Things to Do with Kids in NYC this Weekend

Plan your kids' best weekend yet in Manhattan!

By NYMetroParents Staff August 3, 2022

Enjoy these fun things to do with your kids in New York City this weekend. Start planning your weekend now with our editorially curated list of happenings for kids and families.

Editor's Picks for This Weekend

Gazillion Bubble Show

WHEN: Nov. 5 - 27, Fridays 7pm; Saturdays 11am, 2pm, 4:30pm; Sundays, 12pm, 3pm; Check website for Added Thursdays & Holiday Times
WHERE: New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, Stage 2, Hell's Kitchen, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Mind-blowing bubble magic, spectacular laser lighting effects, and momentary soapy masterpieces will make you smile, laugh, and feel like a kid again. WANT TO GO? $59-$99.50. 212-239-6200.
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Wake up, Daisy!

WHEN: Feb. 18 - Dec. 23, Fridays-Sundays, 11am and 1pm
WHERE: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park, W. 79th Street and West Drive, Enter Central Park at w 81st St. and Central Park West , Upper West Side, NY
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: This original take on "Sleeping Beauty" is set on New York City’s Upper West Side and is perfect for today’s modern age. WANT TO GO? $12; $8 child. 212-879-0794.
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Waterbombs with Acrobuffos FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 7, 6:30pm
WHERE: Little Island, The Glade, Pier 55 at Hudson River Park Hudson River Greenway, West 13th Street, Meatpacking District|, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Dramatic opera music scores this hysterical battle filled with 100 flying water balloons and ridiculous comedy. WANT TO GO?
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Even More Weekend Fun

Peter Kuper's INterSECTS: Where Arthropods and Homo Sapiens Meet FREE

WHEN: Jan. 14 - Aug. 13, Mondays, 10am-6pm; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10am-8 pm; Thursdays-Saturdays, 10am-6pm
WHERE: New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building , 476 Fifth Avenue, Clinton, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

This exhibition presents excerpts from artist Peter Kuper's forthcoming graphic novel, which he developed during his tenure as the Jean Strouse Fellow at The New York Public Library's Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers in 2020-21. Kuper was inspired by his experiences exploring the Library while conducting research on the history of insects. He began his fellowship during the COVID-19 pandemic and was thus able to access the building during a time when it was closed to the general public. Finding himself virtually alone in the vast Beaux-Arts rooms and hallways of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, he began imagining arthropods occupying this unexpectedly and unprecedentedly vacant environment. INterSECTS is an homage to the tiny, underappreciated creatures that touch everything people do and on which our very survival depends. The exhibition traces the evolution of insects over 400 million years and narrates their intersection with Homo sapiens right up to the present day- a story that will be expanded when the graphic novel is completed. Kuper also investigates the contributions of entomologists and other naturalists represented in the Library's vast collection of treasures- including Maria Sibylla Merian, Charles Henry Turner, and Vladimir Nabokov- who dedicated themselves to illuminating the value of insects in all their beauty and mystery.

WANT TO GO? 917-275-6975.
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Urban Farm Volunteers FREE

WHEN: Mar. 27 - Oct. 16, Sundays, 10am-1pm **NO SESSIONS May 1, May 22, and June 19**
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 10 Central Road, East Harlem, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Volunteer to help manage this one-acre Urban Farm. WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899.
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Farm Exploration Days FREE

WHEN: Apr. 2 - Oct. 8, Saturdays and Sundays, 10am-4pm **NO SESSION 9/10**
WHERE: Randall's Island Park Alliance, 10 Central Road, Harlem, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Explore the Urban Farm's variety of crops, rice paddies, and fragrant herbs! WANT TO GO? 212-8601-899.
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Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace

WHEN: Apr. 15 - Oct. 16, Mondays-Wednesdays, 10am-10pm; Thursdays-Fridays, 10am-12am; Saturdays, 8am-12am; Sundays, 8am-10pm
WHERE: The Rink at Rockefeller Center, 600 5th Avenue, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Roller skate all summer long in NYC at Flipper’s at iconic Rockefeller Center. WANT TO GO? $12-$40.
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Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace

Roller Rink at The Standard, High Line

WHEN: Apr. 22 - Aug. 31, Mondays-Fridays, 12-11pm; Saturdays, 10am-12am; Sundays, 10am-11pm
WHERE: The Standard Plaza at The Standard, High Line, 848 Washington at 13th Street, Meatpacking District, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Take a visually immersive trip into a 1960's Mod-inspired rink and restaurant, with black & white checkered turf and playful seating surrounding the stark white, 136 person skating rink. WANT TO GO? $12 to 'Drop In'; $3 to rent skates. 212-645-4646.
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Candytopia

