Hi everyone! I am excited that Spring is almost here and looking forward to a fun weekend in NYC!
This weekend check out What You Will by Emit Theatre, the Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Parade, Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt in Prospect Park, LADAMA at Lincoln Center, Saturday Morning Live with Tom: Spring is Coming, Celebrate Holidays at Senesh! at Hannah Senesh Community Day School, Seaport Kids: Celebrate Holi at South Street Seaport, Spring Fest and Paw-rade, the New York International Children’s Film Festival, Birding: Owls in Alley Pond Park, Grab and Go Craft Kit: What is Pi Day? at Leonard Brooklyn Public Library, Little New-Yorkers at New-York Historical Society Museum & Library, NYPL Online Family Storytime and a Family Art Project: Welcome Spring Weekend at Wave Hill.
Also check out long running events like Ice Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park, Beauty & the Beast at Puppetworks, the 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree Free Tour at South Street Seaport and Wake Up Daisy! at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre.
These are just some of the weekends events so check the calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for updates.
Have a fabulous time this weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday March 18th
Grab and Go Craft Kit: What is Pi Day? at Leonard Brooklyn Public Library
Friday March 18th 10a-615p. Free. What is Pi Day? Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. Pi Day is an annual opportunity for math enthusiasts to recite the infinite digits of Pi, talk to their friends about math, and eat pie (or cookies which are equally as round!) Leonard Library celebrates Pi Day with the Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins a giveaway book, an easy recipe how to make your own cookies and construction paper to make a set of “chocolate chip cookies” to play.
Wake Up, Daisy! at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park)
Fridays-Sundays 11-1145 (doors 1030a) & 1-145p (doors 1230p) until 12/31/22. Tickets: $12 adult, $8 child. Purchase tickets here. Location: 79th Street and West Drive Central Park. Wake Up, Daisy! tells the story of Daisy, a lively little girl living in the heart of New York City in an apartment overlooking Central Park. At Daisy’s much-anticipated birthday party, she encounters three special guests, known as her “Squad-parents”, from Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx who grant her the gifts of courage, knowledge, and a second chance. When an unwelcome guest shows up and casts a curse on her, Daisy’s life is forever changed. But through the support of her friends and an adventure throughout the city, Daisy’s strong self-determination and vivid imagination may be all she needs to break the curse.
NYPL Online Family Storytime!
Friday March 18th 1130a-12n. Free. For all ages. Register here. Join us for a live, online program with songs, rhymes, and favorite read-aloud books as we show you that storytime is fun for the whole family. Ideal for caregivers with multiple-aged children.
Little New-Yorkers at New-York Historical Society Museum & Library (UWS)
Fridays 330p until April 1st. Free with Museum admission. For ages 3-6y. Join us every Friday in person at the Museum for story time and crafts! Each class includes a special Little New-Yorkers hello song, silly dances and games, a story book reading, and a related craft. Capacity limits and mask requirements apply. All visitors ages 5 and older are required to show proof of full vaccination.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday March 19th
New York International Children’s Film Festival
Saturday March 19th at various times. For ages 5+ (note virtual tots pass also available). Tickets: $17 general admission, $20 special events. Return to the magic of big screen events with the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF), North America’s largest film festival for kids and teens, and celebrate their 25th annual festival IN-PERSON. Catch must-see screenings of exciting new animated, live action and doc films for young audiences, plus filmmaker Q&As March 4th-19th. See website for schedule of movies. Location: SVA Theatre. See the website for Covid-19 protocols.
Saturday Morning Live with Tom: Spring is Coming! (virtual)
Saturday March 19th 10a. Free. Reserve tickets here. Saturday Morning Live is a brand new action-packed art class for kids who love to sing, play drums, and make art — all at the same time! These 60-minute live, interactive virtual sessions are led by beloved Early Childhood Specialist Tom Burnett and specially designed for children under the age of five. All you need is your imagination, sense of discovery, and your favorite art supplies — crayons, markers, paint, stickers, and more!
LADAMA at Lincoln Center (UWS)
Saturday March 19th 11a. Free. With rhythm and percussion driving their original compositions sung in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, the all-women ensemble LADAMA combines traditional roots music with pop in a family-friendly concert. Collectively, LADAMA pulls inspiration from the musicians’ countries of origin—Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, and the U.S.—resulting in a sonic experience through which we can view our future as a world that communicates across continents and cultures, with sound and story. Note: This event is free and open to the public. Seating and entry are first-come, first-served; the line will form at the Atrium’s entrance on Broadway, between 62nd and 63rd Street. All guests will be required to provide proof that the final dose of their primary COVID-19 vaccination series was administered at least 14 days before entry. See the website for details on the Covid-19 protocols.
Seaport Kids: Celebrate Holi at South Street Seaport
Saturday March 19th 12n-2p. Free. Location: The Corner 25 Fulton Street. Puppet shows. Dance performances. Crafting. In celebration of Holi, the traditional Indian festival of colors marking the start of spring, The Seaport will host special programming on Saturday, March 19 that is being presented by The Culture Tree. Kids will learn how to celebrate Holi by watching an amazing puppet show, watch some traditional Holi dance performance, learn to dance in an Indian dance workshop and make their own Holi inspired puppets. See the website for schedule of events.
