All Weekend

Fleece Festival – Prospect Park
The Prospect Park Zoo and the Lefferts Historic House both celebrate the shearing season. At the zoo, watch the sheep get their spring haircut, dance to the Otter Brothers band and make some barnyard crafts. Afterward, head to Leffers to learn how to turn wool into cloth. Activities at the zoo are free with admission: $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-12. Activities at Lefferts Historic House are FREE.

Ninth Annual Food Festival – Midtown West
This annual culinary celebration is one of my favorite annual events. Ninth Avenue between 42nd Street and 57th Street overflows with eclectic eats from different countries like Poland, Italy, Spain, Greece and Thailand. While there is a children's pavilion with various activities, the main attraction here is the cuisine. Free admission but you will end up spending money on food.

The Red Balloon – Tribeca
Introduce your kids to the classic (and practically wordless) French short The Red Balloon at the Canal Park Playhouse. The film will be preceded by two old-time cartoons: Casper the Friendly Ghost and Popeye, and all kids will snag a shiny red balloon to take home. $7

Monet’s Garden – the Bronx
The New York Botanical Garden debuts its latest exhibit, Monet's Garden, this weekend. Come see this gorgeous tribute to the famous French Impressionist with a recreation of his famous garden at Giverny. which inspired much of his artwork. A handful of his paintings will also be on view, and there will be related films, concerts, poetry readings and hands-on art projects for families. Free with all-garden pass: $20 for adults, $8 for children ages 2-12.

Kovaks for Kids – Astoria
In conjunction with its retrospective on legendary married entertainers Edie Adams and Ernie Kovaks, the Museum of the Moving Image will screen a special compilation of their playful and inventive comedy just for kids. Free with admission: $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 3-17.

Saturday, May 19

It’s My Park Day – Citywide
Partnership for Parks organizes its annual spring volunteer initiative at parks and playgrounds throughout NYC. There are more than 100 volunteering opportunities so find one near you and go and pitch in. Most projects are good for kids (cleaning, weeding, planting) and many also include fun like sports, boating, arts and crafts, and performances. FREE

Spring Kids Fest – Flatiron
Madison Square Park throws its big annual spring bash today. Groove to The Fuzzy Lemons, The Rockdoves and Songs for Seeds, and marvel at magic tricks by the Amazing Max. Other festivities include pie throwing, storytime yoga, face painting, arts and crafts, an eco-art installation courtesy of the Children’s Museum of the Arts and free snacks. While there, check out the park's brand-new interactive sculpture exhibit Pet Sounds. FREE

New York Dance Parade – Flatiron
Watch as 10,000 movers and shakers make their way down Broadway doing more than 75 dances, including salsa, tango, waltz, African, Asian, the hula, break dancing and more. Cheer them on along the route or head to Tompkins Square Park for the after-party featuring choreographed performances, workshops and lots of dancing. FREE

Circle Line Kids' Cruise with Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell – Midtown West
The Circle Line sets sail on its inaugural Kids' Cruise and Grammy winner Dan Zanes and kids' crooner Elizabeth Mitchell will be on board to serenade families. Other fun includes balloon twisters, jugglers, magicians, a meet and greet with the cast of the Berenstain Bears and post-cruise activities on the pier. My family and I are really looking forward to this one! $28 for adults, $20 for children ages 3-12.

The Laurie Berkner Band – Upper West Side
Catch the queen of kiddie rock and her band mates in their Animal Party Concert at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. Make sure the kids bring their favorite stuffed animal to boogie with. As of this writing, tickets are still available but we suspect the shows may sell out. $37.50

Kite Flight – Long Island City
Socrates Sculpture Park and the nearby Noguchi Museum team up for a day of kite flying fun. Families can bring their own kites or fashion fliers from recycled materials in a workshop led by teaching artists Miwa Koizumi and Marco Scoffier. All supplies provided. FREE

Touch-a-Truck – Upper West Side
Kids can explore all kinds of cool vehicles at the West Side YMCA. Past fests have featured NYPD cruisers, ambulances, fire trucks and even a refrigerated Fresh Direct truck. There will also be live music, arts and crafts, and other fun. Free admission but there are fees for activities.