WHEN: Apr. 29 - Sep. 5, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10am-7pm; Friday and Saturday, 10am-8pm; Sunday, 11am-7pm
WHERE: Candytopia New York, 111 West 32nd Street, Corner of 32nd and 6th, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Candytopia transports guests to an imaginative confectionary wonderland with a one-of-a-kind full sensory experience and welcomes people of all ages to explore their sweet tooth like never before. WANT TO GO? $36; $29 ages 4-12; free for children 3 and younger.
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The Museum of Modern Art Presents “Matisse: The Red Studio” May 1 - September 10

WHEN: May. 1 - Sep. 10, 10:30am-5pm
WHERE: Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd St. , Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: The exhibition focuses on the genesis and history of Matisse's The Red Studio (1911), a painting that has remained among MoMA's most important works since it was acquired in 1949. WANT TO GO? $14-25. 212-708-9400.
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Children's Read Aloud FREE

WHEN: May. 7 - Sep. 17, 11am-12pm; first and third Saturdays of the month
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 10 Central Rd. , Randall's Island, NY
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: Boogie Down Storytime is a family-friendly experience that cultivates early literacy awareness through joyful reading experiences. First and third Saturdays of the month, May-October WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899.
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Fun on the Farm FREE

WHEN: May. 7 - Oct. 8, 2-4pm
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 10 Central Rd. , Randall's Island, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Enjoy family fun inspired by the farm, rivers, green spaces and natural areas. Saturdays, May 7-Oct. 8. (not July 30, Sept. 10, 17, Oct. 1) WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899.
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THE BEAST

WHEN: May. 10 - Sep. 25, Tuesdays-Sundays, 11am-6pm
WHERE: Pier 83, West 42nd St. and 12th Ave. , Hell's Kitchen, NY
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: Rocketthrough the water at a heart-pounding 40 knots for this adventure on the water! WANT TO GO? $30; $25 child over 40 inches. 212-563-3200.
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Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field

WHEN: May. 13 - Sep. 4, Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-5:45pm
WHERE: The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, Upper West Side, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: A new exhibition immerses visitors in the spaces shaped by the groundbreaking 1972 legislation and reveals the crucial work of activists in demanding that their institutions live up to the law's promises. WANT TO GO? $22; $17 seniors; $13 students with ID; $6 ages 5-13; free for children 4 and younger. 212-873-3400.
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Mickey & Friends x CAMP: An Extra Big Adventure

WHEN: May. 28 - Sep. 5, Mondays-Thurdays, 10am-4pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 9am-8pm; Sundays, 10am-7pm
WHERE: CAMP, 110 5th Avenue, Chelsea, NY
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: Join Disney's Mickey & Friends on an interactive, immersive, fantastical adventure that's literally larger than life. WANT TO GO? Tickets start at $24 on weekdays and $38 on weekends. 917-997-0439.
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Dior + Balenciaga: The Kings of Couture and Their Legacies FREE

WHEN: Jun. 1 - Nov. 6, Wednesday-Friday, 12-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
WHERE: The Museum at FIT , 227 W 27th St., Chelsea, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

The Museum at FIT (MFIT) presents Dior + Balenciaga: The Kings of Couture and Their Legacies, an exhibition featuring fashions by the two most important couturiers of the mid-20th century, Christian Dior (1905-1957) and Crist bal Balenciaga (1895-1972). Featuring approximately 65 garments and ensembles drawn solely from The Museum at FIT's permanent collection, it is the first exhibition to juxtapose the work of these legendary designers, side by side.

WANT TO GO? 212-217-4558.
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BATMAN x SPYSCAPE

WHEN: Jun. 8 - 8, Wednesdays-Saturday, 11am-8pm; Sundays, 11am-7pm; Mondays, 11am-8pm
WHERE: SPYSCAPE, 928 8th Ave. , Upper West Side, NY
AGES: 13 and older
WHAT:

BATMAN x SPYSCAPE is an all-new interactive experience that will drop fans into the heart of a Gotham City mystery. This experience will take fans on a top-secret mission to inﬁltrate an underworld organization, Leviathan, whose goal is to disrupt the Super Hero and Super-Villain communities. Fans become recruits and the eyes and ears for the World’s Greatest Detective, Batman, and are enlisted by the mysterious Oracle, an alternate identity of Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), to help solve some mysterious kidnappings. The adventure plays out in an immersive physical world of rich media and interactivity enhanced by a real time / real world mobile app. This approach allows fans to participate in the physical experience, while gathering intel and communicating with some of Gotham City’s most compelling characters through the app, for a unique and elevated experience.

