All Weekend

J&R Jr. Grand Opening – Financial District
J&R, the massive electronics and music store, is throwing a star-studded two-day bash in honor of its new kids' shop. The lineup of performers includes rockers Dan Zanes, Laurie Berkner, Farmer Jason and the Dirty Sock Funtime Band, children's author-illustrator Tad Hills, magician Amazing Max and many more. And it's all free—assuming you can make it out of the store without buying anything. Good luck with that. FREE

Gustafer Yellowgold's Golden Heart Symphony – Upper West Side
My son and I love Gustafer Yellowgold, the animated alien alter ego of mellow kid rocker Morgan Taylor. This weekend, Taylor performs a pair of special concerts at Symphony Space backed by The Chelsea Symphony. Expect the same great tunes, only lusher, as Gustafer's kooky cartoon adventures screen in the background. $25 for adults, $15 for children.

Family Art Project: Hearts and Flowers – the Bronx
In honor of Valentine's Day, families can use sweet-smelling blossoms in the greenhouse as inspiration for flowery cards. Free with admission: $8 for adults, $2 for children 6 and up, free for kids under 6 and free to all on Saturday before noon.

Brazil! Brazil! – Midtown West
The New Victory Theater debuts its new show: a story-less celebration of South American street moves. The one-hour party (because that's what it sounds like) mixes rhythmic music with soccer-inspired dance, and even features a real-life Brazilian soccer star. $14-$38

Saturday, February 11

Circle of Love: Dads and Daughters Ball – Crown Heights
We love that the Brooklyn Children's Museum is celebrating the special bond between fathers and daughters. (That said, don't feel left out moms and sons: you're invited too!) Dress up and hit the floor, where professional instructors will teach families a pair of dances. Other attractions include a live deejay, daddy-daughter photos, a complimentary corsage and a card. $25 per adult-child pair, $10 per additional child. Must buy advance tickets.

Clifford HEART-y Party – Soho
Families can head to the Scholastic Store to meet the iconic Big Red Dog. Afterward, enjoy an afternoon of Valentine's Day fun, including storytime, crafts and photo ops. FREE

Clifford the Big Red Dog Live – Tribeca
More fun with Clifford! Norman Bridwell's series of books comes to life at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in this musical starring the Big Red Dog, Emily Elizabeth, Cleo, T-Bone and the rest of the gang. $25.

Floating Valentines: A Screening of The Red Balloon – Battery Park City
Poets House shows one of my son's favorite flicks, the endearing short The Red Balloon, and then kids can craft their own poetic valentines in the form of hot-air balloon mobiles. FREE

Family Valentine's Workshop & Party – Upper West Side
El Taller Latino hosts a family fete where kids can make and decorate heart-shaped maracas, and then shake along to a live performance by ¡Acopladitos!, a Brooklyn-based duo that plays bilingual tunes. $15 per family.

Irondale's Big Box of Distractions: SPLASH! A Theater Games and Art-Making Workshop – Fort Greene
In this interactive family theater workshop, the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble helps participants create a live improv piece about water. $10 for adults, $5 for children under 13.

Valentine's Day Card Creations – Battery Park City
Kids can make highrise-inspired holiday cards at the Skyscraper Museum. Pre-registration required. $5

The Scene @ The Tavern: Ice Festival – Upper West Side
Artists from the Okamoto Studio hit the Tavern on the Green courtyard to carve blocks of ice into well-known Central Park statues. Park staff will also be on hand to educate visitors on the history of these landmarks. FREE

Sci-Tech Workshop: Flower Power – Midtown East
Tweens can fashion cool hi-tech flowers from LEDs, fiber optics and colored cellophane at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. Pre-registration required. $10

MoMA Family Films: Quiet Please! Silent Films – Midtown West
Families can see movies the way great-grandma used to when the museum screens a pair of silent films with live musical accompaniment: One Week and The Lonedale Operator. Afterward, stay and explore the museum. FREE but tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Discover Calder’s Circus – Upper East Side
After a long hiatus, Calder's Circus installation is back on display at the Whitney Museum. Today, tweens can learn about the iconic art work from museum educators and then design their own wire creations. Free with admission: $18 for adults, free for children under 19.

