Things to Do This Weekend in NYC with Kids

We’re back with another round up of weekend activities for NYC families! Discover the best family-friendly activities and events happening in New York this weekend.

From museum exhibitions to outdoor adventures, there’s something for families to explore in the city that never sleeps.

See Dogs at the Long Island Kennel Club Show

Planting Fields Arboretum | Details

May 17 to 19, 9 am to 4 pm

The Long Island Kennel Club welcomes families and their fur children to the Long Island Island Kennel Club Show. This year’s Long Island Kennel Club show follows the world-famous Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show earlier in the week. Many canine contenders are expected to leave the Big Apple and then head east to compete at the annual spring dog shows in Nassau County. All three shows celebrate everything canine, from impeccable show dogs and trick-dog demonstrations to doggie dock diving and an agility obstacle course. Fun-filled events and attractions make this festival a treat for anyone who loves dogs – that is to say, everyone.

Shop at Global Village NYC

Crown One Flushing | Details

May 17, 4 to 10 pm

An epic Global Village is coming to Flushing. Global Village NYC is more than an event; it’s a cultural journey that encapsulates the essence of the city’s diverse tapestry. This weekend, take advantage of a mouthwatering and popular traditional Asian food menu and dragon-themed food, drinks and goods.

Enjoy Story Time in the Gardens

Old Westbury Gardens | Details

May 17, 5 to 7 pm

Come out for a fun evening of reading at Old Westbury Gardens with children’s author Bonnie Grubman. Grubman will be reading her book, Trees Are Not Just for Birds, and other stories.

Drop into Teen Night

Brooklyn Museum | Details

May 17, 5 to 7:30 pm

This Teen Night is gonna be giant. Don’t miss the popular teen-led program centered on art and activism. The May edition features art-making, performances, and much more inspired by Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.

Have a Day of Family Fun at Hudson Yards

Backyard at Hudson Yards | Details

May 18, all day

Family Fun programming kicks off at Backyard with Family Day, a showstopping lineup of family-friendly activities all day long. Entertainment on the Public Square & Gardens includes a movie screening on the 30-Foot Big Screen, a special performance by Mozart for Munchkins, as well as a WonderSpark Puppet Show. Inside The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, children can enjoy face painting and custom balloons designed by balloon artists.

Be a Junior Animal Keeper

Bronx Zoo | Details

May 18, 9:30 am to 12 pm

Kids can get up close to animals, meet conservation experts and more! During this session, learn all about tortoises and the skills to care for these ancient animals that live at the Bronx Zoo. Participants will gain early access to the zoo, help make enrichment for our animals, and get an up close animal encounter with a small animal ambassador.

Get Fuzzy at the Fleece & Fiber Festival

Hallockville Museum Farm | Details

May 18, 10 am to 4 pm

Hallockville Museum Farm Fleece & Fiber Festival features fiber artisans sharing handmade and authentic works for sale, shearing demonstrations, exceptional four-legged guests, special fiber-focused tours of the Hallock Homestead, and more!

Embrace the Sound & Color Spring Festival

Pier 5 – Brooklyn Bridge Park | Details

May 18, 11 am to 5 pm

Sound & Color! Spring Festival at Brooklyn Bridge Park is a celebration of colors, culture, spring and unity. Expanding the Conservancy’s beloved Kite Festival, this year brings music to the colors throughout the Park! Join for this day-long festival, to herald the arrival of Spring with live musical performances, food vendors, kids activities, and activities from community partners.

Party at LIC Springs!

Vernon Boulevard | Details

May 18, 12 to 5 pm

LIC Springs! is a community street festival celebrating Long Island City with live music, dance and performances, plus interactive lessons, art, fitness classes, outdoor dining, pop-up activities, games and more.

Hunt for Lighthouses

Conference House Park | Details

May 19, 10 am to 4 pm

Follow the map and visit lighthouses in Staten Island. Take selfies or group photos with lighthouses in the background, receiving your lighthouse stickers at each site. Learn about the ten lighthouses on and off-shore Staten Island. Have a family-friendly fun day learning about Staten Island’s lighthouse history.

Attend the Metropolitan Opera’s Spring Open House

The Metropolitan Opera House | Details

May 19, 1 to 5 pm

Designed as an immersive quest experience, this event invites young opera goers and families to explore Greek mythology through extraordinary and classic tale of Orpheus and Euridice. Families will search for clues, complete missions, and participate in mythology-inspired activity stations around the legendary opera house, led by members of the Met’s staff and Mythik Camps teaching artists.

Monster Mini Golf

Upon entering Monster Mini Golf, all perceptions of traditional mini golf will be spirited away by the indoor, 18-hole, monster-theme, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course! The locations in <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Deer Park</a>, and <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/gardencity/">Garden City, NY</a> invite guests to experience a host of family-oriented fun activities. Whether visiting for the first time or the one hundredth, mini golfers feel the excitement and adventure of playing mini golf amidst spooktacular monsters and custom, glow-in-the-dark, hand-painted artwork. While testing their skill on the fairways, lively music flows over the course from the unique &ldquo;WEIRD Radio&rdquo; station&rdquo; and an interactive DJ entertains golfers with contests, awarding cool prizes for the wackiest reasons. While the course is challenging enough for adults, it is also quite playable for children. Monster Mini Golf is open year-round and frightfully fun for the entire family. In addition to miniature golf and thrilling arcade and redemption games, the locations offer additional attractions. <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Monster Mini Golf in Deer Park, NY</a> offers a Laser Maze and a Virtual Reality experience. The Garden City location offers a Laser Maze, Bowling, and a Virtual Reality Experience. Two very posh, private party rooms are also available and are perfect for any event. Monster Mini Golf looks forward to making it a monstrous success. Monster Mini Golf is indoors, ensuring that the event will always take place, regardless of the weather. It is a climate-controlled, affordable source of family entertainment. For more details please visit <a href="http://monsterminigolf.com">monsterminigolf.com</a> or find them on Facebook.

Instituto Cervantes

Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"

Things to Do This Weekend in NYC with Kids