Celebrate spring at the Queens County Farm Museum's Apple Blossom Children's Festival. Photo courtesy of the QCFM.
19 Best Spring Festivals and Fairs in NYC this April for Families
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
The Green-Wood Cemetery has gorgeous cherry blossoms and amazing views. Photo by Amy Nieporent
Cherry Blossoms in NYC: Cherry Blossom Festivals and Where to See the Blooms
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
The popular Big Umbrella Festival blooms as a free campus takeover at Lincoln Center full of relaxed spaces with multi-sensory experiences. Photo by John Altdorfer
25 Best Things To Do in NYC April 2024 with Kids
Enjoy a tropical spring break daycation with a trip to DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream Mall in New Jersey. Photo by the author
Spring Break 2024: 49 Fun Things To Do in NYC
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
Tea Around Town combines a sumptuous meal with a unique view NYC landmarks! Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Best NYC Tours for Families: From Boat Rides to Free Walking Tours and More
Twinkle Playspace in Williamsburg offers action-packed fun for kids of all ages.
21 Top Indoor Play Spaces in New York City
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by Jody Mercier
43 Things To Do on a Rainy Day Indoors in NYC
Kids can climb the walls—and more—at the Play Lab, one of our top picks for the best indoor playgrounds in Brooklyn.
Best Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Brooklyn for Kids
Take to the skies on Legoland New York's new Minifigure Skyflyer. Rendering courtesy of the resort
From Six Flags' The Flash to Legoland's Minifigure Skyflyer Here Are the Top Attractions Coming to Theme Parks near You
There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
101 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
DOROT's Manhattan Teen Internship Program pairs teens with older adults in need of companionship and aid.
Teens Can Apply Now for Summer Internships in NYC
The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums in NYC
NYC school kids head back to school on Thursday, September 7, 2023, according to the newly released NYC public school calendar. Photo by Al De Ingeniis
2023-24 NYC Public School Calendar: New Holidays, Plus 2024 & 2025 Calendars
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Big-name Broadway shows like &Juliet come at a premium prices, but there are ways to save on Broadway tickets. Photo by Aka NYC.
Discount Broadway Tickets: Six Ways to Save Big on Broadway Shows
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
100 Things To Do in NYC With Kids Before They Grow Up
The Brooklyn Museum is a premier art museum, with floors of treasures and outdoor art, too.
Brooklyn Museum Guide For Kids - Everything You Need to Know Before Your Family Visit
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine in
Guide to the Best Broadway Shows for Kids and Families
Enjoy a wild visit to the Philadelphia Zoo during a weekend getaway to the City of Brotherly Love. Photo courtesy of the zoo
13 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Discover the NYC-themed play space hidden inside the Toys
26 Free Things To Do Indoors in NYC: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
Top Attractions in NYC: Best Things To See and Do With Kids
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones in NYC
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting.
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids
Celebrate spring at the Queens County Farm Museum's Apple Blossom Festival. Photo courtesy of the Queens County Farm Musuem
Earth Day, Paw Patrol, Apple Blossom Carnival, Outdoor Movies, and More Things To Do with Kids this Weekend in NYC

Best Family-Friendly Street Fairs and Summer Festivals in NYC this July

Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York transforms Socrates Sculpture Park into a celebration of Mexican culture at month's end. Photo by Bob Krasner
Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York transforms Socrates Sculpture Park into a celebration of Mexican culture at month's end. Photo by Bob Krasner
6/26/23 - By Drew Kristofik

We're entering peak season for the family-friendly festivals that pop up all over NYC all summer long. Our list of fun summer festivals for kids this July includes annual favorites like City of Water Day and the blocks-long Bastille Day, plus little-kid picks like Sprinkler Day at Asphalt Green and the Big Umbrella Festival at Lincoln Center. We're even teaming up with The Seaport to throw our own Summer Bash!

Beyond these picks for family-friendly festivals and street fairs in NYC this July, you'll find more local happenings on our action-packed Family Activity Calendar. Be sure to bookmark our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide for more top picks.

As always, if an event piques your interest, be sure to click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses and times, and any reservation requirements.

Sign up for our FREE newsletters to get posts like this delivered to your inbox.

More Ultimate Summer Activities in NYC

Free NYC Summer Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals

Free Summer Movies in NYC for an Outdoor Movie Night

100 Free Things To Do in NYC this Summer with Kids

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Head to Asphalt Green's Upper East Side location for an afternoon of wet and wild fun on Sprinkler Day. Photo courtesy of Asphalt Green
Head to Asphalt Green's Upper East Side location for an afternoon of wet and wild fun on Sprinkler Day. Photo courtesy of Asphalt Green

Best Summer Festivals and Street Fairs in July

Big Umbrella Festival at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side–FREE
Saturday, July 1
The popular Big Umbrella Festival blooms as a free campus takeover at Lincoln Center full of relaxed spaces with multi-sensory experiences, performances, installations, and workshops specifically welcoming neurodivergent audiences and their families. READ MORE

Richmond Town Independence Day Celebration

Richmond, Staten Island
Saturday, July 1-Sunday, July 2
Celebrate our nation’s independence with old-fashioned family fun! Visit Historic Richmond Town for home-churned ice cream, a patriotic pinwheel parade, and an inspirational reading of the Declaration of Independence. READ MORE