Birding: Owls – the Bronx
The Urban Park Rangers help kids search for owls in the wild at the Orchard Beach Nature Center. FREE

Family Concert: What is Improvisation? – Upper West Side
Last month we wrote a post about jazz shows for kids highlighting Lincoln Center's interactive Jazz for Young People Family Concerts. At this edition, kids will learn about the art of improvisation. Arrive early for pre-show art and music workshops. $12-$28

Saturday Family Programing: Jazz 4 Kids – Park Slope
More smooth jazz: In honor of Black History Month, the central branch of the Brooklyn Library welcomes Lauren Hooker and her ensemble for an interactive family show about the history of the genre. FREE

Johann Sebastian Bach LIVE! – Upper West Side
The American Classical Orchestra and Classical Music for Kids present an hour-long concert of baroque music by Bach, Vivaldi and other 18th-century composers accompanied by period-style dancing. $8

The Art of Mime – Midtown East
Actor Bill Bowers performs mime routines and then shows kids how to do some silent moves of their own at the NYPL's Children’s Center at 42nd Street. FREE

Steampunk Victorian Valentines – Soho
Artist Yvonne Brooks teaches kids how to fashion cool, retro Victorian cards with a Steampunk edge (think Jules Verne) at the McNally Jackson bookstore. FREE

Thalia Kids' Book Club: A Wrinkle in Time 50th Anniversary – Upper West Side
Madeleine L'Engle's thought-provoking young adult novel celebrates the big five-O this weekend with a fantastic lineup of guests, including Goosebumps creator, R.L. Stine, children’s book historian Leonard Marcus and actress Jane Curtin, who'll perform excerpts from the book. $15

Family Affair: When Art Meets Tech – the Bronx
The Bronx Museum of the Arts hosts a family afternoon with kid-friendly gallery tours and offbeat art-making workshops. FREE

Circles of Love with Kids Club Thirteen – Crown Heights
Are you a member of Kids Club Thirteen? It certainly has its privileges, including free admission to 13 family events throughout the year. Today, Kids Club Thirteen members can head to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum to see the premiere of a new Curious George episode and meet the monkey himself, join in a scavenger hunt in the Secrets of Circles exhibit, and do Valentine’s Day-themed crafts and activities. Read our post about Kids Club 13 for details on member benefits and how to join. Free for Kids Club Thirteen members.

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, February 12

Science of Basketball – Corona
Learn about the science behind B-ball with Harlem Globetrotter Fred "Curly" Neal at the New York Hall of Science. Watch basketball-themed experiments that test velocity, gravity and physics. Free with admission: $11 for adults, $8 for children ages 2-17.

Family Concert: Music for Aardvarks – Upper East Side
Head to the Jewish Museum to see the original NYC kids' band play their hits Taxi, Bagel and Race You to the Corner. $16 for adults, $11 for children.

Valentine’s Day Eco Crafts – Staten Island
Go green for the holiday at the Blue Heron Nature Center, where kids can make eco-friendly crafts and cards from recycled materials. FREE

Kids 'N Comedy: Comics In Love – Chelsea
Catch the teen stars of standup at the Gotham Comedy Club. This month’s theme is—what else?—Valentine’s Day. $15 plus one-item minimum.

Laura Veirs Tumble Bee CD Release Concert – East Village
Folk singer and songwriter Laura Veirs plays a concert in celebration of her first children's album, Tumble Bee, at Joe’s Pub. Hear Lap Dog Lullabye and other original songs as well as covers of Woodie Guthrie and Harry Belafonte tunes. $15 for adults, $12 for children.

Tim and the Space Cadets Family Concert – East Village
The 14th Street Y welcomes the Brooklyn kindie rockers for an afternoon of pop for the preschool set. Tots can groove to songs about superheroes, pizza, parties and summertime. In advance: $25 per family; at the door: $30 per family.

See all Sunday events.

Outside of NYC

Dress up your daughters and their favorite lovey for a delightful Teddy Bear Tea Party at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center in Connecticut.

You'll never be bored on Long Island again now that we've shared our top 100 things to do with kids on the isle.

Don’t forget: There are lots of other options in our Event Calendar.

Planning an event? Submit it to our Event Calendar.

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe to our free newsletters.