Visitors to the Museum of the American Revolution can enjoy walking tours, first-person theatrical performances and more. Photo courtesy of the museum
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Photo ops abound at the gorgeous light displays at LumiNature. Photo by Winnie Chung for the Philadelphia Zoo
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Frolic through Pumpkin Playground at Longwood Gardens. Photo courtesy of the Gardens
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Photo courtesy of Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
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Kids under 18 are always free at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Liz Baill
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Fishtown families flock to Penn Treaty Park for the waterfront views, special events, and open space. Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
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Grand Slam U.S.A. challenges you to a game of laser tag! Photo courtesy of the center
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Build birthday memories brick by brick at LEGOLAND. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND
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Ricketts Glen State Park is a family-friendly destination with awesome activities for all ages. Photo of Ricketts Glen by the author
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Put your skills to the test on the obstacle course at Urban Air. Photo courtesy of Urban Air
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Visit the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), located in the heart of Old City.
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Take in 300 years of history on Elfreth's Alley. Photo courtesy of the museum
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In addition to Pay-What-You-Wish First Sundays, kids 18 and under are always free at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of the museum
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Ultimo Coffee serves up treats and pours hearts all day. Photo courtesy of the shop
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Turn your eye of the tiger into the eye of an artist at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
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Learn all about fire safety and the history of firefighters in Philly at the Fireman's Hall Museum.Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
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Take a bikde ride through Doylestown. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
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Six Flag Great Adventure brings big-time thrills and is one of our favorite amusement parks in New Jersey.
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Both babies and dogs love stroller walks for some fresh air. Photo courtesy of Gina Massaro for Mommy Poppins
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Parents eat while kids climb and slide at Craft Hall.
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Pony rides always bring out smiles at Linvilla Orchards. Photo courtesy of the orchard
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Try a whiz-wit at Tony Luke's, a reliable Philly cheesesteak spot with multiple locations. Photo courtesy of J. Varney for GPTMC
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Challenge the rope bridge and zip line at Elmwood Park Zoo. Photo courtesy of the zoo
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Blue Cross RiverRink is open for Summerfest in the warmer months and Winterfest in the colder months. Photo courtesy of J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
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Kids can zoom down the slide and, of course, launch scarves at Kith + Kin. Photo courtesy of Kith + Kin
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No one walks the plank, but everyone has fun with with Scallywag’s Pirate Adventures in Erie. Photo courtesy of Scallywag's Pirate Adventures.
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Take a hike: Family getaways are a great opportunity to reconnect with nature.
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Spend a gorgeous fall day at Peddler's Village for the annual display of more than 100 handmade scarecrows, a weekend festival, and scarecrow-making workshops. Photo by Chris Burrow
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29 Best Things To Do in NYC September 2024 with Kids

Big Bounce America lands at Citi Field at the end of the month. Photo courtesy Big Bounce.
Big Bounce America lands at Citi Field at the end of the month. Photo courtesy Big Bounce.
8/30/24 - By Drew Kristofik

Labor Day kicks off September's activities, launching New York City's season of apple picking, fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes.

September is here, and even though the kids are heading back to school, there's still plenty of time for fun. The Richmond County Fair and the West Side County Fair return with rides, games, and plenty of live music.

Meanwhile, unicycles are wheeling all over town, and we're hosting back-to-school parties at The Seaport and in Brooklyn. By month's end, things are getting spooky, as the New York Botanical Garden unveils its deliciously eerie Nightmare Before Christmas light trail.

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses and times. And keep in mind: Really cool things to do with kids often book quickly, so register or buy your tickets ASAP.

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Jack Skellington sets a spooky stage at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo courtesy NYBG.
Jack Skellington sets a spooky stage at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo courtesy NYBG.

Best Things To Do in NYC in September with Kids

15th Annual NYC Unicycle Festival

Citywide – FREE
Thursday, August 29-Sunday, September 1, 2024
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus rolls out its annual NYC Unicycle Festival across New York City, bringing together recreational riders, world-class performers, mountain and off-road unicycle enthusiasts, and mono-wheel vehicle inventors.  READ MORE

Back to Hogwarts at Grand Central Terminal

Midtown East – FREE
Friday, August 30-Sunday, September 1, 2024
Harry Potter fans are invited to a special Back to Hogwarts pop-up in the beautiful Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal. Expect magical performances, exciting Lego building activities, an interactive Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions fan experience, plus activations from Scholastic, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and even the chance to toast one another with the most delectable of wizarding drinks: butterbeer. READ MORE

