Free Family Events This Weekend! (August 24-26)

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will take place this Saturday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center! Photo by mirsasha via Flickr.

Have an amazing weekend without opening your wallet! For even more activity inspiration, check out our Weekend Planner.

Through Monday, September 3

“dusk.space” Installation
All day
Peck Slip
All Ages
Head out to Peck Slip Park to see “dusk.space,” an art installation that synthetically recreates a serene field on a summer’s day, as part of the Art in Park Program.

Beginning Friday, August 24

“Macbeth”
7-9pm
Bryant Park
All Ages
See the classic Shakespeare play, reimagined in the New York of the mid-1800s, outdoors in Bryant Park!

Friday, August 24

Movie Night: “The Day the Earth Stood Still”
8pm
Narrows Botanical Gardens
All Ages
In this 1951 sci-fi film, an alien, Klaatu, and his robot land their spacecraft on Cold War-era Earth just after the end of World War II. They bring an important message to the planet that Klaatu wishes to tell to representatives of all nations. However, communication turns out to be difficult, so, after learning something about the natives, Klaatu decides on an alternative approach.

Beginning Saturday, August 25

Brookfield Place Tennis Open
Various times
Brookfield Place
All Ages
Cheer on tennis teams at the 3rd annual Brookfield Place Tennis Open; a winner will be crowned on Thursday night. Kids and adults can also participate in free tennis clinics. Check event website for daily schedule and times. Runs through Friday, August 31.

Saturday, August 25

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day
9:30am-4pm
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
All Ages
This Saturday, Net Generation will present Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the US Open in honor of the tennis icon. This annual event, which is the largest single-day tennis and entertainment event in the world, will feature live music by Echosmith, Kim Petras, AJ Mitchell, and more. Plus, kids will have the amazing opportunity to watch Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal–two of the top men’s players in the world–duke it out in fun exhibition matches and skills competitions! Before the ticketed stadium show, beginning at 1pm, little tennis stars can enjoy free tennis activities on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center starting at 9:30am. Please note: Admission and tennis activities are free; stadium show requires the purchase of a ticket.

Dream! It’s a Family Festival
10am-1pm
The High Line
Ages 12 and under
Join the High Line for its Dream! It’s A Family Festival. Families with children ages 12 and under are welcome during this morning of free programming. Activities include storytime with Gail Carson Levine, bestselling author of Ella Enchanted, a musical performance from Superhero Clubhouse, art making with ArchForKids, and a mobile garden workshop. Reservations are encouraged. This event will be held rain or shine.

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Brooklyn Chess Festival
11am-4pm
Dr. Ronald McNair Park
All Ages
Sharpen your chess skills at this fun game festival in Brooklyn! Players of all skill levels are welcome to take part in activities like learning how to play, practicing techniques, taking checkmate workshops, playing pickup games, or even challenging Chess Master Irina Krush!

Fearless Fun Festival
12-4pm
Rockefeller Park
All Ages
The Fearless Fun Festival lets kids of all cultures and backgrounds to have fun together in a welcoming, positive environment. Activities include indoor and outdoor games, mini workshops focusing on mentorship, food, music, dancing, access to support groups, and far more. Proceeds go towards The CLASS Network Youth Department programming, as well as Raising H.O.P.E. initiatives. Pre-registration is required.

Brooklyn Back to School Bash
1pm
Albee Square
All Ages
Head to Fulton Mall for FitBEAT, an all-ages dance party, and jam out with At Your Beat and Afro-Brazilian percussion band Batalá New York. Activities include jump rope, hop-scotch, chess, hackey sack, hula hoop, and more. Plus kids can take pics in the Downtown Brooklyn photo booth. You might even get to win some back-to-school swag!

“A Wrinkle in Time”
6pm
St. Nicholas Park
All Ages
For “KIDS NIGHT OUT!” in association with Harlem Week, go see A Wrinkle in Time. Pre-movie music includes family-friendly R&B/Soul and conscious Hip Hop by DJ Mike.

