All Weekend

Saltbush – Midtown West
A Go List pick: Head to the New Victory Theater to become part of this high-tech immersive production, in which everyone is onstage—even the audience. A collaboration between Italy's Compagnia T.P.O. and Insite Arts from Australia, Saltbush features Aboriginal dancers performing on a "Children's Cheering Carpet," a sensory landscape that allows them to interact with colorful projections on the floor in time to traditional music. $25

Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days – Union Square & Citywide
Take home a shelter cat or dog at no cost this weekend at the Union Square Petco on Saturday or Union Square Park on Sunday. You can also donate clean towels, blankets and toys for shelter animals, meet Susie's Senior Dogs, pose for pics with Maddie the mascot, watch Tillman, The World's Fastest Skateboarding Dog, show off his skills and snag free samples from various companies. If you can't make it to Union Square, more than 90 participating NYC animal shelters are also offering FREE adoptions this weekend. FREE

As You Like It – Upper West Side
Catch New York Classical Theatre's environmental staging of Shakespeare's pastoral comedy in Central Park. Literally follow the action as this roaming production uses this picturesque corner of the park as its stage. FREE
 

Saturday, May 31

The Night Sky from Brooklyn Bridge– Brooklyn Heights
Hit Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 1 to stargaze with professional and amateur astronomers as part of the World Science Festival. Also, meet real-life astronauts, check out an interactive installation from NASA and enjoy other space-related fun. Telescopes will be available to borrow but you're encouraged to bring your own. FREE

Kids Author Carnival – West Village
Celebrate kid lit at the Jefferson Market Library, where more than 35 local YA and children's authors will be on hand to read their books and answer questions. Other fun on tap includes games, giveaways and signings. FREE

Robot Re-Release Revelry! – Soho
Head to the Scholastic Store to celebrate the rerelease of Ricky Ricotta's Dr. Stinky McNasty, featuring an evil robot. Brooklyn Robot Foundry will also be on hand to craft homemade mechanical creatures. FREE

Children's Festival of Flowers – West Village
Frolic in the flowers at the lovely Jefferson Market Garden. Seasonal games, arts and crafts, and composting with Dave the Worm Guy round out the fun. FREE

Word for Word Kids: Clifford the Big Red Dog – Midtown West
Bryant Park kicks off its outdoor kids' culture series with a special storytime featuring every preschooler's favorite oversize red pooch. FREE

See all Saturday events.
 

Sunday, June 1

The Ultimate Science Street Fair – Greenwich Village
A June Go List pick: This amazing fest in Washington Square Park closes out the massive multiday World Science Festival. Although this year the Street Fair has been retooled to focus on space, robotics and weather, many popular exhibitors are back including the Central Park Zoo, the American Museum of Natural History, Mad Science, Carmelo the Science Fellow and the New York Hall of Science. And as always there will be awesome live performances, like the Franklin Institute’s Traveling Science Show. New this year: a Kids Science Storytime inside the nearby Kimmel Center, in case you need a break from the crowds. Go early! The Street Fair always gets super-mobbed. And make sure you register in advance so you can download a map and schedule to help plan out your day. FREE

Drums Along the Hudson – Inwood
Another June Go List pick: Head to the bucolic Inwood Hill Park to experience Native American culture firsthand at this 12th annual fest. Watch incredible dance and drumming performances by Louis Mofsie and the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, and Heyna Second Sons and Silver Cloud Drum Group, and try Native American crafts and foods. There will also be traditional ceremonies, like the planting of a Tree of Peace as a tribute to recently deceased community leaders. Rain or shine. FREE

The Epiphany School Spring Carnival – Gramercy
Full disclosure: My son attends this school so I know for a fact that the annual fundraiser is a blast. Enjoy two bouncy castles, a massive inflatable slide and blow-up obstacle course, lots of arts and crafts, and a silly string squirting area. Free admission but there are fees for activities

Pier Kids: Morgan Taylor of Gustafer Yellowgold – Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Bridge Park's new family performance series opens up with a bang: an outdoor concert by singer/songwriter Morgan Taylor, best known for creating Gustafer Yellowgold, the trippy little yellow creature from the sun. This solo show will feature beloved Gustafer tunes and songs from Taylor's side project, Underbirds. Afterward, enjoy art projects and a pop-up reading room. FREE

Clipper City Kids: Pirate & Mermaid Sail – Battery Park City
Manhattan by Sail's kicks off its summer family sails with a mermaid and pirate-themed cruise. Kids are encouraged to come in costume to enjoy jewelry making, storytime, face painting and more as they travel to Lady Liberty and back aboard the Clipper City Tall Ship. $49 for adults, $39 for children under age 13. Use promo code KIDSMP2514 to save 25% on each ticket or KIDSMPFAM14 for a $127 family four-pack

Asser Levy's First Annual Indoor Triathlon – Kips Bay
Kids of all ages can swim, bike and run in this indoor triathlon at the Asser Levy Recreation Center. Participants will compete in various age divisions. FREE

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – Tribeca
Fans of Judith Viorst's hysterical children's book should enjoy this musical adaptation written by the author herself. $25

See all Sunday events.
 

Don't forget: There's even more fun to be found in the Mommy Poppins Event Calendar. Before heading out on your adventures, be sure to download our FREE Mommy Poppins Kids on the Go app so you can find the best family destinations wherever you happen to be in NYC.