What You Will by Emit Theatre (virtual) [sponsored]
Saturdays 1-2p until April 2nd. Free virtual, interactive theatre for families! Come and join Shakespeare and some of his most beloved characters in Emit Theatre’s retelling of Twelfth Night! The latest installment of our virtual Play Along Series, our play begins with a terrible storm, shipwrecking a young woman named Viola onto a mysterious land called Illyria. During the storm, Viola is separated from her beloved brother Sebastian. Viola decides to disguise herself as a young man named Cesario and finds a job with the Duke Orsino. Audiences will help Viola to navigate her new identity, fall in love, and reunite with her brother throughout a story full of merriment and music. This production is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday March 20th
Celebrate Holidays at Senesh! at Hannah Senesh Community Day School (Carroll Gardens)
Sunday March 20th 10a-12n. $5/person at the door; cash and Venmo accepted. Register here or feel free to drop-in. Join us as we explore and celebrate Purim! Children 2-8 years old will enjoy: A thrilling puppet show of Esther Saves the Day featuring Wonderspark Puppets and shadow puppetry activities with our partners at JCH. On-your-feet movement games with Sprout Brooklyn and Sababa Beach Camps. Purim sing-alongs. Art activities with CBE Kids and other partners that draw inspiration from Jewish Persian culture referenced in the Purim story such as building cities with recycled materials, decorating noise makers, creating life-sized drawings of Purim characters, and more. Kids and grownups are encouraged to come in costume! See the website for information on Covid-19 protocols.
Spring Fest and Paw-rade (Astoria)
Sunday March 20th 12n-230p. Free. Location: 31st Avenue between Steinway Street and 38th Street. Spring is finally right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with a “Spring Fest and Paw-rade” event. Bring your kiddies and pets in their spring finery to welcome the 1st day of spring on Sunday March 20th. Come enjoy arts & crafts, balloon art and a pet costume contest with prizes (all while supplies last). The event will feature a music performance by The Afro-Latineers and a magic show & juggling by Zabo Circus artists. The Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) will also be on hand offering onsite adoptions.
Birding: Owls in Alley Pond Park
Sunday March 20th 10-11a. Free. Location: Alley Pond Adventure Course. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best bird viewing spots in New York City. Learn more about the various species of owls found in our parks and hopefully be lucky enough to spot them. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Learn more about the various species of owls found in our parks. Please bring your own binoculars.
Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Parade (Park Slope)
Sunday March 20th 12n. Free. For all ages. Irish dancers, marching bands, antique cars & much more. Parade rout: parade starts 15th Street & Prospect Park West down 15th Street to 7th Avenue and then to Garfield Place and back along Prospect Park West.
Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt in Prospect Park
Sunday March 20th 1-2p. Free. Location: Picnic House. Spring season is upon us and animals and plants adapt to the changes. Let’s find some of these adaptations and signs of spring on a scavenger hunt through the trails in the park.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
Family Art Project: Welcome Spring Weekend at Wave Hill
Saturday-Sunday March 19th-20th 10a-1p. Free with admission. Are you ready for spring? We are! Wave Hill invites friends and families to usher in the season with us this weekend with special spring-themed wellness, art and garden programs. See the website for information on the Covid-19 protocols.
Beauty & the Beast at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Saturdays-Sundays 1230p & 230p until April 3rd. Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each. Suggested for 3 and up. Beauty & the Beast, the French Fantasy with a “live” Beast adapted for Marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. Under 5 year olds are welcome, with Masks required.
1885 Tall Ship Wavertree Free Tour at South Street Seaport
Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p until April 30th. Free. The permanently-moored 1885 tall ship Wavertree is open to the public for FREE on Saturdays and Sundays, with timed entry, at Pier 16 (Fulton and South Streets). Guided tours depart hourly and last approximately 30 minutes. Advance reservations are recommended. Guided tours include access to the main deck and quarter deck. Learn how people worked and lived aboard a 19th century cargo sailing vessel, from the captain to the ship’s officers, cooks, and crew. Then visit the cargo hold and stand atop the viewing platform where you can take in the massive main cargo area. Proof of vaccine required for all guests over age 5. Masks required.
Sharks at the American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
Museum hours Wednesday-Sunday 10a-530p. Included in General Admission+One. See website for all the details.The new exhibition Sharks features dozens of life-sized models ranging from 33 feet to 5.5 inches long, fossils from the Museum’s collections, touch-free interactive exhibits that challenge visitors to hunt like a hammerhead, and more for visitors of all ages. Older than dinosaurs—and more threatened than threatening—sharks are spectacular, surprising, and often misunderstood. Discover the incredible diversity of this ancient and fascinating group of fishes. Note: The Museum continues to require vaccinations against COVID-19 and facial coverings.
Ice Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park
Hours for covered rink: Monday-Thursday 9a-430p, Friday 9a-7p, Saturday 1-9p, Sunday 1-430p until April 3rd. Open air rink hours: 9a-7p, Friday-Saturday 9a-9p & Sunday 9a-7p. Admission rates: $8 weekday per person, $12 weekend per person. Reserve your desired 90-minute skate session for access to one of our two available ice rinks online now and guarantee your ice time. Skate rentals are available at an additional cost or feel free to bring your own skates. Purchase online today as capacity is limited. To help our young skaters, helpful Skate Aids are available and can be rented in advance or on the day of your visit, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reserve open air rink tickets here and covered rink tickets here.
See the calendar for all the events