All Weekend

FringeJR: The Young Olympians and the Most Amazingly Awesome Adventure Ever – East Village
It's your last chance to catch this kid-friendly FringeJr show at the 14th Street Y. Raven saw the tongue-in-cheek musical with her eight-year-old earlier this week and says it's great silly fun, especially for kids who know a bit about Greek mythology and specifically Zeus, Poseidon, Hercules and Perseus. $15 for adults, $10 for children under 13
 

Saturday, August 24

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day – Corona
Kick off the US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with a day of tennis fun for kids. Get active at free tennis clinics and an obstacle course; watch big-name pros practice; enjoy face painting, juggling workshops, hair beading and braiding, storytelling and a no-cost concert by young up-and-comers. (Note: There is a different ticketed concert at 1pm featuring better known performers that is sold out.) All tennis and sports activities are FREE. While there, enjoy FREE admission to the nearby New York Hall of Science in honor of its two-week-long Arthur Ashe Learning Center Inspirational Tour exhibit.

Corona Plaza Community Festival – Corona
Join the Queens Museum of Art and other local organizations as they celebrate the anniversary of Corona Plaza. Live music and dance performances, art workshops, a photo booth and an interactive video dome are all on tap. Bonus: It's just a short stroll from Arthur Ashe Kids' Day so you can potentially hit both events. FREE

Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell with You Are My Flower – Greenwich Village
Catch two legendary kid music stars in concert at NYU's Skirball Center. Power duo Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell will be playing tunes off their soon-to-be released collaborative album Turn Turn Turn. $25

The Battle of Brooklyn: The Great Escape – Dumbo
Get ready for a living history lesson, no classroom required. This reenactment commemorates the Battle of Brooklyn and offers families a chance to learn about maritime history, camp life and community, and the skirmish's role in the Revolutionary War. Afterward, explore all the things Brooklyn Bridge Park has to offer, including awesome playgrounds, a pop-up pool and a cool carousel. FREE

Family Field Day – Brooklyn Heights
More fun in Brooklyn Bridge Park: Get your game on at Pier 5 with friendly soccer play, relays, freeze tag and potato sack races. FREE

Sun to Stars Festival of Asian Dance, Music and Culture – Kips Bay
Enjoy outdoor dance and music performances at Solar One's annual fest. Inspired by the traditional all-night concerts in India, this fest features eclectic acts and arts for all ages. FREE

Shorebird Festival – Broad Channel
Head to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge to celebrate migrating shorebirds with the National Park Service and NYC Audubon. Experts will be on hand to host guided birding hikes and other avian fun. FREE

Serpent Day – Staten Island
Learn everything you've ever wanted to know about snakes at the Staten Island Zoo. Kids can get up close and personal with the scaly serpents, and there will be prizes for those who come closest to guessing the size of the largest and smallest snakes. Free with admission: $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-14, free for kids under 3

Family Art Workshop: Red, Yellow and Blue – Flatiron
Create jewelry from recycled materials in Madison Square Park using its current public art installation Red, Yellow and Blue as inspiration. Afterward, skip Shake Shack and try one of these lesser-known family-friendly restaurants in the area for lunch.

See all Saturday events. 
 

Sunday, August 25

Brighton Jubilee Festival – Brighton Beach
There's fun for everyone at this massive 27th annual community fest. Enjoy three stages of eclectic live entertainment (everything from rock bands to arm-wrestling contests), blocks of vendors, tasty treats, kiddie rides and a probable appearance by Brooklyn Cyclones' mascot Sandy the Seagull (he was there last year). FREE

Volkswagen Traffic Jam – Governors Island
Finally, a traffic jam you'll enjoy. Peruse vintage VWs (like bugs, campers and vans) parked on Governors Island, vote for your favorite and grab some grub (in the past there has been a beer garden). While on the isle, check out all of the other attractions like old-fashioned carnival Fête Paradiso, mini-golf and an Art Outpost run by the Children's Museum of the Arts. FREE

Hip Tot Family Day – Park Slope
Head to massive indoor/outdoor restaurant Greenwood Park for a fun afternoon of music and art. Groove to local kid rockers Rolie Polie Guacamole, enjoy a special storytime and book signing with Ambre Anderson, make arts and crafts, and more. FREE

See all Sunday events.
 

Outside NYC

Take a day trip to the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck, New York for loads of family fun like agricultural and horticultural displays, farm animal petting zoos, decadent treats, live entertainment, vendors and a carnival midway with a slew of rides.

There are a few other exceptional fests going on in upstate New York this weekend. The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse is too far away for a day trip but makes a great weekend getaway. Meanwhile you don't even need a car for the New York Renaissance Faire in Sterling Forest—there's a bus that leaves from Port Authority.

Head to Camden Children’s Garden in New Jersey for its annual Chocolate and Vanilla Festival where kids can participate in themed crafts and activities, and sample flavored treats.

David Engel, who entertained kids on our Pirate Family Cruise earlier this week, is bringing his hilarious interactive solo show Pirate School! to the Seafood Festival at the Long Island Maritime Museum. Other fun on tap includes additional live performances, treasure hunts, face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo.

Don't forget: There's more fun to be found in our Event Calendar.