Events: Top Kid-Friendly Activities For The Week

This weekend the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will host its annual Sakura Matsuri Festival! Photo by Liz Ligon via bbg.org.

Happy Spring Break! Head on out this week to one or more of our enormously entertaining event picks. A fresh mix of springtime festivities awaits, including an awesome Arbor Week celebration, a great gathering for gamers, an amazing theater adventure, super street games, and a cheery cherry blossom fest. We guarantee a good time no matter what you choose! And check out our round-up of awesome Spring Break activities for more fun ideas.

Tuesday, April 26-Sunday, May 1

Arbor Week
Wave Hill
10am-4pm
Enjoy the trees of NYC this week during Arbor Week at Wave Hill! All ages are welcome to participate in family arts and crafts, go on garden walks, take a bike tour of the trees of the Bronx’s Riverdale and Inwood neighborhoods, savor a pine nut cooking demo, and much more. Registration is required for some events. Free with garden admission.

Friday, April 29-Sunday. April 1

IndieCade East 2016
The Museum of the Moving Image
Friday: 10:30am-8pm; Saturday & Sunday: 11:30am-7pm
Calling all gamers! This weekend the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens will host IndieCade East 2016, one of the country’s largest events dedicated to independent video games. Families can play dozens of new and unreleased games in the “Strange Arcade” games showcase and attend creator panels and talks. There will also be an eSports Showcase where players can compete in video sports game competitions throughout the weekend. Ticket passes start at $45. Please note: Not all games are appropriate for all ages.

Beginning Saturday, April 30

“Meet Me at the Fountain”
Lincoln Center
10am-5pm
Now’s your chance to join a secret crime-fighting team and help stop a plot to sabotage an opera diva! “Meet Me at the Fountain,” is an immersive and interactive performance taking place across the entire Lincoln Center campus during which audiences young and old will embark on an exciting adventure as they keep Lincoln Center’s stages safe! Recommended for ages 7 and up. Performances run every 30 minutes. This event will also take place on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22. Tickets are $25.

Saturday, April 30

9th Annual Street Games
Thomas Jefferson Park
11am-3pm
Head to Harlem this Saturday, when NYC Parks and the Walt Disney Company will host the 9th Annual Street Games in Thomas Jefferson Park! The Street Games event re-introduces old-school city games to kids. Participants can join rousing games of stickball, street hockey, ultimate frisbee, wheelchair basketball, and more! Local radio stations will spin jams throughout the day, and kids will enjoy live performances by a hip-hop breakdancer, a yo-yo master, and the Dance Theater of Harlem. This event is free.

Saturday, April 30-Sunday, May 1

Sakura Matsuri Festival
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
10am-6pm
Celebrate the end of Hanami, the Japanese commemoration of the cherry blossom season, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s annual Sakura Matsuri Festival. The weekend will be comprised of more than 60 events and performances including music, dance, workshops, exhibitions, and vendors of Japanese fashion, food, art, and more! Enjoy a day of exploration against the backdrop of beautiful cherry trees in full bloom. Tickets are $25 for adults and free for children under the age of 12.

Academics West

Academics West is an accredited high-support college preparatory school designed to meet the academic and social-emotional goals of its students. Our unique model allows for each student to benefit from a customized educational experience to ensure they are acquiring the skills necessary to navigate their post-secondary lives whether they attend college or pursue another path to future success. Students can select different tracks to construct the most beneficial program to suit their needs and goals. Unlike conventional education, this innovative model enables students to prepare for an ever-changing world that requires young people to have advanced executive functioning, interpersonal and leadership skills to become independent and resilient adults. &nbsp;

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;