All Weekend

Mow-Down Garden Hoedown Weekend – the Bronx
Celebrate Wave Hills' grassy lawns at this annual fest, where you can try your hand at basket weaving, take guided tours of the garden, and participate in lawn games and other fun activities. On Sunday, kid rockers Astrograss drop by to play cool bluegrass tunes. FREE

The Wonder of Bubbles Weekend – Crown Heights
Kids will go gaga learning about bubbles through a variety of hands-on science and art activities at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Free with admission: $7.50.

Firefighter Appreciation Weekend – Midtown West
Got a kid obsessed with the FDNY? Then head to the Intrepid where you can watch New York's Bravest battle it out in a cooking competition, learn how they use the Jaws of Life to rescue victims from car wrecks, see the Marine 1 Water Boat shoot streams of water into the Hudson River and more. Free with admission: $24 for adults, $19 for children ages 7-17, $12 for ages 3-6, free for kids under 3.
 

Saturday, July 14

City of Water Day Festival – Governors Island and Liberty State Park
Hit the water for this annual eco-fest, which takes place on Governors Island, New Jersey's Liberty State Park and New York Harbor. Activities include kayaking and canoeing, historic boat tours and live entertainment. Kids can also meet reptiles and aquatic creatures, take fishing lessons, and enjoy landlubber favorites like arts and crafts, and bouncy castles. Plus, there's a free ferry between the two locations, so you can enjoy the fun on both banks. Smaller celebrations will also be taking place in waterfront Brooklyn, Bronx and Manhattan neighborhoods. FREE

Come Out & Play Family Field Day – Governors Island
Although the Come Out & Play fest—which aims to turn NYC into a giant playground—has catered solely to adults in the past, the organizers are debuting a family field day this year. All eight games intertwine and have a time travel theme, and are best suited for children ages 6 to 11. If your kids lose interest, there are plenty of other attractions on Governors Island to amuse them, plus City of Water Day activities. FREE

Soundview Park Summer Festival – the Bronx
Although part of the City of Water Day festivities, this annual fest sounds like it will be a great destination in and of itself. Families can learn about the wildlife in the park, enjoy free community paddling and bike loans, enter a hula hoop contest, try a rock climbing wall and do educational arts activities with the Bronx Children's Museum. FREE

Midsummer Night Swing Kids Dance – Upper West Side
Put on your dancing shoes and let Rodney Lopez from Dancing Classrooms teach your little movers and shakers the basics of swing, meringue, tango and more in Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park. FREE

Brazilian Family Dance – Battery Park City
More dancing fun: Head to Battery Park City's waterfront esplanade for an interactive dance party and concert from Brazilian teaching artist Liliana Araújo and her band. As they belt out Brazilian beats, families can learn traditional dances. FREE

Seining the River Wild – Dumbo
Learn about the eco-system under the Manhattan Bridge with staff from the Coastal Marine Resource Center, who'll help kids catch, log and release fish and other East River creatures. FREE

If You Really Love Polar Bears – Midtown East
Wonderful performance troupe Making Books Sing mounts this musical with a message about why it's important to be good to our planet at the main branch of the New York Public Library. FREE

The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival's Family Day – Dumbo
Calling all future MCs! At this fest's family day, kids can learn stepping and African and Brazilian dances, write songs, deejay, try hip-hop-themed arts and crafts, and more. $30

Starfish – Midtown West
The all-dad band Starfish, who bill themselves as "the greatest rock band in the world... for kids," plays a rockin' concert outdoors in the Bryant Park Reading Room. FREE

StinkyKids the Musical – Upper West Side
Vital Children's Theatre has moved its hit musical to the Riverside Theater in Morningside Heights. Based on Britt Menzies' popular book series, StinkyKids is about a do-gooder who gets a wad of gum stuck in her hair and the kids who work feverishly to remove it before her parents find out and cancel a highly anticipated trip. One of our contributors, Sonia, and her kids checked it out last weekend and her daughter loved the girls’ colorful dresses and danced in her seat to the catchy songs while her son was a fan of the slapstick humor. $29.50-$49.50

Everything About School (Almost) – Chelsea
TADA! Youth Theater's newest musical performed by kids for kids follows the comic adventures of eight friends from elementary school through high school graduation. $8-$25.

Best Family Travel Apps Talk – Soho
Mommy Poppins' founder, Anna—who's currently busy at work expanding our Travel site—hits the downtown Apple Store to chat about family travel apps that will help you save money and plan the best trip ever with your kids. This event is aimed at adults so have the spouse take the kids to nearby playground. FREE

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, July 15

Bastille Day on 60th – Upper East Side
Celebrate all things French at this annual fete featuring street mimes and accordion players, an open-air market, cancan dancers, live music, French language workshops and a classic Citroën car show. Les enfants can enjoy a junior pétanque contest, face painting, and arts and crafts. FREE

Sundae Sermon – Harlem
Come dance the afternoon away in Morningside Park. This family gathering includes a live deejay, face painting and a chance to meet your neighbors. FREE

Lower East Side Nosh and Stroll – Lower East Side
Sample iconic foods as you schlep through this tasty part of town: delicious egg creams, bialys from Kossar’s, local rugelach, Pickle Guy pickles and chocolates from Sweet Life. $25 for adults, $18 for students.

Breakfast with the Beasts – Staten Island
School-age kids can hit the Staten Island Zoo’s kitchen to help prepare a meal for the animals (and a little something for themselves). Preregistration required. $17.

See all Sunday events.

Outside NYC

Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ cohosts City of Water Day with various NYC waterfront nabes. Take the free ferry from Governors Island to the park for fossil displays, boat tours and other activities.

Head out to Southampton, Long Island for the Hamptons Greek Festival featuring traditional music and dancing, food and an area for kids with carnival rides, games, and other activities.

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