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Free in May: 45 Things To Do in NYC with Kids

Relax in the serene garden at the Noguchi Museum during its free Community Day. Photo by Jody Mercier
Relax in the serene garden at the Noguchi Museum during its free Community Day. Photo by Jody Mercier
5/4/23 - By Drew Kristofik

We've got the lowdown on the best free things to do in NYC this May, including the start of the annual outdoor movies and music season.

Summer's unofficial start might not happen until month's end, but plenty of summer-like fun is popping up on our Family Activity Calendar with season-long series like Summer on the Hudson Play Dates making their annual debut. We're also thrilled to welcome back annual favorites, like Dance Parade and Fleet Week.

Read on for more than 50 free things to do this May in New York City, including fun events in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Find more top events in our list of the best things to do this May.

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including address and time. And keep in mind, in NYC, really cool things to do with kids often book quickly. In the case of these FREE events, arrive as early as possible.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Moosiki Kids Musical Storytime plays musical stories to sing-along with by the big locomotive in Riverside Park. Photo courtesy of Moosiki Kids
Moosiki Kids Musical Storytime plays musical stories to sing-along with by the big locomotive in Riverside Park. Photo courtesy of Moosiki Kids

Free Things To Do in NYC: Monday, May 1-Saturday, May 6

Pickleball at Brookfield Place

Battery Park City
Wednesday, May 3-Saturday, May 13
Serve up some fun this spring with pickleball overlooking the Waterfront Plaza. READ MORE

Locomotive Lawn Live

Upper West Side
Thursdays from May 4-June 29
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. READ MORE

Tie-Dye in the Bronx

Port Morris, the Bronx
Friday, May 5
NYC Parks hosts an afternoon of fun while doing tie-dye with parks department staff. Participants are encouraged to bring a new T-shirt or clothing to dye. READ MORE

BAMKids SpringFest 2023

Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, May 6
Families are invited to a joyous day of performances, interactive activities, and showcases of local talent! BAMkids SpringFest celebrates the spirit of the season with an eclectic program of music, dance, comedy, and circus arts, brought to you by artists from Japan, West Africa, the Philippines, and Hawaii. READ MORE

Community Day at the Noguchi Museum

Long Island City, Queens
Saturday, May 6
The Noguchi Museum celebrates its neighbors by offering a series of community days, with free admission all day, and special programming and activities.​ READ MORE

Hands on History: Queens Hip-Hop

Jamaica, Queens
Saturday, May 6
King Manor's second event dedicated to Queens hip-hop coincides with the anniversary of RUN DMC's classic third studio album (released May 15, 1986) with iconic tracks such as "It's Tricky" and "Walk This Way!"  READ MORE

Free Comic Book Day 2023

Citywide
Saturday, May 6
Pow! Crash! Boom!  Getting comic books for free is...super! Free Comic Book Day returns to its usual "first Saturday in May" date. READ MORE

Insect Exploration: Insects of the Night

Bayside, Queens
Saturday, May 6
Rangers show insect fans how to attract and identify the diverse menagerie of friendly nocturnal insects that fill the night skies of your local park. READ MORE

Book Giveaway at Brooklyn Navy Yard

Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, May 6
Swing by the Brooklyn Navy Yard for this literacy-focused event featuring read-alouds by the Walt Whitman Library, a creative writing workshop by Writopia Lab, and free books for the whole family by Brooklyn Book Bodega.  READ MORE
Japan Day celebrates Japanese culture, art, traditions, and food with a parade and street fair in 2023. Photo courtesy of the event
Japan Day celebrates Japanese culture, art, traditions, and food with a parade and street fair in 2023. Photo courtesy of the event

Free Things To Do in NYC: Sunday, May 7-Saturday, May 13

Print Your Own Mother’s Day Card

South Street Seaport
Sunday, May 7
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. READ MORE

Pied Piper Children's Theatre: Selections from The Addams Family

Inwood
Sunday, May 7
Pied Piper Children’s Theatre presents select musical performances from its spring musical, The Addams Family. READ MORE

Riverside Park Overlook Concerts

Upper West Side
Sunday, May 7
Bring a blanket and a snack and luxuriate to excellent music from the Columbia Bluegrass Band, French Cookin' Blues, and the Manhattan School of Music's Brass Quintet.  READ MORE

