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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Weekend Fun: Pride Parade, Jedi Training, Mud Day

Let off some STEAM with STEM Kids NYC at Governors Island. Photo courtesy of STEM NYC
Let off some STEAM with STEM Kids NYC at Governors Island. Photo courtesy of STEM NYC
6/26/19 - By Drew Kristofik

Pride Month concludes with a bunch of kid-friendly events this weekend, including the Kidding Around Pride Picnic, Youth Pride for teens in Central Park, and the big parade on Sunday. Little ones can learn about kindness and inclusion at Books of Wonder's Pride Weekend Picture Book Bonanza in Chelsea, and historical re-enactors bring the Stonewall Uprising to life at the New York Historical Society's DiMenna Children's History Museum.

Meanwhile, Star Wars fans can do some Jedi training at the Chelsea Rec Center, St John the Divine breaks out a Carnival for kids to celebrate the start of summer, it's International Mud Day on Staten Island (and, apparently, all over the world!), and ye olde timey Traditions Fest promises a weekend full of activities from the 18th century to modern times.

As of this week, NYC pools are officially open for cool, splashy fun, not to mention NYC beaches and all our favorite splash pads and water parks. Naturally, there are plenty of free, family-friendly movies in the parks and other fun options packing the MommyPoppins calendar.

Looking ahead to next week's July 4th celebrations? We have a comprehensive guide to seeing the Macy's Fireworks and other fireworks shows around NYC. 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Create paper sculptures of plants and animals at Wave Hill's Family Art Project: Nature Reshaping and Wild Adaption. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill
Create paper sculptures of plants and animals at Wave Hill's Family Art Project: Nature Reshaping and Wild Adaption. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill

All Weekend

Traditions Festival

Jamaica, Queens — FREE
Join the fourth annual Traditions Festival – a weekend full of food, music, art, and crafts from the 18th century to modern times. READ MORE

Nature Reshaping and Wild Adaptation

Riverdale, the Bronx
Exhibiting artist Geoffrey Owen Miller helps families envision dreams of future nature and create art inspired by his work in Wave Hill’s Sun Porch. READ MORE

Governors Island - Stem Kids NYC

Governors Island — FREE
Through fun, engaging, student-centered sessions, engineers (this means YOU) from age 5 to 105 learn the fun physics of making kites and flying them, harness changing states of matter to make polymers (street name: SLIME), code an app and more. How to find it: Find it on Colonel's Row. READ MORE

Dog Man: The Musical

Greenwich Village
Dog Man: The Musical is a hilarious new production based on the worldwide bestselling series from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants. READ MORE

Peter and the Wolf and The Frog Prince

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Puppetworks presents Prokofiev’s orchestral adventure, “Peter & the Wolf,” and on the same program, “The Frog Prince,” by the Brothers Grimm, with music from Kabalevsky’s “The Comedians,” and Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling.” READ MORE
Head to Central Park for Youth Pride, a place for young people to celebrate NYC Pride with their friends. Photo courtesy of the event
Head to Central Park for Youth Pride, a place for young people to celebrate NYC Pride with their friends. Photo courtesy of the event

Saturday, June 29

International Mud Day

Clay Pit Ponds State Park, Staten Island — FREE
This holiday brings people together from around the globe for one purpose: to get dirty. Wade in thepreserve's mud pool, cook up a pie in the mud kitchen, create a mud masterpiece, and more! READ MORE

Kidding Around Pride Picnic

Chelsea — FREE
Young ones and their families, caregivers, and friends are invited to a summer picnic-style festival with art making, face painting, storytelling, games, and much more. READ MORE

Force Family Fun Day

Chelsea — FREE
NYC Parks and Saber Guild host a day of Star Wars-themed activities for the whole family, including a movie, face painting, and a Force Training class to become an honorary Jedi. READ MORE

Cathedral Carnival

Morningside Heights — FREE
The Cathedral Carnival promises an afternoon of fun for young people that includes art workshops, face painting, storytelling, costume contests, and a chance to say goodbye to the Cathedral peacocks who are retiring. READ MORE

Virtual Stories at the Statue: Hans Christian Andersen Story Telling

Central Park — FREE
Stories at the Statue celebrates its 65th year this summer, continuing a beloved legacy of sharing tales and music in NYC's Central Park—but, this year, it's online once again. READ MORE

WonderSpark Puppets Presents The Lion and the Mouse

Sunset Park, Brooklyn — FREE
Take the kids to two classic Aesop's Fables: The Lion and the Mouse and The Tortoise and the Hare. ​Each fable is interactive and teaches kids about forgiveness, the power of kindness, and good sportsmanship. READ MORE

Youth Pride

Central Park — FREE
A vibrant carnival-style block party sets the tone for the KiKi Coalition’s annual Youth Pride Fest, celebrating LGBTQ+ youth during Pride Month. READ MORE

Living History: Meet Sylvia Rivera

Upper West Side
Meet activist Sylvia Rivera, as portrayed by actor, artist, and educator Summer Minerva. READ MORE

Science in the Bay

Little Bay Park, Queens — FREE
Put on some boots and grab a net and explore the bay at one or all of these Saturday sessions in June and July. READ MORE

Maker Park Radio's 2nd Annual Anniversary Block Party!

Stapleton, Staten Island — FREE
Kid friendly music. activities, face painting, a bounce house, and more are on the menu at the second annual Maker Park Radio block party. READ MORE

Pride Weekend Picture Book Bonanza

Chelsea — FREE
Books of Wonder is hosting a Pride Weekend Picture Book Bonanza with five wonderful author and illustrators: Neither by Airlie Anderson, Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, When Aiden Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff, Our Rainbow with art by Joy Yang, and My Two Moms and Me and My Two Dads and Me by Izak Zenou. READ MORE
Get decked out to celebrate at NYC's Pride Parade. Photo courtesy of NYC Pride
Get decked out to celebrate at NYC's Pride Parade. Photo courtesy of NYC Pride

Sunday, June 30

Family Sundays at the Rubin Museum

Chelsea — FREE
As the year comes to a close, reflect on ideas of shared power, inspired by artist Kimsooja’s Lotus: Zone of Zero in the exhibition Clapping With Stones: Art and Acts of Resistance. Explore collective power through collaborative lantern making! READ MORE

Family Day

Kew Gardens, Queens — FREE
Join NYC Parks and Council Member Rory Lancman for an afternoon of crafts, games, inflatables, face painting, and more. READ MORE

Harlem Meer Performance Festival

Central Park — FREE
After three decades of bringing the best local music and dance talent to Central Park, the Harlem Meer Summer Festival is expanding to offer a variety of multicultural musical performances, exercise classes, and more to get heart rates up with a lineup of movement classes for a summer of fun and well-being. READ MORE

Travels with Tricksters by Bond Street Theater

Red Hook, Brooklyn
Two of Bond Street Theater’s multi-skilled actors present the characters and folktales they have encountered in their travels throughout the world. There’s juggling, music, magic, amazing stilt dancing, and audience participation throughout this high-energy and unique show. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

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.
Recent Articles By Drew Kristofik:
Read more articles by Drew Kristofik.
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