Fourth Of July Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities In NYC (July 1-4)

For our guide to free weekend events for families, click HERE.

Urban Farm Exploration Day on Randall's Island
This Saturday, learn all about how Randall’s Island’s one-acre Urban Farm is harvested and cared for during its Urban Farm Exploration Day. Visitors can explore the organic fruits and veggies, two greenhouses, rice paddies, and the milk-crate container garden throughout this afternoon designed to foster healthy eating habits and sustainability. (Saturday)
Ghostbusters Experience & Dimension at Madame Tussaud's
Celebrate this summer’s “Ghostbusters” movie reboot with Madame Tussaud’s immersive Ghostbusters Experience! Visitors will become spirit hunters as they navigate the eerie NYC subway tracks, a haunted mansion, Ghostbusters headquarters, and more. During the Dimension experience, which combines virtual reality with interactive effects, you can blast your way through a ghost-infested apartment complex with your own proton pack and gun. (Opens Friday)
Dreamland Roller Disco Skate Party on Rockaway Beach
Roller skate at the newly renovated rink in Rockaway Beach along with Lola Star and her dance skaters and performers! You can bring your own skates, but they’re also available to rent. (Saturday)
Festival of Independence at South Street Seaport
Stop by the South Street Seaport for a two-day Fourth of July Fest that parents and kids will love. In partnership with Vice, the celebration includes cool indie rock music for parents, but the July 4 lineup features performances by kids' entertainers such as Tim and the Space Cadets Clifford the Big Red Dog and Friends and the Marcus Monroe Juggling Show. Afterwards, watch the fireworks from the Seaport, which offers a great view of the East river. (Saturday-Monday)
A Royal Shindig & Brooklyn Beanstalk in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Learn storytelling with fairytale characters from A Royal Shindig, and then go to Circus in the Park with Brooklyn Beanstalk! Learn how to juggle, spin plates and mime with professional circus performers. (Sunday)
Living History Summer at the New-York Historical Society
As part of the New-York Historical Society’s Summer of Hamilton, the museum is taking kids and families back in time to Hamilton’s world with a series of visits from living historians. Each weekend in July and August, historians dressed as soldiers and civilians from 250 years ago will answer questions and share stories about life during Hamilton’s time. Kids can meet Revolutionary War soldiers this Saturday and George Washington on Sunday (Saturday-Sunday)
Fourth of July Celebration with Alexander Hamilton at the New-York Historical Society
Join the New-York Historical Society for a full day of "Hamilton"-themed activities on Monday as a kickoff to their Summer of Hamilton! There will be arts and crafts, family tours, an “Alexander Hamilton” meet-and-greet, songs and stories with the Hudson River Ramblers, and much more. The day will conclude with a giant Hamilton quiz so bring your thinking caps to win some prizes! (Monday)
Nathan's 2016 Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island
Celebrate July 4th with the 100th annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest! Spend your Independence Day afternoon at Coney Island in Brooklyn witnessing this unique sports spectacle with the whole family! Will world-record holder Joey Chestnut reclaim his crown in the men’s competition? Will an underdog beat former champions Miki Sudo and Sonya Thomas on the women’s side? Come and find out! (Monday)
The July 4th Harlem Children's Parade
Head up to beautiful Morningside Park for the 21st annual Harlem Children’s Parade! Kids of all ages can take firetruck rides, try their luck at winning fun prizes, enjoy lemonade and other snacks, and of course, witness the parade! Don’t forget your swimsuit and water shoes! (Monday)
Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks
Independence Day wouldn’t be complete without a fireworks show, and Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks is arguably one of the best in the nation. This year for its 40th anniversary, more than 40,000 fireworks will be synchronized to a score of classic and new patriotic songs. This year’s performers include Meghan Trainor, Kenny Chesney, 5 Seconds of Summer and others. (Monday)
More Family Fun in NYC for the Fourth of July
If you’re in the city for the Fourth, there are plenty of ways to show off your patriotism, have some fun, and maybe even learn a thing or two. We've rounded up where you can listen to music, learn about our country’s heritage, and watch some seriously competitive eaters chow down. You can find events for the whole family! (Friday-Monday)
Top 10 Things to Do in Hudson River Park This Summer
Head to Hudson River Park this summer for family fun of all kinds–from mini-golf to outdoor movies and more!
10 Great Events for July
The New-York Historical Society’s Summer of Hamilton, “Star Trek” at the Intrepid Museum, Bastille Day on 60th Street, and more! Photo by Sasha Arutyunova via FIAF on Flickr

Super Soccer Stars

Soccer Stars is New York&rsquo;s most popular youth educational soccer program! With 24 years of experience under our cleats, we have positively impacted over one million kids in our local community by putting the FUN in FUNdamentals in our weekly classes and camps. At Soccer Stars, we use the soccer ball as a vehicle to help children not only improve their soccer skills, but develop self-confidence and physical literacy, improve gross motor skills, build teamwork, and hone socialization skills. Our highly trained coaches and early childhood experts lead an age-specific curriculum with a low kid-to-coach ratio so every child gets individual attention and can grow at their own pace. Kids ages 1-12+ can join our seasonal programs, including Parent &amp; Me, FUNdamentals, Development Training, and Travel Soccer. Join us at one of over 80 locations in neighborhoods across across Westchester County, Connecticut and New York, available 7 days-a-week: Connecticut: <ul> <li>Cos Cob</li> <li>Greenwich</li> <li>Port Chester</li> </ul> &nbsp; Westchester: <ul> <li>Briarcliff</li> <li>Eastchester</li> <li>Mt. Kisco</li> <li>New Rochelle</li> <li>Ridgefield</li> <li>Scarsdale</li> <li>White Plains</li> </ul> &nbsp; New York City: <ul> <li>Bronx</li> <li>Inwood</li> <li>Upper West Side</li> <li>Upper East Side</li> </ul> &nbsp; Can&rsquo;t find a class or location that fits your schedule? Soccer Stars also offers private classes for small groups or individual training. Let our coaches come to you with a completely customizable program, anytime, anywhere. Birthday parties are also available!&nbsp;

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center offers year-round, community-based dance and music programming in a fully inclusive and nurturing environment, located in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. The School&rsquo;s diverse and professional faculty provides progressive and non-competitive instruction with all of our classes accompanied by live music. Though we are a non-recital school, there are opportunities for students to perform and for parents to see their dancers in action.