Presented by Pages to Pirouettes, The Nutcracker returns to the Free Library stage! Photo courtesy of the event
JingleBell Run, Fishtown Freeze, The Nutcracker, and More Fun Things To Do in Philly this Weekend
Rose Tree Park glimmers at night, welcoming visitors to enjoy a wintery walk at Festival of Lights. Photo courtesy of the park
21 Free Holiday and Christmas Events for Philly Kids
The amazing Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular.display is back! Photo courtesy of the venue
24 Best Things to Do in Philly December 2024 with Kids
Santa roams Philadelphia's Christmas Village all season long. Photo courtesy of Kory Aversa for Christmas Village.
GUIDE
Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in Philadelphia
Take a sparkling selfie at the Miracle on South 13th Street. Photo by K. Kelly for Visit Philadelphia
Spectacular Neighborhood Holiday Lights and Christmas Lights in Philly
The zoo lights are aglow at LumiNature. Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo
30 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Philly for Kids
Curiosity meets discovery in Body Odyssey, where the walkthrough Giant Heart is just the beginning.
The Giant Heart is Back and Better Than Ever at the Franklin Institute
Photo courtesy of Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Best Philly Tours for Kids: Art Hunts, Food Tours, Ghost Tours, and More
Kids under 18 are always free at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Liz Baill
100 Free Fun Things To Do in Philly with Kids
Fishtown families flock to Penn Treaty Park for the waterfront views, special events, and open space. Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
Fishtown with Kids: 9 Things To Do in the Fishtown Neighborhood of Philly
School Calendars 2024-2025: Important Dates for Philadelphia School District
Grand Slam U.S.A. challenges you to a game of laser tag! Photo courtesy of the center
Best Laser Tag Zones and Paintball for Philly Kids
Build birthday memories brick by brick at LEGOLAND. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND
31 Fun Indoor Birthday Party Places for Kids in Philly
Ricketts Glen State Park is a family-friendly destination with awesome activities for all ages. Photo of Ricketts Glen by the author
Amazing Budget Weekend Getaways for Philly Families
Put your skills to the test on the obstacle course at Urban Air. Photo courtesy of Urban Air
Extreme Sports and More Thrilling Activities for Kids in Philly: Go Karts, Axe Throwing, and More!
Visit the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), located in the heart of Old City.
Visiting Historic Philadelphia: Top Things To Do in the Historic District with Kids
Take in 300 years of history on Elfreth's Alley. Photo courtesy of the museum
3 Days in Philadelphia with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
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
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in Philly
Turn your eye of the tiger into the eye of an artist at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art with Kids: Creative Family Time at the Art Museum
GUIDE
Guide to Classes for Kids in Philadelphia
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
14 Free Things To Do Indoors in Philly: Indoor Places To Play On Cold and Rainy Days
Take a bikde ride through Doylestown. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
9 Walkable Neighborhoods near Philly for Family Outings
Six Flag Great Adventure brings big-time thrills and is one of our favorite amusement parks in New Jersey.
Great Theme Parks and Amusement Parks Near New Jersey
Both babies and dogs love stroller walks for some fresh air. Photo courtesy of Gina Massaro for Mommy Poppins
Great Stroller Walks and Stroller Hikes near Philly
Parents eat while kids climb and slide at Craft Hall.
13 Philly Restaurants Where Kids Can Play While Parents Eat
Pony rides always bring out smiles at Linvilla Orchards. Photo courtesy of the orchard
Animal Farms and Petting Zoos near Philadelphia that are Perfect for Preschoolers
Try a whiz-wit at Tony Luke's, a reliable Philly cheesesteak spot with multiple locations. Photo courtesy of J. Varney for GPTMC
11 Kid-Friendly Philly Cheesesteak Spots
Challenge the rope bridge and zip line at Elmwood Park Zoo. Photo courtesy of the zoo
100 Things To Do in Philly with Kids Before They Grow Up
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
Top Attractions in Philadelphia: Best Things to See and Do with Kids
Kids can zoom down the slide and, of course, launch scarves at Kith + Kin. Photo courtesy of Kith + Kin
38 Best Indoor Play Spaces and Indoor Playgrounds in Philadelphia
No one walks the plank, but everyone has fun with with Scallywag’s Pirate Adventures in Erie. Photo courtesy of Scallywag's Pirate Adventures.
10 PA Weekend Getaways for Families
Take a hike: Family getaways are a great opportunity to reconnect with nature.
GUIDE
Philly Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways

