Explore the worlds of Katniss Everdeen and Alice in Wonderland, paddleboard in Central Park, and read poetry on Governors Island with these picks for family fun in June and July.
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Music in the Square
Through July 30 [Ages 0-12] Start your Thursdays on the right note this summer with this year’s amazing line-up of Mad. Sq. Kids concerts! Featuring top-notich artists such as Grammy-winner Danny Weinkauf and his Red Pants Band, and Grammy nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could, Alistair Moock and Friends, and more, these interactive shows will have little ones moving and grooving. Rain or shine; adult supervision required. Free, 10:30am (lawn opens at 10am). Farragut Lawn, Madison Square Park, 23rd-26th Streets between Madison and 5th Avenues, madisonsquarepark.org/kids -
Block Party Blowout
June 9 [All Ages] Don’t miss NYC’s biggest annual block party! This year, the 37th annual Museum Mile Festival will kick off at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and feature special exhibitions from the Met; Neue Galerie New York; the Guggenheim; National Academy Museum & School; Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; the Jewish Museum; the Museum of the City of New York; El Museo del Barrio; and the Africa Center. From 82nd to 105th Streets, entertainers such as Silly Billy the Very Funny Clown and Sammie and Tudie’s Imagination Playhouse will take to 5th Avenue as families explore this rich mix of visual and performing arts! Free, 6-9pm. 5th Avenue, 82nd-105th Streets, 212-606-2296, museummilefestival.org -
Let the Games Begin
June 13 [All Ages] Enjoy sports under the summer sun at the first annual Hudson River Park Games! Kids can start the day with a 5K fun run, and then participate in a variety of sporting events, such as a soccer workshop and an Xpogo Clinic and Free Jump, in which professional pogo athletes will guide parents and kids to jump together. Head over to the Games “Village” on Pier 26 for face painting, chalk art, and a bean bag toss. Big City Fishing will also be on hand for catch-and-release fishing, and to teach the kids about water quality, fish biology, and more! Plus, mom and dad can register in advance for classes such as yoga, barre, and cardio kickboxing. All proceeds benefit the park. Prices vary for individual sport activities; activities at the Games Village are free, 8am-6pm. Hudson River Park, Piers 25, 26, 40, 45, and 46, hudsonriverpark.org -
Stories and Songs
June 13 [Ages 4+] Internationally renowned storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston is coming to Lincoln Center to share her repertoire of songs and stories from the African and African-American oral traditions, accompanied by traditional African music. Audience participation is encouraged as Alston brings these stories to life and shares the mythology, beliefs, and cultural practices that have been preserved for generations! $25 for non-members, $18 for members. Clark Studio Theater at Lincoln Center, 165 West 64th Street, 7th Floor, 212-875-5375, kids.lincolncenter.org -
The Great Outdoors
June 20 [All Ages] All ages are invited to join NYC Parks and Backpacker magazine for Adventures NYC, a day of outdoor sports and activities in the heart of the city. Come out to Central Park for rock climbing, biking, stand-up paddleboarding (for ages 8 and up), fitness classes with Shape Up NYC, log rolling, and more! This year will feature the 30th anniversary of the Stihl Timbersports lumberjack competition. Free, 11am-5:30pm. Central Park Bandshell Area (Enter at 72nd Street), nycgovparks.org -
Solstice Celebration
June 21 [All Ages] This beautiful solstice festival at Long Island City’s Socrates Sculpture Park is worth the journey across the East River—especially for the sunset views of the Manhattan skyline! Get creative at Solstice art-making workshops, have your face painted by Agostino Arts, participate in a Solstice Ritual with Urban Shaman Mama Donna, settle down with a picnic, and take in the views. At 7:30pm, enjoy a concert by the Queens Symphony Orchestra. Free, 5-9pm. Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, Queens, socratessculpturepark.org -
Down the Rabbit Hole
Opens June 26 [All Ages] Fans of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland will love the “Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland” exhibit at the Morgan. For the first time in 30 years, the original manuscript (published in 1856) will travel to NYC from the British Library in London, where it will be displayed alongside a collection of original drawings and letters, rare editions, vintage photographs, and other fascinating memorabilia never before exhibited. Be sure to take the free Family Guide along as you explore the exhibition, and starting June 28, children ages 3-6 are invited to stop by Sunday Story time in Mr. Morgan’s library to hear about Alice’s adventures and visit the exhibition. Free with museum admission; $18 adults, $12 children (13-16). The Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Avenue, 212-685-0008, themorgan.org -
Ever In Your Favor
Opens July 1 [Ages 8+] Young Katniss Everdeens will not want to miss “Hunger Games: The Exhibition,” coming to Discovery Times Square this July. This immersive exhibit invites visitors into the world of Panem, where they will view hundreds of authentic costumes and props, see detailed set recreations, and enjoy high-tech interactives as they follow Katniss’ incredible journey through seven galleries. Highlights will include an explorable map of Panem, a stunt choreography interactive, a gamemaker’s control table, the Girl on Fire Dress, Katniss’ bow, and more. Runs through January 3, 2016. Tickets start at $22.50, 9am-8pm. Discovery Times Square, 226 West 44th Street, 866-987-9692, thehungergamesexhibition.com -
Victory Dance
July 9, 16, and 23 [Ages 8+] Take refuge in a cool theater on hot July nights at the New Victory Theater’s “Victory Dance 2015” series. The New Vic has curated an amazing line-up of dance performances to introduce young audiences to New York City’s rich dance scene. While free performances will be offered at summer programs and schools, three ticketed evening performances on July 9, 16, and 23 at the New Victory Theater will be open to the public. This year’s programs will include an Irish step/modern blend (by Darrah Carr Dance), flamenco (by Noche Flamenca), Max Pollak’s RumbaTap—a mix of Afro-Cuban beats, acapella vocals, and tap dance—and more. $10, 7pm. New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd Street, 646-223-3010, newvictory.org -
Time to Rhyme
July 25-26 [Ages 2-18] Children ages 2-18 are invited to Governor’s Island for the NYC Children’s Poetry Festival, sponsored by Writopia Lab, an organization that runs creative writing workshops for kids and teens. During this weekend of inspiration, communication, and fun, kids are invited to share their original work on the kids-only stage. For younger children, there will also be book readings, a Poetree Forest (a land of balloons that children can illustrate and write poems on), in addition to a handmade teepee village to inspire young imaginations. Meanwhile, parents can check out readings on three different stages. Free, 11am-6pm. Colonels Row on Governors Island, newyorkcitypoetryfestival.com
