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33 Best Things To Do in New York City June 2023 with Kids

The family-friendly Figment Festival on Staten Island helps everyone get creative. Photo by Michael Hnatov
The family-friendly Figment Festival on Staten Island helps everyone get creative. Photo by Michael Hnatov
5/28/23 - By Drew Kristofik

Get ready for summer! June in NYC brings festivals for Juneteenth, Father's Day, Pride, and maybe even some early fireworks.

School kids get out for summer vacation at the end of June, but the activity-packed month feels like one weeks-long party! We're kicking off June with the Dumbo Drop Block Party and continuing the celebrations all month long with Queens Rising, plus weekend fetes like the Bus Festival, Red Hook Fest, Figment Fest, and Drums Along the Hudson.

Music is wafting through the summer air just about everywhere, from BRIC in Brooklyn to Sea Chantey Singalongs, Washington Market Park's Music in the Playground series, the Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks (with fireworks!), and Make Music New York, which marks the summer solstice.

All that, plus beloved annual favorites like Museum Mile, the Mermaid Parade, and Pride make June one action-packed month for NYC families. 

Find more great happenings this June in our Family Activity Calendar and Summer Fun Guide for NYC families. And, keep an eye on our ever-expanding list of FREE outdoor movies in NYC.

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

As always, if an event piques your interest, be sure to click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses and times. And keep in mind: In NYC, really cool things to do with kids often get booked up quickly, especially these days, so buy your tickets ASAP.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

The team at Graff Tours invites kids into the world of graffiti culture at the Seaport Kids x Pride Mural. Photo courtesy of the Seaport
The team at Graff Tours invites kids into the world of graffiti culture at the Seaport Kids x Pride Mural. Photo courtesy of the Seaport

Best Things To Do in NYC This June With Kids

Queens Rising: A Celebration of Arts & Culture

Multiple Queens Locations–FREE
Opens Thursday, June 1
Queens Rising NYC is an independent, month-long initiative celebrating the borough’s diverse arts, culinary, and creative communities, bringing together more than 100 programming partners to host, promote, and highlight a diverse roster of events and activities. READ MORE

Dumbo Drop Block Party

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Friday, June 2
The Great Dumbo Drop is back! The annual block party tradition returns with its signature wow factor—thousands of elephants dropping onto Washington Street, Brooklyn's most photographed block. READ MORE

Red Hook Fest 2023

Red Hook, Brooklyn–FREE
Friday, June 2-Saturday, June 3
Red Hook Fest 2023 kicks off with a dance party and community barbecue at PS 15. With activities, free food, and great music, the opening night event is a fun neighborhood gathering for the whole family. The festivities continue on Saturday, June 4, with main stage events at Coffey Park and Pier.  READ MORE

Co(s)mic Con

Flushing, Queens
Friday, June 2-Sunday, June 4
A ‘pop-up con’ like no other includes all the usual goodies—comics, toys, Funkos collectibles, panels, original art, creators, celebrities—plus a whole lot more! Cosmic Con exclusives include prints and sketchbooks created just for the event and creative ‘playshops’ for the whole family. READ MORE

TILT Kids Day

Upper East Side
Saturday, June 3
FIAF hosts a day filled with fun activities focusing on "la fete" (celebration). Stop by for a giant family party and enjoy the most wonderful aspects of celebrations: dancing, music, and time spent together. READ MORE

The New York Scandia Symphony Presents: The Emperor's New Clothes

Washington Heights–FREE
Saturday, June 3
The New York Scandia Symphony presents an educational children's music performance of Hans Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes, as part of the larger Scandinavian Music Fest. READ MORE

Figment Festival

Snug Harbor, Staten Island–FREE
Saturday, June 3-Sunday, June 4
Attracting tens of thousands of visitors for the past 12 years, this family-friendly festival is an explosion of creative energy and imagination, perfect for adults and kids alike. READ MORE

Classical Kids Fair

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Sunday, June 4
The Classical Kids Fair invites families to enjoy live performances, an instrument petting zoo, arts and crafts, radio broadcasting workshops, and more. Listen and play music along with WQXR, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, dancers from the Met Opera ballet, and The Little Orchestra Society. READ MORE

The Happening

Tribeca–FREE
Sunday, June 4
Church Street School for Music and Art hosts its annual community block party with live music, interactive art projects, games, and more. READ MORE

Drums Along the Hudson: A Native American Festival

Inwood–FREE
Sunday, June 4
The annual Drums Along the Hudson: A Native American Festival and Multicultural Celebration marks its 21st anniversary as Manhattan’s only open-air pow wow. The all-day event features Native American crafts, storytelling, and traditional food and dance. READ MORE

Sea Chantey Sing-Along

Seaport–FREE
Sunday, June 4
Cooped up in one place with the same people? That was the life of sailors on long voyages back in the day. And just like sailors of yore, you can break the monotony with a rousing sea chantey sing-along.  READ MORE

Playscape Performs

Battery Park–FREE
Sundays, June 4-July 30
Playscape Performs introduces little ones to weekly performances of music, dance, puppetry, and more. READ MORE

Seaport Kids x Pride Mural

South Street Seaport–FREE
Monday, June 5
For Pride month, Mommy Poppins is partnering with Seaport Kids and Graff Tours to present a Pride Mural Activity for children, celebrating the world of graffiti culture. This live spray painting demo and lesson culminates in a special, colorful Pride-inspired mural, created by participants. READ MORE

BRIC: Celebrate Brooklyn

Prospect Park, Brooklyn–FREE
Opens Wednesday, June 7; Saturday, June 13 is Family Day
BRIC: Celebrate Brooklyn is a free summer-long outdoor concert and performance series that has been presenting talent from around the world and around the block for more than 40 years. Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy! READ MORE

