Hit one of the amazing beaches in NYC, by train, ferry, bike, or car. Photo by Sara Marentette
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Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
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Enjoy the spacious shore and freshwater at Fahenstock State Park's Lake Canopus. Photo courtesy of I Love the Hudson Valley
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Dreamery uses only the best all-natural milk and cream from local New York State creameries.
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The splash pad in Domino Park puts a smile on faces young and old. Photo by Jody Mercier
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The Pier 6 Waterlab has been one of our favorite NYC splash pads since it opened in 2010. Photo by Sara M
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See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
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Make a splash at Coney Island when you need to beat the heat in NYC. Photo by author
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Noshing on a funnel cake on the Coney Island boardwalk is a sweet ending to an epic day of summer fun.
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26 Best Things To Do in NYC May 2023 with Kids

Enjoy the pageantry and patriotic celebrations when Fleet Week returns for Memorial Day weekend in NYC. Photo courtesy of Fleet Week New York
Enjoy the pageantry and patriotic celebrations when Fleet Week returns for Memorial Day weekend in NYC. Photo courtesy of Fleet Week New York
4/30/23 - By Drew Kristofik

May the 4th be with you as we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and the return of Movies Under the Stars this May in New York City!

May is so jam-packed, it would be easy to miss some stellar happenings, including the long-anticipated opening of the American Museum of Natural History's Richard Gilder Center, which we got a sneak peek of. You can also catch the BAMKids SpringFest, Japan Day is back in parade form, and a new Harry Potter exhibition apparates in Midtown. And, how could we forget Fleet Week at month's end?

Plus, Mother's Day falls mid-month, and you can show mom your love during our heart-shaped pizza-making workshop. Other top picks for the day include booking Mother's Day brunch reservations or wandering NYBG's Mother's Day Garden Party.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day and, yes, outdoor movies are already underway, so be sure to keep an eye on our ever-growing list of what to see, when!

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

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 up quickly, so buy your tickets ASAP or, in the case of FREE events, arrive as early as possible.

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The immersive Invisible Worlds is one of the new exhibitions at the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation set to open at the American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 4.
The immersive Invisible Worlds is one of the new exhibitions at the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation set to open at the American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 4.

Top Things To Do in NYC with Kids this May

Richard Gilder Center Opening Weekend

Upper West Side
Opens Thursday, May 4
Featuring breathtaking architecture inspired by natural Earth processes, the Gilder Center reveals the natural world through an immersive experience that includes an insectarium, a permanent butterfly vivarium, and more. READ MORE

BAMKids SpringFest 2023

Downtown Brooklyn–FREE
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

New York Theatre Ballet Once Upon a Ballet: Carnival of the Animals

Midtown East
Saturday, May 6-Sunday, May 7
In a magical forest, Queen Diana and her shaggy lion rule a charming assortment of animals who live more or less peaceably...until a pair of lost children wander in, and then the fun begins! READ MORE

Maestro's Magical Music Box Live

Lower East Side
Saturdays, May 6-May 27
Also on Sundays, May 21 and May 28
This live educational children's show features original sing-a-longs, interactive artist interviews, and corresponding lesson plans. Maestro and Prima Ballerina take kids on a dynamic adventure and interview a different live artist each week. Topics include musical dynamics, conservation, ocean animals, and resolving conflicts. READ MORE

Hippo Playground Spring Fair

Upper West Side
Sunday, May 7
An Upper West Side institution, the Hippo Playground Spring Fair celebrates the season with pony rides, bouncy castles, a petting zoo, games, prizes, crafts, food, cupcake decorating, face painting, entertainment, and more. READ MORE

Children's Day Festival: Kodomo No Hi

Midtown East
Sunday, May 7
Hang the koinobori (carp streamers) and don your kabuto (samurai helmet): The Japan Society's Children's Day is back. Celebrate Japan’s national holiday with life-sized samurai armor displays and take to the stage in a popular sword-fighting workshop led by Kyo Kasumi from TATE Hatoryu NY. READ MORE

Lift Off: A Waterfront Kite Festival

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn–FREE
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

Urban Wildlife Festival

Inwood–FREE
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

Japan Day Parade and Street Fair

Central Park–FREE
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

Sheep Shearing Festival

Glen Oaks, Queens
Saturday, May 13
Visit the Queens County Farm Museum on the Nassau-Queens border to see the sheep get their annual haircuts. Move to the foot-stomping rhythms of live music, and enjoy farmer-led tours and a plant sale all day.  READ MORE

Open Stages 2023

Park Slope, Brooklyn–FREE
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

Carnegie Hall's Musical Explorers Family Day

Midtown West
Saturday, May 13
Kids are invited to meet musical artists from around the world, including cumbia music with Gregorio, Vietnamese folk music with Vân-Ánh, and Jordanian folk music with Farah. READ MORE

Heart-Shaped Pizza Making Workshop

Hudson Yards
Saturday, May 13
Make memories (and lunch!) with a family cooking class at the new ANA Bar & Eatery in Hudson Yards. Kids and adults will each have a spot at the table, making heart-shaped pizzas in celebration of Mother’s Day. While your pizzas bake, make cards for mom.   READ MORE

Native New York Children’s Festival

Battery Park–FREE
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 Magic of Bill Blagg Live

Corona, Queens
Saturday, May 13-Sunday, May 14
Magician Bill Blagg brings his live show to the Queens Theater, combining his mind-blowing magical talents with his trademark off-the-cuff personality to take audiences on an unforgettable magical journey. READ MORE

Mother's Day Weekend Garden Party

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Saturday, May 13 - Sunday, May 14
Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Garden is abloom with activities, music, crafts, and face painting—not to mention walking tours packed with colors and gorgeous spring scents. READ MORE

Songs for You and Me: Mother's Day Show with Allegra Levy

Lower East Side
Sunday, May 14
Jazz singer Allegra Levy releases her original family-friendly album, Songs for You and Me, at a special Mother’s Day concert! READ MORE

Harry Potter: The Exhibition

Midtown West
Opens Friday, May 19
A unique in-depth exhibition aims to delight Harry Potter fans with powerful storytelling and innovative, interactive technology. Original props and costumes from the films are on display, as well.  READ MORE

Dance Parade + DanceFest

Lower East Side–FREE
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

Stone Soup and Other Stories

Greenwich Village
Saturday, May 20
Pushcart Players' Stone Soup and Other Stories is a charming musical compilation of story favorites from Africa, India, Eastern Europe, and the United States. READ MORE

Big Truck Day

Randall's Island–FREE
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

Dance Africa 2023

Downtown Brooklyn
Opens Saturday, May 20
The nation’s largest festival dedicated to African diasporic dance and music returns to the stages and streets of Brooklyn for its 46th year, with traditional Ghanian dance and music from the National Dance Company of Ghana. READ MORE

The Fabulous Fifth Avenue Street Fair

Park Slope, Brooklyn–FREE
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

Madagascar: The Musical

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 21
A brand new musical from Dreamworks leaves audiences with no choice but to Move It, Move It! Animals escape from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien's Madagascar. READ MORE

Memorial Day Fair

Sunnyside, Queens
Saturday, May 27
Sunnyside Gardens Park hosts its annual Memorial Day Fair featuring world-class entertainment, including lively Americana Music, a magician, and performers suitable for all ages. READ MORE

Fleet Week NYC 2023

Midtown West–FREE
Wednesday, May 24-Tuesday, May 30
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

Places featured in this article:

Florence Gould Hall
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York
Harry Potter, The Exhibition
Various locations