Free Family Events This Weekend! (June 8-10)

Erwin Wurm’s Hot Dog Bus Installation will open to the public this Saturday! Photo via publicartfund.org.

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

Through Wednesday, October 31

Jacob Hashimoto Installation
10:30am
Governors Island
All Ages
Stop by this long-term installation on Governors Island. Jacob Hashimoto’s The Eclipse is made of thousands of delicate rice paper kites. It’s definitely a sight to see. It’s open Monday through Friday from 10:30am-5pm and on weekends from 10:30am-6pm.

Through Sunday, June 24

Sing for Hope Pianos
All day
Various locations throughout NYC
All Ages
Find these elaborately painted pianos all over city parks and hop on one yourself or listen to musicians perform. There are also plenty of special performances scheduled—check out Sing for Hope website for a full map and more details!

New York Classical Theatre: “Romeo & Juliet”
7pm
Central Park
All Ages
Catch the classic Shakespeare play in a park setting! The New York Classical Theatre will perform Romeo & Juliet in Central Park with six actors playing all the roles.

Through Sunday, June 10

Astoria Park Carnival
Various times
Astoria Park
All Ages
Enjoy all that the carnival has to offer in Astoria Park! Admission is free; rides require the purchase of a ticket.

Beginning Friday, June 8

Escape in New York Outdoor Films
7pm
Governors Island
All Ages
Beginning this Friday, watch films outside on Governors Island, all of which include pre-show entertainment. Screenings begin at dusk. Films include Escape from New York, Desperately Seeking Susan, Ghostbusters, and The Last Dragon. Runs on the second Friday of every month through Friday, September 14.

Brooklyn Americana Music Festival: Unplugged
6pm
Brooklyn Bridge Park
All Ages
Check out intimate, unplugged sets performed by musical duos during the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Scheduled performers include Pete Lanctot and Ginger Dolden, The Chapin Sisters, Mamie Minch and Tamar Korn, and Will Scott and Charlie Burnham. Runs Fridays through Friday, June 29.

MOCA Cinema
8pm
Columbus Park
All Ages
Grab a blanket and the kids to see a free film put on by the NYC Parks Department and the Museum of Chinese in America! Featured films include Disney’s Mulan and The NinjaGo Lego Movie. Runs Fridays through Friday, June 29.

Friday, June 8

Rolie Polie Guacamole Concert
4pm
Norman and Jules
All Ages
This Friday, join Andrew and Frank of Rolie Polie Guacamole for a sing-along at Norman and Jules in Brooklyn.

Family Astronomy Night
7:30-10pm
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
All Ages
Learn about the expanding universe with astrophysicist Viviana Acquaviva and participate in stargazing at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Beginning Saturday, June 9

“Hot Dog Bus” Installation & Free Hot Dogs
12-6pm
Brooklyn Bridge Park
All Ages
A vintage Volkswagen Microbus has become a food truck that serves free hot dogs all summer. The artistic implications are a bit highbrow for the kids, but it’s a great chance to snack and ogle at the truck! After all, the viewer participation “completes” the work. This mobile artwork will serve free hot dogs at multiple locations along Brooklyn Bridge Park’s waterfront. Installation on view through Sunday, August 26. Hot dogs will be given out on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Saturday, June 9

The Great Randall’s Island Treasure Hunt
10am-2pm
Randall’s Island
Ages 5 and up
Explore the park and learn how to use a map and compass during The Great Randall’s Island Treasure Hunt. The event is offered in partnership with Hudson Valley Orienteering. There will be an orienteering course for children as well as adults. Arts, crafts, light refreshments, and treasure will be provided for all participants. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

8th Annual Pet Day & Costume Contest
12-7pm
Deno’s Wonder Wheel
All Ages
Let the pets join in on the fun at the 8th Annual Pet Day and Pet Costume Contest. Pets of all kinds will be able to ride The Wonder Wheel for free accompanied by their owner. Pets will be judged in three categories for the costume contest. Admission is free, but contestants in the costume contest must bring two cans of cat or dog food.

Positively 8th Street Festival
1-7pm
West 8th Street
All Ages
Celebrate the culture and businesses of 8th Street at the Positively 8th Street Festival taking place on Saturday, June 9, July 14, and September 8. The festival will feature musical performances, pop-up parks, alfresco eating, and more. Kids can enjoy games, toys and getting creative with design workshops and drawing sessions. Spend your Saturday afternoon having fun with the family and celebrating community!