Things To Do in NYC This Weekend: Film Fest, Black History, New Museum Exhibits and More

The Black Future Festival at the Brooklyn Children's Museum invites kids to reflect, act, and look toward the future. Photo courtesy of the museum
The Black Future Festival at the Brooklyn Children's Museum invites kids to reflect, act, and look toward the future. Photo courtesy of the museum
2/19/20 - By Drew Kristofik

Whether you've just returned from a family vacay, or you've been in the city for all of midwinter break, this weekend offers a chance to visit the Children's Museum of Manhattan's new Superpowered Metropolis exhibit or try some engineering activities at NYSCI, which just debuted a Survival exhibit. You've even got one last chance to check out Kids Week at the Intrepid before it rolls to a close on Saturday.

The New York International Children's Film Fest kicks off this weekend. While the School of Visual Arts Theater is the main hub, families can also catch the kid flicks at the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn and Scandinavia House in Manhattan. A very cool (and FREE!) alternative is the 90-Second Newbery Film Fest on Saturday.

Black History Month is quickly coming to a close. Still, this weekend's activities include an extraordinary Black Culture Fest at the Children's Museum of the Arts, interactive performances, crafts, and a scavenger hunt at the Museum of the City of New York, plus the Black Future Fest at the Brooklyn Children's Museum.

Other unbeatable options include performances by Gustafer Yellowgold and Pete the Cat, the National Museum of the American Indian's the Art of Storytelling, and BAMKids' Teknopolis, where kids can experiment with technology in a series of virtual reality and multi-sensory installations. Oh, and the American Museum of Natural History is all about polar bears Sunday.

Need more ideas for family-friendly fun to fill your weekend? Our packed Event Calendar and Winter Fun List are here to help.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Explore the trains at Superpowered Metropolis at CMOM. Photo by Jody Mercier
Explore the trains at Superpowered Metropolis at CMOM. Photo by Jody Mercier

Things To Do With Kids in NYC All Weekend

BAMKids Teknopolis 2020

Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
Teknopolis returns to the BAM Fisher for its fourth year with an ambitious new program designed to inspire creativity, connect with the future, and encourage a renewed sense of play. READ MORE

CANCELED: SVA: New York International Children's Film Festival Screenings

Chelsea
The New York International Children's Film Festival screens a wide variety of films from around the globe, specifically for children, at theaters in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.  On the advice of public health experts on COVID-19 best practices and in the interest of making health the utmost priority, NYICFF has made the difficult decision to cancel all events and screenings for NYICFF's final weekend, March 14th and 15th. READ MORE

Black Future Festival at the Brooklyn Children's Museum

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Black Future Festival at Brooklyn Children’s Museum is a week of reflection and looking forward, inspired by the national celebration of peoples of the African Diaspora and Black History Month. READ MORE

February School Break: Engineering Week

Corona, Queens
NYSCI staff and engineering partners from NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering join forces for a week of engineering activities. READ MORE

Superpowered Metropolis: Opening Weekend and Break Week

Upper West Side
Superpowered Metropolis: An Early Learning City is a hands-on, interactive, and colorfully, immersive exhibition where kids are the heroes! Step into a playful, comic book version of New York City where a lively team of pigeons, Zip, Zap, and Zoom, serve as your guides to fun and learning. READ MORE

Celebrate Black History: Rooted in Plants

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Celebrate Black History Month by learning more about the plants of Africa and how they are used throughout the US. Investigate seeds native to Africa, explore traditional Nigerian dying techniques, and create a mini plant-zine inspired by the original plant bulletin author and botanist, George Washington Carver! READ MORE

