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The Tianyu Lights Festival transforms the Citi Field parking lot into a magical holiday destination with larger-than-life lanterns and kid-friendly activities. Photo courtesy of the festival
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All aboard a festively decorated Polar Express train ride for some holiday magic and memories. Photo by Gwendolyn Tundermann
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Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has become an enchanting holiday tradition for many families. Photo courtesy of the garden
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Presidents Day Weekend 2024: 21 Things To Do in NYC with Kids

The Black Future Festival begins Sunday at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo by Winston Williams
The Black Future Festival begins Sunday at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo by Winston Williams
2/14/24 - By Drew Kristofik

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Presidents Day weekend.

The long Presidents Day weekend ahead segues right into February's winter break, and NYC is up for the challenge. How to keep the kids occupied, you ask? Head to the New Victory to see 360 Allstars, dial up some flower power at the Orchid Show at NYBG, celebrate Black History Month at the Brooklyn Children's Museum's Black Future Fest, or take in kids week festivities at the Intrepid and local parks throughout the city.

More Things To Do in New York City This Week With Kids

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The Harlem Globetrotters take over the court at Barclays Center. Photo courtesy of the Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters take over the court at Barclays Center. Photo courtesy of the Globetrotters

Best Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Leyla McCalla at Clark Studio Theater

Upper West Side
Friday-Sunday, February 16-18
Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla introduces young audiences to Haiti's musical and political traditions and delineates the nation's connections to America's history. READ MORE

Great Backyard Bird Count

Citywide – FREE
Friday, February 16-Monday, February 19
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. READ MORE

Snug Harbor Chinese New Year Celebration

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
Saturday, February 17
Stop by Snug Harbor's Lunar New Year celebration for treats, tales, and traditional crafts. Wear red and gold and participate in storytelling, arts and crafts, performances, and snacks. READ MORE

Cinderella at Brooklyn Public Library

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, February 17
The classic tale, complete with wicked step sisters and fairy godmother, gives the Central Library a shimmer of fairy dust in a one-hour family production. READ MORE

Ms. T’s Cranky Tales Workshop at The Old Stone House

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, February 17
Ms. T, aka Theresa Linnihan, performer and puppeteer, uses an illustrated scroll and shadow puppets to animate enthralling seasonal stories. In this workshop, Ms. T teaches kids how to decorate a shadow box and illustrate a scroll to tell their own stories—with a Valentine's theme. READ MORE

Lunar New Year at The Seaport

South Street Seaport – FREE
Saturday, February 17
The Seaport is partnering with the New York Chinese Cultural Center to bring an intergenerational Lunar New Year celebration to life to mark the Year of the Wood Dragon. READ MORE

The Orchid Show 2024: Florals in Fashion at NYBG

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Opens Saturday, February 17
Now in its 21st year, the Orchid Show showcases thousands of dramatically displayed orchids in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. This year's show provides a unique perspective on the connections between the botanical world and fashion. READ MORE

Lunar New Year in Bryant Park

Midtown West – FREE
Saturday, February 17
Welcome the Year of the Dragon and celebrate the Lunar New Year at Bryant Park! Families can craft their own drums and dragon puppets, join a rkung-fu demonstration, and watch a lion dance and other traditional musical performances by the New York Chinese Cultural Center. READ MORE

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch at Flushing Town Hall

Flushing, Queens
Saturday, February 17
Axis Theatre presents Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, based on the beloved children's book by Eileen Spinelli. READ MORE

Love for Woodland Friends: Family Art Project at Wave Hill

Riverdale, the Bronx
Saturday & Sunday, February 17 & 18
With Valentine’s Day top of mind, take a cue from the ways woodland animals care for their families and celebrate the ways humans care for each other by creating woodland-creature sock puppets. READ MORE

New York Sword Dance Festival

Multiple Manhattan and Brooklyn Locations – FREE
Saturday & Sunday, February 17 & 18
Half Moon Sword presents this 38th annual festival with free, family-friendly performances of this traditional dance form with modern twists by nine performing groups from around the Northeast. READ MORE

Kids Week 2024 at the Intrepid Museum

Midtown West
Saturday, February 17-Saturday, February 24
Kids Week is back at the Intrepid Museum and the fun is moving full STEAM ahead! Science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and fun take center stage at this annual Midwinter Break fest.  READ MORE

360 Allstars at the New Victory Theater

Midtown West
Opens Saturday, February 17
360 Allstars returns to the New Victory to commemorate its 10th anniversary with world record-holding athletes and artists showing off their mad skills in freestyle basketball, BMX biking, breakdancing, acrobatics, and more. READ MORE

Harlem Globetrotters at the Barclays Center

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Sunday, February 18
Your favorite Harlem Globetrotter stars are bringing out their amazing basketball skills, outrageous athleticism, and a non-stop, laugh-out-loud good time to the Harlem Globetrotters 2024 World Tour. READ MORE

Jukebox Jam with Walter Rutledge at Staten Island Children's Museum

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
Sunday, February 18
Celebrate Black History Month with choreographer and dancer Walter Rutledge's workshop that explores the music and dances of iconic African American artists. Shake and move through the hits of the 1940s to the present, honoring the discographies of Duke Ellington, Billy Holiday, Chubby Checker, Michael Jackson, and Beyoncé.    READ MORE

Design Your Own Presidential Seal at the New-York Historical Society

Upper West Side
Sunday, February 18
Celebrate Presidents' Day by taking an extra close look at the Seal of the President of the United States and making your own special seal to take home.   READ MORE

Black Future Festival: We Da People at the Brooklyn Children's Museum

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Sunday, February 18-Sunday, February 25
Brooklyn Children's Museum hosts a week of reflection and future-forward fun inspired by the national celebration of the African diaspora and Black History Month. Guest curators, Kendra J. Bostock and STooPS, present workshops, dance performances, storytelling, and more.  READ MORE

Presidents Day at Children's Museum of Manhattan

Upper West Side
Monday, February 19
Celebrate democracy at CMOM on Presidents Day and develop that activism muscle early. READ MORE

Family Fun Day at the Jackie Robinson Museum

Soho
Monday, February 19
New Yorkers, what is Jackie’s legacy in your neighborhood? Explore the deep-rooted local impact of Jackie Robinson across New York City—from his playing days at Ebbets Field to his family home in St. Albans, Queens and his decades-long engagement in Harlem as an athlete, activist, businessman, and more!    READ MORE

Free Kids Week Programming in NYC Parks

Citywide – FREE
Monday, February 19-Friday, February 23
Spend spring break exploring NYC Parks with the help of the Urban Park Rangers FREE programming series. READ MORE

Trolls x CAMP

Flatiron District
Through Saturday, April 27
Step into the joyful, rainbow-colored world of Trolls for a one-of-a-kind musical adventure at Trolls x CAMP. Play and explore in Bergen Town, Vacay Island, and Pop Village —all your favorite locations from the Trolls movies brought to life! It all culminates with a wild, interactive car chase and a live Trollpop concert . READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens
Brooklyn Central Library - Dweck Center
Various locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn