Free Family Events This Weekend! (May 18-20)

The 12th Annual Dance Parade & Festival will take place this Saturday in Lower Manhattan! Photo via danceparade.org.

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

Through Monday, May 28

GlassBarge
11am-6pm
Brooklyn Bridge Park
All Ages
Check out a 30-minute glass-blowing demonstration at Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park! Register for a free ticket to reserve your spot.

Friday, May 18

FAB Friday Kids’ Concert: Hopalong Andrew Trio
10am
Crispus Attucks Playground
Ages 1-5
Be sure to catch this free Hopalong Andrew show at Crispus Attucks Playground. This concert is the first in the new season of the FAB (Fulton Area Businesses) Friday Kids’ Concert series.

YAK Art Slam: Radio YAK
6:30-8:30pm
Children’s Museum of the Arts
Ages 12-15
This free after-hours art event for kids grades 6-9 will be full of music, storytelling, and audio recording. Participants can record their own radio show during this two-hour program. RSVP to kmcnally@cmany.org.

Friday, May 18-Saturday, May 19

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
7-9pm
Bryant Park
All Ages
Catch the classic Shakespeare play as the sun sets in Bryant Park.

Saturday, May 19

It’s My Park Day
11am-12pm
Washington Market Park
All Ages
Head over to the park to help plant; plus, get crafty with Craft Studio Tribeca! Children’s gardening gloves and trowels will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.

FamJam: Mosaic Making
11am-2pm
BRIC House
Ages 7 and up
Ages 7 and up and their families will love creating mosaics together! Free with RSVP.

Super Saturday STEM Expo
11am-3pm
Harlem Armory
All Ages
Participate in the STEM Expo, which features a scholastic chess tournament, math competition, coding workshops, and more.

Essex Street Market Block Party
12-5pm
Essex Street Market
All Ages
Celebrate Essex Street Market’s 78th birthday with its annual Block Party, which includes grilling, family fun, and more. Participating food vendors include Arancini Bros., Puebla Mexican, Harlem Shambles, and Samesa.

12th Annual Dance Parade & Festival
1pm
Parade begins: 21st Street & Broadway
All Ages
This year’s theme, The Cabaret of Life, kicks off on 21st Street and Broadway with live bands, DJs, and over 80 styles of dance. Now in its 12th year, the 10,000-dancer event moves downtown toward Avenue A, stopping again at University Place and 8th Street, and then east to Tompkins Square Park for the post-parade Dancefest, which features aerial performances, free dance lessons, and more.

NYSoM Superhero Showdown: Batman vs. Iron Man
2-4pm
Hecksher Community Garden
All Ages
Watch Batman and Iron Man duel at this event. There will also be a superhero tug-of-war, scavenger hunt, wheel of fortune, and more. Plus stick around for face painting and crafts!

Saturday, May 19-Sunday, May 20

The 9th Avenue International Food Festival
10am-6pm
Ninth Avenue (between 42nd & 57th Streets)
All Ages
Head over to this rain-or-shine food fest–held on 9th Avenue between 42nd and 57th Streets on both May 19 and May 20–for a taste of some of NYC’s best local bites.

Annual Children’s Festival: Celebrating ImagiNATIONS!
11am-5pm
National Museum of the American Indian
All Ages
Kids can participate in educational arts and crafts, learn Mayan math, and far more at this fantastic two-day event.

Traditions Festival
12-4pm
King Manor
All Ages
Join the museum for crafts, music, and food from Jamaica, from the 18th century to today!

Sunday, May 20

Fabulous Fifth Avenue Street Fair
10am-6pm
5th Avenue (between Sterling & 12th Streets), Brooklyn
All Ages
Held on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn from Sterling to 12th Streets, this event is full of food, drinks, shopping, and more.

Vered and The Babes’ “Songs for Sisters and Brothers” Album Release Show
11am-12pm
Old Stone House, Park Slope
All Ages
Hear songs from Vered and the Babes’ newest album during this free performance.

CMA Kids Fair 2018
11am-4pm
Charlton Street (between Varick & Hudson Streets)
All Ages
At this free event, kids can spend the afternoon creating art with the whole family. There will be murals, string sculptures, jump rope, chalk drawing, flubber exploration, and far more for everyone to enjoy.

Relevant Directory Listings

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Yuletide Factory

<p>Fill your hearts with circus cheer—the merry daredevils of Cirque Mechanics (Zephyr, 2023) are back with an industrial-strength spectacular for you and your kin. Sparkling with holiday spirit, the ever energetic ensemble of acrobats transforms a drab assembly plant into a holly jolly Yuletide Factory! From the wonder of the German wheel to festive flips from the trampoline wall, they dash and dance through a pageant of powerhouse stunts with grins and goodwill. It’s high-flying fun, comfort and joy for the whole family!</p>

A-Game Sports

<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;">A-Game Sports is a premier provider of sports camps, programming and instruction for kids of all ages ranging from toddlers to teens. As an instructional and recreational youth sports facility, our goal is to make athletics a rewarding experience for all kids. A-Game Sports is located in New Rochelle, NY, and offers camps, lessons, customized programs for more than 10 sports and rental space for private events. A-Game Sports was founded in 2013 by two guys who decided that it was time to do what they truly love in life. Since then, we've made the ideology of fusing hard work and fun into a reality. Our dedicated staff of professional coaches share their enthusiasm with kids of all ages and skill levels that take part in our programs.</p> </div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"> </p> </div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;">With turfed fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and flag football, batting cages and tunnels for baseball and softball, and various basketball programs, A-Game Sports is one of the premiere sports facilities for kids and adults of any age. Aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts will benefit from our many strength and conditioning programs, while children new to sports will learn skills and techniques within their chosen sport, all while having a great time and keeping the game fun.</p> </div>

The Little Gym of Bay Ridge- Bensonhurst

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">At The Little Gym of Bay Ridge-Bensonhurt, we specialize in unique, educational classes that revolve around active play. We give children a safe and inspiring space to direct their energy, build confidence, and develop key skills. Explore the range of classes we offer at The Little Gym of Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst to find the one that’s just right for your child. </span></p>