Monthly and Weekend Events for Kids and Families:
Atlanta Boston Chicago Houston Los Angeles
New York City Philadelphia San Francisco Washington DC
HOME RECIPES HOME DECOR KIDS CRAFTS PARENTING
Free Events and Activities for Kids
in New York City in May 2026
Movies Under the Palms at Brookfield Place
Financial District
Friday, May 1-Saturday, May 2, 2026
Movies Under the Palms features a lineup of feel-good, throwback films and singalong favorites with comfy seating, complimentary popcorn and candy, and entertaining pre-show fun before the lights get dim. Website
Sunset Singing Circle at the Irish Hunger Memorial
Battery Park City
Select Fridays from Friday, May 1-Friday, May 29, 2026
Singer/songwriter Terre Roche leads a weekly singing program with the beautiful backdrop of the setting sun in NY Harbor. Website
Blessing of the Bicycles at St. John the Divine
Morningside Heights
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Bikers, skaters, and all self-propelled vehicle users, regardless of religious background, are invited to roll their wheeled vehicles to St. John the Divine for this annual blessing. The brief ceremony features words from Dean Winnie Varghese, as well as the sprinkling of Holy Water on the bikes. Website
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus in Wagner Park
Robert F Wagner Park, Battery Park City
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Step right up for the Flatbed Follies with The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus! This vintage-inspired circus features an eclectic mix of clowns, jugglers, wire walkers, acrobats, aerialists, and more. Website
Carnegie Hall Citywide: The Lion King Onscreen at Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards Public Square and Gardens, Midtown West
Saturday, May 2, 2026
The acclaimed Ensemble Connect performs a short concert inspired by musical ideas from the world of The Lion King. Then, settle in for a screening of a timeless animated film. Website
Mapping the City at the Skyscraper Museum
Battery Park City
Saturday, May 2, 2026
A hands-on family program introduces young cartographers to the art and language of maps! Kids learn how to read and understand the key elements of maps, including symbols, compass roses, landmarks, and scale, while discovering how these tools help us make sense of the places we live. Website
All that Jazz at the Davis Center, Harlem Meer in Central Park
Davis Center, Central Park
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Clap, sway, and settle into the groove under a spring sunset. BYO Blanket. Website
Pinkster Festival at the Van Cortlandt House Museum
Van Cortlandt Park, the Bronx
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Pinkster on the picturesque lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences. Website
Family Saturdays at L'Alliance
Upper East Side
Saturdays, May 2, 9 and 30, 2026
L’Alliance New York's Family Saturday series engages young people and their families through visual art, dance, storytelling, and Francophone cinema. The immersive program—designed to be a hands-on cultural experience for children and families —features visual arts workshops, story time in French, live theater and dance performances, and film screenings. Website
The Old Stone House Classic Baseball Game: Brooklyn Bridegrooms vs. FUMBL
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Old Stone House presents a free historic baseball game, hosted at the original home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Hot dogs for sale at the hearth! Website
Big Swim 2026 at Asphalt Green
Upper East Side
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Asphalt Green hosts NYC's largest free swim meet. During this fun day, swimmers ages 6 and older of all abilities can experience the thrill of racing in the water! Compete and receive a swim cap, medal, and an icy. Website
Hands on History: Spirit of '76 at King Manor Museum
Jamaica, Queens
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Get into the Spirit of '76 by creating your own Liberty Bell out of recyclable materials, and ring in the semiquincentennial in style. Website
Bronx Family Fun Day & Community Resource Fair
KIPP NYC - KIPP ALL Middle School, 1504 Macombs Rd, Bronx
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Join KIPP NYC for a fun-filled day with live music, activities for kids, and access to valuable community resources—all in one place. Activities include a DJ, face painting, and entertainment for children, plus exciting giveaways and a raffle for a chance to win AirPods. Website
Park Slope Picnic at JJ Byrne Playground
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Park Slope Picnic invites neighbors of all ages to come together, meet one another, and enjoy a relaxed lunch outdoors. Attendees should bring their own picnic food (BYOP!) to share, with organizers providing tables, chairs, tablecloths, and live music. Website
Bargemusic's Music in Motion Concerts
Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Weekends from Saturday, May 2-Sunday, May 31, 2026
