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Labor Day Weekend 2024 in NYC: Festivals, Fairs, and More Things To Do with Kids

Enjoy roving performers, kid-friendly activities, and plenty of good eats when the Richmond County Fair takes over Historic Richmond Town for its annual run. Photo courtesy of the event
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8/30/24 - By Drew Kristofik

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

Summer takes a final victory lap this weekend, and the Labor Day holiday means the NYC Unicycle Festival is one-wheeling all around town, kids can pretend they're going back to Hogwarts at Grand Central Terminal, or you can bring the fam to Hudson Yards to watch the US Open on a big outdoor screen for FREE!

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

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Best Things To Do Labor Day Weekend in NYC with Kids

15th Annual NYC Unicycle Festival

Citywide – FREE
Thursday, August 29-Sunday, September 1
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus rolls out its annual NYC Unicycle Festival across New York City, bringing together recreational riders, world-class performers, mountain and off-road unicycle enthusiasts, and mono-wheel vehicle inventors.  READ MORE

Creative Break on Little Island: Visual Arts with Georgie Flores

Greenwich Village – FREE
Friday, August 30
Paint in the park with teaching artist Georgie Flores, and learn how to paint an image with watercolors inspired by the landscape and horticulture of Little Island.   READ MORE

Bounce House at Staten Island Children's Museum

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
Friday, August 30
Kids can unleash their inner acrobat as they conquer the ultimate bounce house.  READ MORE

Coney Island Fireworks

Coney Island, Brooklyn – FREE
Friday, August 30
Enjoy singing karaoke with family and friends on the Coney Island Boardwalk in front of Deno's Wonder Wheel, and then watch the fireworks illuminate the sky! READ MORE

Picnic Performances in Bryant Park

Midtown West – FREE
Friday, August 30-Saturday, August 31
Picnic Performances are the perfect way to spend a summer evening, with 25 live and in-person music, dance, and theatrical shows. Bring a blanket and a picnic (of course). READ MORE

Back to Hogwarts at Grand Central Terminal

Midtown East – FREE
Friday, August 30-Sunday, September 1
Harry Potter fans are invited to a special Back to Hogwarts pop-up in the beautiful Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal. Expect magical performances, exciting Lego building activities, an interactive Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions fan experience, plus activations from Scholastic, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and even the chance to toast one another with the most delectable of wizarding drinks: butterbeer. READ MORE

Unrehearsed: 12th Night in Central Park

Central Park – FREE
Saturday, August 31
Enjoy live Shakespeare while betting on the actors you think will forget the most lines, and tipping your favorite cast members to encourage them on to the end! Cast members are given just 30 days to learn their lines and get off book. At no time are they permitted to rehearse with each other or coordinate performances. Referees are standing by, ready to call “foul” and flag actors for missed cues, flubbed lines, and ad-libbing.    READ MORE

West Indian American Day Junior Carnival Parade

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, August 31
The streets of Crown Heights fill up with music and culture as the annual Junior Carnival makes its way through Brooklyn. READ MORE

Free Community Rowing in Hunts Point Park

Hunts Point, the Bronx – FREE
Saturday, August 31
This free community rowing program gives New Yorkers of all ages a chance to get out on the water aboard Rocking the Boat's student-built wooden row boats, accompanied by trained staff. Learn to row and experience the beauty of New York City's only freshwater river.   READ MORE

Show Up, Kids at Q.E.D. Astoria

Astoria, Queens
Saturday, August 31
The outrageously interactive family comedy Show Up, Kids! makes its Queens debut. This semi-improvised musical show puts a wildly comedic twist on the traditional kids’ show: When the main attraction doesn’t show up, the host enlists the help of the kids (and their grownups) to control everything from plot to props, characters to costumes, and settings to sound in a one-of-a-kind, 45-minute laugh-fest.    READ MORE

Family Art Project: Fishy Fun at Wave Hill

Riverdale, the Bronx
Saturday, August 31-Sunday, September 1
Turn colorful paper bags into fantastic 3-D fish that can swim through the air and flutter home with you. READ MORE

Wonderland: Curious Nature Character Encounters at the New York Botanical Garden

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Saturday, August 31-Monday, September 2
Alice is not alone in the garden at NYBG this weekend. Multi-hyphenate fiddler, dancer, and singer Ian Moore interprets the Mad Hatter. Can you spot his beloved haberdashery as he dashes across Garden grounds? READ MORE

Richmond County Fair

Richmond, Staten Island
Saturday, August 31-Monday, September 2
An old-fashioned county fair in New York City, the 42-year-old Staten Island tradition features family fun and entertainment for all ages, including circus performers, crafts and rides for the kids, live music, plenty of eats, and contests. READ MORE

Labor Day in Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn – FREE
Monday, September 2
Join the Prospect Park Alliance when school is closed for Labor Day. Enjoy free nature education activities, animal encounters, bird walks, and more at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, and take a ride on the beloved Prospect Park Carousel. READ MORE

Sports on the Big Screen at Hudson Yards

Midtown West – FREE
Through Saturday, September 8
Games, series, and tournaments shine on the 30-foot big screen, including the Olympics in Paris, US Open tennis, golf majors, basketball playoffs, and more. READ MORE

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About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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