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23 Best Things To Do in NYC July 2024 with Kids: Macy's 4th of July Fireworks and More

Celebrate all things French when Bastille Day takes over Madison Avenue with a blocks-long street fest. Photo by Michael George
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6/30/24 - By Drew Kristofik

Cue the fireworks, because July is here, bringing with it tons of 4th of July fun, plus plenty more family-friendly things to do in New York City.

Independence Day starts July with a bang, and fireworks are exploding all over town, including the big Macy's 4th of July display, which moves to the west side. We're partnering with Seaport Kids and Brooklyn Bridge Parents for a Seaport Kids Music Fest. Plus, the month brings some fun annual favorites, including City of Water Day, Sprinkler Day at Asphalt Green, and the first foray into Summer Streets in Queens and Staten Island.

Keep an eye on our lists of FREE outdoor movies and summer concerts, which are frequently updated, and find more top July fun on our list of 100 FREE things to do this summer in NYC and our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses, times, and recommended ages. And keep in mind: In NYC, really cool things to do with kids often get booked quickly, so buy your tickets ASAP.

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Top Things To Do in NYC this July with Kids

Balloon Story at the Park Avenue Armory

Upper East Side
Opens Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Take a magical journey through playful exhibits and interactive installations, where larger-than-life, eco-friendly balloon sculptures come to life. READ MORE

Nathan’s Famous 4th of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest 2024

Coney Island, Brooklyn – FREE
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Hearty eaters compete to see who can chow down on the most franks at this classic NYC summer event, which takes place on the corner of Surf and Stillwell. READ MORE

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks

West Side – FREE
Thursday, July 4, 2024
The 48th annual Macy's 4th of July fireworks are set to sparkle over the Hudson River, moving to Manhattan's west side for the first time since 2013. The dazzling display features thousands of shells bursting forth and visible from West 14th Street to West 34th Street and along the New Jersey waterfront. READ MORE

Richmond Town Independence Day Celebration

Richmond, Staten Island
Thursday, July 4, 2024
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

Seaport Kids Music Fest & Beach Fest Weekend

South Street Seaport – FREE
Thursday, July 4-Sunday, July 7, 2024
Seaport Beach Fest transforms the neighborhood into a four-day coastal oasis with live music performances, pop-up bars and food trucks, and a giant sandbox. The highlight for families is Saturday, July 6, when Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents program the Seaport Kids x Music Fest with free music, activities, and fun for the whole family.  READ MORE

Big Umbrella Day at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side – FREE
Saturday, July 6
The celebrated Big Umbrella Festival returns as a free one-day Lincoln Center campus takeover full of relaxed spaces with multi-sensory experiences, performances, installations, and workshops specifically welcoming neurodivergent audiences and their families. READ MORE

A Midsummer Night's Dream in Marcus Garvey Park

Harlem – FREE
Select dates from Saturday, July 6-Sunday, July 28
Set at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, the Classical Theatre of Harlem's production of Shakespeare's most accessible comedy explores the tale of four young lovers, a troupe of rude mechanicals, and mischievous fairies, all embroiled in romantic chaos within the mystical forest.  READ MORE

Staten Island Philharmonic: Happy Birthday America at Conference House

Tottenville, Staten Island – FREE
Sunday, July 7
Conference House Association presents a FREE outdoor concert from the Staten Island Philharmonic—a 40-piece wind ensemble. READ MORE

Opera in the Garden at the West Side Community Garden

Upper West Side – FREE
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
On Site Opera, New York’s pioneering opera company rooted in site-specific storytelling and the immersive experience, returns to the West Side Community Garden for three evenings of free outdoor concert performances. READ MORE

Annual Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Wednesday, July 10-Sunday, July 21, 2024
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

New Victory Dance: Program A

Midtown West
Thursday, July 11, 2024
New Victory Dance celebrates the artistry and diversity of NYC dance with affordable performances specifically curated for young audiences that feature a cross-section of internationally recognized New York City-based companies. READ MORE

West Side Fest

Chelsea – FREE
Friday, July 12-Saturday, July 14, 2024
Go west, young families, for a weekend celebration of all the west side offers. Participating organizations, including the Atlantic Theater Company, the Whitney, The High Line, and The Joyce provide fun activities for all ages. READ MORE

The Big Busk in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Dumbo, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, July 13, 2024
Citizen Cope leads an open busk performance, inviting members of the public to join. Musicians of all ages and abilities are invited to participate by helping select the songs to be performed and participating in a massive sing- and play-along! READ MORE

City of Water Day at the Seaport

Seaport and Citywide – FREE
Saturday, July 13, 2024
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, plus free rowing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more. READ MORE

NYC Math Festival in Fosun Plaza

Financial District – FREE
Saturday, July 13, 2024
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

Bastille Day on Madison Avenue

Upper East Side – FREE
Sunday, July 14, 2024
Celebrate France’s national holiday at this annual street fair 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

Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School at 92Y

Upper East Side
Weekends from Sunday, July 14-Sunday, July 21, 2024
Based on the bestselling book series by Barbara Park, this 45-minute musical celebrates the wonders of first grade. READ MORE

Sprinkler Day at Asphalt Green

Upper East Side – FREE
Saturday, July 27, 2024
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

Summer Streets

Staten Island and Queens – FREE
Saturday, July 27, 2024
New York's favorite car-free street festival returns this July and August, as Summer Streets opens miles of NYC streets for people to play, run, walk, and bike across multiple weeks and in all five boroughs. READ MORE

Pilobolus

Chelsea
Saturday, July 27, 2024
The physically daring Pilobolus returns to the Joyce with re:CREATION, a dynamic collection of works from its over 50-year legacy. Featuring two specially curated programs, Dreams and Memory, the company transports audiences into surreal worlds inhabited by otherworldly characters and fantastical visions.    READ MORE

Public Theater Block Party at Astor Place

Astor Place – FREE
Sunday, July 28, 2024
The Public hosts a block party that includes a performance by headliner Olivia K & The Parkers. The afternoon also features past and present Public Theater productions, from Hair to Hamilton, with additional performances and participating cast members to be announced on Tuesday, July 9. READ MORE

BAAND Together Dance Fest at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side – FREE
Tuesday, July 30-Saturday, August 3, 2024
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

Places featured in this article:

West Side Community Garden
Multiple locations in Manhattan
Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Pier 17, South Street Seaport