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.