Head to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse for these one-hour, family-friendly concerts, which include a Q&A session with the musicians. Website
Print Your Own Mother’s Day Card at Bowne & Co. Stationers
211 Water Street New York, NY
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Bowne & Co.'s talented designers show guests how to create a festive Mother's Day card using the South Street Seaport Museum's 19th-century historical printing equipment. Website
Create-athon: Monsters Everywhere! at Lincoln Center
Upper West Side
Sunday, May 3, 2026
A team of talented and passionate makers leads the way at this awesome all-ages Create-athon where you can forge your perfect plush BFF to take home, or whip up a killer lewk for the Labubu of your dreams. Learn the basics of clothing design and construction, then make your custom piece a reality with help from the pros. Website
Spring Fling Creative Corner at the Shops at Columbus Circle
Midtown West
Wednesdays, May 6, 13, and 20, 2026
Enjoy floral arranging, ceramic painting, potting and craft workshops for all ages by local Upper West Side and Brooklyn studios. Website
Kindie Rock in Battery Park City
Battery Park City
Wednesdays from Wednesday, May 6-Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Shake all those wiggles out at Battery Park City's weekly kid concerts. Attendance is first-come, first-served, so arrive early. Website
Movies Under the Stars: Ferris Bueller's Day Off on Chelsea Green
Chelsea
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows a charming high school senior who fakes illness to spend an unforgettable day exploring Chicago with his best friend and girlfriend, while evading his principal and suspicious sister. Rated PG-13. Website
Locomotive Lawn Live in Riverside Park South
Upper West Side
Thursdays from Thursday, May 7-Thursday, June 25, 2026
Moosiki Kids Musical Storytime fosters a love of reading at a young age with musical stories and sing-along encouragement on the comfy and danceable turf lawn by the big locomotive. Website
Movies Under the Stars: Inside Out 2 in Bloomingdale Playground
Upper West Side
Friday, May 8, 2026
Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Website
Lenfest Kids: Cats and Dogs
Lenfest Center For the Arts, Morningside Heights
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Paws...and curl up with a season of family films featuring cats and dogs. Stick around after the film for free family fun with student colleagues of Columbia Artist/Teachers. Website
Gladiators NYC in Central Park
Central Park (Behind the Met Miuseum 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue New York, NY)
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Knights in full armor battle on the grass in Central Park behind The Met. Bring a blanket and a picnic. Website
Bird Bonanza on Randall's Island
Urban Farm at Randall's Island Park
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Celebrate birds, especially those that are currently migrating through NYC, at the Randall’s Island Bird Bonanza. The entire day is dedicated to flying feathered friends, with activities and games for all ages. Website
Ladybug Day 2026 in Washington Market Park
Tribeca
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Ladybug Day is a decades-long tradition at Washington Market Park. The Friends of Washington Market Park distribute thousands of ladybugs to children and adults, who then release them in the park. Website
Summer on the Hudson: Nature Explorers in Riverside Park
Riverside Park 102nd Street Field House, Upper West Side
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Conservancy staff and special guests lead arts and crafts, storytelling, and nature-focused workshops for kids. Website
Carnegie Hall Citywide: Up Onscreen at Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards Public Square and Gardens, Midtown West
Saturday, May 9, 2026
The acclaimed Ensemble Connect performs a short concert, introducing listeners to the musical themes inspired by Up. Then, settle in for a screening of the beloved Disney classic. Website
Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest In Albee Square
Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Celebrate Brooklyn moms with a joyful day of fun featuring a pick-your-own bouquet flower bar, DJ Mike spinning in Albee Square, hands-on crafts, the Brooklyn Museum on Wheels, and family photo moments. Website
Beach Glass Workshop in Marine Park
Carmine Carro Community Center, Marine Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Kids learn about the beauty, history and sustainability of beach glass in a hands-on, eco-inspired workshop, and create a wearable keepsake to take home (while supplies last). Website
Movies Under the Stars: Mufasa: The Lion King at Moore Playground
East Harlem
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Told in flashbacks, this animated sequel to The Lion King introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. Rated PG. Website