Richmond County Fair

Richmond, Staten Island
August 31-Monday, September 2, 2024
An old-fashioned county fair in New York City, the 41-year-old Staten Island tradition features family fun and entertainment for all ages, including circus performers, crafts and rides for the kids, live music, plenty of eats, and contests. READ MORE

Seaport Kids x Back to School Bash

South Street Seaport – FREE
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Rescheduled from Saturday, September 7, the Seaport Kids x Back to School Bash promises an exciting day packed with free kids’ activities. Enjoy a dazzling magic show, and get creative with balloon animals and fun kid crafts. Say goodbye to back-to-school blues while discovering engaging classes and activities from local schools in collaboration with Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents. READ MORE

BRIC Family Day: Back To School

Downtown Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, September 7, 2024
BRIC House invites families to participate in an afternoon of creativity and excitement for the upcoming school year with a whole bunch of activities. READ MORE

Big Kick at Asphalt Green

Upper East Side – FREE
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Kids can participate in an outdoor soccer festival under the lights on Litwin Field. Participants receive a drawstring bag—perfect for toting your soccer ball to the field! Registration is not required.   READ MORE

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at The Duke on 42nd

Midtown West
Opens Saturday, September 7, 2024
One of the most beloved and widely-read children’s books of all time, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, emerges from the page in a masterful and beautiful theatrical experience for the whole family. READ MORE

Annual Bus Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Dumbo, Brooklyn – FREE
Sunday, September 8, 2024
The New York Transit Museum invites visitors aboard some of its beloved vintage vehicles at this annual fest. Explore buses from the vintage fleet representing more than 80 years of New York City surface transit history.  READ MORE

West Side County Fair

Upper West Side
Sunday, September 8, 2024
Summer on the Hudson's biggest event of the season—the West Side County Fair—returns, bringing with it a full afternoon of county fair magic in Manhattan. READ MORE

Ferragosto 2024

Belmont, the Bronx
Sunday, September 8, 2024
The Belmont section of the Bronx hosts the annual Ferragosto festival in the original Little Italy: Arthur Avenue and East 187th Street. READ MORE

Private School Admissions: Parent Workshops (ISAAGNY)

Virtual
Multiple dates beginning Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Applying to private school? Unlock the secrets to a smooth and successful admissions process with free, virtual parent workshops! These sessions offer invaluable insights from a panel of private school leaders, all of whom bring years of experience *and* up-to-date knowledge to the conversation. They'll guide you through every step: from application to enrollment. READ MORE

Flatiron Jewish New Year Street Fair

Chelsea
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
The Jewish New Year's Street Festival is a pre-holiday celebration for young families in Lower Manhattan. Come by for a Kosher ice cream truck, music by Noah Solomon Band, inflatables, a beekeeper, and a bubble show to celebrate the new year. READ MORE

98th Annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy

Little Italy – FREE
Thursday, September 12-Sunday, September 22, 2024
The Feast of San Gennaro honors Italian Americans in professional baseball this year with its blocks-long street festival dubbed the "Feast of all Feasts!" Enjoy food, entertainment, and vendors along Mulberry Street from Houston to Canal. Food Network star Anne Burrell serves as grand marshal. READ MORE

Story Pirates: The Amazing Adventure Tour at Ethical Culture

Upper West Side
Saturday, September 14, 2024
This fast-paced, hilarious, and inspiring show for the whole family features Eric from The Story Pirates Podcast, plus a cast of the funniest Story Pirate actors, singers, and comedians around.  READ MORE

End of Summer Block Party in Bay Ridge

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Brooklyn Bridge Parents partners with the 5th Avenue BID in Bay Ridge to host a big end-of-summer block party spanning 13 blocks of car-free 5th Avenue from 68th to 81st Street, complete with bouncy houses, arts and crafts, a bubble show, water play, and much more. READ MORE

Mid-Autumn Festival at Alley Pond

Alley Pond, Queens
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Alley Pond's Mid-Autumn Fest includes Chinese calligraphy and origami workshops, a Chinese dance performance, and more. READ MORE

Morningside Lights: In Retrospect at Columbia University

Morningside Heights – FREE
Saturday, September 14-Saturday, September 21, 2024
Morningside Lights returns for its 13th year, illuminating the night in a procession of awe-inspiring handmade lanterns floating through Morningside Park to Columbia's campus. This year's theme, In Retrospect, celebrates how a century of New York art has shaped our image of where and how we live. READ MORE

Back-to-School Party on Car-Free Montague Street

Downtown Brooklyn – FREE
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents host a back-to-school party during Open Streets on Montague Street between Clinton and Hicks Streets in Brooklyn Heights. Enjoy a bubble show, music with Hopalong Andrew, a dance party, and dozens more activities. READ MORE

SOLD OUT Step Afrika!

