Staying in the city for spring break (Monday, April 25-Friday, April 29)? It may not be a tropical beach, but New York City has a plethora of options to keep kids having fun and occupied during time off from school–and maybe they’ll even learn something!
1) Catch a Family Matinee at the Museum of the Moving Image
Saturday, April 23-Thursday, April 28
12:30pm
Free with museum admission
Good grief! Head over to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens for a screening of “The Peanuts Movie” in 3D. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang for a 90 minute adventure that will entrance the kids, and stick around for the Mixed-Up Comics workshop at 2:30 (recommended for ages 5-10; separate tickets required).
2) Play at Indoor Extreme Sports
Prices & timing vary depending on the activity
If you want to be the Cool Mom or Dad, bring your kids (and their friends!) over to Indoor Extreme Sports in Long Island City, Queens. They have a bunch of different options, including Laser Tag and Paintball. The Paintball arena has top-of-the-line equipment, tech that keeps clean-up low and a state-of-the-art facility. They have multiple versions of Laser Tag, including Black Ops, Zombie and Archery tag. Get your Katniss Everdeen on with your kids!
3) Visit The Mo Willems Exhibit at The New-York Historical Society
Galleries open Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday: 10am-6pm; Friday: 10am-8pm; Sunday: 11am-5pm; Closed Monday
Activities are free with museum admission ($20 adults, $12 students, free for kids 4 and under)
Perhaps no author has better captured the hearts of modern-day New York City kids than Mo Willems. Stop by the New-York Historical Society’s new exhibit, “The Art and Whimsy of Mo Willems,” and enjoy special events happening this spring break. On April 23 and 30, Elephant and Piggie will be roaming the galleries for photo opps with young fans from 12:30-3:30pm!
4) UniverSoul Circus in Brooklyn & Queens
April 23-24; 27-30
Showtimes vary
Tickets from $20
The circus is in town! With shows throughout the week, UniverSoul Circus is a great day out for kids and parents alike. They combine theater, arts, music and of course, traditional circus acts! Price ranges from $20 to $40, and infants under 11 months get in free! Times of the shows differ on each day, so see which one works for you. The show will run in Brooklyn at the Aviator Sports & Events Center on April 23 and 24, and in Queens at Roy Wilkins Park from April 27-30.
5) Visit “Dinosaurs Among Us” At AMNH
Open daily from 10am-5:45pm
Suggested general admission: $22
Spring break is the perfect time to visit the American Museum of National History’s special exhibit about everyone’s favorite prehistoric beasts. Brush up on your velociraptor, triceratops and brontosaurus facts while learning how the legacy of the dinosaurs lasts to this day. See dinosaur nests and eggs, feathers, and bones to learn how the great Tyrannosaurus Rex is related to birds we see every day. Reserve your tickets now for a dino-day your kids will never forget.
6) See Bello the Clown at the New Victory Theater
April 15-May 1
Showtimes vary
Tickets start at $15
America’s most beloved clown is back on the New Victory stage! Kids will be awestruck once they see him atop his sway pole as he dazzles and delights audiences young and old with his high-flying tricks. A former headliner of Ringling Bros and Big Apple Circus, Bello is a seventh-generation performer whose stunts have landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records as well as in the hearts of thousands of kids.
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7) Enjoy A Bargemusic Family Concert
April 23, 30 at 4pm (Every Saturday)
Free
The kids will get a kick out of Bargemusic, an on-the-water concert series that takes place under the Brooklyn Brdige. Renowned for the classical pieces they play and the serene environment, musically-inclined families will love the floating flotilla of F-Sharps. Most of their concerts need reservations, but every Saturday at 4 PM, they offer free neighborhood family concerts. This one-hour performance is followed by a Q&A with the musicians.
8) Spring Break at MoMA
April 25-29
Workshop times vary
Free with museum admission
Come to the Museum of Modern Art for a variety of spring break programming for children of all ages. Highlights include a reading with Herve Tullet, the author of Press Here, and Mix it Up! for ages 4 and up, followed by a painting workshop; and a reading of What Degas Saw followed by a performance from New York City ballet dancer Dana Jacobson for ages 7 and up!
9) Take a Walking Tour of the Seaport
12:15pm
April 28, 29
The South Street Seaport Museum recently announced a new program of walking tours that explore the history of the Seaport! Learn all about “The Secret Life of the Brooklyn Bridge” on April 28, or discover the eccentric–and dangerous–characters of the city’s fourth ward during “A Wicked Tour of the Fourth Ward” on April 29. All tours are 75 minutes.
10) Vacation Camps
Kids’ classes venues across the city are offering various week-long camps throughout the course of spring break. From sports to STEM to theater, whatever your child’s interest, there’s likely a camp that will fit their needs. Check with your local community center or your favorite organization to see what they are offering, and check out our most recent classes guide for inspiration.
