All Weekend:

Wild Arts Weekend – Prospect Park
Art and animals mix it up in Brooklyn with lots of arts and crafts for kids, puppet shows, live animal encounters, animal face painting and local artists painting and displaying their work on site.  FREE with zoo admission

Young Maker Weekend – Queens
Gear up for the very cool World Maker Faire that is coming this fall to the NY Hall of Science by letting the kids work on DIY projects. Plus, meet some local makers and participate in some of the other activities going on like design challenges and more. FREE with museum admission.
 

Firefighter Appreciation Weekend – Midtown West
Got an FDNY obsessed kid (or adult) in the family? Head over to The Intrepid where you can watch “The Bravest” battle it out in a cooking competition, learn how they use the jaws of life to get people out of crashed cars, see the cool Marine 1 Water Boat as it shoots streams of water into the Hudson and lot of other cool and brave Firefightery things.  Plus, if you are on the job – get in free and your family gets a 25% discount off admission if they come with you. FREE with museum admission.

Saturday July 17, 2010

Tell Me A Story– Fort Greene
A special interactive and collaborative storytime with local educator Jocelyn Greene using Eeboos “Tell Me a Story” cards that will guide the kids through the story telling process.  FREE.

Kidding Around – Carroll Gardens
Shop for the  kids Brooklyn style, browse and buy the wares from a large variety of local, indie, designers who specialize in duds just for little ones – vintage inspired baby blankets, handmade overalls, organic bedding and décor.  Children are encouraged to bring a book to swap. FREE

Junior Ranger Hike – Queens
Kids aged 7 years and up can join the National Park Rangers at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for an early morning hike and become Junior Rangers, too.  FREE

Sketch What You See – Chelsea
An open sketching workshop for kids of every age led by real artists. If you have a sketch pad and pencils – bring them with you.  Part of the Target Arts & Wonder Weekend.  FREE

Word for Word Kids: Starfish – Midtown East
Kids can sing and dance to the rocking yet family friendly tunes of Starfish while soaking up the fresh air and sunshine in Bryant Park.  FREE.

Let’s Fly a Kite –Financial District
Governor’s Island is a perfect kite flying destination and this weekend the island’s Alliance will be giving kids a kite for free. Then they will help them assemble and fly it to boot. Only 750 kites will be given out - so get there early.  It starts at noon. FREE
 

Stories for All Ages – Battery Park City
Learn about Native American culture through the stories of Perry Ground from the Onondaga Turtle Clan.  Listen in as he tells the story of The Fastest Animal in the Forest and other tales.  FREE
 

Target Design Kids Festival – Upper East Side
Kids can spend the day designing buttons, clocks, book bags, hydroponic planters and other items with the educators and designers from the Cooper Hewitt.  Explore the galleries, catch some tunes, and partake in a little face painting.  Check out the Imagination Playground set up there, too.  FREE
 

Sunday July 18, 2010

Summerstage: Global Family Day – Central Park
Don’t miss this annual event that brings the best live music and entertainment for families to the stage.  The performances include Ralph’s World, Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Cappadocia and their own style of American roots music along with the talented acrobatics of Cirque-Tacular.  Plus storytelling, face-painting, puppet shows, jugglers, and an instrument-making workshop. FREE
 

Wild Flowers and Urban Landscape Collages with the Children’s Museum of the Arts—Chelsea
Let the kids use the urban landscape of The Highline as inspiration for their own tissue paper wildflower collages along with the teaching artists from the Children’s Museum of Arts. Part of Target Arts & Wonder Weekend.  FREE

A Clearing in the Forest – Central Park
Families can study the Children’s Glade and Central Park in its minutiae with the New York Microscopical Society. FREE

Curious George Family Fun Day – Upper East Side
This is the perfect time to check out the Curious George exhibit (before it closes in August) the day will include a hands on family art workshop and a visit from the monkey himself. FREE with museum admission.

Outside NYC:
If you are headed to the shore this weekend, why not check out the 8th Annual NJ State Ice Cream Festival in Tom’s River?  Food, rides, fun and of course, ice cream.  Join in on the voting for the best of the cold stuff by purchasing a tasting kit for $6.  FREE admission.

Long Island bound families can go for some agritainment on the island's family farms or head out to Caleb Smith State Park Saturday evening, for a family adventure with fireflies.  Experiment and learn indoors then head out into the park to try to find some of the glowing insects.  Bring a clean 2 liter soda bottle with a cap and a flashlight.  $4.00 for adults, $3 for children aged 3 years and older + Parking fees.