Free Family Events This Weekend! (September 14-16)

The 2018 NYC Honey Fest will take place this Saturday on Rockaway Beach! Photo by Chris Taylor Studio via nychoneyweek.com.

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

Through Sunday, September 30

11th Annual Governors Island Art Fair
11am-6pm
Governors Island
All Ages
Check the installations across Colonels Row as well as a diverse portfolio of art outdoors. Open on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Through Sunday, September 23

92nd Annual Feast of San Gennaro
Various times
Mulberry Street (between Canal and Houston Streets)
All Ages
This annual celebration of faith is well-known for its festive atmosphere. The 11-day event features religious processions and colorful parades, live musical entertainment, ethnic food delicacies, dining at Little Italy’s famous restaurants and cafes and a world-famous cannoli-eating competition. A celebratory mass is held at the Most Precious Blood Church annually on September 19, the official Saint Day, followed by a religious procession where the statue of San Gennaro is carried from its home in the church through the streets of Little Italy.

Saturday, September 15

Brooklyn Book Festival: Children’s Day
10am-4pm
MetroTech Commons
All Ages
The Brooklyn Book Festival claims the distinction of being NYC’s largest free literary festival—and the day prior to Sunday’s festivities is dedicated to all things kid-lit. The fest’s Children’s Day will feature acclaimed kids’ authors like Alexandra Penfold and Tad Hills, in addition to theatrical performances, an “Illustrator Smackdown,” workshops, picture book and young readers stages, and a Story Pirates show. This event will take place rain or shine.

Kids Fest: Stages in the Square
11am-3pm
Madison Square Park
Ages 12 and under
Join other NYC families in Madison Square Park this Saturday for the park’s fourth annual performing arts fest for children! Throughout the day four stages will feature musical and theatrical performances, workshops, and storytelling for ages 0 through 12 and their families. Performers scheduled to appear include The Amazing Max, WonderSpark Puppets, Sammie and Tudie’s Comedy Magic Circus, LARD Dog & The Band of Shy, Mario the Maker Magician, the Kotchegna Dance Company, the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, and others. There will also be face painting, lawn games, and much more. Plus fill up on mouth-watering grub from local eateries.

2018 NYC Honey Fest
11am-6pm
Rockaway Beach
All Ages
Rockaway Beach will be buzzin’ this Saturday during the 8th annual NYC Honey Fest! This year, this bee-utiful festival will feature honey tastings from local hives such as Andrew’s Honey, Astor Apiaries, Brooklyn Grange, Honey Gramz, and others. Activities for children include face painting, bee-hat and costume making, honey extraction demos, interactive activity stations, a honey-tasting contest, and a raffle.

Raptor Fest
12-3pm
Van Courtlandt Park
All Ages
Join Van Courtlandt Park for an afternoon of live bird demos and more during Raptor Fest. Visitors will have the opportunity to see owls, falcons, hawks, and other birds of prey up close during bird viewings and flight shows. The Urban Park Rangers will be on hand to answer questions and lead owl pellet dissections.

House Party: Happy Birthday to Us!
12-5pm
BRIC House
All Ages
Celebrate BRIC’s 40th year with fun, interactive activities, and end the day with an all-ages dance party. Craft activities include party hat-making, piñata decorating, and paper lantern-making. RSVP required.

Viva La Comida
12-7pm
82nd Street, Queens
All Ages
Explore the cultural diversity of Queens with music, art, food, and more. Located on 82nd Street in Queens.

Monarch Celebration
1-4pm
Randall’s Island
All Ages
Visit Randall’s Island during the height of butterfly migration! Learn all about monarchs and participate in crafts during this afternoon celebration.

Sunday, September 16

A La Calle Block Party
12-4pm
Ballet Hispanico
All Ages
At this event, enjoy performances by the Ballet Hispanico Company and its students, as well as live music, free dance classes, kids’ activities, raffles, food, and more.

Adoptapalooza
12-5pm
Union Square Park
All Ages
Are you considering adopting a pet? Here’s your chance! Meet wonderful cats, dogs, and even rabbits up for adoption at the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals’ Adoptapalooza in Union Square Park. This free event will feature activities such as pet care advice, training, grooming, product giveaways, microchipping, a Kids’ Korner, and much more.

British Swim School - Manhattan

The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp offers five daily rotating activities such as swimming, ice skating gymnastics, rock climbing, parkour, indoor/outdoor turf, and courts plus more in its ample 175,000 sq. ft. facility and 35-acre outdoor area. Aviator Summer Camp also offers off-site and on-site field trips such as a day at Green Meadows Farm, Launch Trampoline Park, and a Brooklyn Cyclones game. The summer camp runs from 9 am-5 pm with early drop off and late stay available. Bus transportation is also available throughout Brooklyn. Lunch and an afternoon snack are included. Sign up by February 28th to receive up to $300 off camp with early bird discounts.

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"