The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is an event unto itself. See the larger-than-life balloons come to life the night before the parade. Photo by Anthony Quintano/CC BY 2.0
See the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation with Kids
The Tianyu Lights Festival transforms the Citi Field parking lot into a magical holiday destination with larger-than-life lanterns and kid-friendly activities. Photo courtesy of the festival
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in New York City for Kids
All aboard a festively decorated Polar Express train ride for some holiday magic and memories. Photo by Gwendolyn Tundermann
Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains near NYC
See the Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC with our insider's guide and tips!
GUIDE
Guide to Thanksgiving in NYC for Kids and Families
Celebrate Thanksgiving with Leuca. Photo courtesy of the Noho Hospitality Group
26 Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in NYC
Experience the magic of the Tianyu Lights Festival at Citi Field this holiday season. Photo courtesy of the festival
21 Best Things To Do in NYC November 2024 with Kids
Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has become an enchanting holiday tradition for many families. Photo courtesy of the garden
Holiday and Christmas Events in NYC to Book Now!
GUIDE
NYC Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Farms, Festivals, and Kid-Friendly Getaways 2024
Canstruction is free and open to the public at Brookfield Place through Monday, November 11. Photo by Heidi Lee
39 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC this November with Kids
Join Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero on a walk of wonders at NYBG's The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail. Photo by Ally Noel
Fall Bucket List for Kids: 35 Top Things To Do in NYC this Fall
Classics, like Tom Turkey, and newbies alike take flight in the 98th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024: Where to Watch, What's New
The 2024-2025 NYC public school calendar is out, and students return to school on Thursday, September 5.
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2024-2025
Visit the 180 Pool at the Crystal Springs Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort
14 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
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
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by Jody Mercier
47 Fun Indoor Activities in NYC for a Rainy Day
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Explore modern humanity through all-new world-wandering exhibitions at Mmuseumm.
Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Under-the-Radar Museums in NYC that Kids Love
Hell's Kitchen is a cool coming-of-age piece loosely based on Alicia Keys' life story. Photo by Marc J. Franklin
Best New Broadway Shows This Season Plus Can't-Miss Classics for Families
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
For an only-in-NYC experience, head to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view. Photo by Jody Mercier
Best Attractions and Things To Do near NYC that are Kid-Friendly
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
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
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
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
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties 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
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
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
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Indoor Playgrounds, Play Spaces, and Fun Zones in NYC
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
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
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
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
40 Best NYC Attractions to Do with Kids Right Now
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
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
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids
The Bronx Zoo will light up at night during the 2024 holiday season. Photo by Ally Noel
Holiday Light Shows, Luna Luna, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Fun Outdoor Classes for Kids Around NYC

Head to the CAMP curbside cafe on 16th Street and 5th Avenue for crafting and ice cream.Photo courtesy of the store
Head to the CAMP curbside cafe on 16th Street and 5th Avenue for crafting and ice cream.Photo courtesy of the store
8/7/20 - By Drew Kristofik

If remote learning has taught us anything, it's that the 'classroom' can be anywhere. And since outdoors is this summer's (and likely this fall's) favorite location, we feel especially grateful that NYC has plenty of open spaces that creative companies are now making use of for outdoor classes for kids.

We're seeing a surge of entertaining and educational pop-up fun for kids and families populating sidewalks, parks, and rooftops, in just about every borough these days. Whether your kid is into tennis, art class or music class, soccer, cooking, or circus arts, there's something literally "out there" just waiting to be discovered. Keep an eye on our NYC calendar, too, as we make the gradual transition from virtual to REAL, in-person things to do.

For more outdoor options, take a peek at all the city playgrounds now open, and our great list of outdoor adventures. Or, find online classes and more virtual entertainment options on our Poppins@Home platform.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Classical music class in Central Park with Mozart for Munchkins. Photo courtesy Mozart for Munchkins.
Classical music class in Central Park with Mozart for Munchkins. Photo courtesy Mozart for Munchkins.

