Free NYC Weekend Events for Kids April 17-19: Old School Street Fun, Carnivals, Earth Day, Movies, Swap and More
It is finally starting to feel like spring, so there is no reason to be cooped up this weekend! We’ve got plenty of free ways for you to take advantage of the 60 degree weather—from taking it back to the streets to celebrating the planet. Many of the best happenings this weekend are in honor of Earth Day, and can be found in our Earth Day post.
Read on for events that let you reminisce of your childhood while sharing a piece of it with the kids (by playing in the streets), learn about the inspiring life of a famous composer, play outside carnival-style, score free admission into the galleries at the MoMa, count bees and more. Whew! Sounds like a jam-packed weekend to me...
Street Games
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thomas Jefferson Park
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
114th Street & First Avenue, Manhattan
FREE
Street Games is an annual event that brings back the classic “street games” and introduces them to a new generation of kids (with a modern twist!) while recreating experiences and memories from another era. Street Games ’09 will feature “old school” activities like stick ball, wall ball, skully, yo-yo, hula hooping, pogo sticks, double-dutch, hopscotch, slap & rhyme, lemon twist, roller skating, and skateboarding.
For the more serious gamers, Street Games will feature live demonstrations and activities such as the New York Emperor’s Stickball League and the New York Knicks’ Groove Truck. Street Games 2009 is much more than just the games! We will feature musical performances of some of our favorite songs from the ’60s and ’70s to recreate those timeless grooves. Come to Street Games dressed in your favorite ’70s gear and win prizes!
The Life of Beethoven
Saturday, April 18
NYPL, Children's Center at 42nd Street
3:00 p.m.
FREE
One of the greatest composers of all time, Ludwig Van Beethoven wrote his greatest masterpiece, the 9th Symphony, while he was profoundly deaf. This fast paced, inspiring, and facile play is accompanied by Beethoven's powerful music. Factual and compelling, Beethoven's story is moving and unforgettable. Presented by the Travelling Lantern Theatre Company. Recommended for ages 5 to 12.
Saturday, April 18
Theater 3 (The Celeste Bartos Theater), mezzanine, The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building
12:00 p.m.
FREE and gets you free entry into the galleries as well
Line Dancing is a collection of animated short films on the theme of "the line". Adults and children can enjoy classic live-action and animated short films, including Harold and the Purple Crayon, engaging discussions with a Museum educator, and suggestions for follow-up activities in the Museum's galleries. Recommended for ages 4 and up. Check the website for information on where/when to pick up your free tickets.
Queens County Farm Carnival
Saturday April 18, Sunday April 19
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
$9 per person (regardless of age)
OK so this one isn’t free but it sure is fun. Join the Queens County Farm for a carnival in the apple orchard! Carnival rides, midway games food, hayrides, petting zoo and a Magic Show (show times: 12,1,2,3 in the pavilion). Admission includes all carnival rides.
Rockin` Earth Day Festival
Saturday, April 18
Russell Courtyard (Rain Location: Grace Dodge Cafeteria) at Columbia Univeristy
11:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
FREE
Teachers College Student Senate at Columbia University join environmentalists and green thinkers around the world by honoring Earth Week and sponsoring the “Rockin Earth Day Fest!” “Rockin Earth Day Fest!” is a campus-wide green festival that will raise environmental awareness within NYC community. The event itself is going to be an exciting day celebrating environmentalism and its progress to date, but will also inspire those attending to think of easy and responsible practices that can help with conservation of energy and natural resources, as well as the reduction of waste. The event itself will feature the following: • Entertainment, including Pete Seeger`s performance at noon • Educational tables focusing on water, technology, recycling, local food, home energy efficiency • Free Give-Aways • Art activities with recyclable materials and much more! Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact OASID at oasid@tc.edu, (212) 678-3689, (212) 678-3853 TTY, (212) 678-3854 video phone, as early as possible to request reasonable accommodations, such as ASL interpreters, alternate format materials, and a campus map of accessible features.
10th Annual Blessing of the Bikes
Saturday, April 18 at 9:30 am
Cathedral of St John the Divine
FREE
Cyclists of all ages come with their bikes for a unique religious ceremony, celebration and memorial.
Ladies Clothing Swap
Saturday & Sunday, April 18th & 19th
3:00-6:00pm
SpaceCraft
355 Bedford Ave, (Between S. 4th and S. 5th) ,Williamsburg
718 599-2718
Free (with clothing donation)
$5 (empty handed)
Out with the old, in with the new-to-you. SpaceCraft is hosting what they call in Australia a "NAKED LADY PARTY" (because the ladies are all taking off their clothes to try on new ones). Bring in your previously much loved clothes, shoes and accessories, and trade them for someone else's! Please wash your clothes first, and don't bring anything torn or with major stains.
Spring Bee Count
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Central Park, Belvedere Castle (Mid-Park at 79th Street)
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
FREE
Enter the fabulous world of bees, learn about their biology and importance in the food web. Then, conduct a citizen science Bee Count by observing bees near specific flowers and plants in Central Park. All ages.
All programs will happen, rain or shine. No advance registration. Space is limited; please arrive promptly to ensure your seat.
For more information, visit www.centralparknyc.org/onawing or call (212) 772-0210.
For more unique, creative and all around awesome events this weekend, check out our Events Calendar.
We read your post on the
We read your post on the Queens County Farm Carnival and decided to go on Saturday morning. We had such a wonderful time!
Your $9 buys you unlimited rides and admission to the farm.
There are only 8 rides: Magic Carpet, carousel, Ferris wheel, Choo Choo train, boat, school bus that does up and down, caged ride that spins around at very high speed, giant swing, and Mardi Gras (a mirrored maze fun house with a small slide at the end of it.)
My 6 year old just made the height requirement of 42 inches to ride alone. He loved the magic carpet ride (sliding down a slide on a potato sack).
And my 2 year was ecstatic that he can ride on the boat ride with his older brother. I don't think the 6 year old would have gone on it alone. It would have been too babyish for him. (It's just a boat with no water that just goes around in circles.)
If you want to play the carnival games, they are $2 each. There is fishing game for toddlers that guarantees a win for the wee ones.
The hayride is also $2 each. It's a very bumpy tractor ride around the perimeter of the farm.
There are some food trucks with standard carnival foods (hot dogs, burgers, fish and chips). They're expensive for what it is. The fish and chips are $7 for 3 pieces of deep fried battered fish. Water is $2 each bottle.
Pack a picnic lunch and bring a blanket.
Get there early. We got there at 11:30 and the lines were already starting to build. By 1:30 the lines were getting too long. We left the carnival and headed over to look at the animals.
So glad you had a good time.
So glad you had a good time. THanks for sharing your experience. They do more events like this throughout the season. We'll keep you posted.
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