All Weekend

Cirque Alfonse: Timber! – Greenwich Village
One of our October Go List picks: Head to the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts to see this Quebecois circus with a fun rural twist: All of its props and apparatus are fashioned from trees and farm equipment. Watch as the performers juggle axes, spin on wagon wheels and jump through bent saws, all while playing traditional folk instruments. My son and I saw it on opening night and it's a true original. $39-$65 but save on tickets through our affiliate Goldstar

Ivy + Bean, The Musical – Chelsea
Another October Go List pick: Catch the Atlantic Theater Company's adaptation of Annie Barrows' best-selling children’s book series about the adventures of a pair of eight-year-old BFFs: loud and goofy Bean and shy and creative Ivy. $20 for adults, $15 for children

Enchanted Wave Hill Weekend – Riverdale
Hit the Bronx oasis to help create a fancy fairy home from sticks and other found flora, and listen to live classical music played by the Metropolitan Four. Free with admission: $8 for adults, $2 for children ages 2 and up, free to all until noon on Saturday 

Saturday, October 18

NYC American Youth Circus Festival – Long Island City
And another October Go List pick: If your kid dreams of performing under the big top, don't miss the American Youth Circus Organization's annual day-long intensive for aspiring stars at Circus Warehouse. No experience is necessary. Children choose four workshops led by industry pros (silks, juggling, clowning, unicycling, hula hopping, trapeze, tightrope, acrobatics, etc.), and there's a youth showcase at the end of the day. $80 for children, $25 for chaperones

Marco Polo Festival – Chinatown & Little Italy
Celebrate Italian and Chinese culture at this annual fest. It kicks off with an over-the-top parade of giant marionette puppets that winds its way through Little Italy and Chinatown toward the Hester Street Stage. Post-procession, catch multicultural entertainment including Italian and Chinese opera, folk dancing and musical performances. FREE

Fall Kids Fest – Flatiron
Come in costume to this annual favorite in Madison Square Park. March in a parade led by Big Apple Circus performers and then hit the pumpkin patch to pick the perfect jack-o'-lantern. Other festivities include live music from Songs for Seeds, gaga, soccer and other games, arts and crafts, face painting and snacks. Arrive early as it gets mobbed fast. Afterward, skip Shake Shack and try one of these other nearby family-friendly restaurants. FREE

Super Sabado: Día de los Muertos – East Harlem
Celebrate Day of the Dead at El Museo del Barrio with a host of holiday activities. Contribute to a colorful collaborative altar, listen to stories, get spooky face painting, enjoy live music by Pistolera and take kid-friendly tours of the galleries. The fest kicks off with a spirited musical procession from the nearby Dana Discovery Center in Central Park to the museum at 11am. FREE

Meet R.L. Stine – Soho
Head to the Scholastic Store to hear the author read from his most recent Goosebumps Most Wanted book, Zombie Halloween. Afterward, chat with Stine about his spine-tingling career. FREE

Pooch Parade – Staten Island
Gawk at a procession of decked-out dogs at Wolfe's Pond Park. Got a hound? Enter your costumed canine in the contest for a chance to win fun prizes. FREE

Bank Street School Fall Fair – Upper West Side
Enjoy a slew of seasonal amusements at this annual school fundraiser. In addition to the usual fair fun like bouncy castles, magic shows and face painting, there will be an artisan market, hands-on projects for kids and wine tasting for grown-ups. Free admission but there are fees for activities

Fly Guy and Other Stories – Upper East Side
Hit the Kaye Playhouse for the first family show in TheatreworksUSA's new weekend performance series. This musical revue features adaptations of a bunch of picture books including Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl, Kitten’s First Full Moon, Lilly’s Big Day and The Paper Bag Princess. $20-$30

King Manor Museum Fall Festival – Jamaica
Celebrate harvest season by sampling culinary delights from NYC's days of yore like Dutch eats cooked over a fire pit. Apple cider pressing, butter churning and fall-themed crafts will also be on tap. FREE

Chuck Jones Family Day – Astoria
Explore the Museum of the Moving Image's What's Up Doc: The Animation of Chuck Jones exhibit and enjoy special hands-on activities like creating cartoon shorts, gallery scavenger hunts and screenings of the celebrated animator's work. $12 for adults, free for children under age 13

See all Saturday events.
 

Sunday, October 19

Raffi in Concert – Upper East Side
Our final October Go List pick: Hear the "Children's Troubadour" croon his hit kids' tunes like "Baby Beluga," "Bananaphone" and "Down by the Bay" at the Kaye Playhouse. Tickets are nearly sold out for the 1pm performance but the 4pm show has availability. $35-$66

Pickle Day – Lower East Side
Hit Orchard Street to taste a wide selection of the LES' signature treat from sweet to dill, from old-school vendors like Guss’ or newcomers like Sour Puss. Fun for kids includes pumpkin and face painting, cat bingo, dancing and games. FREE

See all Sunday events.

Don't forget: There are lots of other options in our Event Calendar.