Right of Spring- A Puppet Pageant by The Puppeteers Cooperative

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 7
The Puppeteers Cooperative, in collaboration with The Old Stone House presents the 2023 Rite of Spring, featuring a bevy of colorful puppets and a whimsical story about a profound struggle. The puppet pageant is for all ages and features live, get-a-move-on music. READ MORE

Horseshoe Crab Exploration

Pelham Bay, the Bronx
Sunday, May 7
The Urban Park Rangers lead budding naturalists on a walk on the shore dedicated to the horseshoe crab, a “living fossil” that has existed for more than 445 million years. READ MORE

Outdoor Skills: Animal Tracks and Craft

Village Greens, Staten Island
Sunday, May 7
Urban Park Rangers lead kids on a walk to find and identify animal tracks. Kids learn how to cast tracks in plaster and why casting can be an important tool. Participants also get to take home their very own cast of a track! READ MORE

Wormy Wednesday

Randall's Island
Wednesday, May 10
Come after school to learn about composting with worms. Did you know that some worms can eat half their weight a day in food scraps? Learn more, meet the worms, and enjoy compost-themed crafts during International Compost Week. READ MORE

Mozart for Munchkins at Hudson Yards

Hudson Yards
Thursday, May 11
Mozart for Munchkins puts on free Saturday morning concerts that focus on a different style of music each week—classical, jazz, bluegrass, and more—performed by first-rate artists who have played the stages of Carnegie Hall, Broadway, Lincoln Center, and other top venues. READ MORE

Japan Day Parade and Street Fair

Upper West Side
Saturday, May 13
Building off the success of last year's celebration, Japan Day returns as a parade and street fair in 2023. See the parade march down Central Park West before enjoying the festive street fair along 72nd Street.  READ MORE

Lift Off: A Waterfront Kite Festival

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 13
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy kicks off its 2023 spring and summer programming season with this beloved kite-flying fest. This family-friendly event returns to 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. READ MORE

International Migratory Bird Day

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 13
Help the Prospect Park Alliance celebrate the importance of stop-over locations like Prospect Park to migratory birds. More than 250 species have been recorded in the park, and it is not uncommon to see 100 or more species in one spring day. READ MORE

Urban Wildlife Festival

Washington Heights
Saturday, May 13
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. READ MORE

Bird Bonanza

Randall's Island
Saturday, May 13
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. READ MORE

Summer on the Hudson Play Dates

West Harlem
Saturday, May 13
Head to West Harlem Piers Park for a fun family-friendly event featuring a children’s entertainer, grab-and-go arts and crafts kits, and neighborhood fun! Each month brings a new performance. READ MORE

Open Stages 2023

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 13
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 150 musicians throughout the day, including classical musicians, hip-hop artists, marching bands, kids' groups, and more. READ MORE

Farmhouse Family Day: Clay Leaf Printing

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 13
Set nature’s patterns into clay! Scavenge around the farm and find the perfect flowers and leaves to make your very own clay leaf print. Paints, beads, and strings are provided.    READ MORE

Native New York Children’s Festival

Battery Park
Saturday, May 13-Sunday, May 14
Native New York is the theme of this year's National Museum of the American Indian Children's Fest. Hands-on activities include corn husk dollmaking, traditional Tuscarora beadwork, listening to Haudenosaunee stories, and learning about lacrosse.  READ MORE
The Dance Parade and DanceFest return with choreographed performances in the streets and Tompkins Square Park. Photo by Cai Huzhng
The Dance Parade and DanceFest return with choreographed performances in the streets and Tompkins Square Park. Photo by Cai Huzhng

Free Things To Do in NYC: Sunday, May 14-Saturday, May 2o

Mother's Day Flower ID Walk

Inwood
Sunday, May 14
Enjoy a relaxing stroll through the beautiful Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park in honor of Mother’s Day, and learn the names of some of the flowers there.  READ MORE

Nature's Workshop: Wildflower Pressing

Crotona, the Bronx
Sunday, May 14
Learn how to press and preserve wildflowers with the Urban Park Rangers—just in time for Mother's Day. READ MORE

Mother Nature Hike in Alison Pond Park

New Brighton, Staten Island
Sunday, May 14
Take a relaxing hike and play some games with the Urban Park Rangers while learning how urban wildlife mothers take care of their young. READ MORE

