North Pole - various times
Virtual - various times
North Pole - various times
Virtual - various times
North Pole - various times
Virtual - various times
North Pole - various times
Virtual - various times
North Pole - various times
Virtual - various times
North Pole - various times
Virtual - various times
North Pole - various times
Virtual - various times
Weekday Fun: Hands-On Art Projects, Kite Flying, Maker Faire Preview, September 21-25
Many NYC kids are looking at another abbreviated week of classes with the just opened public schools closed on Wednesday and Thursday for Yom Kippur and Eid al-Adha, respectively. We've added extra options for cool kid weekday activities on those days for families not observing the holidays. And don't forget, we told you last week about the great upcoming fall theater, local festivals and pumpkin patches and a newly opened Environmental Educational Center in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Our best bets for Monday, September 21-Friday, September 25 include the grand opening of the Children's Museum of Manhattan's interactive, NYC-themed installation, FREE collaborative lantern-making workshops, kite flying and a sneak peek at Maker Faire. Of course, you can find lots of other ideas in our jam-packed Event Calendar.
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Take note: Pope Francis is in town Thursday and Friday, so there will be lots of street closures. Be sure to leave extra time to get around Manhattan on those days!
Monday, September 21
Morningside Lights Lantern-Making Workshops — Morningside Heights
A September GoList pick: School-age kids and their parents can collaborate on massive lanterns for the upcoming Morningside Lights illuminated parade on Saturday in Morningside Park. Sessions take place throughout the week, and instruction and materials are FREE, but advance registration is a must. Read our in-depth post for more info on this awesome experience. FREE
Tuesday, September 22
"The Collectivity Project" for Kids — Chelsea
More hands-on fun: Work on Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson's free-form cityscape comprised of 2 million white Legos and displayed on the High Line. Kids can contribute to this participatory public art installation in an educator-led workshop just for families. Can't make it today? The kid-centric sessions take place every Tuesday and Thursday through the end September. FREE
Wednesday, September 23
Kite Flight for Peace Week — Roosevelt Island
In honor of International Peace Day, Roosevelt Island's FDR Four Freedoms Park invites families to let their kites soar over the East River. On Wednesday and Thursday, there will be special drop-in workshops where kids can craft their own freedom-themed flyers. FREE
Thursday, September 24
Pre-Maker Faire Pop-Up in the Park — Corona
If you just can't wait until the weekend to get your Maker Faire on, head to Flushing Meadows Corona Park for a preview of the super-creative and endlessly inventive fest. Check out cool demos, meet a few inventors and enjoy hands-on activities. Bonus: New York Hall of Sci's Science Playground is offering no-cost admission! Also takes place on Wednesday. FREE
See all Thursday events.
Looking for more things to do with schools closed? Here are some additional options for Wednesday and Thursday:
- Get hands-on with nature and science at Brooklyn Bridge Park's just-opened Environmental Education Center, which offers drop-in hours on Thursday afternoon.
- Take the 7 train to the stunning new 34th Street and 11th Avenue subway stop, and then romp in the recently opened Hudson Yard playground.
- Explore a new-to-you area by using our in-depth Kid Neighborhood Guides.
- Head to the woods for a fall foliage hike through the Delaware Water Gap.
- Go on an apple-picking day trip—lots of orchards are less than an hour from NYC and a few are even accessible via mass transit.
- Take a spin on the Battery's stunning new SeaGlass Carousel or check out another recently opened NYC attraction.
- Head to Brooklyn Bridge Park to explore the interactive installation Please Touch the Art, followed by a ride on Jane's Carousel and playtime at Pier 6.
- While the beach is closed for the season, most of Coney Island's other attractions are open, including the New York Aquarium and Deno's Wonder Wheel.
- Play mini golf, romp in the Interactive Sculpture Garden or just relax in the red hammocks on Governors Island, which is open daily through September 27.
Friday, September 25
NYC & Me: A Little Bite of the Big Apple — Upper West Side
Another September GoList pick: Head to the Children's Museum of Manhattan for the opening day of its new, 3,000-square-foot, interactive installation, where young New Yorkers can get a tot-size taste of all our town has to offer. Kids can pretend to drive taxis and police cars, build mini-skyscrapers, make public art, manage a food cart, read iconic Gotham-set stories, run for local government and even tackle an NYC-themed obstacle course. The exhibit remains on view through January so there's plenty of time to experience it!
Find even more FREE and low-cost kid activities in our Event Calendar.
Top photo: Kids can play police officer or taxi driver at the Children's Museum of Manhattan's NYC & Me: A Little Bite of the Big Apple. Image courtesy of CMOM.