Japan Day Parade and Street Fair on Central Park West
Upper West Side
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Japan Day is celebrated with a parade and street fair. Watch the parade march down Central Park West before enjoying the festive street fair along 72nd Street. Website
Urban Wildlife Festival in Inwood Hill Park
Inwood
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Get up close and personal with NYC’s wild residents. Learn about squirrels, turtles, raccoons, opossums, and coyotes, and discover the best places in New York City and New York state to watch wildlife. Website
Ecological City Puppet Parade on the Lower East Side
Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 E 9th St., New York, NY
Saturday, May 9, 2026
For sheer spectacle, you can't beat Ecological City's spectacular six-hour procession of visual art, giant puppets and costumes—with 21 performances of dance, music, theater, and poetry celebrating sustainability solutions throughout the community gardens, neighborhood, and along the East River Park waterfront on the Lower East Side. The procession route begins at Loisaida Inc. Center. Rain date: May 10 Website
Open Stages 2026 in Park Slope
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s spring music festival is back to rock Park Slope once again! Stoops, school lots, parks, gardens, and sidewalks host more than 200 musicians throughout the afternoon, including classical musicians, hip-hop artists, marching bands, kids' groups, and more. Website
Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk
Atlantic Avenue from 4th Ave to the waterfront, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 9-Sunday, May 17, 2026
Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk, a 1.5-mile, self-guided event, extends from Fourth Avenue to the Waterfront and showcases the work of over 125 emerging and established Brooklyn artists at 70+ participating shops, galleries, salons, restaurants, and businesses. Website
Mother's Day Basic Canoeing in Prospect Park
Audubon Center at the Boathouse in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Trained Urban Park Rangers lead canoe adventures that range from the gentle waters of protected lakes to the challenging open waters of rivers and bays. Website
Mother's Day Basic Canoeing in Wolfe's Pond Park
Holten Ave. and Purdy Place in Wolfe's Pond Park, Staten Island
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Trained Urban Park Rangers lead canoe adventures that range from the gentle waters of protected lakes to the challenging open waters of rivers and bays. Website
Spring Overlook Concerts in Riverside Park
Upper West Side
Sundays, May 10 and May 17, 2026
Bring a blanket and a snack and luxuriate to excellent music from the French Cookin’ Blues Band, Bloomingdale School of Music's Latin Jazz group, and The Manhattan School of Music’s Brass Ensemble. Website
Wednesday Wonders in Downtown Brooklyn
Abolitionist Place, Downtown Brooklyn
Wednesdays from Wednesday, May 13-Wednesday, June 6, 2026
Enjoy the wonders of Abolitionist Place—where every Wednesday in May and June offers a new adventure! Website
Movies under the Stars: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (PG) in Happy Warrior Playground
Upper West Side
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. Website
Teens Take The Met
The Metropolitan Muserum of Art, Upper East Side
Friday, May 15, 2026
Teens come together to explore their creativity and make discoveries through art. Teens Take The Met spans the entire museum and introduces teens to the programs of 60+ cultural organizations from across the five boroughs. Website
Smith Street Stage: Julius Caesar in Carroll Park
Carroll Park, Brooklyn
Select dates from Friday, May 15-Sunday, June 7, 2026
The award-winning Brooklyn theatre company, Smith Street Stage, returns to Carroll Park for its 17th year of free outdoor Shakespeare under the stars. This summer’s production is Julius Caesar. Website
Big Truck Day on Randall's Island
Randall's Island
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Strap on your seatbelt and get a close-up view of the big trucks that keep New York City clean and safe. Learn how firefighters, garbage truck drivers, and other big truck operators use these vehicles to drive our city forward. Website
Queens International Children's Festival in Rufus King Park
Jamaica, Queens
Saturday, May 16, 2026
JCAL's Queens International Children's Festival returns with free entertainment and activities for the entire family, including high-quality arts performances and craft activities to inspire young people and families to enjoy the arts. Website
Big Play Day at Asphalt Green
Battery Park City
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Asphalt Green’s first-ever Big Play Day is a neighborhood-wide block party-style celebration in Battery Park City, connecting neighbors, local businesses, partners, and the downtown community through play. Website