Nature Exploration: Reptiles and Amphibians

Inwood
Sunday, May 14
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a hunt for the turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders that call New York City home. READ MORE

Big Truck Day

Randall's Island
Saturday, May 20
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. READ MORE

Family Fun Day at Frederick Douglass Playground

Upper West Side
Saturday, May 20
NYC Parks and Council Member Shaun Abreu host a fun afternoon of crafts, inflatables, music, jumbo games, an obstacle course, and more.   READ MORE

Hands on History: Happy Birthday, Joey Ramone

Jamaica, Queens
Saturday, May 20
Punk legend Joey Ramone of the Ramones was born on May 19, 1951. King Manor Museum honors his legacy by helping kids make guitar picks and learn some basic punk chords on electric guitar! Real Brave instructors are on hand to teach iconic Ramones riffs from Blitzkrieg Bop and Rockaway Beach. READ MORE

Dance Parade + DanceFest

East Village
Saturday, May 20
Dance Parade returns to the streets, celebrating its 17th annual procession and festival with 10,000 dancers and more than 100 unique styles of dance. READ MORE

BK Block Party

Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, May 20
Brooklyn Bridge Parents brings the party to Downtown Brooklyn at City Point (indoors) and Albee Square (outdoors) with free, fun activities for families. Stop by for an epic ball pit, Lego building, arts and crafts, live music, soccer games, family Zumba class, and more. READ MORE

LIC Springs into Summer

Long Island City, Queens
Saturday, May 20
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. READ MORE

Ninth Avenue International Food Festival

Midtown West
Saturday, May 20-Sunday, May 21
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. READ MORE

Atlantic Avenue Art Walk

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Saturday, May 20-Sunday, May 28
The Atlantic Avenue LDC is bringing back ArtWalk this year with a 1.5-mile self-guided event featuring artwork from local artists. READ MORE
Thousands of men and women from the US Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard touch down on dry land during Fleet Week. Photo courtesy of Fleet Week NYC
Thousands of men and women from the US Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard touch down on dry land during Fleet Week. Photo courtesy of Fleet Week NYC

Free Things To Do in NYC: Sunday, May 21-Tuesday, May 31

The Fabulous Fifth Avenue Street Fair

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 21
Head to Park Slope's Fifth Avenue to peruse this street fair, featuring food and sale items, rides, bouncy castles, music performances, and more.  READ MORE

Summer on the Hudson: Movement Scavenger Hunt

Upper West Side
Sunday, May 21
Learn parkour skills and more while exploring Riverside Park South through movement challenges and games designed by The Movement Creative.  READ MORE

Greek Jewish Festival

Lower East Side
Sunday, May 21
This Greek Jewish Festival celebrates the unique Romaniote and Sephardic heritage of the Jews of Greece. Enjoy a feast for the senses, including authentic kosher Greek foods and homemade Greek pastries. READ MORE

Seaport Museum Open Day with PJ Library

South Street Seaport
Sunday, May 21
Inspired by the PJ Library book, When Jessie Came Across the Sea, families are invited to tour the iconic lightship Ambrose, which served for a quarter century as the beacon of hope for immigrants reaching New York. READ MORE

Memorial Day in Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Monday, May 29
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 an animal meet-and-greet and a family bird walk. READ MORE

Fleet Week NYC 2023

Hells Kitchen
Wednesday, May 25-Tuesday, May 31
The US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard's celebration of sea services invites families to tour ships, watch the Parade of Ships, and enjoy exhibits, military band concerts, and aviation events throughout the week.   READ MORE

Pickleball and Badminton at Brooklyn Commons

Downtown Brooklyn
Tuesday, May 31-Saturday, June 11
Serve up some fun this spring, and try your hand at various racquet sports at Brooklyn Commons. The action kicks off with the latest sports craze, pickleball, and time-honored favorite, badminton. Grab your favorite opponent and drop by to play! READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Orchard Beach Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park
Base of 103rd St. Footbridge
Prospect Park Audubon Center
Urban Farm at Randall's Island Park
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York
Red Shade Plaza - Riverside Park South
Various locations

About the Author

Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik's early career editing teen magazines somehow morphed into a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a very long sojourn at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick online and then Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com local. She was a founding member of the WebbyAward winning GoCityKids, has written for Family Fun Magazine, Vanity Fair, and New York, and her novel for middle schoolers, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. She strives to keep the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar packed and accurate, and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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