Picks Of The Week: August 16 & 17

The Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island

There’s something for every family this weekend! Arts and crafts lovers should check out the annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest or FlyNYC 2014, a fun kite-making and flying celebration! For mini history buffs or musicians, the Jazz Age Lawn Party will transport guests back in time to the 1920s. Dance lovers should see the popular 33rd Annual Downtown Dance Festival while Harlem Week’s two-day Children’s Festival holds a little bit of everything related to the lively neighborhood.

Saturday, August 16

FlyNYC 2014
11am-4pm
Riverside Park
All Ages
Let’s go fly a kite! Little ones can make their own kite or fly one with parents at this special all ages festival! Guests will also enjoy live musical performances from Batala NYC and Shinbone Alley Stilt Band. Seating is available on a first-come first-serve basis. This is a free event

Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest
12pm
The Boardwalk near Wonderwheel Park
All Ages
Put your sand-castle sculpting to the test against other families or stand by and watch professionals create fun and beautiful works of art on the beach! All proceeds, including sponsorships and donations, from the contest will go to support families who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Suggested donation

Saturday, August 16 & Sunday, August 17

Jazz Age Lawn Party
11am-5pm
Governors Island
All Ages
Head back to the Roarin’ Twenties with this fabulous lawn party! A celebration of the Jazz Age era, this flavorful event will host activities like dance lessons (to learn popular steps of the time), a close-up look of gramophones, a high court of pie contest, and much more! For foodie families, a themed “Taste of the 20′s” menu will even feature specialized food and drink. Don’t miss out on Kidland, a special area for children with carnival games and prizes. Adults $25, Children free.

Harlem Week: NYC Children’s Festival
12pm-7pm
W.135th St. (bet. Malcolm X & A.C. Powell Jr. Blvd.)
All Ages
In conjunction with Harlem Week, summer-long programming celebrating the unique history and culture of the neighborhood, this two-day Children’s Festival holds many treats for families. A few highlights include games, exhibits, arts & crafts, live music, dancing, free health testing, and sports clinics. Don’t miss a special “Back to School” theme on Sunday, featuring a special fall-themed fashion show! This is a free event

Starting Sunday, August 17

The 33rd Annual Downtown Dance Festival
6pm
Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park
All Ages
Dance lovers should check out this diverse festival in lower Manhattan. Featuring dance genres ranging from Indian dance to tap to contemporary ballet, NYC’s longest running dance festival will host performances from over 200 companies this week. Be sure to stay for “Everybody Dance Now!” at 7:45pm every day. This is a free event

Music Together

Music Together&reg; is for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their parents/caregiver. The classes include songs, rhythmic rhymes and movement, and instrument play activities that are developmentally appropriate for the children and easy for parents and caregivers, regardless of their own musical ability.

Yuletide Factory

Fill your hearts with circus cheer&mdash;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&rsquo;s high-flying fun, comfort and joy for the whole family!

Dance Workshop - Long Island

Nestled in the heart of Lynbrook Village, Dance Workshop is a community-focused studio committed to dance education in a loving and safe environment. Dance Workshop offers Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre and Acro for ages 2+. They also offer a Pre-Professional Company track for dancers interested in taking their technique to the next level. Trial classes may be scheduled with the studio at the start of the season. Dance with the Dance Workshop! MaryAnn Grasso founded Dance Workshop in 1979. Her daughter Nanci later joined her at the helm and in 2016 established Dance Workshop on the Upper East Side of NYC. MaryAnn and Nanci have devoted their lives to dance education, community and the development of children; raising dancers and sound human beings alike. Dance Workshop has seen thousands of dancers pass through the doors. They believe dance has the power to elevate and change lives!