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West Side County Fair
September 10 [All Ages] Fall may be approaching, but there is still time to enjoy summer on the Hudson during the West Side County Fair. Favorites like games, music, carnival rides, and lots of food will be there in addition to the jaw-dropping acts of House of Yes aerialists and sideshow performers. Musicians Mariti Garrett and Bette Smith will be providing live music to listen to as you and the kids chow down on cotton candy and take a spin on the Ferris wheel. Free, 1-6pm. Pier 1 in Riverside Park South, West 70th Street, nycgovparks.org Photo courtesy of Whitney Dearden -
36th Annual Great Irish Fair
September 16 [All Ages] Spend the day celebrating New York City’s Irish-American culture and heritage during the 36th Annual Great Irish Fair. This family friendly event, which is free for children under the age of 14, will be filled with great food, vendors, children’s activities, and wonderful live performances. Come to the main stage to see performers like Andy Cooney, the O’Malley Dance Company and Pipe Band, or check out the Traditional Irish Musicians Stage to see the Brooklyn Bards. $20 for general admission, free for kids under 14, 12-6pm. Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 West 21st Street, Brooklyn, 212-450-7300, iabsny.com/great-irish-fair -
Brooklyn Book Festival
September 16-17 [All Ages] Get your kids excited to dive into a good book at the Brooklyn Book Festival. New York City’s largest free literary festival will take place from September 16-17 with one day dedicated entirely to children’s literature. Stock up on kids reading material from acclaimed authors like singer songwriter turned author Laurie Berkner, National Book Award finalist Gene Yang, and young adult author Sarah Dessen. Children’s day will also feature fun activities from theatrical performances to draw-offs. Free, 10am-4pm. MetroTech Commons, 10 MetroTech Roadway, Brooklyn, brooklynbookfestival.org -
Rolex Central Park Horse Show
September 20-24 [All Ages] The Rolex Central Park Horse Show, one of the most anticipated equestrian events of the year, will be returning to New York City in September for the fourth time. The five-day event, taking place at Wollman Rink, will feature competition in a variety of disciplines like show jumping, dressage, and new for 2017, Gladiator Polo, featuring some of the world’s best polo players. Come see past champions like Georgina Bloomberg and world number 1-ranked equestrian Kent Farrington compete and don’t forget to stop by on Sunday for the free family day including activities like face painting, hobby horse competitions, equestrian demonstrations, and more. Tickets start at $50, admission to family day is free; opening times vary. Wollman Rink in Central Park at 59th Street, 844-319-2747, cphs.coth.com Photo courtesy of Meg Banks -
Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day Live
September 23 [All Ages] There’s never been a better time to wander the halls of your favorite New York City museums than Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day Live! Sixteen different museums throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island will be open free of charge including the Museum of Arts and Design, the Museum of Chinese in America, and many more. Additional participating museums can be found all over the state of New York for anyone that may be out of the city that weekend. Each ticket provides free access for two people making this the perfect activity for a mommy and me day. Free (registration required), hours vary by museum, smithsonianmag.com/museumday Photo Courtesy of Springfield Museums and Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden -
Queens County Fair
September 23-34 [All Ages] You won’t believe you’re still in New York City when you take in the sights and entertainment at the Queen’s County Fair. Complete with pig races, blue ribbon competitions, carnival games, and a pie-eating contest, the fair offers something fun for everyone. Hay rides, carnival rides, and lively music will keep kids entertained, while parents can enjoy dancing and an Irish band in the Bavarian Beer Garden. The fair also serves as the opening weekend of the farms three-acre corn maze, perfect for walking off all the delicious fair food you’ll be eating! $10 per day for adults, $5 per day for kids 12 and under, 11am-6pm, Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, Queens, 718-347-3276, queensfarm.org Photo courtesy of QCFM -
World Maker Faire
September 23-24 [All Ages] The “World’s Greatest Show and Tell” is returning to New York for the eighth time this September. Hosted by the New York Hall of Science, the World Maker Faire features some of the coolest innovations in technology, science, engineering, and robotics, and the men and women behind them. Some of the highlights from last year’s Faire include the 3-D printer village, Coke Zero and Mentos show, drone racing, and amazing art installations. The various projects deal with all kinds of topics from health and movement to food. Along with all of the amazing displays to look at, families will also get to learn about, invent, and make their own projects through various workshops. Single-day tickets and passes from $25-80, free for children under 2, 10am-6pm. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th Street, Queens, makerfaire.com/new-york Photo courtesy of Maker Faire on Flickr -
Carnegie Hall Fall Family Day
September 24 [Ages 3-10] Music makes the world go round, and can also be beneficial for learning, creativity and stress. Carnegie Hall’s Fall Family Day introduces children to different kinds of instruments and musical styles for free by allowing families to participate in interactive performances and activities. Sing, play, and listen along during this day filled with music. Not only will you be spending quality time with the kids, but who knows, you could have a future musician in the family! Free, 12-4pm. Resnick Education Wing at Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Avenue, 212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org/familydays Photo courtesy of Fadi Kheir -
