All Weekend

Dumbo Arts Festival – Dumbo
This massive, multi-day fest takes over the Brooklyn neighborhood with visual arts and live performances, including the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and an interactive water-balloon gladiator show by the Acrobuffos. There will also be a ton of cool hands-on activities for kids, including puppet-making, pop-up book and comic book workshops, kite flying, yoga and a puppet parade. Plus, for $2, you can take a spin on Jane's Carousel, which recently opened in Brooklyn Bride Park. FREE

Harvest Days – Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Old-fashioned fun awaits at Prospect Park's Lefferts Historic House. Help with the potato harvest, press apple cider, churn butter, and participate in potato sack races and other retro games. FREE.

Broadway Week – Theater District
Through September 30 you can get two tickets for the price of one to select Broadway shows, including family favorites like Billy Elliot, Mary Poppins, The Addams Family and Mamma Mia. (Unfortunately, The Lion King and Wicked are already sold out.) Prices vary.

Saturday, September 24

Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day – Citywide
Thirty-five New York City museums and cultural institutions are offering free admission today, including the Asia Society on the Upper East Side, the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in the Bronx, the Children's Museum of Manhattan on the Upper West Side, El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem, the New York City Fire Museum in Hudson Square and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (which is usually super expensive!). Make sure you find out how to print out your ticket for two before you go! FREE

Nickelodeon Day of Play – Upper East Side
Looking to do some good and have some fun? Register to participate in the annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City RBC Race for the Kids in Riverside Park, part of Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play. After helping to raise money for the venerable organization, stick around for a huge picnic, featuring Nickelodeon characters, kids' activities, healthy food stations, face painting, field games and live entertainment. Families can register as individuals or part of a team to participate, or just enjoy the post-walk fun. FREE

Fifth Annual Yankees Radio Network Fan Fest – Midtown West
Got a Yankees fan at home? Then take him out to the Intrepid, where Bombers Goose Gossage, Doc Gooden, Moose Skowron and John "Flash" Flaherty will be signing autographs. There will also be a home run derby, batting cages and a "Soak the Sox" Dunk Tank. FREE with museum admission: $24 for adults, $19 for children ages 7-17, $12 for children 3-6 and free for kids under 3. Visit the website to print out a 20% off coupon or find out how to enjoy free admission for two as part of Museum Day.

Brooklyn Bike Jumble – Park Slope
If you're in need of a new tire, pump, kids' seat or bike, this flea is the place to go. Buy new-to-you cycling items or bring your old ride and Recycle a Bicycle will appraise and sell it for you. FREE

Urban Parent Expo – Brooklyn Heights
Families can hit this expo for enriching activities, sports and educational info, and special events for kids including storytimes with Melanie Hope Greenberg and Tad Hills, and basketball with the Nets. FREE

Family Art Workshop – Flatiron
Kids can create art inspired by Alison Saar's Feallan and Fallow, the new public installation in Madison Square Park. FREE

Fiesta! Celebrating Hispanic and Latin American Culture – Upper East Side
The Metropolitan Museum celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month with live music by the Mariachi Real de México band, drawing workshops, Spanish and bilingual storytimes, and salsa dancing lessons from Ballet Hispanico. FREE with museum admission: $25 for adults, free for children under 12.

National Estuaries Day Festival – Douglaston
Hit Little Neck Bay for a free canoe or boat ride, nature walks, hands-on demos, arts and crafts, and poetry. FREE

Tonic Kids presents the Super Sonic Kindie Music Fest – Red Hook
Red Hook’s waterfront Urban Meadow space hosts this family music fest featuring performances by popular folk singer Elizabeth Mitchell, rocker and teaching artist Jon Samson, Karen K and the Jitterbugs, and the New Raspberry Bandits. Additional activities include face painting, drum lessons and healthy eats. In advance: $12 for adults, $8 for children. At the door: $15 for adults, $10 for children.


75th Birthday Celebration Honoring Jim Henson – Astoria
In addition to exploring the exhibit Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, you can celebrate the puppet master's birthday with a special screening of Muppet Music Moments, a compilation of musical numbers from The Muppet Show. The first 1,000 guests get a free Kermit the Frog footprint cookie. FREE with museum admission: $12 for adults, $6 children ages 3-18, free for kids under 3.

Apple Festival – Canarsie
Celebrate apples at the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum with fresh-pressed cider, apple fritters, a live jug band, and old-time crafts and games. $5 for adults, free for children under age 11

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, September 25

Trout Fishing in America —Upper West Side
Symphony Space kicks off its Just Kidding family performance series with a complimentary concert by Trout Fishing in America in honor of the band's new CD/picture book Chicken Joe Forgets Something Important. FREE

Harmony on the Hudson – Battery Park City
Enjoy alfresco performances by folksy family favorite Tom Chapin, Hazmat Modine, Baby Loves Salsa and the always funny Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke. Kids can also try lawn and street games, marvel at the fancy footwork of the Double Dutch Divas and eat food from local restaurants. FREE

Make NYC Your Gym Day – St. George
Help make history by participating in the Biggest Zumba Dance Party Ever in the Richmond County Bank Ballpark. Don’t know how to Zumba? Try one of the other fun activities like yoga, bouncers for kids, running the bases on the Staten Island Yankees field and more. FREE

92nd Street Y Street Fair – Upper East Side
The venerable Upper East Side institution sponsors this 16-block street fair. Check out the Y's fall programming and classes, enjoy family performances, arts and crafts, sports and games, and lots of vendors. It's also your last chance to take a free art workshop as part of the Andy Warhol exhibit. FREE

Bari Koral Concert – Upper East Side
The NYC singer-songwriter brings her sweet, power-pop tunes about backpacks and rubber duckies to the Jewish Museum. $16 for adults, $11 for children.

AudraRox  & Flea Market – Red Hook
Kid rocker Audra Rox takes the stage at this benefit flea market in support of P.S. 15. FREE admission but bring cash to shop.

Wonderstruck Family Day – Flushing
The Queens Museum of Art's famous Panorama is a key character in Brian Selznick’s new book Wonderstruck. The exhibit Wonderstruck in the Panorama: Drawings by Brian Selznick, which opens this weekend, features 35 illustrations by the artist. Selznick will be on hand to talk about his experiences, and will sign copies of his tome. There will also be art workshops and refreshments. FREE with museum admission: $5 for adults, $2.50 for children and free for kids under 5.

Bubble Do the Beatles – Carroll Gardens
Catch the final installment of Carroll Park's music series featuring Bubble playing renditions of their favorite Fab Four songs. FREE

Native American Festival – the Bronx
Enjoy traditional storytelling, music, dance and food in Pelham Bay Park. Learn about the lifestyles of the Taino, Blackfoot and Narrangansett tribes. FREE

See all Sunday events.

Outside NYC

Apple picking season is in full swing! Find out about the best places to pick in the tri-state area in our Apple Picking Guide.

If you're looking for a fun, low-key fest with live music and great food, I heartily recommend the 13th Annual Fall Festival at the Cooperage Inn on Long Island.

Don't forget: We have additional activity options in our Event Calendar.

Planning an event? Submit it to our calendar.

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