All Weekend

Stunt Lab – Tribeca
Every week, the two goofy guys at the center of this variety show, yo-yo champ Mark Hayward and contortionist Jonathan Burns, try to set a new world record. Last week, Mommy Poppins contributor Alina and her kids saw the pair break the record for the most simultaneously spinning tops: 26! Catapulting marshmallows, match-lighting yo-yos, fitting a big man into a small suitcase, a balloon-animal tutorial, the list of feats is impressive. Plus there's enough physical slapstick to keep the kids in the audience in stitches. $20

NYC FIRST Mega Weekend – Midtown West
Are your kids into robots, Legos and technology? Then they'll really be wowed by this event at the Javits Center, which brings together three contests in robotics, tech and Legos. More than 60 high school teams from around the world will show off their cool high-tech creations. You can also check out Lego sculptures by middle and elementary school teams, and more. There's even a Science and Technology College and Career Expo. FREE

PlayLab Workshop: Luck O’ the Green – Crown Heights
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, tots can learn all about Irish customs, celebrations and cuisine, and then create a holiday craft at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Free with admission: $7.50

Saturday, March 17

Cherry Blossoms: Japan Fest – Upper West Side
We're super-excited about the American Museum of Natural History's celebration of spring and the Land of the Rising Sun. This four-day event marks the 100th anniversary of the gift of Japanese cherry blossoms to New York City. Although the fest starts on Wednesday, Saturday is the main event, with Taiko drummers, a tea ceremony, Japanese games, seasonal stories, a shadow puppet show and more. Free with admission: $19 for adults, $10.50 for children ages 2-12, free for kids under 2.

St. Patrick's Day: Greening the City – Battery Park City
Go green for the holiday! Kids can hit the Skyscraper Museum to find out about eco-friendly buildings and then make their own green models. Pre-registration required. $5

The Ugly Duckling & The Tortoise and the Hare – Upper West Side
Head to Symphony Space for a high-tech twist on two classic stories. The Corbian Arts and Dance troupe brings The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare to the stage with puppets and props made from electroluminescent wire. The result: Glow-in-the-dark puppets that look like they're floating in the air. $15-$25

Hands on History: When the Lights Go Out – Jamaica
Take a trip back in time at the King Manor Museum and find out what life was like before electricity. Kids can try their hand at dipping candles along with other old-school fun and games. FREE

Knights and Ladies – Inwood
More retro fun: Your kids can find out how their peers dressed, played and behaved back in medieval times at the Cloisters. Free with admission: $25 for adults, free for children under 12.

Saturday Family Programs: Pot of Gold – Park Slope
Celebrate St. Patrick’s with master storyteller Timothy Connell as he shares Irish folktales using music and dance to evoke the emerald isle. FREE

Artist Choice Workshops – Upper East Side
Have you seen the Whitney Biennial 2012 yet? Today's a great day to go since the museum is hosting a family art workshop with one of the featured artists, Elaine Reichek. Reichek's embroidered “drawings” are inspired by Greek myths, and she'll lead a hands-on project based on her process and practice. Advance registration is a must! $10 per family.

R & R Shabbat at the JCC – Upper West Side
The free family fun continues at the JCC in Manhattan through the end of the month. This week circus is the theme. There will be wandering hula hoopers, magicians, balloon twisters and stilt walkers. Plus, kids can make paper plate clown faces and other circus crafts, and play indoors and outside in the rooftop playground, weather permitting. FREE

The Magic World of Numbers – Upper East Side
Zar Ptica, a Czech children's theater troupe, mounts an English-language production of The Magic World of Numbers that takes kids on a wild journey to Numberland, where everything is made of digits—except zero. FREE

St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Manhattan
Whether you plan on attending or just want to be aware of street closures, NYC's 251st St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes over Fifth Avenue today with pomp, pageantry, bagpipes and tons of boisterous people. The procession kicks off at 11am at 44th Street and marches up the avenue to 86th Street. FREE

Persian New Year Family Day – Upper East Side
St. Patrick's Day isn't the only holiday this weekend. You can celebrate Norouz, a.k.a. the Persian New Year at the Asia Society with traditional music and dance, ethnic crafts and more. $12 for adults, $5 for children.

Super Sabado: DIY – East Harlem
Do it yourself is the theme of this month's free family festival at El Museo del Barrio. Explore self-expression through vibrant Latino art in the exhibit TESTIMONIOS: 100 Years of Popular Expression, pose for a silly self-styled pics at the photo booth, make your own toys from recycled materials in an art workshop and write the ending to your own story with The Story Pirates. FREE

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, March 18

Annual High School Guitar Day – Upper East Side
High school guitar players from all over NYC will rock out at this annual event. The day opens with a professional concert, and then junior jammers can choose from a variety of music workshops like beginner Afro-Cuban guitar and Hawaiian slack-key guitar. FREE

Passover Palooza – Lower East Side
Celebrate Passover a little early at the historic Streit’s Matzo Factory, with a concert by the funky Mama Doni Band, a Jewish book fair and tours of the kitchen. FREE

The Paper Bag Players: Laugh! Laugh! Laugh! – Upper East Side
The Paper Bag Players perform comical musical skits about child superheroes, blowing the perfect bubble, first day of school jitters and other kid-centric topics at the Jewish Museum. My seven-year-old son loves this theater troupe and has seen this specific show twice! $20 for adults, $15 for children.

The Jimmies: Practically Ridiculous CD Release Party Re-do – Tribeca
Last year the popular kindie band was forced to cancel its release party for Practically Ridiculous... so it's time for a re-do! Catch The Jimmies live onstage at 92YTribeca and then pick up a copy of the album. $15

Penny Jones Puppet Co Present: The Magic Forest – Greenwich Village
The theater group mounts another sweet interactive puppet show for the preschool set. The Magic Forest challenges kids to mix magic potions to help bring on spring. $5

Central Park Scavenger Hunt – Upper West Side
Meet at Belvedere Castle for a fun family nature scavenger hunt hosted by the Urban Park Rangers. FREE

Nate the Great – Tribeca
Fans of the popular Nate the Great book series will love seeing the detective's cases come alive in this musical at the Tribeca Performing Art Center. $25

The Magic School Bus, Live!: The Climate Challenge – Flushing
Travel the globe and learn all about climate change with Mr. Frizzle’s class in this musical adaptation of the beloved book series. $13-$19.

Annual St. Patrick’s Open House – Midtown West
In honor of the holiday, the Irish Arts Center hosts its annual family open house. Enjoy traditional Irish music and dance performances, try your hand at crafts and learn a bit of the language. FREE

The American School of Ballet: The Beauty of Ballet – Harlem
Got an aspiring ballerina at home? Then head to the Harlem School of the Arts for this 45-minute show. Dancers and faculty from the School of American Ballet will demonstrate various steps and training exercises, and perform excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake with live accompaniment. FREE but advance registration required.

See all Sunday events.

Outside of NYC

If you don't get your fill of St. Patrick's Day in New York City, you can hit a New Jersey parade—there are a bunch of them. Jersey City's procession happens on Sunday.

Musical duo Damian and Sally Connolly will play Irish tunes on the guitar, fiddle and flute in honor of St. Patrick’s Day at the Fairfield Library in Connecticut.

New York State Maple Producers are hosting an open house weekend when you can get a firsthand look at the maple surgaring process.

Don’t forget: There are lots of other options in our Event Calendar.

Planning an event? Submit it to our Event Calendar.

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