Manhattan

Camp Store

Flatiron
Daily, 12pm-5pm
Camp's back in business at its Flatiron hub, offering outdoor crafting, drinks, snacks, and ice cream on the regular. READ MORE

Color Me Mine UWS

Upper West Side
Tue-Sun, 12pm-5pm
Have fun painting pottery and ceramics at Color Me Mine. Choose the perfect ceramic piece, paint it, and leave it for the studio to fire. Pricing includes the cost of pottery as well as a studio fee. Check the calendar for monthly kids' events like Kids Night Out, Friends and Family Paint Date, or Student Days, where high schoolers receive a discount.  READ MORE

UWS Kenshikai Karate & BJJ

Upper West Side/Central Park
Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; class times vary
UWS Kenshikai Karate & BJJ offers small-group, in-person, karate classes for kids ages 4 and up. Some classes are held in the dojo; others are held outdoors in Central Park. READ MORE

Mozart for Munchkins

Upper West Side/Central Park
Tuesdays, 8:45am and 10am
Mozart for Munchkins hosts a special classical and jazz set curated for little ones and their grown-ups, including Frosty and Snowman and Winter Wonderland. READ MORE

Trapeze School New York

Soho
Daily through October; Class times vary.
Kids ages 9 and up can fly through the air with the greatest of ease –– while wearing a mask and meeting all the current safety recs –– at the Trapeze School New York's outdoor facility, open May through October. READ MORE

Food Fun at South Street Seaport

Seaport
Fridays at 10am, through August 28
Made Fresh Daily hosts outdoor food fun classes for little ones and their adult companions. Each kid gets a kit (which includes all the ingredients), instructors wear masks, and social distancing is observed. READ MORE

Parkour – Mixed Ages

Central Park's Umpire Rock
Saturdays at 11am, through October 31
Kids congregate (with social distancing and masks in place) near Central Park's Umpire Rock to learn fundamental Parkour moves, building strength and control. Stay after class for communal training. READ MORE

The Greens at the Seaport

South Street Seaport
Daily, 11am-11pm
The rooftop gaming lawns at The Greens are now open for socially distanced competition. Games include bocce ball, cornhole, ladder ball and giant jenga and groups of up to eight people can play.   READ MORE

Sportime NY - Randall's Island

Randall's Island, Upper East Side
By appointment
Sportime on Randall's Island provides tennis programs for kids ages 3 and up, observing COVID-19 guidelines, including mask wearing and social distancing. READ MORE
Treebath is forming outdoor learning pods, including in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of Treebath
Treebath is forming outdoor learning pods, including in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of Treebath

Brooklyn

Prospect Park Tennis Center

Prospect Park South
Daily, 7am-11pm
The Prospect Park Tennis Center is open for day and evening tennis. Families can book a private or semi-private lesson (up to four students) with a roster of talented tennis pros. Or just book some court time to play! READ MORE

LeFrak Center at Lakeside

Prospect Park
Daily, 10am-8pm
Starting Saturday, August 1, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside is open daily for biking, boating and water play, with food and drink available for takeaway from the Bluestone Cafe. READ MORE

The Muse Brooklyn

Bushwick
Daily, by appointment
Brooklyn's mecca for circus arts, the Muse, offers outdoor classes for kids ages 5 and up teaching circus skills like silks, trapeze, acro, juggling, and more. Classes begin Friday, October 2, and space is limited. READ MORE
Super Soccer Stars NYC is rolling out in-person camps and classes with new social distancing guidelines. Photo courtesy of Super Soccer Stars
Super Soccer Stars NYC is rolling out in-person camps and classes with new social distancing guidelines. Photo courtesy of Super Soccer Stars

Multiple Locations

Super Soccer Stars NYC

Manhattan: UWS, Tribeca | Brooklyn: Prospect Park & Downtown
Queens: LIC & Rockaways | Bronx: Van Cortlandt Park
Class dates and times vary
Super Soccer Stars offers classes citywide that aim to teach soccer skills in a fun, non-competitive, educational environment. The sport is used to build self-confidence and develop teamwork skills. Super Soccer Stars classes start at age 12 months with parent-and-me soccer classes, and its programs carry athletes through childhood and up to age 18. READ MORE

Treebath Outdoor Programs

Central Park West & East |The Battery |Prospect Park
Sept 14 - Oct 9, times vary
Treebath's "pod" class programs for kids ages 3.5 to 8 will be available in several popular parks this fall, based on family demand. Register online with friends to schedule morning or afternoon sessions in a park near you. READ MORE

Wildman Steve Brill Foraging Tours

Inwood Hill Park | Central Park | Forest Park | Prospect Park
Ongoing; Tour dates/times vary
Wildman Steve Brill is back in city parks this summer, rummaging through the weeds to find delicious, often overlooked, goodies. Sign up for a tour, now following all the COVID-19 precautions, to learn what's safe and what isn't when it comes to wild cuisine. READ MORE

Fresh Air Summer Spaces

Manhattan | Brooklyn | Queens | The Bronx
Mon-Thur, sign up for specific time slots
The Fresh Air Fund, in response to COVID-19, has created Fresh Air Summer Spaces, fun, free and safe play spaces for New York City children. Fresh Air staff supervise a wide range of fun-filled activities, from making kaleidoscopes and birdhouses to drills in basketball and dance parties. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: