circus-goers, like the low-key and low-priced Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, as well as troupes that don't use animals at all, including two all-human circus shows at the New Victory Theater. We've even got the scoop on how your little circus performers can get a chance in the spotlight in an upcoming Coney Island show. Here's where you can run away and see the circus in NYC this spring.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Cirque Ziva – Flatbush
Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College, 2900 Campus Road near Kenilworth Place
Saturday, March 9 at 3pm
$35
China's Golden Dragon Acrobats swing into town for one performance only. Athletic feats are the focus here, like hand-to-hand and bicycle balancing, plate juggling and spinning, and aerial arts, all performed in gorgeous traditional costumes. This trailer gives you a peek at the awesome action. A great introduction to China's take on the ancient art of circus.

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Cabaret – Park Slope
Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 Fourth Avenue between Union and President Streets
Saturday, March 15-Sunday, March 16 at 3pm
$12, family four-pack $40
I'm a huge fan of (and, full disclosure, good friends with) the founders of this homegrown variety troupe. Their style is pure old-school vaudeville, a little edgy but still kid-friendly. You may have caught them at SummerStage or Lincoln Center Out of Doors Family Day in previous years. Expect juggling, the diabolo, unicycling, Ringmistress Philomena's signature joke and whip-cracking, and Kinko the Clown's silly silent antics. Note: Although the Bindlestiffs are performing four evenings in a row at the Brooklyn Lyceum, only the matinees are family-friendly!

Cirque du Soleil: Amaluna – Queens
Citi Field, 126-01 Roosevelt Avenue near 126th Street
Thursday, March 20-Sunday, May 18. Visit the website for the complete schedule.
$50-$145
Cirque du Soleil's over-the-top shows always deliver spectacular visuals, amazing circus skills and grand pretensions. Love them or hate them, there's nothing quite like them and I'm particularly excited about this new show, which takes girl power to a whole new level. In addition to being directed by 2013 Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus (the current circus-themed Pippin), Amaluna features an overwhelmingly female cast and a plot inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest. Goddess Prospera is overseeing a coming-of-age ceremony for her daughter on their island nation. But when young men suddenly arrive, their presence sets off an epic power struggle and love story. Sound highfalutin? Don't worry, the plot is most likely incomprehensible anyway. Cirque is all about style, not story.

UniverSoul Circus – the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens
Thursday, March 20-Sunday, April 6 at 149th and Exterior Streets across from the Gateway Center in the Bronx
Thursday, April 10-Sunday, April 27 at Aviator Sports at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn
Thursday, May 1-Sunday, May 11 at Roy Wilkins Park, Merrick and Baisley Boulevards in Queens
$16-$48, free for children under 1
Although UniverSoul was originally founded to showcase the talents of African-American performers, this year's edition features acts from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. The Zhukau Acrobatic Troupe is from Belarus, straps aerialist Jean-Claude Belmat is from Paris and there's a group of Caribbean Dancers. That said, there's a lot of American talent on display too, like ringmaster sidekick Zeke, and the Soul Circus Divas and their elephants. It's also the only circus we know of that features a live hip-hop DJ, break-dancing clowns and such an enthusiastic audience.

Knee Deep – Midtown West
The New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
Friday, March 21-Sunday, March 30. Visit the website for the complete schedule.
$14-$38
Performed by the Casus Circus from Brisbane, Australia, this show isn't about flashy costumes or sets. Instead, the four performers captivate with their enviable balancing, aerial and physical comedy skills in this hour-long revue. This trailer gives a good idea of what to expect. It's definitely aimed at more mature kids (suggested age range is 7 and up) who aren't looking for constant stimulation.

Bindlestiff Cavalcade of Youth – Coney Island
Coney Island, USA, 1208 Surf Avenue at West 12th Street
Sunday, March 23 at 4pm
$15 for adults, $10 for children under 21
The aforementioned Bindlestiff Family Cirkus is also behind this one-afternoon-only performance featuring variety performers under age 21. The acts (and kids' ages) really run the gamut, from little kids just starting out (my daughter did a hula hoop act back when she was six) to teens who seem serious about pursuing a circus career. It's quite a thrill for children to see their peers up on stage. Does your kid have a cool routine that's ready for the big top time? Email stephanie@bindlestiff.org with your child's name, age, act description and any questions to sign up to perform. No audition required! No pay, either, beyond minimal tips and lots of applause.

Bello Mania – Midtown West
The New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
Friday, April 4-Sunday, April 20. Visit the website for the complete schedule.
$14-$38
My daughter and I saw Bello Mania last year and I'm so glad it's back for an encore performance. Equal parts comedic circus spectacle and family memoir, it's the perfect showcase for former Ringling Bros./Big Apple Circus clown/acrobat Bello Nock, who was born to a circus family. The production features new schtick, recreations of some of his ancestors' greatest hits and appearances by his daughter, who's continuing in the family show business. The highlight: When Bello climbs all the way to the New Vic ceiling on a swaying pole right over the audiences' heads. Bonus: The New Victory Theater is hosting a five-day Circus Kids Week camp over spring break, when children ages 7 to 11 can study juggling, clowning, acrobatics and other big top skills, as well as catch a performance of Bello Mania.

Forces – Williamsburg
Streb at S.L.A.M., 51 N 1st Street near Kent Avenue
Thursday, May 8-Sunday, June 15. Schedule has yet to be determined.
Prices have yet to be determined
Perhaps we're cheating a bit by classifying STREB's movement/theater piece as circus. But just look at some of the feats in this video. Choreographer Elizabeth Streb has the acrobatic members of her Extreme Action Company leap, jump, tumble and fly through the air. Showtimes and prices will be posted here in the coming months.

Jamie Adkins presents Circus Incognitus – Tribeca
Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street between Greenwich and West Streets
Sunday, May 18 at 1:30pm
$25
Talk about a minimalist circus! Watch as one very versatile and funny guy conjures an entire big top by himself. My daughter and I saw this show at the New Victory a few seasons back and it's a subtle experience as the mostly silent Adkins balances paper on his nose, uses ladders like stilts, and hands out fruit for the audience to throw at him... every piece of which he catches on a plastic fork.

Big Apple Circus: Luminocity – Queens
Sunday, May 18-Sunday, June 15; Visit the website for a complete schedule
Cunningham Park 196-22 Union Turnpike near Myrtle Avenue
$20-$60, free for children under 3
Set and themed around Times Square, the latest Big Apple Circus show is a real winner. I reviewed it back when it played Lincoln Center last fall and particularly loved Daniel Cyr balancing atop a ladder, teenage juggling prodigy Ty Tojo and vaudeville-style clown Rob Torres, who gets a lot of laughs out of his audience interactions. Click here to read my full post.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: Legends – Fort Greene
Barclays Center 620 Atlantic Avenue near Flatbush Avenue
Through Sunday, March 2. Visit the website for schedule.
$30 and up
And if you must see Ringling, the troupe is at Barlcays through next weekend. While they may not be everyone's style of circus, this is the company's 144th year, so clearly they have a lot of fans. Expect fantastical creatures like a unicorn, a Pegasus and a woolly mammoth to share the stage with more traditional acts like the flying trapeze, motorcyclists braving the wheel of death (here called the Globe of Steel), a high-wire routine, and those ever controversial elephants and wildcats. Live in the 'burbs? After its Brooklyn run, Legends heads to Nassau Coliseum on Long Island and then the Prudential Center in Newark.

 

Want to keep up on all the circus shows that pop into New York City throughout the year? Bookmark CircusNYC, a great website that has a comprehensive list of all circus-related performances (not all kid-friendly though!), classes and jobs in the tri-state area. We also have a great post about circus arts classes for kids in NYC.

Shows Preschoolers Kids Tweens & teens Uptown Downtown Brooklyn Queens Bronx South Bronx Midtown West Coney Island Flatbush Tribeca Ft Greene Park Slope Williamsburg New York City

Featured Local Savings

Sign up for our free
newsletters.
New York City
Dallas Fort Worth
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Houston
Miami South Florida
Philadelphia
Washington DC
Orlando
Los Angeles
San Francisco Bay Area
Connecticut
Long Island
New Jersey
Westchester
MommyPoppins.com
Mommy Poppins is a family activity website that helps people find things to do with kids.
QUICK LINKS
Activities
Providers
Family Travel
CONTACT
Newsletter Subscribe
Contact
About
SITEMAP
Submit an Activity
List Your Business
Advertise with Us
© 2025 MommyPoppins. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Use.
mp-prod4-v4.32.99
X
Enter for a Chance to Win
Register/Login if you don't want to see this popup.