Astoria Park Carnival

Astoria, Queens
Wednesday, June 7-Sunday, June 11
Dreamland Amusements packs Astoria Park with a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, Himalaya gravity defiers, swings, bumper cars, carnival games, and more kid-friendly amusements. READ MORE

Lalo-palooza in the Park

Park Slope, Brooklyn–FREE
Thursdays beginning Thursday, June 8
Tap your toes at Lalo-palooza, a free outdoor music series where families can groove to tunes from award-winning children's performer Suzi Shelton and participate in fun, kid-friendly activities. READ MORE

Hudson River Dance Festival

Chelsea–FREE
Thursday, June 8-Friday, June 9
NOTE: The Thursday evening performance is canceled due to air quality concerns. The ninth annual Hudson River Dance Festival showcases four talented companies, performing a variety of pieces from modern dance to classical ballet, giving New Yorkers a unique opportunity to see incredible talent perform against the stunning backdrop of the Hudson River. READ MORE

Brooklyn Pride’s 23rd Annual Pride Celebration

Park Slope, Brooklyn –FREE
Saturday, June 10
Brooklyn Pride hosts its annual multicultural festival featuring a​ cross section of the borough’s business, community, and citywide organizations. Hit the family fun zone in J.J. Byrne Park for family-friendly activities, music, face painting, arts and crafts, story times, and more. READ MORE

Revolutionary War Living History Saturday - CANCELED

Richmond, Staten Island
Saturday, June 10
Experience the American Revolution in Richmond County at a special one-day living history event! Living Historians are on-hand throughout the village to demonstrate military drills, weapons, and historic skills.  READ MORE

2023 Annual Bus Festival

Dumbo, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, June 10
The New York Transit Museum invites visitors aboard some of its beloved vintage vehicles at this annual fest, which returns for the first time since 2019. Explore buses from the vintage fleet representing more than 80 years of New York City surface transit history.  READ MORE

Concert in the Playground Series

Tribeca–FREE
Debuts Sunday, June 11
Enjoy live music from Washington Market Park’s gazebo! The audience takes over the park lawn for dancing and picnicking, listening to music that both kids and adults enjoy. Bring a blanket, snacks, and dancing shoes! READ MORE

Museum Mile Festival

Upper East Side–FREE
Tuesday, June 13
NYC's biggest block party returns, bringing art outside (and in) on Fifth Avenue between 82nd Street and 105th Street. A collection of New York City’s finest cultural institutions are open free to the public throughout the evening, with outdoor events along the way. READ MORE

New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Park: Central Park

Central Park–FREE
Wednesday, June 14
The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks return, transforming parks throughout the city into a patchwork of picnickers and providing music lovers with an opportunity to hear the best classical music under the stars. Stay after the show for the fireworks! READ MORE

Adventures NYC

Central Park–FREE
Saturday, June 17
Get ready to bike, climb, race, and "surf" at Adventures NYC! Join the NYC Parks Department in Central Park to celebrate the great outdoors and enjoy a day of adventure—for free. READ MORE

Porch Stomp

Governors Island–FREE
Saturday, June 17
Porch Stomp invites dozens of folk bands, artists, and performing arts organizations to use the historic porches of Nolan Park as a space for performance and education, highlighting artistry ranging from traditional folk to old-time blues, roots, bluegrass, and Americana. READ MORE

The Mermaid Parade

Coney Island, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, June 17
Welcome summer with the return of the Mermaid Parade, an eclectic (and historically jam-packed) celebration, featuring revelers decked out in their most outrageous sea-themed costumes.  READ MORE

The 20th Annual Hunts Point Fish Parade and Summer Festival

Hunts Point, Bronx–FREE
Saturday, June 17
The annual Hunt’s Point Fish Parade is back, with a Rooted Visions theme. Activities include a children’s art corner, boat rides, bird watching, a day-long basketball tournament, face painting, print-making, tons of great food and activities, live music, and performances. READ MORE

Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Festival

Lower East Side–FREE
Sunday, June 18
The Museum at Eldridge Street presents its 22nd annual Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Festival, a joyous celebration of the diverse ethnic communities of the Museum's Lower East Side neighborhood. READ MORE

Make Music New York

Citywide–FREE
Wednesday, June 21
Make Music New York puts the beat under city feet as musicians of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, physical capabilities, and skill levels represent New York City’s remarkable creativity and diversity. READ MORE

Queens International Children's Festival

Jamaica, Queens–FREE
Saturday, June 24-Sunday, June 25
The Queens International Children's Festival returns with free entertainment and activities for the entire family. High-quality arts performances and craft activities, live music and dance performances, a magic show, and more await. READ MORE

PrideFest Festival

Greenwich Village–FREE
Sunday, June 25
The annual PrideFest street fair features live music, artists, craft vendors, food trucks, performers, and more. FamilyFest activities take over the streets around Astor Place. READ MORE

Metropolitan Opera Summer Stage

Long Island City, Queens–FREE
Wednesday, June 28
Bring a blanket and a picnic and swoon to some of opera's most iconic music under a summer evening sky.  READ MORE

Intrepid Summer Movie Series–CANCELED

Midtown West–FREE
Friday, June 30
Watch a movie on the ship’s flight deck under the stars! Enjoy views of the Hudson River and city skyline while you watch some old and new favorites on the big screen. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Various locations in Queens
Washington Street between York and Plymouth Streets
FIAF - French Institute Alliance Française
Church Street School for Music and Art
Pier 17, South Street Seaport
Old Stone House at JJ Byrne Playground
Emily Warren Roebling Plaza
Jamaica Performing Arts Center