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Weekend Fun: Governors Island, Lincoln Center, Free Comics, Star Wars, NYC Bikes

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5/1/19 - By Drew Kristofik

They don't call it MAYhem for nothing: May in NYC means a zillion things for families to celebrate and do. From the 21st Annual Blessing of the Bikes to Bike Expo New York, to fun fests like the Lincoln Center Block Party, the Transit Museum's Party on Wheels, CMA's Japanese Cultural Festival, Brooklyn's Inventgenuity Fest, and the Urban Wildlife Fest, you can't help but get into the spring swing this weekend.

It's opening weekend—at last—on Governors Island, which means The Yard is ready for kids to start constructing (or deconstructing), and Adventures on Governors Island is back with its zip line, maze, and climbing walls. New on Governors this year: the 1st Annual Shindig asks families to pitch in around the isle in exchange for an exclusive afternoon party. Bonus: The ferries are FREE for opening week!

The Children's Museum of Manhattan rolls out a full weekend of Star Wars-themed fun for May the Fourth Be With You Day. May 4 is also FREE Comic Book day: Be sure to check with your local comic haunt for goodies. And it's Big Swim Big Kick day at Asphalt Green! Meanwhile on Staten Island, the Willowbrook Park carousel opens, and Cinco de Mayo gets a salute with a park screening of Coco.

A bumper crop of school fairs are happening this weekend, including Calhoun (West 81st), PS 116, and Columbia Greenhouse (West 116th). The annual Hippo Playground Fair romps onto the calendar with pony rides and bouncy castles. And PS 56 in Brooklyn is full STEAM ahead, with a fair dedicated to interactive science and math fun.

Be sure to glance at our May GoList and our guide to May Fairs and Festivals around NYC, and maybe get a leg up on Mother's Day (next weekend!) with our updated Mother's Day Brunch picks or top 25 activities. This weekend is especially packed with possibilities, so don't forget to review our calendar for more ideas.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Lilac lovers have flocked to The New York Botanical Garden to see and smell these flowers since 1896. Photo courtesy of NYBG
Lilac lovers have flocked to The New York Botanical Garden to see and smell these flowers since 1896. Photo courtesy of NYBG

All Weekend

Colors of Spring and Annual Plein-Air Invitational

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Every year, to help mark the New York Botanical Garden’s rites of spring, distinguished plein-air artists from throughout the Northeast gather across the grounds in a public display of painterly talent and nature appreciation. READ MORE

Governors Island Opening Week

Governors Island — FREE
Governors Island opens for the season, and New Yorkers are invited to enjoy the Island’s open and expansive park spaces with unforgettable views of New York Harbor and car-free recreation just a short ferry ride away from Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. READ MORE

Governors Island - Art Force 5

Governors Island — FREE
The Art Force 5 welcomes young and old superheroes-in-training to make their own superhero action figure and customized cape. A huge comic book exhibit depicting the history of comic books alongside equal rights should delight both comic novices and enthusiasts. Visitors are invited to paint a tile that, when joining forces with hundreds of others, will make some beautiful public art celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance. How to find it: Find it on Colonel's Row. READ MORE

Family Art Project: Silky Caterpillar Sustenance

Wave Hill, the Bronx
Celebrate the brilliance of caterpillars! Moth caterpillars have the ability to create cocoons from the very silk within them. When they need to find new leaves to eat or to escape danger, moth caterpillars release a silk line from within. Explore your own silky strength by making your own cocoon and wrapping within it a message or picture of something you would like to transform. READ MORE

Light Speed Weekend

Upper West Side
Celebrate May the 4th be with you at the Children’s Museum with a series of Star Wars inspired science projects all weekend! Come dressed as your favorite Star Wars character and design a light speed kaleidoscope, take part in a star fruit tasting, and even meet familiar characters. READ MORE

Writopia Lab’s 10th Annual Worldwide Plays Festival

Midtown West
The Writeopia Lab festival includes plays written in workshops at Writopia’s labs across the country and plays submitted to the competition from playwrights around the world! Comedies, musicals, monologues, historical dramas, tear-jerkers, and thought pieces — all written by the talented young playwrights of tomorrow. READ MORE
Share your favorite cartoon characters at Saturday Morning Cartoons. Photo courtesy of the BRIC House
Share your favorite cartoon characters at Saturday Morning Cartoons. Photo courtesy of the BRIC House

Saturday, May 4

House Party: Saturday Morning Cartoons

Boerum Hill, Brooklyn — FREE
Whether young or young-at-heart, come share your favorite cartoon characters and moments with fellow Brooklynites at the final Family House Party of the season. READ MORE

The 26th Annual Blessing of the Bicycles at St. John the Divine

Upper West Side — FREE
Reverend Patrick Malloy offers a blessing to jump start a safe cycling season and sprinkles holy water on each bicycle. READ MORE

Lincoln Center Block Party

Upper West Side — FREE
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) marks the 60th anniversary of the center’s groundbreaking with a block party that includes free activities, performances, and community art-making from the constituent organizations that comprise Lincoln Center. READ MORE

