Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities In NYC (September 16-18)

Astor Alive! Festival at Astor Place

After going through a transition, Astor Place is ready to take center stage again as New York City’s vibrant cultural district. The Village Alliance presents the inaugural Astor Alive! Festival featuring a bevy of cultural performances from the ensemble cast of Theater for the New City, spoken word poets, Cooper Tones (Cooper Union orchestra and Bollywood style dancers), and the Rod Rogers Dance Company. Astor Alive! will also hold a number of creative workshops. The festival ends with a procession that is sure to rival the best street carnival anywhere! (Friday-Saturday) Photo: Astor Place NYC via Facebook

Brooklyn Book Festival: Children's Day at MetroTech Commons

The Brooklyn Book Festival claims the distinction of being NYC’s largest free literary festival—and the day prior to Sunday’s festivities (on 9/18) is dedicated to all things kid-lit. The fest’s Children’s Day will feature acclaimed kids’ authors like Brendan Wenzel and Julia Sarcone-Roach, in addition to theatrical performances, an “Illustrator Smackdown,” workshops, picture book and young readers stages, and a Literary Marketplace. This event will take place rain or shine. (Saturday) Photo: Brooklyn Book Festival via Facebook

NYC Honey Fest on Rockaway Beach

Rockaway Beach will be buzzin’ this Saturday during the 6th annual NYC Honey Fest! This year, this bee-utiful festival will feature honey tastings from local hives such as Andrew’s Honey, Honey Bee Local, Brooklyn Grange, Edgemere Farm, 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. The rain date for this event is Sunday, September 18. (Saturday) Photo: nychoneyweek.com

Farm Fresh Festival for Kids at South Street Seaport

Have a wholesome and magical farm experience in NYC at the Farm Fresh Festival for Kids! Learn about where food comes from, how food grows, and much more during this day of farm exploration. Featured activity stations include a Bike Adventure Zone, a Farmers Market, a Reading Orchard, and a Meet the Animals zone. (Saturday) Photo: farmfreshfestival.org

Mid-Autumn Moon Family Festival at MOCA

The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) is celebrating the harvest season with a Mid-Autumn Moon Festival this Saturday! Spend the afternoon eating mooncakes and making inedible ones out of Play-Doh, going on a moon scavenger hunt, getting your face painted, enjoying a harvest moon picnic, and much more! There will also be a special performance by the EastRiver Ensemble and plenty of arts and crafts activities. (Saturday) Photo: Museum of Chinese in America via Facebook

Independent School Fair at St. Jean Baptiste High School

For New York City parents interested in nursery schools and private on-going schools (grades kindergarten and up), New York Family’s Independent School Fair is a great resource to discover a big host of schools and get your questions answered about the application process. Admissions directors will be available to speak informally and provide up-to-date information about their schools and admissions. The fair is free, family-friendly, and children of all ages (including infants and toddlers) are welcome. (Saturday)

Scarecrows & Pumpkins at The New York Botanical Garden

Halloween is fast approaching! Enjoy family fun with eye-popping pumpkins and spooky scarecrows. The New York Botanical Garden will celebrate the season with an original installation that explores the evolution of the scarecrow in the US. Visitors can also enjoy a festive fall puppet show, and have a spooky tea party in the Victorian playhouse. (Beginning Saturday) Photo: nybg.org

Meet Me at the Fountain: "The Canary Flies at Midnight" at Lincoln Center

Become a kid detective at Lincoln Center this fall. Join the ranks of The Eyes of the Fountain, an underground league of cultural crime fighters who keep Lincoln Center’s stages safe from sabotage! Please purchase tickets in advance. (Saturday-Sunday) Photo: kids.lincolncenter.org

SciTech Kids' STE[A]M Maker Lab Grand Opening Celebration

Come one come all to SciTech Kids this weekend for its STE[A]M Maker Lab Grand Opening Celebration! This free, two-day celebratory event and workshop taking place on September 17-18 is perfect for children and adults of any age with an interest in STEM and art. The brand-new STE[A]M Maker Lab is part makerspace and part learning lab, and builds on SciTech’s commitment to helping children learn science and engineering concepts by doing, rather than by watching. (Saturday-Sunday) Photo: sci-techkids.com

The Medieval Festival in Fort Tryon Park

Medievalists young and old will revel in the 32nd annual Medieval Festival in Fort Tryon Park! The entire park will be transformed into a medieval market village, complete with knights, jugglers, jesters, musicians, magicians, and more. Visitors can watch craftsmen such as blacksmiths and wood carvers show off their skills, listen to excerpts from Chaucer and Shakespeare, and watch falconers let their charges free. The main event is the Grand Tilts and Royal Joust, where knights in full armor try to unseat their competition! Plus, be sure to check out medieval art at the Cloisters. (Sunday) Photo: Susan Sermoneta via Flickr

92Y Street Fest 2016 along Lexington Avenue

You won’t want to miss 92Y’s Street Fest which brings family fun to 15 blocks along Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side. Check out performances by 92Y music and dance faculty and students on the KidCentral Stage; enjoy arts and crafts for all ages; watch demos by the 92Y Gymstar Gymnastics team, try the Tiny Tumblers Toddler Obstacle Course; and don’t forget the special area for ages 5 and under, which will feature fun, age-appropriate activities from 92Y Wonderplay Early Childhood Learning. This event will take place rain or shine. (Sunday) Photo: 92y.org

Adoptapalooza in Union Square Park

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, and much more. This event will take place rain or shine. (Sunday) Photo: animalalliancenyc.org

The Best Farms For Apple & Pumpkin Picking Near NYC

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life with a fun-filled day of apple and pumpkin picking at one of these farms and orchards. Photo: milk-pail.com