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!
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
This expansive Barbie exhibition is now open at the Museum of Arts and Design at Columbus Circle.
Iconic Barbie Exhibition Opens in NYC With Vintage Dolls, Photo Ops, and More
GUIDE
NYC Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Farms, Festivals, and Kid-Friendly Getaways 2024
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

Memorial Day Weekend 2024 in NYC: Fleet Week and More To Do in NYC with Kids

Catch a variety of patriotic concerts in the heart of Time Square as part of the Fleet Week festivities. Photo by US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Clay/courtesy of the US Navy
Catch a variety of patriotic concerts in the heart of Time Square as part of the Fleet Week festivities. Photo by US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Clay/courtesy of the US Navy
5/24/24 - By Drew Kristofik

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this Memorial Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this long holiday weekend.

Memorial Day weekend heralds the return of Fleet Week, and NYC is looking positively ship-shape. The Prospect Park Zoo reopens in Brooklyn, and 14 miles of NYC beaches are ready to welcome sandcastle builders, waders, and body surfers as the weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. Come Monday, Memorial Day parades march through Brooklyn and Queens.

More Things To Do in New York City this Week with Kids

Be sure to click through to each listing for all the details, including recommended ages and time.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Best Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Fleet Week NYC

Citywide – FREE
Wednesday, May 22-Tuesday, May 28
The US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard's celebration of sea services invites families to tour ships, watch the Parade of Ships, and enjoy exhibits, military band concerts, and aviation events throughout the week.   READ MORE

Movies Under the Stars: The Little Mermaid in St. Vartan Park

Midtown East – FREE
Friday, May 24
Bring a blanket and a picnic for an evening screening of Disney's live action, 2023 version of The Little Mermaid, rated PG. READ MORE

Free Movie Night on the Intrepid: Top Gun Maverick

Midtown West – FREE
Friday, May 24
Bring a blanket, deck chairs, and a picnic and watch a movie on the ship’s flight deck, under the stars! Enjoy views of the Hudson River and city skyline while you watch Top Gun: Maverick on the big screen. READ MORE

2024 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach

Oyster Bay, Long Island
Friday, May 24-Sunday, May 26
The Bethpage Air Show returns to Jones Beach on Memorial Day weekend, featuring performances by its showstopping headliners, the United States Navy Blue Angels. READ MORE

Lower East Side Festival of the Arts Street Fair

Lower East Side – FREE
Friday, May 24-Sunday, May 26
NYC's Lower East Side Festival of the Arts is a cabaret-style festival featuring more than 100 performing groups from the Lower East Side. READ MORE

BAM DanceAfrica Community Workshop in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Dumbo, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, May 25
Join the BAM DanceAfrica Community Workshop in Brooklyn Bridge Park for a fun-filled, hands-on workshop led by a BAM teaching artist Dánice Jones, featuring rhythms and movement from Cameroon. READ MORE

Memorial Day Fair in Sunnyside Gardens Park

Sunnyside, Queens
Saturday, May 25
Sunnyside Gardens Park hosts its annual Memorial Day fair featuring world-class entertainment, including lively Americana music, a magician, and performers suitable for all ages. READ MORE

Geometric Flowers Family Workshop at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum

Pelham Bay, the Bronx – FREE
Saturday, May 25
Bartow-Pell Museum Educator Robin Vernuccio leads a family-friendly workshop crafting geometric flowers. As part of the museum’s Bartow is Blooming theme, basic geometric shapes are creatively transformed into petals, leaves, and stems for you to take home. READ MORE

Next Stop, New York City at the Skyscraper Museum

Battery Park City – FREE
Saturday, May 25
Kids explore forms of transportation and New York City’s subway system through a read-aloud of Christoph Niemann’s picture book, Subway. READ MORE

Pinkster Celebration at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum

Flatbush, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, May 25
The Wyckoff House Museum and Elite Learners join forces for a special Pinkster Festival with live music, carnival activities, drumming, and more. READ MORE

Spring Family Movies at Hudson Yards

Midtown West – FREE
Saturday, May 25
Kickstart your mornings with springtime outdoor movie screenings featuring family-friendly favorites on the 30-foot-tall big screen. READ MORE

Open Studio: Sound at the Noguchi Museum

Long Island City, Queens
Saturday, May 25
Explore how art can activate the unseen in Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within, and create mixed media artworks to experiment with different qualities of sound. READ MORE

Flushing Town Hall Presents Waves, all that Glows Sees

Flushing, Queens
Saturday & Sunday, May 25 & 26
A charming “postcard from an imagined beach” with music, poetry, and silence, Waves, all that Glows Sees is a magical, mesmerizing, theatrical sea story with live music.   READ MORE

Bluey's Big Play at Kings Theatre

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Saturday & Sunday, May 25 & 26
Grab the sticky geckos, break out the duck cakes, and alert the grannies! The Heeler family is coming to Kings Theatre with the Bluey live show, Bluey’s Big Play.   READ MORE

Family Art Project: Herbal Arts at Wave Hill

Riverdale, Bronx
Saturday & Sunday, May 25 & 26
Using your sense of smell and touch, discover the world of herbal and botanical arts. Decorate your own perfume bottle and then create a scented blend using lavender and other plants, inspired by Wave Hill’s Herb Garden. READ MORE

Prospect Park Zoo Reopening Weekend

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 25-Monday, May 27
The Prospect Park Zoo celebrates its reopening with a fun program of special activities, including animal enrichment chats, turtle time and conservation stations, sea lion feedings with narration, and more! READ MORE

Free Community Rowing in Hunts Point Park

Hunts Point, the Bronx – FREE
Season opens Saturday, May 25
This free community rowing program gives New Yorkers of all ages a chance to get out on the water aboard Rocking the Boat's student-built wooden row boats, accompanied by trained staff. Learn to row and experience the beauty of New York City's only freshwater river.   READ MORE

The Rock and Roll Playhouse Presents the Music of Taylor Swift for Kids

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 26
Kids can rock out to the music of Taylor Swift at the Brooklyn Bowl's Rock and Roll Playhouse. READ MORE

97th Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade

Little Neck, Queens – FREE
Monday, May 27
Service members participate in NYC's largest Memorial Day parade.  READ MORE

157th Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn – FREE
Monday, May 27
Brooklyn’s 157th annual Memorial Day parade steps off on 3rd Avenue and 78th Street, proceeds down 3rd Avenue to Marine Avenue, up to 4th Avenue, and over to John Paul Jones Park. READ MORE

Memorial Day Concert in Green-Wood Cemetery

Sunset Park, Brooklyn – FREE
Monday, May 27
Green-Wood’s much-loved Memorial Day concert returns for its 24th year. Bring a blanket, picnic, and welcome back the talented high-school musicians of the ISO at Third Street Symphonic Band, led by music director Paul Corn and hosted by guest conductor Brian P. Worsdale. READ MORE

31st Annual Memorial Day Concert

Upper West Side – FREE
Monday, May 27
Music Director Jaap van Zweden conducts a Memorial Day concert that includes Wagner’s Prelude to Act I of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Copland’s Quiet City and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4.    READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Various locations
Northern Blvd between Jayson Ave & 245th Street