All Weekend

Kids Rule Weekend – the Bronx
Head to the Lehman College campus for two days of outdoor family fun including games, magic shows, performances by the Children’s Theatre Company, water slides and pony rides. FREE

Animation Block Party – Fort Greene
Catch an eclectic lineup of animated flicks from around the world at BAM Rose Cinemas. Note that not all of the screenings are appropriate for children. However, highlights for families are Animation for Kids, a collection of shorts for ages 4 to 8; Sesame Slam, a retrospective of animated segments from Sesame Street; and the 1985 Care Bears Movie. 

Saturday, August 1

Summer Streets – Manhattan
An August GoList pick. Cycle, scooter or stroll a car-free, seven-mile route from the Upper East Side to the Brooklyn Bridge. Be sure to check out some of the activities along the way at multiple interactive rest stops, like cycling lessons, bike tune-ups, live performances, public art, a zip line and a massive water slide (that last one requires advance reservations). Read our Summer Streets post for important tips for going with kids. FREE

Hindu Lamp Ceremony – Dumbo
Celebrate peace and harmony by watching lanterns set afloat on the East River in Brooklyn Bridge Park. FREE

Peter Pan and the Pirates – Prospect Park
Watch a site-specific dance performance inspired by J. M. Barrie's beloved story in Prospect Park's one-of-a-kind Natural Exploration Area. FREE

Sunnyside Stroll: Kids' Art Fair – Sunnyside
Enjoy a kids' art fair, live performances, crafts and more family fun as the streets near Sunnyside's well-known arch are closed to traffic and opened to activities. FREE

Get Up & Go: Family Adventure Race – Staten Island
Head to Conference House Park for an hour-long athletic event just for families. Along the race course, participants must stop and complete fitness challenges before moving on. Awards will be given to the top teams. Preregistration required.

See all Saturday events. 
 

Sunday, August 2

SummerStage Family Day – Staten Island
Another August GoList pick: Catch awesome music and dance performances at SummerStage's inaugural Staten Island Family Day in Cloves Lake Park. Groove to a high-energy, interactive Baby Loves Disco dance party, followed by live music from funk/soul kindie duo Sugar Free Allstars and folksy singer Hopalong Andrew. The day wraps up with a set by the talented local kids of the Uptown Dance Academy. FREE

Celebrate American Family Day at CMA – Hudson Square
Enjoy an art-filled day at the Children's Museum of the Arts. Collaborate on a life-size animal statue inspired by the works of Jeff Koons and Robert Bradford, get creative at the clay bar, craft mini dioramas and jam in the sound booth. Free with admission

Pier Kids: Birds of Prey – Brooklyn Heights
Get up close and personal with a variety of raptors at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Afterward, stick around for art-making with Private Picassos. FREE

National Parks Weekend – the Bronx
Celebrate our national parks at the Bronx Zoo, where National Park Rangers will school kids in bird-watching, pitching tents, kayaking and other outdoor skills. Free with general admission

Time After Time Capsule Contribution Event – Midtown East
Bring quirky, colorful items to Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza and add them to Sebastian Masuda's awesome public art project: a translucent Hello Kitty time capsule, which he's filling with keepsakes. Read more in our NYC outdoor public art post. FREE

See all Sunday events.

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