All Weekend

Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival – Prospect Heights
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts this colorful celebration of Japanese culture. The blooms are absolutely stunning, and so are many of the visitors, who come decked out in their best Anime outfits. There will also be live Taiko drumming, martial arts demos, tea ceremonies, a Cosplay (costume play) fashion show, Japanese pop bands and kids' origami workshops. FREE with museum admission

Snow White – Greenwich Village
Don't expect Disney's version of the fairy tale. The New Acting Company's take is comical and campy, and the cast is made up of professional adult actors and young students from the troupe's acting classes. The title character learns to rely on herself during her journey, and best of all, she doesn't need to marry a prince to live happily ever after. $18 in advance, $20 at the door.

Arbor Day Weekend – Prospect Park
Celebrate the trees that dot Prospect Park with crafts, activities and nature exhibits. FREE

Recess Monkey – Prospect Heights or the Upper West Side
There are a lot of cool concerts this weekend, but we're particularly excited about this Seattle band, which is made up of schoolteachers! The group's swinging into town for two gigs. Catch the guys for FREE on Saturday at the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, or for $15 at 92YTribeca on Sunday.


Saturday, April 30

Tribeca Film Festival Family Street Fair/ESPN Sports Day – Tribeca
The highlight of the Tribeca Film Festival's family programming, this massive street fair features games, contests, bouncy houses, giveaways, performances by Broadway musicals, kids' bands and more. Plus we'll be there! Nearby, ESPN Sports Day offers interactive games, demonstrations and activities, and appearances by local athletes. FREE

Five Boro Bike Fest – Dumbo
Although Bike Month officially begins May 1, the wheels start turning a day early at this first annual festival. Brooklyn Bridge Park will be jam-packed with family entertainment, as well as biking-related classes, demos and giveaways. Highlights include cool bands like the Meetles (a Beatles tribute band) and Bomba Yo (an African-Puerto Rican drum group); and performances by Magic Al and Looney Louie. FREE

Jack and Jill School Spring Fair – Gramercy
Kids can rule the bouncy castle and enjoy crafts, rides and more at this annual school benefit. FREE admission, fees for activities

Body Buildings – Battery Park City
Kids use giant pieces of poster paper to create buildings in the shape of their bodies at the Skyscraper Museum. For children ages 3-9. Must register by Friday. $5

Kite Flight – Long Island City
Socrates Sculpture Park hosts this annual kite making workshop. Kids can craft flyers from recycled materials and then send them soaring. Bonus: Participants get a sneak peek at the park’s new installation, Vista, which officially opens next weekend. FREE

MJM Writing Competition – Family Writing Workshop – Harlem
Sarah Durham of Uptown Writers teaches families how to create historical fiction at the Morris-Jumel Mansion. Advance registration required. FREE

Global Weekends-Island Beats: Festival of Oceania – Upper West Side
The American Museum of Natural History celebrates the Pacific Islands with hula workshops, traditional didgeridoo and Hawaiian guitar performances, lei greetings and carving demos. FREE with museum admission. If you plan on hitting the museum's new World's Largest Dinosaurs exhibit while you're there, make sure you buy timed tickets in advance! It's been selling out pretty much every day since opening.

Fifth Avenue Family Festival – Park Slope
Kids can create their own puppets, get their faces painted, play carnival games, hit the bouncy house and hang with Brooklyn Cyclones mascot Sandy the Seagull. FREE admission but there are fees for activities.

Saturday Culture Trolley – South Bronx
Although this free tour of neighborhood art spots usually takes place the first Wednesday of every month, the Bronx Council on the Arts is offering this special Saturday edition. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Mott Haven's vibrant scene by visiting artists' private studios. FREE


Sunday, May 1

Hippo Playground Spring Fair – Upper West Side
The popular play spot's annual fund-raiser includes bouncy houses, pony rides, a petting zoo and more. FREE admission but there are fees for activities

Kindiefest Family Festival – Boerum Hill
This annual industry-only kids' music conference closes with this open-to-the-public concert, featuring Elizabeth Mitchell and You are My Flower and other big names on the little kid music scene. $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

Meet the Music: My What Big Ears You Have – Upper West Side
The Chamber Music Society brings fairy tales to life through music. Enjoy scenes from Ravel's Mother Goose Suite, Prokofiev's Cinderella and Bruce Adolphe's Little Red Riding Hood. Ages 6 and up. $15-$25.

Brooklyn Community Storytellers: Noodleheads and Tricksters – Park Slope
Families can enjoy tall tales about pranksters drawn from folklore. $10 for adults, $5 for children.

Astoria Market Pre-Mother's Day Shopping – Astoria
Mother's Day is next Sunday! Look for the perfect gift at this artisanal market. And if shopping stresses you out, you're in luck: There will be massage therapists performing free five-minute rubdowns. FREE

Outside NYC

Over in New Jersey, children can compete in the Jungle Habitat Kids Race in West Milford, or head to Camden where Button the hippo is still celebrating her 14th birthday.

Long Island's gardens are bursting with blooms, which makes it a great time to visit the Bailey Arboretum in Nassau County. Bonus: It's free!

How often do you get to see 20,000 rubber duckies racing down a river? Well that's exactly what's going to happen at the 13th Annual Pawcatuck River Duck Race  in Westerly-Pawcatuck, Connecticut.