Honey Weekend
September 28-29 [All Ages] Enjoy a bee-autiful day at Wave Hill in the Bronx during Honey Weekend. This two-day event kicks off with the “be a bee” family art project and keeps the fun going with activities like candle making, a bee parade, and bee hive exploration. Families will get to meet local beekeepers and watch demonstrations of how honey is extracted. Speaking of the sweet stuff, don’t forget to grab samples from the selection of delicious local artisanal honeys. $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, $4 for children 6 and up; 9am-4pm. Wave Hill, 649 West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx, 718-549-3200, wavehill.org -
Chile Pepper Festival
October 1 [All Ages] Get ready to bring the heat at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Annual Chile Pepper Festival. Now in its 25th year, the festival will feature musical talents from all over the world as well as vendors, games and of course, food. Take the Tour-de-Chile to see the Garden’s own pepper collection, and then challenge your threshold for spice by trying some of the many artisanal chocolates and chilies. Price and times TBA, see website for details. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 150 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, bbg.org Photos by Julia Markes, courtesy of Brooklyn Botanic Garden -
Medieval Festival
October 1 [All Ages] Step back in time at the 33rd annual Medieval Festival in Fort Tryon Park. Guests will be transported to the Middle Ages with colorful banners, minstrels, and vendors selling medieval crafts and food. Watch as blacksmiths and woodcarvers show off their work or check out the art on display in the Cloisters Museum. Make sure to pull out your best garb and enjoy the many activities the festival has to offer like juggling, falconry, magic shows, a children’s parade, and a jousting tournament to close out the day. Free, 11:30am-6pm. Fort Tryon Park, Margaret Corbin Circle/190th Street and Fort Washington Avenue, 212-795-1600, whidc.org/festival Photo courtesy of Barry Ritter -
Diwali at Times Square
October 7 [All Ages] Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, and what better place to celebrate this joyous holiday than in one of the brightest places in the world: Times Square! The day will include performances celebrating South Asian culture as well as concerts featuring Bollywood stars and different kinds of food and drinks. Make sure to stop by the vendor’s tables to look at the amazing ethnic clothing and jewelry, and perhaps take home a souvenir to remember your amazing day. Free, 12-9pm. Times Square, between Broadway and 7th Avenues and 42nd-47th Streets, diwalitimessquare.com -
Madison Park Kids Fest
October 14 [Ages 0-12] Enjoy a festival just for the kiddos during Madison Square Park’s Kids Fest: Stages in the Square. Families can enjoy a full of day of music, dance, puppetry, theatre, and magic on the three different stages. Past performers at this exciting event include comedy from The Joshua Show, Sammie and Tudie’s Magic Circus, and tales of folklore from Story Laurie. Face painting, lawn games, and food will also be available to make this a guaranteed fun day for all. Free, 11am-3pm. Madison Square Park, between 5th and Madison Avenues and 23rd-28th Streets, madisonsquaurepark.org -
Pickle Day
October 15 [All Ages] There is never a “dill” moment during pickle day in the Lower East Side! You will relish the opportunity to walk through the pickle bazaar and enjoy tasting treats from over 20 picklers. Foods of the non-pickled variety will also be available as well as boutiques, live music, and games such as the pickle toss and pickle relay. Kids can get their faces painted or take home a caricature of themselves. Make sure to not miss the world’s first ever pickling/dancing competition, and pick up some hilarious pickle merchandise while you’re there. It’s an i-dill activity for everyone! Free, 12-5pm. Orchard Street, between Delancey and East Houston Streets, 212-226-9010, pickleday.nyc Photo courtesy of Nina LoSchiavo -
Canstruction Competition
November 2-15 [All Ages] Have you ever seen an enormous owl built entirely out of unopened cans of food? Now is your chance to see that and so much more during Canstruction! Putting a creative spin on charity, the Canstruction competition challenges teams of architects, engineers, and contractors to build massive sculptures out of thousands of canned goods. Past sculptures include an astronaut, balloon animal, minions, and the bat signal. Following the competition, the can sculptures are put on display for visitors to marvel at and then donated to City Harvest to help feed those in need. Make sure to bring a can or two of quality food to donate when you visit to do your own part in giving back to the community. Free, though visitors are encouraged to donate a can of food; 10am-8pm, except 11/16 (10am-6pm), street and lobby levels of 230 Vesey Street at Brookfield Place, newyork.canstruction.org Photo courtesy of Joseph Augstein and Zachary Tyler Newton
Relevant Directory Listings
See MoreAtlantic Acting School
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Looking for a fun and exciting theater program for kids and teens? Join us at the Atlantic. Our programs are intense, exciting and fun!</span></p>
HudsonWay Immersion School
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">A pioneer in language immersion since 2005. After school language classes provide a fun and effective way for preschool and elementary children to learn Mandarin or Spanish language skills through project based learning and fun, engaging themes.</span></p>
Child's Play NY Virtual Classes