Kite Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Dumbo, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Brooklyn Bridge Park kicks off its spring and summer programming season with this beloved kite-flying fest. This family-friendly event takes over BBP's Pier 5, offering all ages the opportunity to watch their kites soar above the Manhattan skyline while enjoying special activities exploring the science of flight. Website
Family Fun Day at Frederick Douglass Playground
Upper West Side
Saturday, May 16, 2026
NYC Parks and Council Member Shaun Abreu host a fun afternoon of crafts, inflatables, music, jumbo games, an obstacle course, and more. Website
Submerge: NYC Marine Science Festival at Pier 84
Hudson River Park Pier 84, Midtown West
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Hudson River Park presents Submerge—a free science extravaganza devoted to raising awareness about our coastal waters. Celebrate local marine science through hands-on activities, catch-and-release fishing, science stage events, kayaking, and more! Website
Socrates x Noguchi Field Guide: Plant Terrarium in Socrates Sculpture Park
Long Island City, Queens
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Use natural materials such as soil, air plants, and succulents to build your own green space terrarium. Website
Dance Parade + DanceFest in the East Village
The parade starts at Sixth Avenue and 17th Street and continues along until it veers east on 8th Street, ending with a festival in Tompkins Square Park
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Dance Parade returns to the streets, celebrating its 20th-annual procession and festival with 10,000 dancers and more than 100 unique styles of dance. Website
Skyline Bouquets at the Skyscraper Museum
Battery Park City
Saturday, May 16, 2026
A special pre-Mother’s Day family program where iconic architecture meets flowers! Kids design their own “skyline bouquet” using imagery of iconic buildings, colorful tissue paper flowers, and other craft materials to build a one of a kind arrangement to take home and gift for Mother’s Day. Website
Salsa Spice on the East River Waterfront Esplanade
Upper East Side
Saturday, May 16, 2026
EsplanadeFriends hosts a free live music event featuring Salsa from LULADA CLUB, and all-women Salsa orchestra. Enjoy free ices from Delicioso Coco Helado (while supplies last), plus craft activities for kids—all with a spectacular water view! Website
Pinkster Celebration at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum
Flatbush, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 16, 2026
The Wyckoff House Museum hosts a special Pinkster Family Day featuring storytelling, music, and performances. Stick around to make some music of your own. Website
Family Fun Day at Hudson Yards
Midtown West
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Hudson Yards hosts an action-packed day of family-friendly entertainment, with music, magic, and interactive performances that include a Back to School, Back to Rhythm concert by Mozart for Munchkins, a high-energy western set by Hopalong Andrew, and a magic show you won’t want to miss! Website
Ninth Avenue International Food Festival
9th Avenue and 42nd - 57th Streets, New York, NY
Saturday, May 16-Sunday, May 17, 2026
Enjoy cuisines from different countries, including Poland, Italy, Spain, Greece, Japan, Thailand, and more. From open to close, visitors can browse the offerings along 15 city blocks of gourmet food and beverages. The event is held rain or shine. Website
The Fabulous Fifth Avenue Street Fair
5th Avenue, Sterling to 12th Street, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Head to Park Slope's Fifth Avenue to peruse this street fair, featuring food and sale items, rides, bouncy castles, music performances, and more. Website
Celebrate Pinkster in Prospect Park
Lefferts Historic House, 452 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, May 17, 2026
The Prospect Park Alliance presents a Pinkster celebration in the yard of Lefferts Historic House, an 18th-century Flatbush farmhouse that serves as the park's historic house museum. Stop by for music, history, performances, storytelling, demonstrations, games and food. Website
Found Object Sculpture at Lehman College Art Gallery
Kingsbridge Heights, Bronx
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Explore the Thesis Exhibition of Lehman College BFA, MA, and MFA graduates and create your own found object sculpture inspired by the exhibition. Website
Music of Louis Armstrong in Bryant Park
Midtown West
Monday, May 18-Tuesday, May 19, 2026
The American Symphony Orchestra Chamber Series returns to Bryant Park with two concerts showcasing the music of jazz trumpet virtuoso, innovator, and composer of more than fifty original compositions, Louis Armstrong. Website
VERSUS: Karaoke at Lincoln Center
Upper West Side
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Lincoln Center hosts a spectacular karaoke competition, passing the mic to Korean and Filipino Broadway superstars representing Team Korea and Team Philippines—two cultures that have passionately embraced and defined the art form. Website
