Free Family Events This Weekend! (January 12-14)

The 6th Annual Black Comic Book Festival will take place this weekend at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture! Photo via eventbrite.com.

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

Friday, January 12

Chartreuse String Trio: By the Water
7-9pm
Bloomingdale School of Music
All Ages
Join the Bloomingdale School of Music for an evening of live music performed by the Chartreuse String Trio. The group’s musical selection will feature women composers whose work explores various forms of water and other natural elements. This wonderful event is part of the school’s free concert series.

Friday, January 12-Saturday, January 13

6th Annual Black Comic Book Festival
Friday: 10am-8pm; Saturday: 10am-7pm
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
All Ages
Learn all about the rich history of black comic book artists and their work at the 6th Annual Black Comic Book Festival at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This fest will feature film screenings, panel discussions, arts and crafts workshops for kids, and much more. Expect an action-packed day! Pre-registration is required.

Saturday, January 13

Family Art Project: Freedom Quilting Bee
10am-1pm
Wave Hill
All Ages
Join Wave Hill this Saturday for its Freedom Quilting Bee! In honor of Martin Luther King, who established the first Freedom Quilting Bee in 1966 in rural Alabama, families can create their own quilts using squares of donated fabric. Please note: Admission to the garden is free until noon only.

Read-to-Skate StoryTime
12-1pm
Bryant Park
All Ages
Listen to riveting stories while earning free skate rentals at The Rink during Read-to-Skate StoryTime in Bryant Park! Kids will receive a stamped StoryTime card. Visitors who attend two StoryTime programs and also attend one program at the NYPL’s Children Center (or read one library book there) will be awarded a free skate rental for The Rink in Bryant Park. Participants can also score free books courtesy of Penguin Random House. While supplies last.

Sunday, January 14

“Breaking Ice: The Battle of the Carmens”
2:30pm
Denny Ferrell Riverbank State Park Skating Complex
All Ages
This Sunday, Alice Hall Moran will present a new vocal work featuring the Ice Theatre of New York. Part of PROTOTYPE’s Out of Bounds installment, a series of free performances of new works in public spaces, this piece takes place on the ice and is inspired by the artist’s childhood and the 1988 Winter Olympics. Please note: Skaters are encouraged to watch the performance while on the ice. In order to do so, please arrive 20 minutes prior to show time.

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center offers year-round, community-based dance and music programming in a fully inclusive and nurturing environment, located in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. The School&rsquo;s diverse and professional faculty provides progressive and non-competitive instruction with all of our classes accompanied by live music. Though we are a non-recital school, there are opportunities for students to perform and for parents to see their dancers in action.</span></p>

TADA! Youth Theater

<div> <p dir="ltr"><strong>TADA! Youth Theater Summer Camps (July 10-August 25, 2023)</strong>&nbsp;Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! TADA! is excited to be back in person with our popular Week-long Musical Theater Summer Camps!&nbsp; Every week your child will:</p> <p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>ENGAGE IN MUSICAL THEATER TRAINING</li> <li>CREATE, REHEARSE &amp; PERFORM AN ORIGINAL MINI- MUSICAL</li> <li>EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS AND IDENTITY</li> <li>SHARE THEIR VOICE AND BE HEARD</li> <li>RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION AND SOLO OPPORTUNITIES</li> <li>EXPERIENCE ENSEMBLE-BASED INSTRUCTION BY TWO PROFESSIONAL NYC TEACHING ARTISTS</li> <li>MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH NEW FRIENDS</li> </ul> On the last day of camp, we invite friends and family to attend the debut of your child&rsquo;s original mini-musical!<br /> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr">Limited spots available! All of our classes take place in-person at 15 W. 28th Street (between Broadway &amp; 5th) and culminate in a final sharing for an invited audience.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>For more info or to register for our Summer Camps, visit our website&nbsp;<a href="https://tadatheater.com/summercamps/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tadatheater.com/summercamps/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1682524227382000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1jPPuT0S0YVPJg0I1oXofv">HERE!</a></strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Looking for a sample class before registering?</strong>&nbsp;Join us Saturday, June 3rd for an in-person sample class, Q&amp;A, and the best discount of the summer!&nbsp; Registration required to attend!&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong>For more info. or to register for our Summer Open house, click&nbsp;<a href="https://tadatheater.com/open-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tadatheater.com/open-house/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1682524227382000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2CheiFLQooj66wqzmTeKCc">HERE!</a></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong>No child should be turned away because of their inability to pay.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://tadatheater.com/financial-assistance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tadatheater.com/financial-assistance/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1682524227382000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1-oTxJlL31iv2yEG3kUDrj">Financial Assistance available.&nbsp;</a></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Questions?</strong></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[email protected]</a></strong></div> </div> <div> <div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Chickenshed NYC

<p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that began in the UK in 1974. Chickenshed NYC is a young organization bringing that same ethos and unique methodology to the USA. Chickenshed&rsquo;s mission is to create entertaining and outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed's model of Inclusive Theatre is based in the belief that everyone can flourish when everyone is included. At Chickenshed everyone is welcome, everyone is valued, and together we produce remarkable theatre. We want to break down barriers between people to create a world without labels and where differences no longer divide. At Chickenshed, support is given to those who need it, and given by those who can . We believe that creative activities, self-expression and performance should be available to anyone who has the desire, no matter their background or circumstances. We know that when everyone has the opportunity to shine, amazing things happen.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed NYC provides programming for little ones, children and youth through semester-long activities and performances.</p>