Coney Island

The Best Spring Theater for NYC Kids: 17 Fabulous Shows

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 03/22/2018 - 3:21pm

The spring is always a great time for family theater, but this season looks particularly exciting. There are page-to-stage adaptations of cool kid lit (The Little Red Fish for toddlers and Seedfolks for tweens); wordless spectacles to captivate all ages (clown show Air Play and underwater spectacle Symphonie Fantastique); and Lincoln Center's Big Umbrella Festival, the first-ever monthlong performance fest for children on the autism spectrum.

While on Broadway it's all Frozen, Harry Potter, and Mean Girls mania, there's no need to shell out big bucks to give your kids a memorable live entertainment experience in NYC. Most of the 17 shows we're spotlighting are just $25—or less—per ticket.

Get Almost Free Admission to Luna Park on Opening Day

Submitted by Maureen Dempsey on Wed, 03/14/2018 - 10:05am

It's no secret that all of us here like "FREE." We're always on the lookout for free activities around NYC, play spaces, and even summer camps. But Luna Park's March 24 opening day event at Coney Island, Brooklyn, makes the four-letter word all the better, as almost all proceeds from donations will serve the Girls Scouts' 6000 troop.

Read on to find out what's included in this almost-FREE day and who you'll be helping with your small donation.

7 New Summer Camps for NYC Kids in 2018

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 4:06pm

There may be snowflakes a flying, but it's officially summer camp searching season in New York City. While the metro area and surrounding suburbs don't lack for choices, there's always something new on the horizon for our kids!

In 2018, we've found a number of new summer camps, from cooking to outdoor nature and even coding and science. Without further ado, we present seven new this year camps for city kids.

The New IDNYC Card Perks for Families You Don't Want to Miss

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 4:00pm

It's no secret that living in New York City and raising kids here isn't cheap. So one of my favorite finds has been the IDNYC program, which, among other things, offers FREE and reduced-price memberships more than 40 cultural institutions across the city.

Since the municipal ID program launched in 2015, more than 1 million people have turned up at IDNYC centers to get their free ID cards and the benefits that being a card-carrying citizen of this great city brings. In 2018, the city introduced several new institutions to the program, including two that might interest NYC families: Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn and Chelsea Piers are now IDNYC partners. At Aviator, you can nab an individual membership for 20 percent off and score 15 percent off party bookings. Chelsea Piers invites you to enjoy 2-for-1 admission at its indoor ice skating rink as well as discounts at its driving range.

The IDNYC card offers more than cultural benefits: Families can take advantage of discounts on prescription drugs, car-share memberships, movies, sporting events, and more. It even acts as a public library card and can help you open an account at a bank or credit union.

I've put my card to use to take advantage of these benefits and more, so read on for a dozen reasons to sign up for your FREE card, including discounted admission to some of the city's best children's museums and zoos.

15 Birthday Party Spots for Brooklyn Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Louise Finnell on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 4:39pm

Your toddler is another year older, which means it's time to throw a birthday party! Entertaining the under-age-5 crowd, plus a small army of their closest friends (and parents), can be tricky. Lucky for us, the borough of Brooklyn is filled with party places to please even the most diverse pack of enthusiastic toddlers and preschoolers.

Animals, arts and crafts—even just tumbling around for a few hours—are all options at these creative venues across Brooklyn.

Find more birthday party inspiration in our NYC Party Guide.

The 15 Most Exciting Things Coming to NYC This Year for Kids

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Mon, 01/15/2018 - 11:44am

One constant about New York City is that it's always changing. New attractions, shows, exhibitions, and more pop up regularly—it's one reason we love living here, right? As we march into 2018, we are delighted to share some of the new exciting things opening this year in the city for kids and families. Lego Live descends on NYC, new family-friendly Broadway shows are on the horizon, plus fantastic new exhibits come to the American Museum of Natural History and the New-York Historical Society.

Brooklynites have a new kid-friendly play place and a new movie theater to look forward to, not to mention the much-anticipated opening of the New York Aquarium's expanded space and brand-new exhibit.

New or newly renovated parks and playgrounds are also slated to open this year, plus two new routes on the NYC Ferry. We've got details on all this more in our roundup of the best new openings in 2018 for kids and families in New York City.

New Year's Eve Fireworks in NYC and More 2018 Family Celebrations

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 12/25/2017 - 2:15pm

There are plenty of ways to ring in 2018 in New York City. We've rounded up the city's best family-friendly options from Brooklyn fireworks and FREE bike rides to swanky (and admittedly expensive) Times Square parties.

However you welcome the New Year, we hope it's a blast. You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide, and more fun activities to do on school break.

Hanukkah Celebrations and Menorah Lightings for NYC Families

Submitted by Andy Fenwick on Mon, 12/04/2017 - 3:00pm

New York City knows how to celebrate the holidays, and Hanukkah is no different. The Festival of Lights arrives early in 2017, with the first night on Tuesday, December 12. But have no fear: we've rounded up nearly two dozen ways to celebrate this wonderful Jewish holiday, and most of them are free.

Some cool new and newish events this year! There's the first-ever Menorah on the High Line, and the Chabad of DUMBO has transformed its yearly Hanukkah celebration into Fire and Ice at Jane's Carousel. We also have the annual mainstays, from the World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah Lighting, to Chanukah on Ice and Hanukkah Family Day at the Jewish Museum.

Free NYC Halloween Parades for Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Fri, 10/06/2017 - 3:00pm

Everyone loves a parade, which means we're all absolutely smitten with Halloween parades. While families with older kids may dare to take in the iconic Village Halloween Parade on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, it can be pretty scary—it's always insanely crowded, loud, and many of the costumes are risque, gory, or in poor taste. If your children aren't up for that big Hallow-baloo, there are plenty of smaller, kid-friendly NYC neighborhood parades, in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, including the Ragamuffin Parade in Bay Ridge, the mega Jackson Heights parade, the famed Park Slope march, and a G-rated Village parade for little ones.

We've rounded up community-driven Halloween processions for families to watch or march in, most of which are FREE. If you don't live in a great trick-or-treating area, these parades are a wonderful way to hunt for candy in another neighborhood. Find even more seasonal happenings in our Halloween Fun Guide.

Harvest Fests, Pumpkin Patches, and Hayrides Right Here in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 09/15/2017 - 4:20pm

If you think you need to head out to the 'burbs for an authentic fall harvest experience, we've got good news: You can pick the perfect pumpkin, go on a hayride, ride a pony or meet farm animals, and even get lost in a massive corn maze right here in NYC.

So if you're looking to skip the car rental, hop onto the subway instead to head out to these fall harvest festivals and pumpkin patches, all located within the five boroughs. Looking for more fall fun? Check out our NYC Fall Guide for the best of the season.