Survival: The Exhibition, Opening Week

Corona, Queens
Test your survival skills, learn how to build shelter in the forest, find water in the desert, and stay warm in the extreme cold at this brand-new exhibition.  READ MORE

Family Art Project: Swamp Spectacles and Marsh Marvels

Riverdale, the Bronx
Create spectacle-art of the plants and animals that make up these rich, biodiverse ecosystems by crafting large-scale puppets and float-like structures. READ MORE

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: New York International Children's Film Festival Screenings

Downtown Brooklyn
You don't have to head into Manhattan to see movies entered in The New York International Children's Film Festival. Alamo Drafthouse brings short films to Brooklyn. READ MORE
Science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and fun take center stage at the Intrepid Museum Kids Week. Photo by Janet Bloom
Science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and fun take center stage at the Intrepid Museum Kids Week. Photo by Janet Bloom

Things To Do With Kids in NYC Saturday, February 22

Just Kidding: Gustafer Yellowgold

Upper West Side
Gorgeous full-screen animation accompanies a live band in this multimedia extravaganza. READ MORE

Kids Week 2025 at the Intrepid Museum

Midtown West
Kids Week is back at the Intrepid Museum and the fun is moving full STEAM ahead! Science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and fun take center stage at this annual Midwinter Break fest.  READ MORE

The Art of Storytelling Through the Wonder of Books

Financial District— FREE
The National Museum of the American Indian hosts art activities, book readings, and signings, as well as meet-and-greets with authors Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) and Kevin Noble Maillard (Seminole Nation). READ MORE

Family Day: Black Futures

East Harlem
Head to the Museum of the City of New York for storytime featuring books on black joy, enjoy a step workshop with Tajh Sutton, make your own black doll with Clarivel Ruiz, and participate in a scavenger hunt in the Activist New York and City/Game: Basketball in New York exhibitions. READ MORE

90-Second Newbery Film Festival 2024

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn — FREE
Check out the 13th annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival—a yearly video contest in which kid filmmakers create weird short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery award-winning books in about 90 seconds. READ MORE

Pete the Cat

Tribeca
TheaterWorks performs a show based on the Pete the Cat series of books by Kimberly and James Dean. READ MORE

Masquerade: Venetian Carnival!

Battery Park City — FREE
The Carnival of Venice is world-renowned for elaborate and colorful masks and for the ancient theatrics of the Commedia dell’Arte. In this workshop, participants make their own character masks and watch a performance by the Kairos Italy Theater in English and Italian. READ MORE

CANCELED: Scandinavia House: New York International Children's Film Festival Screenings

Midtown East
The New York International Children's Film Festival screens a wide variety of films from around the globe, specifically for children, at theaters in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. READ MORE
Join in some learning and fun on Sunday, February 23, for a celebration of the Black experience at CMA.
Join in some learning and fun on Sunday, February 23, for a celebration of the Black experience at CMA.

Things To Do With Kids in NYC Sunday, February 23

Black Culture Festival

Hudson Square
The Children's Museum of the Arts celebrates the Black experience with workshops and performances inspired by the African Diaspora.  READ MORE

Polar Bears

Upper West Side
On the eve of International Polar Bear Day, head to the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life to learn about polar bear behavior, diet, territory and how climate change has made it a vulnerable species. READ MORE

Illuminating a Story: The Book of Ruth

Midtown East
Inspired by the exhibition The Book of Ruth: Medieval to Modern, families “take a page” from contemporary artist Barbara Wolff and learn how to make pigments. READ MORE

Black History Month: Poetry Hike

Pelham Bay, the Bronx — FREE
Explore the beautiful natural vistas of the Bronx while experiencing the nature poetry of some of the greatest African-American poets, including Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes. Younger kids can participate in an arts and crafts program based on bringing African folk tales to life. READ MORE

Orli Shaham's Bach Yard: Winter Winds

Upper West Side
The internationally acclaimed pianist Orli Shaham and her friends introduce musical concepts, instruments, and the experience of concert-going to children in pre-K through early elementary. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

New York Hall Of Science
National Museum of the American Indian
Brooklyn Central Library - Dweck Center
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center