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f0d8558c-7fff-41d5-daea-321d9ce61efc" style="white-space: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Child's Play NY is a Brooklyn-based company founded in 2009, committed to offering a diverse array of theater arts classes for children. They believe studying the art of acting encourages kids to be even more creative, collaborative and compassionate human beings. Since its inception, Child's Play NY has touched the lives of hundreds of students, worked inside dozens of schools and is consistently ranked as among the top theater arts programs. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is the 2019 winner of Brooklyn Family's Choice award for Best Performing Arts Class.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fall/Winter 2020-21 Virtual Class Guide</span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make a Movie Class</span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Experience creative fulfillment and movie magic with Child&rsquo;s Play NY! Kids get to make and star in their own film, with professional actors, directors and designers. From development to design to editing choices too, kids can take ownership over the creative process. Their friends and family get to celebrate their accomplishments at a final watch party premiere! Deep project-based learning and peer-connection is at the heart of this 9-week experience which can be done remotely or in-person.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fall and Winter Virtual Classes</span></strong></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-left: 36pt; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Hogwarts School (grades 1-3)</strong>: Come get sorted into your favorite house, jump on your Firebolt and let&rsquo;s make some magic! Class culminates in a movie montage featuring our original scripted work from the session.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create Your Own Class</span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make your own custom group to support social-emotional growth and play. Child&rsquo;s Play NY provides a dynamic teacher and their lauded curriculum that puts peer-interaction at the front and center. Custom classes are a special way to nurture what your child loves most and share that excitement with their friends, in-person or online.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Playwriting (Grades 4-6)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students will use their creativity, compassion and confidence to build a story they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Individually, each student will craft a play, and together they will workshop their scenes, exercising their acting, directing, and most importantly, imagination skills. Over the course of the sessions, students will learn the basics of playwriting and be able to present any and all parts of their theatrical story. All classes will include individual assignments and collaborative opportunities. Each day will be structured so that all participants have the chance to learn and study other writers&rsquo; work, write for 10-15 minutes and share their words with each other. By the end of the semester they will have used their bodies, intellect and imagination to come up with an original play. By being confident, vulnerable and creative with each other and actively supporting and encouraging each other&rsquo;s work, students will emerge with meaningful connections to each other and a strong sense of their writing and collaborative abilities.<br />Class culminates in a montage and packet of students&rsquo; original work.<strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Musical Theater Lab (Grades 4-6)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn how to be a triple threat in this dynamic class for budding performers with Child&rsquo;s Play NY. Students focus on songs, dances and characters from Broadway&rsquo;s most celebrated and kid-friendly shows. They work alongside professional performers with years of experience bringing their passion to children. Class culminates in a movie showcase of scenes and songs.<br />Join for the full session, or enroll as a drop-in!<strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Shakespeare Scene Study (Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young people become confident with Shakespeare&rsquo;s world, language and characters as they learn how to interpret a role with technique and courage. Classically trained professional actors assist the players in their physical, vocal and emotional transformations. All Shakespeare teaching artists are classically trained professional actors and have performed Shakespeare both on and off Broadway and in regional theaters across the country.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students jump into the worlds of Shakespeare in this robust mash-up of improvisation and classic text scene study class. After learning the plot and characters from several plays, they rehearse and memorize scenes from the original text. New material, devised by the cast, adds a contemporary through-line to their show and highlights the universality of Shakespeare&rsquo;s themes.<br />Class culminates in a movie showcasing their work.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The Big Twist: A New Musical (Grade 1-4)</strong></div> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this acting class, students get to perform a brand new musical based on The Wizard of Oz.<br />The Wicked Witch of the South wants to return Oz to a time when WITCHES reigned supreme, and all was evil. Summoning a dark magic Tornado, the Wicked Witch of the South sends Oz hurtling into an alternate Oz. With the Yellow Brick road destroyed, the Wizard left powerless, and the citizens of Oz scattered to the Wind, our heroes are forced into unlikely partnerships to stop the Witch and restore the world to order. The Wizard of Oz meets The Tempest. &nbsp;Class culminates in a premiere of a movie starring the students, filmed over the last few days of the session.</div> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-57c50323-7fff-79ce-175a-5e25408c0e29"></span></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-84ebe141-7fff-03c2-24cf-fead86e88df2"></span></p>