WANT TO GO? Tickets start at $29 for adults and start at $22 for children 6-12 (recommended for ages 13 and older).
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Jeppe Hein’s Changing Spaces FREE

WHEN: Jun. 21 - Sep. 9, Anytime
WHERE: Rockefeller Center’s Center Plaza, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Renowned visual artist Jeppe Hein presents "Changing Spaces," an interactive public art installation on Rockefeller Center's Center Plaza. This water-based sculpture- which Hein describes as a form of social sculpture and "liquid architecture"- inspires visitors to interact playfully with the artwork and their surroundings and offer a peaceful respite within this iconic city center.

WANT TO GO? 212-588-8601.
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Summer Sundays at Rockefeller Center FREE

WHEN: Jun. 26 - Sep. 4, Sundays, 11am
WHERE: Rockefeller Center’s Center Plaza, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Every Sunday, families can sing, learn, play and create with musical performers, artists, and other special guests. WANT TO GO? 212-588-8601.
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Derrick Adams’ Funtime Unicorns FREE

WHEN: Jun. 29 - Sep. 9, Anytime
WHERE: Rockefeller Center’s Channel Gardens, 5th Avenue between W 49th St & W 50th St, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

A beloved playground attraction has touched down in Rockefeller Center's Channel Gardens! Presented in Partnership with Art Production Fund, Funtime Unicorns by Derrick Adams is an imaginative take on the iconic and mythical unicorn. A whimsical and playful display modeled after the classic spring rider toys, it invokes the idea of Blackness as magical, colorful, mystical, free-spirited, and deserving of protection. This limited-time installation is sure to entice and enchant visitors of all ages. Free and open to the public!

WANT TO GO? 212-588-8601.
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Paley Salutes Shark Week: Get Your Heart Pumping

WHEN: Jul. 13 - Aug. 7, 12-6pm
WHERE: The Paley Center for Media, 25 W 52nd St., Midtown, NY
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: The Paley Center will continue its tradition of celebrating Shark Week with an immersive exhibit from July 13 to August 7. WANT TO GO? $20 . 212-621-6600.
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Dawn Chorus and Speculations at Top of the Rock

WHEN: Jul. 15 - Sep. 12, 9am-11pm, daily
WHERE: Top of the Rock Observation Deck, 30 Rockefeller Center, 67th Floor, Midtown, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Experience Dawn Chorus and Speculations by artist Sarah Meyohas in an immersive and interactive art installation at Top of the Rock. Dawn Chorus is an immersive and interactive, multi-sensory, augmented-reality experience that delights viewers with holographic birds fluttering around a physical Yamaha Disklavier player piano. The birds and colorful visuals land on the piano, triggering a series of musical notes only visible through an augmented reality headset. Also on view at Top of the Rock, Meyohas will display eight large-scale photographs titled Speculations as vinyl installations on the glass panels overlooking the New York City skyline. These works, created through the manipulation of physical reflective surfaces and water, portray tunnels extending into infinity.

WANT TO GO? Included with ticket to Top of the Rock starting at $34-$40. 212-698-2000.
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Virtual Reality Experiences at Harry Potter New York

WHEN: Jul. 15 - Sep. 12, 9am-9pm, daily
WHERE: Harry Potter New York, 935 Broadway, Stuyvesant Park, NY
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT:

The interactive Harry Potter virtual reality experiences- "Chaos at Hogwarts" and "Wizards Take Flight" can be experienced exclusively at the Harry Potter New York flagship store. The ground-breaking experiences give fans of the Wizarding World and thrill seekers the chance to explore the magical world as never before. Guests must be at least be 10+ years old for each experience, 54 inches tall for "Wizards Take Flight", and 48 inches tall for "Chaos at Hogwarts.: Guests between 10 and 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket. Only guests who are 13+ are able to ride without an accompanied adult. It is advised not to participate in this activity if pregnant. Wheelchair options are available upon request. Please be advised that they are only able to accommodate one guest requiring a wheelchair per scheduled time slot.

