New Island Festival
With wandering performers, a silent kids-only disco, a cow that strolls among the crowd and a show about a stunt pig, the New Island Festival brings Dutch-style fun to Governor's Island. All-inclusive tickets to the festival are $35, but many of the events are free, including all the kids programs so just go and enjoy a wild fun time. Runs Thursday-Sunday 9/10-9/13 and 9/17-9/20. See the whole schedule and more details at NewIslandFestival.com

Dutch Art in New York
For the occasion, the Dutch have generously loaned the iconic Vermeer masterpiece the Milkmaid to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See this wonderful work and the 200 other Dutch masterpieces at the Met. Drag the kids to catch a glimpse. In contrast, you might also take them to the Museum of the City of New York where they can see some contemporary Dutch art. I particularly like the large format photos of women after the Dutch masters but instead of proper white bonnets, one wears a napkin on her head and another a plastic garbage bag. Th images are just as beautiful as the classics, but the humor makes them almost better.

New Amsterdam Trail
It would take an even braver soul to do this one with kids (I witnessed our neighbors retreating from this walking tour with their two kids in tears--and they are Dutch), but still worth mentioning because I think it's cool for kids to know the history behind the oldest part of our city. You can take a ranger guided tour or download a map and audio guide and follow along to the sites of old New Amsterdam on your own...or just read and listen yourself and then show off the highlights to your kids while you walk around with giant ice cream cones or something.

New Amsterdam Village
We visited New Amsterdam Village today around lunchtime and it was packed with business people and tourists, but still lots of fun. Billed as a free event that shares Dutch culture, we enjoyed a live dutch brass band and seeing the wooden shoe carving demo as well as people dressed in traditional dutch costumes. Vendors sell customary Dutch foods such as delicious little pancakes covered in powdered sugar ($5 for 6) and the not very popular herring sandwiches ($8). Children can't help but be tempted by the "floral workshop" which lets them make a beautiful little decoration out of candied edible flowers. I just wish that they more clearly marked that the "workshop" costs $8! Daily through September 13, 11am-7pm at The Battery in front of the National Museum of the American Indian (look for the giant windmill when you get off the train.)

   

NY Harbor Day
Sunday, September 13th culminates NY400 week with a huge celebration of the NY City harbor spanning six waterfront sites with free bike rentals and hop-on/hop-off boat service between them: The Battery, Battery Park City, Hudson River Park, Governors Island, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Snug Harbor. At Battery Park City, there will be kid-friendly music from Tom Chapin and Princess Katie and Racer Steve. Governor's Island will be in the throes of the New Island Festival. Hudson River Park will have an Oyster Festival, free kayaking and more. Download the complete schedule of events.