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Weekend Fun: Sprinkler Day, Moon Landing, Open Gardens, Sharks

Sprinkler Day is back at Asphalt Green. Photo courtesy of Asphalt Green
Sprinkler Day is back at Asphalt Green. Photo courtesy of Asphalt Green
7/17/19 - By Drew Kristofik

It's mid-July, which means the time is ripe to race through some sprinklers. This weekend marks the return of one of NYC's water fun highlights: the (FREE!) salute to shower power, Sprinkler Day at Asphalt Green (there's another one in August, if this weekend doesn't work for you). Midsummer also produces a bounty of, well, produce—so what better time to hold the annual Open Gardens Day? Saturday's your chance to explore a few of the city's gorgeous green community gardens.

PLUS: It's the 50th anniversary of America's trip to the moon, so the American Museum of Natural History is hosting a day packed with performances, hands-on activities, and presentations dedicated to the wonders of space. Kids can also make moon models and more with Science Teacher Sarah—for free! Or head out to Staten Island to make exploding moon rocks and eat moon pies!

Is that all, you ask? Well, no, of course not. There's a whole parade of family-friendly events trooping through town: The Paley Center is unveiling its Shark Week exhibit, the Rubin Museum hosts its annual Block Party, Dumbo hosts the annual Come Out and Play Family Day, and the (air-conditioned) American Gargoyles story time and workshop at the Skyscraper Museum invites kids to take another look at familiar buildings (author Neil Cohen visits Long Island City on Sunday, too).

Our ever-expanding summer fun calendar has lots more in store, including free outdoor movies in every borough. Keep an eye on our July GoList. And if the heat is getting to you, don't miss our list of 50 fun things to do to cool off in NYC.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Join Prospect Park Alliance for the popular summer program Macy's Fishing Clinic, where families can go fishing in Brooklyn's Backyard. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance
Join Prospect Park Alliance for the popular summer program Macy's Fishing Clinic, where families can go fishing in Brooklyn's Backyard. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

All Weekend

So Good You’ll Scream! A Shark Week Exhibit

Midtown West — FREE
To celebrate Shark Week, the Paley Center takes visitors deep below the ocean’s surface and into the natural habitat of one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures. READ MORE

Family Art Project: A Meta-Flor for Me

Riverdale, the Bronx
In conjunction with the opening of the summer exhibition, Figuring the Floral, in Glyndor Gallery, Wave Hill’s own flower experts give readings that match visitors with a flowers that are perfect “meta-flors” for who they are. READ MORE

Revolutionary Summer: Everyday Life in Camp

Upper West Side
Join the 3rd New Jersey Regiment to experience how soldiers and their families spent time in camp when they weren’t marching to war. READ MORE

Hee Hee! Tales of Diamond Mountain

Governors Island — FREE
A melding of Korean fairy tales geared towards young audiences. READ MORE

Galli Theater: Aladdin

Chelsea
When Aladdin finds a genie in a lamp his dreams of riches come true. In order to win the love of the princess and save the kingdom, Aladdin will need more than a genie’s magic! READ MORE

Rent Party

Midtown West
An innovative toy theater fills the stage, a replica of a Harlem block from the 1920s. Lights flicker on as people awake. Toy theater puppets, shadows, come to life in windows, and at a certain point the whole set transforms. READ MORE

Pop-Up Audubon: Macy's Fishing Clinic

Prospect Park, Brooklyn — FREE
Join Alliance educators to learn about ecology under the water. This popular summer program offers kids and adults the opportunity to fish. Participants learn about aquatic ecology, fishing safety, how to use a cane pole and will even get to collect their own bait. READ MORE
Join the American Museum of Natural History for a celebration of space exploration—past, present, and future—to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Photo courtesy of the museum
Join the American Museum of Natural History for a celebration of space exploration—past, present, and future—to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Photo courtesy of the museum

Saturday, July 20

SpaceFest

Upper West Side
Mark the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing with a day of family-friendly presentations, performances, and hands-on activities about the wonders of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. READ MORE

Sprinkler Day

Upper East Side — FREE
It’s hot, hot, hot! Don’t let the soaring summer temperatures discourage you from enjoying the outdoors. Cool off by splashing around in Asphalt Green’s sprinklers! READ MORE

