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30 Fun Preschool and Toddler Events in NYC this Spring

Visitors can mingle with up to 500 fluttering, iridescent butterflies at the Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History. Photo courtesy of AMNH
Visitors can mingle with up to 500 fluttering, iridescent butterflies at the Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History. Photo courtesy of AMNH
3/8/22 - By Sara F

Spring may be the most exciting season of the year for parents of preschoolers and toddlers who have been stuck inside for what feels like 5,000 weeks of winter. With the arrival of warm weather, it's like New York City itself wakes up from hibernating, and families stream out of their apartments and onto the sidewalks, scooters in tow, ready to take advantage of all the city has to offer in the springtime. There are so many exciting things to see and do in Marcn, April, and May, and we've taken the time to round up the best preschool and toddler events this spring.

We've got cool outdoor festivals, stunning, age-appropriate theater picks, and much more, all perfect for the under 5 set. What's not included? The piles of Easter egg hunts, ideas to celebrate Mother's Day, and Passover observances. But, fear not—we're covering the spring holidays in-depth in the coming weeks. Without further ado, here are our top springtime picks for New York's tiniest city slickers.

Be sure to click through to our listings for all the details, including time, advance ticket requirements, and COVID precautions.

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See a performance of "Wake Up, Daisy" at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater. Photo by Sean Jamal

Ongoing Spring Events in NYC for Preschoolers and Toddlers

Macy's Herald Square Annual Flower Show

Midtown West
Sunday, March 27-Sunday, April 10
Macy's annual ode to springtime is in full bloom, with thousands of stunning flowers and lush plants transforming the flagship store into one of the most colorful destinations in NYC. READ MORE

Flip Circus at the Mall at Bay Plaza

Staten Island
Friday, March 25-Monday, April 11
World-class clowns, acrobats, jugglers, and daredevils display their talents in a big top so intimate that no audience member is more than 50 feet from the ring. READ MORE

The Return of the 1885 Full-Rigged Ship Wavertree

South Street Seaport–FREE
Weekends through Sunday, April 24
The restored 1885 full-rigged cargo sailing ship Wavertree offers FREE self-guided visits along a set route, which includes access to outdoor areas, the main deck, and quarter deck.  READ MORE

The Orchid Show 2025: Mexican Modernism at NYBG

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Tuesdays-Sundays through Sunday, May 1
Now in its 22nd year, the Orchid Show showcases thousands of dramatically displayed orchids in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. This year's show features bright arrangements of orchids in settings inspired by the bold, multicolored designs of Mexican modernist architect Luis Barragán. READ MORE

The Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History

Upper West Side
Wednesdays-Sundays through Sunday, May 2
Visitors can once again mingle with up to 500 fluttering, iridescent butterflies among blooming tropical flowers and lush green vegetation in 80-degree temperatures at the museum. READ MORE

Exhibit: Age of the Dinosaurs at Long Island Children's Museum

Garden City, NY
Wednesdays-Sundays through Sunday, May 29
The "Age of the Dinosaurs" exhibit features animatronic prehistoric creatures that look, move, and make sounds as they are believed to have millions of years ago.  READ MORE

Pinocchio: Carlo Collodi's 1883 Adventures of a Marionette

Park Slope
Weekends from Saturday, April 16-Saturday, August 6
Adapted by Puppetworks' Artistic Director, Nicolas Coppola, Pinocchio features traditional hand-carved wooden marionettes, an original song score, the Blue Fairy, and a "live" actor as Stromboli the Puppet Master. READ MORE

Wake Up, Daisy!

Central Park
Fridays-Sundays through Sunday, December 18
The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park presents a brand new, original story and marionette production...a modern take on Sleeping Beauty that is perfect for the whole family. READ MORE
Enjoy, food, rides, and games at the Apple Blossom Children's Carnival at the Queens County Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm
Enjoy, food, rides, and games at the Apple Blossom Children's Carnival at the Queens County Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

Top Preschool and Toddler Events in NYC in April 2022

Tuck Everlasting: The Musical

Upper East Side
Weekends from Sunday, March 20-Sunday, April 10
Eleven-year-old Winnie Foster yearns for a life of adventure, but when she becomes unexpectedly entwined with the Tuck Family and the magic behind their eternal youth, she gets more than she could have imagined. READ MORE

Dory Fantasmagory

Midtown West
Weekends from Sunday, March 20-Sunday, April 10
Dory is a mischievous 6-year-old who just doesn’t want to grow up. Her older brother and sister wish she’d stop acting like a baby, but when her siblings need her, it’s Dory’s imagination and bravery that save the day. READ MORE

Hands on History: Earth Day

Jamaica, Queens–FREE
Saturday April 2
Celebrate the earth with a special app-assisted tour, Climate Change at Home, which guides you through King Manor from an environmental perspective! Don’t forget to bring fruit and veggie food scraps to feed Bertie the Bin. READ MORE

Beauty & the Beast

Park Slope
Saturday, April 2-Sunday, April 3
Puppetworks Presents Madame Gabrielle de Villeneuve's French Fantasy with a "live" Beast. READ MORE