Upper West Side – FREE
Friday, September 20, 2024
Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience.   READ MORE

Poseidon Parade

Rockaways, Queens – FREE
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Family-friendly and art-centered, this annual march celebrates self-expression, community, and the beauty of the Rockaway shore. READ MORE

NYSoM Superhero Festival 2024 in Evergreen Park

Ridgewood, Queens – FREE
Saturday, September 21, 2024
NYSoM Fall Blockbuster presents its sixth annual Superhero Festival. The festival features a superhero carnival inside Evergreen Park, character-themed games for prizes, classic arcade games, and meet-and-greets with superheros. READ MORE

Family Day: Baila! Canta! Celebra! at Carnegie Hall

Midtown West – FREE
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Carnegie Hall’s annual Family Day salutes Nuestros sonidos (Our Sounds), a season-long celebration of Latin culture in the US. With activities offered in both English and Spanish, it’s  an afternoon of live music, dance, and celebration. Stop by for a quick visit or stay for the whole afternoon! READ MORE

Flatbush Frolic

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Sunday, September 22, 2024
One of NYC's largest street fairs, featuring thousands of visitors and hundreds of vendors, the Flatbush Frolic dizzies up Cortelyou Road with food, games, pony rides, carnival rides, music, and more.  READ MORE

BAM Presents: A Celebration of African Diasporic Dance in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn – FREE
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Families can celebrate DanceAfrica early at this fun-filled, outdoor workshop led by BAM teaching artist Yasmar Cruz. Discover how African and diasporic dance forms celebrate community, providing a unique window into the history and traditions of its people. READ MORE

Brooklyn Book Festival

Downtown Brooklyn – FREE
Sunday, September 22-Monday, September 30, 2024
Dive into some great books at the 2024 Brooklyn Book Festival. Kid-friendly programming abounds during Children's Day on Saturday, September 28. READ MORE

Family Night with Stacey Abrams at BAM

Downtown Brooklyn
Tuesday, September 24
Stacey Abrams, the nationally celebrated politician, activist, and New York Times bestselling author, hosts a special family evening as she presents the latest addition to her beloved children’s series, Stacey Speaks Up.    READ MORE

The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at the New York Botanical Garden

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Opens Friday, September 27, 2024
Join Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero on a walk of wonders, as your favorite characters, scenes, and songs from the immortal film The Nightmare Before Christmas come to life in New York's most treasured garden. READ MORE

Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival

Downtown Brooklyn – FREE
Friday, September 27-Saturday, September 28, 2024
The Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival is an annual celebration of the neighborhood's cultural community and the artists, writers, and performers who inspire the borough’s creative spirit. READ MORE

Little Red Lighthouse Festival

Hudson Heights – FREE
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Celebrate Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse with Urban Park Ranger presentations, readings of The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge children’s book, live music, and activities for all ages. READ MORE

Big Bounce America at Citi Field

Flushing, Queens
Opens Saturday, September 28, 2024
Big Bounce America brings an action-packed bouncy-house wonderland to Citi Field. Hop inside the self-described "world's largest bounce house" or one of its other inflatable fun zones. READ MORE

49th Annual Atlantic Antic: Playtopia, Powered by Prospect Schools

Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
Sunday, September 29, 2024
The largest street fest in New York City, the Atlantic Antic spans 10 blocks of Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue with food and craft vendors, family fun, and amazing performances. This year, Playtopia with Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents, sponsored by Prospect Schools, is located between Hicks and Henry Streets in Cobble Hill near Brooklyn Bridge Park.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Multiple locations around NYC
Seaport Square, South Street Seaport
Emily Warren Roebling Plaza
Riverside Park South - Pier I
Virtual (Zoom)
The New York Society for Ethical Culture
Alley Pond Environmental Center
Miller Theater at Columbia University
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
BAM Fisher Fishman Space
Little Red Lighthouse (in Fort Washington Park)