Open Garden Day NYC

Citywide — FREE
Check out the community gardening movement and tour dozens of community gardens across NYC! A day of free activities in the gardens includes arts and music, greening and composting, food and environmental justice events, garden workdays, and much more. READ MORE

"American Gargoyles" Family Program

The Battery
Join Neil Cohen for a special reading of his newly released illustrated book, American Gargoyles, about the bickering gargoyles on a once-celebrated but now-forgotten art deco NYC skyscraper who have to find a way to save their home from demolition. READ MORE

Farmhouse July Family Day: South Brooklyn's Waterways

Gowanus, Brooklyn — FREE
Take a deep dive into the hidden history of oysters in Brooklyn with Wyckoff House and the Billion Oyster Project. The July Family Day will feature plenty of fun outdoor play spaces, tours of the historic farmhouse space, and a fun paper oyster craft. READ MORE

50th Anniversary Moon Landing: DIY Moon Rocks

Mariners Harbor, Staten Island — FREE
Fifty years ago, on July 20th, the historic Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Celebrate at Mariners Harbor Library by making exploding moon rocks and eating delicious moon pies! READ MORE

Movies Under the Stars: How to Train Your Dragon - The Hidden World (PG)

Lower East Side — FREE
When Hiccup discovers Toothless isn't the only Night Fury, he must seek "The Hidden World," a secret Dragon Utopia... and make sure a hired tyrant named Grimmel doesn't find it first. READ MORE

Moth Night

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
Explore Snug Harbor’s campus under the moonlight while discovering what types of moths populate the area. Activities include crafts and a night walk by flashlight. READ MORE

Broadway Chamber Players: Calliope Brass - Adventures In Brass!

Midtown West — FREE
How does music influence our perception of emotions, characters, and settings? Adventures In Brass showcases the instruments of the brass family and introduces young audiences to the power of music in storytelling. READ MORE

To the Moon and Back 50th Anniversary Celebration

Unions Square West — FREE
As the nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of Neil A. Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin taking humanity’s first steps on the moon, Science Teacher Sarah hosts a special commemorative FREE program. READ MORE
Discover the power of community at the Rubin Museum’s annual Block Party. Photo courtesy of the museum
Discover the power of community at the Rubin Museum’s annual Block Party. Photo courtesy of the museum

Sunday, July 21

Rubin Museum Block Party: Power Play

Chelsea — FREE
Celebrate the spirit of community at the Rubin Museum’s annual Block Party, featuring art and activities for all ages. READ MORE

Silly Jazz with Camille!

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Dance around and sing along with popular Brooklyn Public Library performer, Camille Harris! With popular songs: "The Monster Under My Bed," "Baby on the Subway," "Jiggly Wiggly," "Chopsticks," and more! With the Silly Jazz players: Georgia Weber (bass), Dave Tedeschi (drums), and Wayne Tucker (trumpet).  READ MORE

Story Time in the Secret Garden

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
Classic tales for kids, in a fairy-tale garden! READ MORE

A Special Storytime with author Neil Cohen

Long Island City, Queens — FREE
Author Neil Cohen reads from his new picture book, American Gargoyles: Save the Wentworth. The reading is followed by a coloring activity inspired by the book. READ MORE

Big City Fishing on Pier 25

Tribeca — FREE
Adults and kids ages 5+ learn catch and release fishing while engaging with Park educators about river ecology. Rods, reels and instruction are provided. READ MORE

Minhwa Hand Fan Making

Flushing, Queens
Create your very own Minhwa on a hand fan to take home to help beat the summer heat. Learn to paint Korean folk paintings from professional Minhwa artists from Korea.  READ MORE

Discovery Walks for Families: Harlem Meer

Central Park — FREE
Located at the northeast corner of Central Park, the rocky landscape surrounding the Harlem Meer has a storied history. Learn how the area has changed over time, the plants and animals that live there today, and how the Conservancy cares for this complex ecosystem. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Citywide. See locations in text above.
Science Teacher Sarah & Science Adventure Kids
Pier 25 at Hudson River Park