Bike Expo New York

South Street Seaport — FREE
Bike Expo New York is an annual celebration of bicycling in New York City and beyond.  Nearly 100 exhibitors represent the best brands and organizations in biking. READ MORE

Urban Wildlife Festival

Big Kick at Asphalt Green

Upper East Side — FREE
Kids can participate in an outdoor soccer festival under the lights on Litwin Field. Participants receive a drawstring bag—perfect for toting your soccer ball to the field! Registration is not required.   READ MORE

Harlem Children's Theatre Festival

Harlem — FREE
The Graduate Program in Educational Theatre presents a Children's Theatre Festival. The free event includes lobby activities, a raffle and 3 performances. READ MORE

Opening Day for the Carousel

Bulls Head, Staten Island
Stop by for fun and games and celebrate the new Carousel season in the Greenbelt's Willowbrook park. READ MORE

LC Kids: Falu's Bazaar

Upper West Side — FREE
Vocalist Falu Shah blends classical Indian music with American pop to create a unique “Indie-Hindi” style. Backed by both Western and traditional Indian instruments such as the tabla, harmonium, and bansuri (Indian bamboo flute), Falu teaches kids about Indian culture and takes families on a trip across the globe. READ MORE

Cherry Blossom Celebration Week

Randall's Island — FREE
Celebrate the spring season and Japanese culture at the free Cherry Blossom Festival on Randall's Island with grab and go cherry blossom projects a selfie station at the Urban Farm, and virtual fun, too. READ MORE

Sewer in a Suitcase

Upper East Side
New York City uses over one billion gallons of water every day! Where does it all come from? How does it get to us? What happens to it after we’ve used it? READ MORE

STEAM56

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Jpin this day to build excitement at PS 56 for learning about science, math, technology, education and the arts and also to support STEAM programming at the school throughout the year. READ MORE
During the Party on Wheels at the New York Transit Museum, vintage R1/9 subway cars dating to the 1930s will shuttle passengers to Hoyt-Schermerhorn station and back. Photo courtesy of the museum
During the Party on Wheels at the New York Transit Museum, vintage R1/9 subway cars dating to the 1930s will shuttle passengers to Hoyt-Schermerhorn station and back. Photo courtesy of the museum

Sunday, May 5

Steinway Street Spring Fling

Astoria, Queens — FREE
Spring into spring with fun children’s activities at this street fair sponsored by the local BID. READ MORE

Hippo Playground Spring Fair in Riverside Park

Upper West Side
An Upper West Side institution, the Hippo Playground Spring Fair celebrates the season with pony rides, bouncy castles, a petting zoo, games, prizes, crafts, food, cupcake decorating, face painting, entertainment, and more. READ MORE

Japanese Cultural Festival

Greenwich Village
CMA is partnering with Taikoza, a NYC-based musical group of players and educators to celebrate Japan's cultural contributions to the world with performances and interactive workshops. READ MORE

Brooklyn Inventgenuity Festival 2019

Dumbo, Brooklyn — FREE
This festival will feature hands-on learning, technology-integrated crafts, and a site specific, community built, collaborative project. READ MORE

Children's Day Festival: Kodomo No Hi at Japan Society

Midtown East
Hang the koinobori (carp streamers) and don your kabuto (samurai helmet): The Japan Society's Children's Day is back. Celebrate Japan’s national holiday with the captivating tale of Momotaro (Peach Boy) through a thrilling theatrical performance filled with storytelling, music, dance, and lots of audience participation. Continue the adventure with life-sized samurai armor displays, carp streamer making, samurai helmet origami, and more. READ MORE

Classical Music Kids Festival

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
WQXR and the Staten Island Conservatory of Music team up to host live performances, arts & crafts, radio workshops and more! READ MORE

Annual Irish Dance Festival at Riverside Park's Pier I

Upper West Side — FREE
NYC's Irish Arts Center kicks off Riverside Park's 2024 Summer-on-the-Hudson series with an afternoon of traditional Irish dance and music performances and workshops curated by Niall O'Leary.   READ MORE

Best of BAMkids Film Festival

Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Enjoy a selection of the most popular films from this year’s BAMkids Film Festival, including the “BAMmie” award winner for best short film as selected by the 2019 festival attendees. READ MORE

Party on Wheels

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Bring the whole family to the New York Transit Museum for exclusive early access, breakfast and birthday cake, artmaking and facepainting, conductor cab photo booth, model trains, and unlimited rides on the Museum's vintage R1-9 subway cars from the 1930s. READ MORE

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Flushing, Queens
Join this afternoon of Cinco de Mayo festivities including music and food and drink outdoors, if the weather permits. There will also be a leisurely musical brunch and traditional craft activities. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
Aaron Davis Hall at City College of New York
Randall's Island Urban Farm & Fields 62/63
PS 56 Brooklyn - Lewis H Latimer School
Municipal Parking Lot on Steinway Street
Staten Island Children's Museum @ Snug Harbor