Red Hook Family Festival – Red Hook
Children can meet Brooklyn Cyclones mascot Sandy the Seagull and pose with Star Wars characters, jump around in a bouncy house, play games and more at this annual family favorite hosted by Puppetry Arts. The first 100 kids to arrive snag free goody bags. Free admission but there are fees for activities.

What is Art Family Day Workshop – the Bronx
Check out No Longer Empty’s stunning multiroom art installation This Side of Paradise at the Andrew Freedman Home and then enjoy a related family art workshop hosted by the Bronx Children’s Museum. FREE

Children’s Festival: Arctic Blast – Financial District
Head to the National Museum of the American Indian to meet World Eskimo-Indian Olympics winners and learn how to do some of their amazing feats, like the arm pull, the stick pull, the kneel jump, the scissor broad jump and the seal hop. The festivities also include music and dance performances by the King Island Dancers and Singers, and workshops where kids can make an Eskimo yo-yo, a story knife and snow goggles. FREE

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, May 20

Jewish Books Cooking – Upper West Side
Head to the JCC in Manhattan to see Broadway writer and director Elizabeth Swados' new kids' show, Jewish Books Cooking, based on 13 Jewish-themed children’s tales, including Afikomen Mambo, The Klezmer Bunch and Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher. FREE

Pop-Up Park – Chelsea
Join the folks from local community organization Friends of 20th Street Park as they create a pop-up play space in an empty city-owned lot on West 20th Street. They hope they'll inspire the city to finally transform the spot into a permanent green space. Afterward, stick around and explore all of the cool family attractions Chelsea has to offer. FREE

The Paper Bag Players: Laugh! Laugh! Laugh! – Lower East Side
The venerable children's theater troupe performs comical musical sketches about child superheroes, blowing the perfect bubble, first-day-of-school jitters and other kid-centric topics at the Abrons Art Center. My seven-year-old son loves the Paper Bag Players and he's even seen this specific show twice! FREE

Mamapalooza Extravaganza – Upper West Side
Even though Mother's Day has passed you can continue celebrating motherhood at this annual fest on Pier I in Riverside Park South. Watch as mom bands like Erin Lee & the Up Past Bedtime Band, and Parents with Angst rock out, and enjoy other family-friendly performances. There will also be kids' activities and vendors. FREE

Drums Along the Hudson – Inwood
Head to Inwood Hill Park for the this annual festival celebrating Native American culture. Catch dance and drumming performances, make traditional crafts and enjoy ethnic eats. There will also be an Environmental Tent and appearances by green superhero Captain Planet. FREE

Touch-a-Truck – St. George
Kids can climb aboard 20 trucks parked in the Staten Island Yankees ballpark, and also enjoy arts and crafts, a bouncy house and games. In advance: $6, at the door: $7.

A Clearing in the Forest: Poetry – Upper West Side
Enjoy an alfresco performance of Richard Lewis’ poem, A Tree Lives, followed by an art and writing workshop led by the Touchstone Center for Children. FREE

See all Sunday events.

Outside of NYC

Are you a member of Kids Club Thirteen? It certainly has its privileges, including free admission to 13 tri-state area events throughout the year. This Saturday, members can head to Paramus for Dinosaur Weekend at the New Jersey Children’s Museum, where kids will go on a scavenger hunt and meet Buddy from the PBS Kids series Dinosaur Train. Read our post about Kids Club Thirteen for details on member benefits and how to join.

Celebrate all things Greek at New Britan, Connecticut's Greek Festival featuring live music, dance performers, vendors, raffles, crafts, plants and authentic eats.

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