Saturday, June 9-Sunday, June 10

9th Annual RiverFestBX
12-6pm
College of Mount St. Vincent, Bronx
All Ages
Come to the 9th annual RiverFest at the College of Mount Saint Vincent for family fun and festivities! RiverFest 2018 features a pet adoption center, arts and crafts, bounce castles, a bike helmet giveaway, and more. The festival is free and boat rides are available for purchase.

Sunday, June 10

Los Lobos Family Concert
2pm
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
All Ages
Head to the Bandshell in Prospect Park for a free family concert from Los Lobos, the Mexican-American rock band known for its hit “La Bamba.”

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;

That's Mandarin

That's Mandarin is one of the oldest Chinese language schools in China. With a unique approach to language learning and our own in-house teaching methodologies; we aim to be not only the most experienced, but also one of the best Mandarin schools in China! We focus on providing the smoothest service and the best teaching experience to all our students; no matter whether they are studying Chinese online with our innovative online language learning system or at one of our Chinese language schools in China. Founded in 2005, That&rsquo;s Mandarin has been delivering excellence in Chinese teaching for over 15 years to more than 30,000 students of different nationalities. We now have schools in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen with plans to open more locations in more cities soon.&nbsp; &nbsp; COURSE INFO&nbsp; Learn Chinese online and enjoy private online classes with our professional native Chinese teachers anytime, anywhere. Our Online Chinese Course is perfect for students abroad who want to learn Chinese remotely. Besides, online Chinese classes are also a great opportunity for those who don&rsquo;t have enough time to come to our Mandarin school. By using That&rsquo;s Mandarin special learning platform, you can have online Mandarin classes with our teachers anytime and anywhere.&nbsp; &nbsp; We Offer：&nbsp; &bull; Standard Chinese Course&nbsp; &bull; HSK Preparation Course&nbsp; &bull; Chinese Course for Kids&nbsp; &bull; Chinese Course for Corporate Clients&nbsp; &nbsp; All lessons are private Chinese classes with certified native Chinese teachers with 24/7 access to our online system.&nbsp; For every new student we offer a free trial lesson with us.&nbsp; &nbsp; Online Classes Content:&nbsp; &nbsp; REAL-LIFE PRACTICE&nbsp; &bull; Communication skills&nbsp; &bull; Speaking practice&nbsp; &bull; Real-life situations&nbsp; &bull; Modern Chinese expressions&nbsp; &nbsp; LANGUAGE LEARNING&nbsp; &bull; HSK Vocabulary&nbsp; &bull; Daily Vocabulary&nbsp; &bull; Useful Grammar&nbsp; &bull; Set Phrases&nbsp; &bull; Slang &amp; Idioms&nbsp; &nbsp; CULTURAL ELEMENTS&nbsp; &bull; Chinese culture&nbsp; &bull; Natural wonders&nbsp; &bull; Famous sights&nbsp; &bull; Festivals &amp; traditions&nbsp; &bull; Classic literature, opera &amp; art&nbsp; &nbsp; HEATED DISCUSSIONS&nbsp; &bull; Discovering interesting topics&nbsp; &bull; Discussing global topics&nbsp; &bull; Social phenomena&nbsp; &bull; Cultural differences&nbsp; &nbsp; How&nbsp;much?&nbsp; The price starts at $24. &nbsp; When?&nbsp; The schedule depends on your availability as the course is fully customized.&nbsp; &nbsp; Where?&nbsp; We use our in-house digital platform NihaoCafe to help you connect with your teacher, review class notes, and schedule classes.&nbsp; &bull; Online Chinese Class content and teacher&rsquo;s notes automatically get recorded into the system, so it&rsquo;s easy to review your classes&nbsp; &bull; There&rsquo;s a huge teaching resource database, so you can prepare for your future online Chinese classes in advance&nbsp; &bull; There is an online course arrangement system that manages your booked Chinese classes &ndash; to guarantee that wherever you are, you and your teachers can stay informed about the online Mandarin class schedule and changes&nbsp; &bull; Teachers can also add their own courseware including webpages, PowerPoint presentations, videos, etc. into the system anytime&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; Our professional IT team is online 24 hours a day, ready to solve any unexpected issues&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; CONTACT: &nbsp; Website: https://www.thatsmandarin.com&nbsp; Email: info@thatsmandarin.com&nbsp; &nbsp; Phone: +86 10 8448 9799&nbsp;