All Weekend

Fleece Festival – Crown Heights
Watch the woolly sheep at the Prospect Park Zoo get their spring haircut, dance to the Otter Brothers band, learn to knit and more. Free with zoo admission.

New York Public Library Centennial Celebration – Midtown East
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building turns 100 this month, and the library is throwing a weekend-long party. Drop by for free ice cream, Dikki’s Wacky Magic Show, a live performance of Alice in Wonderland, a Dog on Fleas concert, a fun storytelling festival and more. And make sure you don't miss the replicas of the famous library lions made out of Legos. FREE

Big Apple Comic Con: Spring Edition – Midtown West
Expect Q&As with comic book legends like Stan Lee, superhero sightings, giveaways and lots of great toy, movie, book and game vendors. Special programming for families includes a kids' costume contest and performances of The Frog Prince by Galli Theater. Tickets are $20-$40

Saturday, May 21

The Whitney: Community Day – Meatpacking District and Greenwich Village
The famed Upper East Side institution marks the groundbreaking of its new downtown space with this festival, which includes an open house for children ages 6 to 12. Kids can check out architectural drawings of the new museum, snag a free guide to the neighborhood, take guided sketching tours of the High Line, use chalk to draw on the sidewalk and more. FREE

Touch-A-Truck – Upper West Side
Kids can climb into vehicles they see every day: NYPD cruisers, an ambulance, an FDNY fire truck and my fave, the refrigerated Fresh Direct truck. There will also be live music from Dirty Sock Funtime Band front man Mike Messer. Free admission, but activities cost $2-$5 each.

Earth Celebrations: Hudson River Pageant – Battery Park City
Colorful costumes and giant, elaborate puppets abound at this procession. Join the celebration as it makes its way north to Gansevoort Street, and enjoy cultural performances and other activities along the way, including a live fish release. Don’t miss the finale during which kayaks and rowboats decorated with giant marine life sculptures perform a choreographed "dance" in the river, accompanied by live chanting. Dressing up is encouraged! FREE

Go Fish – Battery Park City
Drop a line for some catch-and-release fishing, and watch the-Arm-of-the-Sea theater company perform At the Turning of the Tide, a celebration of the Hudson River told through lavish puppetry and masked performers. FREE   

Dance Parade – Downtown Manhattan
Dance down Broadway alongside 10,000 other movers and shakers showcasing 73 types of dance, or just watch from the sidelines. The processions starts at 1pm at 21st Street and Broadway, goes past Union Square, and ends up in Tompkins Square Park, which hosts the post-parade DanceFest. FREE

The Morgan's Spring Family Fair – Murray Hill
Travel back in time to Europe’s Medieval era. In honor of the institution's Illuminating Fashion: Dress in the Art of Medieval France and the Netherlands exhibit, kids can learn traditional French and English dances and songs, try on period clothing, learn how to make Medieval head coverings and how to dye fabric. $8 for adults, $2 for children.

Rolling Along the River – the Bronx
The Bronx River Alliance debuts a new fleet of bikes people can borrow for free at Concrete Plant Park. Additional activities include canoeing and a bike obstacle course. FREE

Sunday, May 22

Mamapalooza – Upper West Side
This family fest features mom rockers, like Moey's Music Party, poetry readings, theater and comedy performances, and lots of kids' activities. FREE

Doggie Pedal Parade – Greenwich Village
Sit back and watch as dogs go for a bike ride (in baskets or trailers), or take your own best pal for a spin. At the end, enjoy a party in the park with snacks for all. FREE

Farm in the City Fair – East Village
This country fest in the city features chickens and rabbits to pet, live bluegrass tunes, a worm composting workshop, face painting and temporary tattoos, plus arts and crafts, storytelling, a bouncy castle and more. $25 per family.

Redtail Reunion – Upper West Side
Meet a pair of local Red-tailed Hawks and learn why they live and raise their young in NYC. FREE

Drums Along the Hudson – Inwood
This celebration of Native American and other cultures is sure to have fantastic entertainment. (In the past, main stage performances included the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, the Shumei Taiko Ensemble, Flamenco dancers, Song Hee Lee Dance Company and more.) Also expect storytelling, tree planting and tribes in ceremonial regalia. FREE

Touch A Truck – St. George
Kids can climb aboard 20 trucks parked in the Staten Island Yankees ballpark, and then try arts and crafts, the bouncy house, games and more. $5

A Clearing in the Forest: Puppets – Upper West Side
Pack a picnic for WonderSpark Puppets' rendition of Jack and the Beanstalk. Stick around afterward for a planting project. FREE

The Epiphany School Annual Carnival – Gramercy
This little school puts on one big carnival with two bouncy houses, a giant bouncy slide and a giant blowup obstacle course. Other activities include cupcake decorating, carnival games, face painting, sports and a closed off area where kids can go wild with Silly String. Free but there are fees for activities.

Outside of NYC

One thing you just can't do in NYC is go strawberry picking, but there are plenty of nearby farms where families can enjoy this spring activity. Be sure to call before you head out to make sure they're open: The season is short and easy to miss! Try a trip to Lewin Farms, the oldest pick-your-own farm on Long Island. My son and I have picked here before and it's great. Plus I love to visit Lewin's huge farm stand, which is packed with all sorts of fresh produce.

New Jersey's Sussex County Strawberry Farm is about an hour from midtown Manhattan. Go for strawberries and rhubarb.

There's also March Farm in Connecticut where you can make a day of picking by hitting the petting zoo and other activities.

Don't forget: There's even more fun to be found in the Mommy Poppins Event Calendar.

Planning an event? Submit it to our calendar here.

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here.