Events: Top Kid-Friendly Activities For The Week

Explore the Morgan Library & Museum's new exhibit "Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland" beginning this Friday. Illustration by John Tenniel (1820–1914), Nothing but a pack of cards! 1885, Hand-colored proof. Gift of Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., The Morgan Library & Museum, Photography by Steven H. Crossot, 2014. — Explore the Morgan Library & Museum’s new exhibit “Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland” beginning this Friday. Illustration by John Tenniel (1820–1914), Nothing but a pack of cards! 1885, Hand-colored proof. Gift of Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., The Morgan Library & Museum, Photography by Steven H. Crossot, 2014.

Things are really heating up now that summer is officially here! We have some hot picks for you to check out with the kids this week, from a night at mesmerizing museums to the always adorable Alice. If picnics, circuses, or festivals are your thing, we’ve also got you covered. Enjoy!

Tuesday, June 23

Night At The Museums
Various museums throughout NYC
4pm-8pm
Spend an evening exploring the museums of downtown Manhattan for free during Night at the Museums. Participating museums include the Anne Frank Center USA, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the National September 11 Memorial Museum, The Skyscraper Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and many others. Plus, enjoy special programming and restaurant discounts at several participating establishments. This event is free. Some museums require advance ( free) ticket reservations.

Beginning Friday, June 26

Alice: 150 Years Of Wonderland
The Morgan Library & Museum
Open during museum hours
Fans of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will love the “Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland” exhibit at the Morgan. For the first time in 30 years, the original manuscript (published in 1856) will travel to NYC from the British Library in London, where it will be displayed alongside a collection of original drawings and letters, rare editions, vintage photographs, and other fascinating memorabilia never before exhibited. Be sure to take the free Family Guide along as you explore the exhibition, and starting June 28, children ages 3-6 are invited to stop by Sunday Story Time in Mr. Morgan’s library to hear about Alice’s adventures and visit the exhibition. Free with library admission. Runs through Sunday, October 11.

Saturday, June 27

Central Park Family Picnic
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, Central Park
12pm-3pm
There’s no better way to settle into summer than with a picnic in Central Park! Families with children of all ages are invited to the Central Park Family Picnic for an afternoon of games, live music, nature exploration, and relaxation. Children can try catch-and-release fishing, create a fish painting using watercolors, go on a scavenger hunt with the help of a Discovery Kit, listen to the music of the Mil’s Trills Band, and much more. This event is free and will take place rain or shine. Advance reservations are recommended.

Dragon Boat Family Festival
The Museum of Chinese in America
12pm-4pm
This year, celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival at the Museum of Chinese in America. Activities include interactive dragon boat team paddle demos, zongzi (rice balls wrapped in bamboo leaves) making and tasting, a bug hunt, and tons of arts & crafts. Fest goers can make their own miniature dragon boat using natural materials, create a team banner to use during boat races, and stuff potpourri sachets for attracting good luck. Tickets are $10 per person and free for children under the age of 2. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.

SummerStage Kids: Magmanus
Brooklyn Bridge Park
4pm-8pm
Swedish circus company, Magmanus, will be performing this Saturday for a special SummerStage performance in Brooklyn Bridge Park. This show follows the humorous antics of a feisty acrobat and a silly juggler. Audiences of all ages will be amazed by the show’s juggling, teeterboard acrobatics, and death-defying stunts. There will be two performances, at 4pm and 7pm. This event is free.

Broadway Dance Center Children and Teens

With more than 35 years of experience, Broadway Dance Center Children &amp; Teens provides young movers ages 3-18 with exceptional training. BDC delivers the finest all-around dance experience for students by offering a wide variety of styles and levels, performance opportunities, and the highest caliber dance instruction that only New York City and BDC Children &amp; Teens can provide. This studio is so much more than a training course for young dancers; it is a diverse, family-friendly community for budding creatives. It has an exemplary faculty who follow the vision to not only develop a dancer&rsquo;s love and ability in dance, but to do so in a nurturing and supportive way.

Play On! Studios

Play On! Studios offers theater day camps and after-school classes on the UWS that are guaranteed to give kids a summer full of acting, music, and fun they won't soon forget! Young actors will rehearse and perform in a full production, work with professional NYC actors/teaching artists, build up their skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment and play lots of drama games! Creative Drama Camps are perfect for kids entering grades K-4. Campers will work each week to put on a brand-new show! Each session, they will receive a script, rehearse a production, make a set and costumes, and perform their play. Kids will also play drama games, play outside (weather permitting), and have tons of fun! Musical Theater Camps are aimed at kids entering grades 4-9. In Musical Theater Performance Camp, campers put on a complete musical production in a professional NYC theater! Campers will stretch their skills with drama exercises and games, vocal coaching, field trips, and building a professional set. Our incredible teaching artists and campers come together to put on a truly remarkable show! During the school year, classes are great for beginners or more experienced actors - sing, dance, and put on a play! Whether your child is just starting out, or ready for Broadway, we&rsquo;ve got the class for them. Classes are available for grades PreK-8, after school or on Saturdays! Come play with us. &nbsp;

British Swim School - Long Island

The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!