Start with Art at The Met: Senses of Springtime

Upper East Side
Thursday, April 7
Explore art and music in the galleries while you look, move, and sing. This month's theme is Senses of Springtime. Meet at the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education, ground floor. Enter through the 81st Street entrance. READ MORE

Evening Pajama Party & Story Time

Douglaston, Queens
Friday, April 8
Come in your pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal for a reading of two bedtime children’s stories. Touch and observe two different animals getting ready for bed, then share a dessert of cookies and milk. READ MORE

New York Tartan Day Parade

Midtown West–FREE
Saturday, April 9
The NYC Scottish cultural event of the year features thousands of clans, pipers, dancers, and Scottish pups marching up Sixth Avenue. READ MORE

Galli Theater Presents The Three Little Pigs

Tribeca
Saturday, April 9
Gordy, Perkey, and Snoozy pigs have left the nest and must build houses of their own. One settles for a quick fix. Another puts a little elbow grease into it. But only one takes the time to make a house that stands up to the persistence of a certain wolf. READ MORE

Cinderella

Park Slope
Saturday, April 9-Sunday, April 10
Perrault's Godmother of all Fairy Tales is adapted for marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. Purchase tickets in advance. READ MORE

Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure at Madison Square Garden

Herald Square
Saturday, April 9-Sunday, April 10
Mayor Goodway is getting everything shipshape for a big Pirate Day celebration in Adventure Bay, but when Cap’n Turbot falls into a dark and mysterious cavern, it’s Paw Patrol to the rescue. READ MORE

Spring Family Day at Carnegie Hall

Midtown–FREE
Sunday, April 10
Carnegie Hall celebrates families with FREE, interactive, and fun musical activities at its Spring Family Day. Enjoy a spring sing, watch mainstage performances, participate in a collective art project, and more. READ MORE

Galli Theater Presents: The Star Talers

Tribeca
Saturday, April 16
A girl gives everything she has until she has nothing and a miracle happens: She receives more than she can carry. READ MORE

Earth Day at the Queens County Farm Museum

Floral Park, Queens–FREE
Friday, April 22
Young environmentalists and their grown-ups are invited out to the Queens County Farm Museum to celebrate Earth Day. Volunteers assist with sifting compost, spring clean-up in the children’s garden, mulching, weeding, and more. READ MORE

Apple Blossom Children's Carnival at the Queens County Farm Museum

Floral Park, Queens
Fridays through Sundays from Saturday, April 23-Sunday, May 1
Celebrate spring at the Queens County Farm Museum. This children's carnival kicks off the farm's special event season. Tilt-A-Whirl in the orchard and enjoy carnival rides, hayrides, and midway games. READ MORE
Watch the amazing performers at the 16th Annual New York Dance Parade & DanceFest. Photo by Anthony Johnson
Watch the amazing performers at the 16th Annual New York Dance Parade & DanceFest. Photo by Anthony Johnson

Preschooler and Toddler Events in NYC in May 2022

How to Catch a Star

Midtown West
Wednesdays-Sundays from Wednesday, May 4-Sunday, May 15
Based on the beloved book by award-winning Northern Irish author Oliver Jeffers, Branar Téatar do Pháistí’s How to Catch a Star combines wondrous puppetry with a score by Colm Mac Con Iomaire for a magical theatre experience. READ MORE

Hands on History: Floral Fun

Jamaica, Queens
Saturday, May 7
Explore floral scents and the use of botanicals in the 19th century by making your own scented sachets to take home! This is a great activity to do with Mother’s Day on the horizon! READ MORE

Madagascar: The Musical

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Friday, May 13
A brand new musical from Dreamworks leaves audiences with no choice but to Move It, Move It! Animals escape from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien's Madagascar. READ MORE

Sheep Shearing Festival at the Queens County Farm Museum

Floral Park, Queens
Saturday, May 14
Visit the Queens County Farm Museum on the Nassau-Queens border to see the sheep get their annual haircuts. Move to the foot-stomping rhythms of live music, and enjoy farmer-led tours and a plant sale all day.  READ MORE

ABCirque & Play

Bushwick, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 15
NYC's finest circus troupe, ABCirque, performs its trademark aerial acrobatics. Each show includes a 45-minute show followed by 30 minutes of time for the audience to take a swing in an aerial hammock, hula-hoop their hearts out, and juggle everything in sight. READ MORE

Dance Parade + DanceFest in the East Village

Gramercy–FREE
Saturday, May 21
Dance Parade returns to the streets, celebrating its 18th annual procession and festival with 10,000 dancers and more than 100 unique styles of dance. READ MORE

La MaMa Kids: Mary Had a Little Lamb and also a Substitute Teacher

Bowery
Saturday, May 21-Sunday, May 22
Using live music, puppetry, and interactive storytelling, Mary Had a Little Lamb and also a Substitute Teacher is a high-energy, laugh-filled adventure that reminds us that, while making new friends can be scary, it can also be quite a lot of fun. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

South Street Seaport
The Theater at Madison Square Garden