Movies Under the Stars: Wicked in Andrew Haswell Green Park
Upper East Side
Friday, May 22, 2026
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. Website
Free Movie Night on the Intrepid: Top Gun
Intrepid Museum, Midtown West
Friday, May 22, 2026
Bring a blanket, deck chairs, and a picnic and watch a movie on the ship’s flight deck, under the stars! Enjoy views of the Hudson River and city skyline while you watch Top Gun on the big screen. Website
Shakespeare in the Park: Romeo and Juliet
Delacorte Theater, Central Park
Friday, May 22-Sunday, June 28, 2026
No shows on Mondays
Romeo and Juliet, directed by Saheem Ali, returns to the Delacorte the first time in nearly 20 years. Tickets are available via mobile lottery, in person at the Delacorte, in person lottery at the Public, and at various borough partners. Website
Lower East Side Festival of the Arts Street Fair
Theater for the New City, Lower East Side
Friday, May 22-Sunday, May 24, 2026
NYC's Lower East Side Festival of the Arts is a cabaret-style festival featuring more than 100 performing groups from the Lower East Side. Website
How to Train Your Dragon in Columbus Park
Lower East Side
Saturday, May 23, 2026
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart. The inventive, yet overlooked, son of Chief Stoick the Vast, Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Website
Brooklyn Bridge Anniversary Family Walk
Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn b
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Celebrate the 143rd anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge by taking a tour with the Conservancy’s Environmental Education Center staff. The morning begins with an interactive story and lesson on the bridge’s history and engineering and ends with a walk up to the Brooklyn Bridge tower! Website
Create-athon: DIY Automata Workshop at Lincoln Center
Upper East Side
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Internationally acclaimed puppeteers and filmmakers Alex and Olmsted present the basics of kinetic sculpture mechanics. Create your own experimental pieces from cardboard and other simple materials. Website
Bay Ridge Memorial Day Parade
Starting at Marine Avenue/3rd Ave down to 67th Street, Brooklyn
Monday, May 25, 2026
The Bay Ridge Memorial Day Parade kicks off at 11am and runs along 3rd Avenue, starting at Marine Avenue and marching down to 67th Street to honor Brooklyn's veterans. Website
Memorial Day in Prospect Park
Audubon Center, Lefferts Historic House,
Prospect Park 101 East Drive, Brooklyn
Monday, May 25, 2026
The Prospect Park Alliance hosts family-friendly nature education programs at Prospect Park Audubon Center and the Prospect Park Carousel in honor of Memorial Day, including a family bird walk. Website
Green-Wood’s Memorial Day Concert
The Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn
Monday, May 25, 2026
Green-Wood’s cherished Memorial Day concert features the ISO Symphonic Band at Third Street, led by music director Paul Corn and guest conductor Brian P. Worsdale performing stirring works that honor those who have served in the armed forces, while also spotlighting music by some of Green-Wood’s own permanent residents, including James Weldon Johnson, Fred Ebb, and Leonard Bernstein. Website
Movies Under the Stars: Zootopia 2 in Jacob Schiff Playground
Harlem
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Catch a screening of the animated hit under the stars. Bring a blanket and a picnic. Website
LIC Springs
Long Island City
Vernon Blvd between 46th and 50th Avenues Queens
Saturday, May 30, 2026
The Long Island City Partnership celebrates Long Island City with live music, dance, and performances, plus interactive lessons, art, fitness classes, outdoor dining, pop-up activities, games, and more. Website
Bushwick Collective Block Party
15 Scott Avenue Brooklyn
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Graffiti, street art, live music, food trucks, and local vendors converge to create an immersive experience that showcases the best of the community. Website
Lulu and the Others at Books of Wonder
Chelsea
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Award-winning author Ekiot Schrefer makes his picture book debut with Lulu and the Others, based on a true story about a bonobo adopted by a human family. Website
Family Day at Perelman Performing Arts Center
Financial District
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Perelman Performing Arts Center NYC brings together families and artists for a day-long takeover of its indoor and outdoor spaces. Enjoy workshops, performances, interactive creation stations, dance battles, live music, and more. Website
Pride Family Day on the Intrepid
Intrepid Museum, Midtown West
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Families of all ages and identities are invited to celebrate Pride through hands-on art and storytelling activities. Guests explore celebrations of identity aboard the Intrepid and learn about the history of LGBTQ+ communities in the Navy. Website
Your second block of text...