All Weekend

Maker Days – Flushing
Get a preview of the science-minded fun to be had at New York Hall of Science's awesome World Maker Faire (coming September 17-18) by letting the kids play with Zoob, design with Capsela, repurpose items with RePlayGround and learn about electricity with Collab. Afterward, check out Circus! Science Under The Big Top. FREE with museum admission: $11 for adults, $8 for children ages 2-17, free for kids under 2.

Baby Baboon Birthday – Prospect Park
The Prospect Park Zoo's baboons Jabari and Azizi are celebrating their first birthday! Watch the zookeepers ply them with baked treats for a cute (and messy we imagine) cupcake grab, and then make a card for the little guys. FREE with zoo admission: $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-12, free for kids under 3.

Mini-Tempest – Upper West Side
Introduce the brood to the Bard at this kid-friendly version of The Tempest mounted by Drama Tunes in the lush West Side Community Garden. FREE

The Muppet Movie and Shadow Puppet Family Workshop – Astoria
In conjunction with the Museum of the Moving Image's Jim Henson’s Fantastic World exhibit, you can catch screenings of The Muppet Movie or learn how to craft a paper puppet. Movie is FREE with museum admission: $10 for adults, $5 for kids. The puppet workshop is an additional $5.

Saturday, July 23

New Museum Block Party – Lower East Side
The avant-garde arts institution throws its annual outdoor party in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Enjoy live folk opera, klezmer, beat box and poetry performances, join in collaborative art projects, transform old items into new art or take a tour of the nearby museum. There are also activities just for kids, like a Bowery scavenger hunt and face painting. FREE

Let’s Go Fly A Kite – Governors Island
The isle's huge grassy lawns are perfect for kite flying. This weekend, the Governors Island Alliance will be handing out free flyers (while supplies last) for visitors to launch high into the sky. FREE

Family Campfire – Staten Island
True, it may be a little hot for a beach campfire, but you can always cool off in the water! The National Park Rangers host this old-fashioned gathering at a decommissioned Staten Island Army Air Corp Base. FREE

Word for Word Kids: Bad Kitty – Midtown West
Meet Nick Bruel, creator of the Bad Kitty illustrated book series at this outdoor storytime and book signing. Word is there'll be an appearance by the cranky cat herself. FREE

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, July 24

Queens Family Day – Long Island City
The last of SummerStage's Family Days promises to be hot (in more ways than one). Enjoy performances by singer-songwriter Robbi K, rootsy Matt Brown, the sibling string trio JoSunJari, interactive storytelling by David Gonzalez and Daniel Carlton, Bessie's Big Shot by PuppetMobile, and the up-and-coming kid rock sensation Shine & the Moonbeams. FREE

Showboat Shazzam – Dumbo
Climb aboard the restored Lehigh Valley Barge, which is docked at Brooklyn Bridge Park for Tug & Barge Week, to see this floating variety show featuring clowns, aerial artists, jugglers and more. $10

See all Sunday events.

Outside NYC

Thrill-seekers can feel the wind in their hair at one of these awesome roller coasters in and around New Jersey. Or head to the iconic shore to beat the heat.

Long Islanders can pack a picnic and head to a free alfresco concert. This weekend, Morgan Memorial Park in Glen Cove hosts Flamenco music and dancing while Stony Brook Village Green has swing and big-band tunes.

Break a sweat in Connecticut at the new indoor climbing spot Carabiner's or hit one of these family-friendly indoor spots to bask in AC.
 

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

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