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

The FlyNYC Festival will take place this Saturday at Pier 1 in Riverside Park! Photo via nycgovparks.org.

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

Friday, August 18

FACE of 5th Avenue
5-10pm
Bay Ridge 5th Avenue, Brooklyn
All Ages
Looking for a fun Friday evening activity? Bring the family to Brooklyn for FACE of 5th Avenue. FACE, which stands for family arts culinary entertainment, features exactly that. Jam to live music while feasting on the diverse dining options, have fun with the kids through various children’s activities, and then admire the original artwork.

Harlem Dances: Fusha Dance Company
6:30-7:30pm
West Harlem Piers
All Ages
Come dance the night away in Harlem! Fusha Dance Company, a local group that features dancing, drums, and culture from Africa, will be performing during the last installment of this summer’s Harlem Dances event. Live it up while the weather is still warm and don’t miss out on seeing this exciting performance.

The Coney and a Casino with Paul Pippin

Schneps Connects

Saturday, August 19

Battle of Brooklyn Colonial Day
10am-3pm
Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
All Ages
Go back in time for a day at Fort Greene Park and learn all about cooking, games, and other activities from colonial times. See a demonstration of how bread was made, write a letter with quill and ink, and then get your picture taken in front of a wagon. Finish off your day by stopping in to the visitor center between 11am and 2pm for story time.

27th Annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest
12pm
Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk (from West 10th to West 12th Streets)
All Ages
Take your family’s creativity down to the shore this Saturday for the 27th Annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest. There are various categories of competition in which the whole family can compete as a team or against each other to see who has the best sandcastle-building skills. Don’t worry if each of your kids has a different vision—past creations have ranged from traditional castles to extravagant skylines and designs. Make sure to pre-register in order to ensure your spot in the competition.

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FlyNYC Festival
12-5pm
Pier 1 in Riverside Park
All Ages
Since 2009, the soaring FlyNYC Kite Flying Festival has brought families from all over the city to Riverside Park! With kite-making kits for the kids, kites available for purchase, and plenty of sky for everyone, this festival is a great way to enjoy the last few weeks of summer. Other attractions include a variety of food vendors, live music, and more.

North Slope Summer Stroll One with Pizza Eating Contest
5-9pm
North Slope (from Dean to Sterling Streets)
All Ages
This giant block party has something for everyone–and it’s free! A giant bounce house, face painting, and a rock wall are just a few of the fun activities kids can enjoy. The party will also feature exercise classes, vintage cars, and games. Make sure not to miss the pizza eating competition beginning at 6:30pm. Who doesn’t love bouncy houses and pizza?

Saturday, August 19-Sunday, August 20

Harlem Week’s NYC Children’s Festival
Saturday: 12-5pm; Sunday: 12-6pm
West 135th Street (between Malcolm X and A.C. Powell Jr. Boulevards)
Ages 5-12
Head uptown this weekend for Harlem Week’s NYC Children’s Festival! The specific children’s portion of Harlem Week includes a “Back-to-School” kids’ fashion show, as well as dance and spoken word performances, a double-dutch competition, games, sports clinics, face painting, and plenty more activities for the entire family.

Sunday, August 20

NYC Volkswagen Traffic Jam
10am
Governors Island
All Ages
If your little ones are obsessed with cars, take them to see this classic VW show! The NYC Volkswagen Traffic Jam is a spectator-judged, vintage Volkswagen car show. Enjoy a picnic, views of the New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty, as well as Beetles, buses, dune buggies, and more.

Valerie Green/Dance Entropy: Impermanent Landscape
2pm
Voelker Orth Museum, Queens
All Ages
Come see the marvelous mind bending dance performance “Impermanent Landscape” choreographed by Valerie Green at the Voelker Orth Museum. Inspired by the ever changing landscape of New York City, the performance uses the shapes and architecture of the human body to create this wonderful show adapted for the museum’s garden setting. Please note: This event is free, however there is a suggested donation fee of $5.

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Super Soccer Stars

Soccer Stars is New York&rsquo;s most popular youth educational soccer program! With 24 years of experience under our cleats, we have positively impacted over one million kids in our local community by putting the FUN in FUNdamentals in our weekly classes and camps. At Soccer Stars, we use the soccer ball as a vehicle to help children not only improve their soccer skills, but develop self-confidence and physical literacy, improve gross motor skills, build teamwork, and hone socialization skills. Our highly trained coaches and early childhood experts lead an age-specific curriculum with a low kid-to-coach ratio so every child gets individual attention and can grow at their own pace. Kids ages 1-12+ can join our seasonal programs, including Parent &amp; Me, FUNdamentals, Development Training, and Travel Soccer. Join us at one of over 80 locations in neighborhoods across across Westchester County, Connecticut and New York, available 7 days-a-week: Connecticut: <ul> <li>Cos Cob</li> <li>Greenwich</li> <li>Port Chester</li> </ul> &nbsp; Westchester: <ul> <li>Briarcliff</li> <li>Eastchester</li> <li>Mt. Kisco</li> <li>New Rochelle</li> <li>Ridgefield</li> <li>Scarsdale</li> <li>White Plains</li> </ul> &nbsp; New York City: <ul> <li>Bronx</li> <li>Inwood</li> <li>Upper West Side</li> <li>Upper East Side</li> </ul> &nbsp; Can&rsquo;t find a class or location that fits your schedule? Soccer Stars also offers private classes for small groups or individual training. Let our coaches come to you with a completely customizable program, anytime, anywhere. Birthday parties are also available!&nbsp;

The Little Gym of Bay Ridge- Bensonhurst

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&rsquo;s just right for your child.&nbsp;

Bounce! Family Entertainment Center

Bounce! Family Entertainment Center is an indoor birthday party and play space located in Syosset, NY. Perfect for birthday parties, group events, open play, and more! We have the best party packages on Long Island! Our facility has multiple AWESOME attractions: The Trampoline courts, The Adventure Zone, Bumper Cars, Laser Tag, Soft Play, Arcade, &amp; MORE! If you need a break from jumping and climbing, try out some of our delicious food from The Bounce Bites Kitchen! Come on in to any of our Open Play, Toddler Time, or Glow Night sessions!