WANT TO GO? $37. 844-762-4769.
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Camp Kids FREE

WHEN: Jul. 16 - Aug. 28, Saturdays and Sundays, 12-1:30pm
WHERE: Bryant Park, 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Midtown, NY
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: Fun filled afternoons with music, magic, puppet shows, and science projects. Arts and crafts to follow. WANT TO GO? 212-768-4242.
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Harlem Meer Performance Festival FREE

WHEN: Jul. 17 - Aug. 21, Sundays, 2-4pm
WHERE: Central Park - Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, 110th Street between Lenox Avenue and Fifth Avenue, Central Park, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Enjoy a variety of performances featuring multicultural music, dance, and family-friendly entertainment while admiring the Meer-side views. WANT TO GO?
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Seaport Discovery: Exploring Our Waters with Eric Carle FREE

WHEN: Jul. 20 - Oct. 2, Wednesdays-Sundays, 11am-5pm
WHERE: South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton Street, Downtown Manhattan, NY
AGES: Newborn-5
WHAT:

The South Street Seaport Museum announces that admission is free for the rest of the summer to a new discovery room of maritime-themed art by the late Eric Carle, beloved creator of picture books for young children. Seaport Discovery: Exploring our Waters with Eric Carle is designed specifically for children aged 2-7 and their adults. Huge immersive murals will bring families into Carle's book A House for Hermit Crab and the cargo-ship adventures of 10 Little Rubber Ducks. Visitors will enjoy activities, like meeting a live hermit crab, driving ferries on a giant play-table, and learning about cargo ships through the eyes of a rubber duck- all while exploring Carle's use of color and pattern. After visiting the discovery room, families can explore the rest of the Seaport Museum's galleries for free and find out how the fleet of historic ships connect to Carle's art. Guided tours of lightship Ambrose, and self-guided tours of tall ship Wavertree, are also free for adults and kids, and tickets for sailing excursions on schooner Pioneer and harbor cruises on tugboat W.O. Decker from May to October are available for purchase.

WANT TO GO? 646-765-4773.
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Summer Safari at CMOM

WHEN: Aug. 1 - 31, 10am-5pm, daily
WHERE: Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side, NY
AGES: 3-8
WHAT:

This August, join CMOM in an expedition across earth, water, fire, air, and outer space, learning about different life forms from our past, present, and wildest dreams. From submerging your imagination into magical oceanscapes, to bringing the heat with a lava dance obstacle course, to getting carried away with birds, balloons, and bubbles, your next summer adventure awaits at CMOM!

Creatures of the Earth | Monday – Sunday, August 1 – 7: Explore animals who live on and deep within the earth, from our past to those we see today!

Under Water Worlds | Monday – Sunday, August 8 – 14: Use your imagination to go under the sea and create an underwater world filled with magical living creatures.

Bring the Heat | Monday – Sunday, August 15 – 21: You can get warm and cozy or powerful and dramatic as CMOM brings in the heat with a lava dance obstacle course, stories by an imaginary campfire, and (not so real) fire-breathing dragons.

Up, Up in the Sky | Monday – Sunday, August 22 – 28: Learn about birds, air balloons, and bubbles during a week of fun where everything goes up, up, and away!

Beyond Time & Space | Monday – Wednesday, August 29 – 31: Make a dwarf planet of the dwarf planet, Pluto; allow your mind to travel into the future; imagine what life may be like on other planets; and design your very own UFO!

WANT TO GO? $16; free for members. 212-721-1223.
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Mo' Flow Play Classes at Hudson Yards

WHEN: Aug. 4 - Sep. 1, Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays-Saturdays, 9:30am, 10:45am, 12pm, 3:15pm, and 4:30pm
WHERE: Backyard at Hudson Yards, Public Square & Gardens, 20 Hudson Yards , Chelsea, NY
AGES: Newborn-5
WHAT:

Union Square Play in partnership with ByHear! will host children's (ages 0-5) play classes on the Public Square & Gardens. Immerse your child in a sensory play experience designed by Jennie Monness that will transport them to another world and activate all of their senses. It will also focus on supporting caregivers by giving them the confidence and knowledge to help encourage children to open up during play. Each class will start with a structured introduction and lead into light touch guidance to help foster creativity and get children into the flow.