Harlem Meer Performance Festival

Central Park–FREE
Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday, July 1-Sunday, August 27
After three decades of bringing the best local music and dance talent to Central Park, the Harlem Meer Summer Festival offers a variety of multicultural musical performances, exercise classes, and more to get heart rates up with a lineup of movement classes for a summer of fun and well-being. READ MORE

Empire Outlets' 4th of July Fireworks

St. George, Staten Island–FREE
Tuesday, July 4
Empire Outlets hosts a celebratory block party with face painting, balloon animals, popcorn, cotton candy, live music, and more. A fireworks show caps off the fun around 9pm. READ MORE

Travis Parade

Tuesday, July 4–FREE
Travis, Staten Island
Travis hosts one of the oldest consecutive Independence Day celebrations in the United States. The festivities start at noon with a ceremony at Independence Park. READ MORE

Annual Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Wednesday, July 5-Sunday, July 16
The Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and San Paolino di Nola is one of the oldest Italian American feasts in America. Celebrate with the congregation of OLMC church during this blocks-long carnival. The celebration dates back to 1903, when the Nolani immigrants first held their transplanted feast, maintaining many of the traditions from the Mezzogiorno. READ MORE

Goatham Festival – SOLD OUT

Upper West Side–FREE
Friday, July 7
The Riverside goats are making a pitstop on the way to their summer home in the woods between 119th and 122nd Streets. Cowgirl, Charlie, Chico, and Mallomar are guests of honor at a "ribbon chewing" ceremony. READ MORE

Seaport Kids Summer Bash

South Street Seaport–FREE
Saturday, July 15
Come to The Seaport for an afternoon of unleashed creativity and interactive fun. Once again, The Seaport is partnering with Mommy Poppins to bring kids a Summer Bash like no other. Join in for puppet performances from Puppetsburg, a gymnastics obstacle course, pop-up play with recycled materials, STEM projects with Brooklyn Robot Foundry, plus crafts, a face painter, face gems and temporary tattoos, block building, and more.  READ MORE

City of Water Day

South Street Seaport–FREE
Saturday, July 15
City of Water Day celebrates NYC's long history as a port and water-bound metropolis. Festivities include boat tours on all kinds of vessels, from tall ships to tugboats; free rowing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more. READ MORE

NYC Math Festival

Financial District–FREE
Saturday, July 15
MoMath presents the annual NYC Math Festival, providing a full day of math fun in the sun for all ages. Enjoy hands-on math exhibits, entertaining mathematical games, and intriguing puzzles and brainteasers.  READ MORE

Sprinkler Day

Upper East Side–FREE
Saturday, July 15
Don’t let the soaring summer temperatures discourage you from enjoying the outdoors. Cool off by splashing around in Asphalt Green’s high-powered sprinklers and slip and slides. READ MORE

Bastille Day on Madison Avenue

Upper East Side–FREE
Sunday, July 16
Celebrate France’s national holiday at this annual street fair, this year on Madison Avenue! Featuring French cuisine, music, dance, and myriad attractions for the whole family, FIAF's fête populaire invites New Yorkers to revel in the flavors, sounds, and joie de vivre of France. READ MORE

Waterfront Festival

Randall's Island–FREE
Saturday, July 22
Celebrate the vibrant waterfront on the shores of Randall’s Island with live performances, Science in the City, face painting by Sheila Jordan Art & Entertainment, and human-sized bubbles kids can jump through courtesy of Bubbledad.  READ MORE

BAAND Together Dance Fest

Upper West Side–FREE
Tuesday, July 25-Saturday, July 29
See five of NYC’s most iconic dance companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—together on one stage as the BAAND Together Dance Festival returns to Damrosch Park for five midsummer nights. READ MORE

45th Annual Thunderbird American Indian Mid-Summer Powwow

Floral Park, Queens
Friday, July 28-Sunday, July 30
New York City's oldest and largest powwow features three days of intertribal Native American dance competitions, and the public is invited. More than 40 Indian nations are represented at this spectacular event, held in the apple orchard on the farm grounds.  READ MORE

STooPS 10th Annual Art Crawl

Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, July 29
STooPS Bed-Stuy, an annual celebration of creativity in Brooklyn, returns to Bedford-Stuyvesant for an afternoon of dance, music, spoken word, theater, visual art, conversations, and workshops as artists transform the stoops, storefronts, yards, and sidewalks of Hancock Street into dynamic stages for interactive art performances. READ MORE

New York City Poetry Festival

Governors Island–FREE
Saturday, July 29-Sunday, July 30
The New York City Poetry Festival unites the vast and diverse New York City poetry community on Governors Island. The festival invites poetry organizations and collectives of all shapes and sizes to bring their unique formats, aesthetics, and personalities to the festival grounds. READ MORE

Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York Presents Guelaguetza 2023

Long Island City, Queens–FREE
Sunday, July 30
Immerse yourself in one of the most vivid expressions of Mexican culture as the 11th annual Guelaguetza Festival New York City returns to Socrates Sculpture Park. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: