Looking for things to do with kids in NYC this weekend?
There’s a lot happening across NYC this Mother’s Day weekend—street fairs, live music, museum programs, outdoor events, and plenty of easy family drop-ins.
Remember to check out our full lineup of fun family activities in our Calendar of Events. Scroll down for more super fun, family-friendly events!
At a Glance:
Festivals & Community Events: Japan Parade & Street Fair, Open Stages 2026, 7th Annual Haitian Culture Day Parade & Festival
Shows & Performances: the Boy & the Ball at Lincoln Center, Musical Explorers Family at Carnegie Hall
Museums & Exhibits: Macy’s Flower Show, Color Factory: Colors in Bloom, ARTECHOUSE Blooming Wonders, Paley Museum (PAC-MAN + Survivor), Banksy stencil classes
Outdoor & Family Fun: Spring Family Discovery Weekends (Brooklyn Botanic Garden), Learn to Ride at NYC Parks, Watson Adventures scavenger hunt, Central Park Zoo Access Mornings
Little Kid Picks: Read & Rave: Bronx Week Edition, Robinson’s Readers at the Jackie Robinson Museum, Spring Fling: Little Sprouts
Fun Things to Do and Family Events Taking Place This Weekend
Spring Festival at Chelsea Forest Play
Chelsea Forest Play’s Spring Festival invites little ones to explore a cozy, nature-inspired play space filled with hands-on activities. Kids can rotate through seasonal craft stations, sensory play setups, and movement-based experiences designed to spark curiosity and connection.
May 9, 9 am – 3 pm
Chelsea Forest Play, 241 West 20th St.
Ilana Glazer’s Moms & Neighbors Kickoff Event
Comedian and activist Ilana Glazer launches a new grassroots initiative focused on safe and fair elections and community support. The afternoon gathering features a family supply drive, voter registration resources, and a children’s concert by Caroline Strickland. Donations will benefit PS20, The Clinton Hill School, and Kid Zone Distro NYC, with voter education led by LAPC Voter Action Coalition.
May 10, 2 – 4 pm
Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Japan Parade and Street Fair
Celebrate the friendship between the United States and Japan with floats, live performances, community organizations, local leaders, and special guests! Parade begins at 1 pm, with the official opening ceremony at 12:30 pm. Street Fair takes place from 11 am-5 pm on 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue and features over 30 food tents and plenty of activities!
May 9, 11 am – 5 pm
W 81st St. and Central Park West
Open Stages 2026
This neighborhood-wide music festival turns Park Slope into a lively celebration of sound, with free performances happening on stages throughout the area. Showcasing Brooklyn’s diverse music scene, expect everything from global rhythms to local talent filling the streets. Open Stages is free and open to all, and also supports music education and therapy programs across NYC—donations encouraged with RSVP. Rain or shine.
May 9, 3 – 6 pm
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, 58 Seventh Ave., Brooklyn
Read & Rave: Bronx Week Edition
Bring the kids for a joyful, high-energy storytime that mixes books, music, and movement into one unforgettable experience. This Bronx Week celebration at Storyland Book Lounge features interactive read-alouds, dancing, arts and crafts, and special guest readers—designed to get little ones excited about stories while celebrating Bronx culture and community. Best for ages 2–8. RSVP required.
May 9, 12 – 1:30 pm
Storyland Book Lounge Inc., Bronx
Spring Fling: Little Sprouts
Join the fun with reading circles, children’s yoga, music classes, and other activities for the whole family. RSVP required.
Through May 16, Saturdays 9:30 am
The Shops at Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Circle
the Boy & the Ball at Lincoln Center
In a quiet world, simply constructed from multiple cylinders of all shapes and sizes, we meet a very shy boy and witness how he makes a friend. This nonverbal performance is a wondrous tale of reassurance, joy, and connection… with a little magic. Developed over two years in close consultation with a highly experienced team of artists and educators alongside the participation of young children, the Boy & the Ball is exquisitely nuanced to engage young audiences in storytelling wonder.
May 8 – 10, 11 am – noon & 2 – 3 pm
Clark Studio Theater Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 165 W 65th St.
Access Mornings: Mother’s Day
Bring the whole family to celebrate mothers and enjoy fun activities. This program is designed for families with individuals who have sensory sensitivities, so all activities are designed to be inclusive and accessible for all.
May 10, 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Central Park Zoo, 64th Street & Fifth Avenue
Backyard at Hudson Yards: Carnegie Hall Citywide Presents Up Family Concert & Film Series
As part of Backyard at Hudson Yards, Carnegie Hall Citywide presents a free family film series featuring Up on May 9. Beginning at 11 am, enjoy an interactive concert by Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, followed by a full screening on the Big Screen. Free and open to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
May 9, 11 am – 1 pm
Watson Adventures’ Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
Young wizards will enjoy a trip to the Metropolitan Museum in search of art that echoes characters and enchanted objects in the Harry Potter books. You’ll track down serpents, Dumbledore look-alikes, and figures as scary as any Death Eater.
May 9, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave.
Robinson’s Readers: Story time & Craft
Robinson’s Readers invites children ages 4 through 6 and their grown-ups to the Jackie Robinson Museum for an educator-facilitated picture book story time and hands-on craft inspired by the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson.
May 9, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Jackie Robinson Museum, 5 Varick St.
Musical Explorers Family
Discover music from around the world in this popular and highly interactive concert for children. This year, will explore music through three distinct folk traditions, including Sephardi Ladino folk music with singer and multi-instrumentalist Lily Henley; Iranian folk music with kamancheh virtuoso Mehrnam Rastegari; and vibrant Chilean folk traditions with acclaimed vocalist Claudia Acuña. Designed to engage young listeners, the concert invites families to explore rhythms, stories, and sounds from cultures around the globe.
May 9, noon – 1 pm & 3 – 4 pm
Carnegie Hall, 7th Ave.
Swiss Institute Family Hours
Join free drop-in workshops on the second Saturdays of each month featuring art-making, writing activities, and more. The hands-on, artist-led activities are inspired by the current exhibitions on view. Families are welcome to stop in at any time during these dedicated hours.
May 9, 10 – 11:30 am
Swiss Institute, 38 St. Marks Place
Learn to Ride at NYC Parks
Free workshop for children ages 6 and up who are ready to ride their bicycles independently. Children will learn how to balance, pedal, start, stop, and steer a bicycle. This two-hour workshop will be held outdoors. Participants must bring their own bike and helmet.
Through May 23, Saturdays, noon – 2 pm
Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center, 2180 First Ave.
Spring Family Discovery Weekends
Learn and play together in the Discovery Garden with hands-on stations that encourage families to explore nature alongside volunteer educators and teenage Garden apprentices. Be sure to explore the meadow, woodland, and marsh habitats, too. This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages, included with Garden admission.
Saturdays and Sundays 10:30 am – 12:30 pm through June 7, except May 2, 16, 23, and 24
Brooklyn Botanic Garden,1000 Washington Ave.
Macy’s Flower Show
This spring, Macy’s Flower Show returns to the iconic New York flagship at Macy’s Herald Square. The 51st edition of Macy’s Flower Show will create sprawling displays across the main floors, balconies, and windows of the world-famous flagship. Through Mother’s Day, guests will discover a showcase of flowers, fashion, scent, and color. This year’s display will turn the main floor into a playful spring garden featuring thousands of blooming plants, flowers, and trees.
Through May 10, Mondays – Thursdays, 10 am – 9 pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 10 am – 10 pm; Sundays, 11 am – 9 pm
Macy’s Herald Square, 151 W 34th St.
Ghirardelli Pop-Up on Empire State Building’s 86th Floor Observation Deck
To celebrate its 95th anniversary, Empire State Building has teamed up with Ghirardelli to debut a limited-time pop-up on its 86th Floor, featuring the exclusive Kong Sundae inspired by the building’s pop culture legacy. Running through May 10, the experience pairs classic sweets like hot fudge sundaes and cocoa with panoramic skyline views for a uniquely New York treat.
Through May 10, 10 am – 9 pm
Empire State Building, 16 W 34th St.
Spring Fling: Little Sprouts
Families are invited to enjoy a fun mix of reading circles, children’s yoga, music classes, and hands-on crafts. Designed for all ages, these engaging activities offer something for everyone. RSVP required.
Through May 16, Saturdays 9:30 am
The Shops at Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Circle
Color Factory: Colors in Bloom
Open to the public through the middle of May, Colors in Bloom offers the perfect adventure, including seasonal treats, new photo ops, and a spring-themed confetti room. Stroll through a transformed space that evokes the allure of the thousands of signature cherry blossoms that surround the city each spring.
Through May 15, all day
Color Factory New York, 251 Spring St.
7th Annual Haitian Culture Day Parade and Festival
Celebrate Haitian culture, history, and community pride at this vibrant Brooklyn festival in the heart of Little Haiti and Little Caribbean. This year’s theme, “We Belong,” honors Haitian heritage and the diverse immigrant communities that shape New York City. Enjoy live performances from top Haitian artists, colorful floats, marching bands, dance, food vendors, art, and community resources—all coming together for an unforgettable cultural experience.
May 9, 10 am – 6 pm
Toussaint L’Ouverture Blvd. (Nostrand Ave.) & Pierre Toussaint Blvd. (Church Ave.), Brooklyn
Celebrate 45 Years of PAC-MAN at The Paley Museum
Join Paley for a retro-cool family day packed with games, creativity, and classic arcade fun. Meet PAC-MAN, jump into gameplay, snap a photo with the world’s favorite hungry hero, and get crafty with PAC-MAN–inspired arts and crafts.
Through May 31, Wednesdays – Sundays, noon – 6 pm
The Paley Museum, 25 West 52 St.
All-Ages Weekend Stencil Class
Get creative every weekend at the Banksy Museum NYC with the all-ages Rebel Stencil Class. Drop in anytime between 1–3 pm, work with an instructor, and create your own street art—then explore the museum at your own pace.
Through July 26, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 – 3 pm
Banksy Museum, 277 Canal St.
Blooming Wonders: A Celebration of Spring
Visitors can step inside a vibrant digital garden where pixels bloom, and art, technology, and nature converge in stunning, high-resolution projections and interactive visuals.
Through May 31 noon – 7 pm
ARTECHOUSE NYC, 439 W 15th St.
Survivor Exhibit at The Paley Museum
In celebration of Survivor’s landmark 50th season, this dynamic exhibit honors the iconic reality series. Featuring memorable props, iconic wardrobe pieces, and original artifacts spanning all fifty seasons, the exhibit offers fans a unique opportunity to relive Survivor’s most unforgettable moments.
Wednesdays – Sundays noon – 6 pm through May 31
The Paley Museum, 25 West 52 St.
The Lion King
Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, The Lion King brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award®-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals.
Select dates until June 28
Minskoff Theatre, 200 W 45th St.
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The Lowdown on Kids’ Activities in NYC
Is it worth going to New York with kids?
Absolutely! Taking kids to New York City is always a great idea. The city is packed with kid-friendly things, especially on weekends, and parks and playgrounds are plentiful. There are amazing museums and zoos, carousels to ride, and food on every corner. That said, it’s a busy place: it’s loud, there’s a lot of walking, and it can be overwhelming if you try to do everything.
It’s better to plan just one main activity each day, leave time for playgrounds and snacks, and not stress about seeing it all. Truthfully, the little moments are what kids tend to remember most, like riding the subway, running around Central Park, or spotting dinosaurs at the museum. These stick with them more than checking off every big landmark.
Where are good places to take a child in NYC?
When you’re visiting New York City with kids, the goal is to keep things easy and fun for everyone, including yourself!. If you want a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, Central Park is a go-to. Kids love Heckscher Playground, and there’s always something new to see at the Central Park Zoo.
Brooklyn Bridge Park is another favorite on the weekend. It has big open spaces and playgrounds, and the views of Manhattan are stunning, plus you’re right by the water.
Rainy or cold day? Weekend or weekday, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the American Museum of Natural History are both winners and stroller-friendly! If you’re just looking to squeeze in some quick fun, hop on the SeaGlass Carousel, wander around Little Island, or visit a neighborhood playground (there are SO many). Then treat yourselves to authentic NYC pizza or ice cream nearby. Picking one main activity, planning for snack and bathroom breaks, and calling it a day before anyone gets tired is the real NYC parenting hack.
Looking for even more family fun? Be sure to check out our comprehensive calendar of events, updated daily with the latest happenings across NYC and beyond, from holiday events and new attractions to performances and free local activities for all ages.