WANT TO GO? $39.75. 646-954-3155.
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House Fest FREE

WHEN: Aug. 5 - 7, Friday-Sunday, see website for schedule
WHERE: Governors Island, Ferries depart from 10 South Street, Manhattan and Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Governors Island, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

Join Governors Island Arts for a three-day celebration of the seasonal Organizations in Residence in Nolan Park and Colonels Row! Governors Island Arts will bring together more than 15 cultural partners for a weekend-long creative celebration in the historic Nolan Park and Colonels Row areas on the Island, featuring free dance and music performances, outdoor installations, interactive workshops, open studios, panel discussions, and more. The three-day celebration will also feature the incredible lineup of works already on display from the two dozen Organizations in Residence in the historic houses in Nolan Park and Colonels Row.

Central to the weekend’s festivities is Dance Party NYC on Saturday, August 6, a city-wide dance party taking place on the same night across 80 locations throughout the five boroughs – including Nolan Park on Governors Island. Festival goers will dance their hearts out alongside their fellow New Yorkers, with soundtracks provided by Brooklyn United Marching Band, Brass Queens, DJ Aguapanela Mami, and DJ Yung Mayne.

WANT TO GO?
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Free Outdoor Film: The Wiz FREE

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 5, 7-11pm
WHERE: Governors Island, 10 South Street, Parade Ground, Governors Island, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

WANT TO GO?
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General Mischief Dance Theatre Dance Party New York FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 6, 2-5pm
WHERE: Quisqueya Plaza, Broadway and Dyckman Street, Inwood, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

General Mischief Dance Theatre is so excited to be teaming up with Dance Party New York to share their new and favorite dance works including Stroll and An Eastern West, an interactive shim sham dance lesson, plus live jazz music by the Lucy Yeghiazaryan quartet, and performances directly afterwards by Kinesis Project!

A special thank you to LMCC Creative Engagement for supporting this program making these experiences free for the public. The event is also presented in partnership with the DOT and the New York Public Library, so you might come away with an idea for your next favorite read as well!

FREE & OPEN TO ALL

OUTDOORS AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY

2-3pm - General Mischief Dance Theatre

3-4pm - The Lucy Yeghiazaryan Quartet

4-5pm - Kinesis Project

WANT TO GO?
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Dance Party NYC with Baba Don Eaton Babatunde FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 6, 1pm
WHERE: The National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, East Village, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

The National Arts Club, in partnership with the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, is joining New York Public Library's citywide dance party! Baba Don Eaton Babatunde and his band JAAMBO will inspire you to move and groove, as they perform from the front stoop of our historic landmark building on Gramercy Park.

WANT TO GO? 212-475-3424.
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Cooking on the Farm with Families FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 6, 6-7:30pm
WHERE: Randall's Island Park, 10 Central Rd. , Randall's Island, NY
AGES: All
WHAT: Create a scrumptious seasonal entre using many ingredients from the RIPA's Urban Farm. At this family event, you can enjoy a true farm-to-table experience. WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899.
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Giglio Lift Sunday FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 7, 12-7pm
WHERE: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Church , 456 East 116th Street, East Harlem, NY
AGES: All
WHAT:

The Giglio will be danced through the streets of East Harlem for all to see all day and evening! Gifted Tenor & Society Member Jimmy Alleva along with Danny Vecchiano and the Giglio Band will be playing songs while riding on top of the 72 foot, 4 Ton Giglio!

Schedule of Events for Giglio Lift Sunday:

12pm– Paranza Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Church

1:30pm – First Lift & Dancing the Giglio di Sant’ Antonio

6-11pm – Entertainment by DJ Lou Toro and MC John Luciano

Secure Monitored Reasonably Priced Parking is available at the Costco Parking lot right on our corner on Pleasant Ave and 116 street.

WANT TO GO? 212-287-5698.
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Looking for more events in your area? Search our comprehensive events calendar.

There’s a lot to do this weekend with your family, whether you're planning a day trip that's close to New York City or are looking for the best things to do with kids in Manhattan this weekend. After all, weekends are the best because you get to spend time with your kids, so make the most of your time together and check out our picks for the best kid-friendly activities in Manhattan! From storytimes and concerts to museum exhibits, crafts activities, seasonal events, and more, you're sure to find something to do that keeps everyone happy and having fun. Look no further for ideas and plan your weekend in New York City with our guide that highlights the best family-friendly (virtual and in-person) events happening in and around your neighborhood, including family fun in Central Park, the Lower East Side, the Upper West Side, Harlem, Midtown, the Upper East Side, Greenwich Village, Battery Park, Bryant Park, Tribeca, the Bronx, and Lower Manhattan. You can also find weekend fun in ourBrooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, and Rockland—and check out our Manhattan calendar for hundreds of things to do each month!

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