Sunday, August 26

42nd Annual Brighton Jubilee
10am-6pm
Brighton Beach Avenue (from Corbin Place to Coney Island Avenue)
All Ages
Enjoy the final days of summer during the 42nd annual Brighton Jubilee! It’ll be a fantastic day at the beach where you can play in the waves and sand or stroll along the Riegelman Wooden Boardwalk. There will also be food stands aplenty to make sure you have enough calories to walk the three-mile boardwalk. This event will take place rain or shine.

Battle of Brooklyn: Commemoration
11am-2pm
Green-Wood Cemetery
All Ages
Take a trolley into the past during this year’s Commemoration of the Battle of Brooklyn at Green-Wood Cemetery. The Battle of Brooklyn, the first battle of the American Revolution to be fought after the Declaration of Independence had been signed, took place in 1776. In memory of the battle, families can take a ticketed trolley tour of Green-Wood’s 478 luscious green acres, experience life during revolutionary-era New York through re-enactments and historical cooking demos, participate in the Battle of Brooklyn Parade, and take part in the closing ceremony. This event will take place rain or shine.

Boogie on the Boulevard
2-6pm
The Bronx Museum
All Ages
Get ready to boogie! On Sunday, August 26th the center lanes of the Grand Concourse from 162nd Street to 170th Street will be closed to cars and open to a world of fun with music, art, and fitness programs hosted by organizations from the Bronx and beyond. RSVP through Eventbrite.

Relevant Directory Listings

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Cucu's PlayHouse

<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">Interactive, live-streaming music and movement class in Spanish for babies, toddlers and preschoolers!<br />Join us every day from Monday through Saturday at 1:30 pm EST to sing, dance and play together while learning Spanish from your home.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> </div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">This class is part of a Spanish Immersion Program where your child will be introduced to basic concepts like the animals, colors, numbers and letters. All of these through the universal language of Music. Each session is fun, interactive and engaging.<br />A selection of Children Songs in Spanish guides the class from start to finish. Activities are related to the lyrics, in order to familiarize the children with the words and their meanings. Some of the songs encourage the children to dance. Nilda uses puppets, musical instruments, and props to teach children basic vocabulary through action and interaction, rather than through translation.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"><br />The classes are streamed on Zoom's webinar platform. Participants (children, parents, nannies) are able to join the video from their homes and interact with us in real-time, it is a fun and engaging experience.</div>

Collina Italiana - Italian Language and Cultural Center

<p>Italian Fun for Kids and Teens!</p> <p>Learning a new language isn’t just fun—it’s also great for the brain! Did you know that it can help develop essential skills for life? Studies show that learning a second language at a young age can improve problem-solving, critical thinking, and listening abilities, while boosting memory, focus, and multitasking skills. Children who are fluent in multiple languages also demonstrate increased creativity and mental flexibility.</p> <p>At Collina Italiana, we make learning fun with stories, games, activities, and conversation. Each class blends art, storytelling, singing, and dancing to keep kids engaged. For older children, our classes focus on grammar and vocabulary, providing the tools they need to learn and practice Italian in a small group setting, all while having fun with a variety of resources. Kids love exploring the stories behind our cultural traditions, adding a rich, hands-on experience to their language learning journey.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Young Actors at Strasberg

<p>Young Actors at Strasberg offers a comprehensive array of acting programs for students in grades 2 – 12. Classes provide kids and teens with a foundation in Lee Strasberg's Method Acting and the tools to succeed in the professional industry – all while maintaining a fun and playful environment. Programs are tailored to encompass students at all levels, from those just beginning their acting journey to Broadway veterans and professional child actors. Young Actors at Strasberg alumni include Lady Gaga, Sophia Lillis, Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Rosario Dawson!</p> <p>Young Actors Programs are available online and in-person at our New York Campus, located in Union Square. Saturday, After-School and Online classes are offered during the traditional school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and Monday through Friday day camps and intensives are held in July and August.</p> <p><strong>About The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute:</strong></p> <p>Founded in 1969 by Lee and Anna Strasberg, The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute is the only school that teaches Lee Strasberg's work in its complete and authentic form. The Institute's goal is to provide students with a craft that will help them create a reality and respond truthfully in imaginary circumstances, regardless of the style or form of material being used. LSTFI is proud to have award-winning alumni from around the world working as writers, directors, and actors in all mediums.</p>