Enjoy the dog days of summer at our event picks this week, all five of which are outdoors! Take a ride on the new SeaGlass carousel, relive a major historic battle, hear some blues while eating BBQ, listen to some ” kindie pop,” and check out tons of vintage VW Beetles. Enjoy!
Thursday, August 20
SeaGlass Carousel Opening Day
Battery Park
1pm-midnight
Battery Park’s SeaGlass Carousel is finally opening to the public this Thursday! To commemorate the Battery’s history as the first home of the New York Aquarium, the carousel is shaped like a nautilus shell and features 30 luminescent fish, some of which are up to 13.5 feet tall! Riders will sit inside the fish for an immersive, under-the-sea experience. Rides are $5 per person.
Beginning Saturday, August 22
Battle Week
Various locations throughout Brooklyn
Various times
In honor of the 239th anniversary of the largest battle of the Revolutionary War, Brooklyn’s Old Stone House will host Battle Week beginning this Saturday. Festivities include walking tours, ceremonies, reenactments, a display of Revolutionary War flags, and much more! This weekend, there will be a Prison Ships Martyrs memorial ceremony in Fort Greene Park, a family-friendly scavenger hunt trivia battle at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Center, and an Evergreens Cemetery walking tour. Most events are free. Runs through Sunday, August 30.
Saturday, August 22
Blues BBQ Festival
Hudson River Park
2pm-9pm
Hudson River Park’s Blues BBQ Festival will return for its 16th year this Saturday! Featuring some of the best blues and roots musicians from around the country, such as the Otis Taylor Band and Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens, alongside food from New York’s favorite BBQ restaurants, the fest makes for a perfect summer afternoon party. Admission is free. This event will occur rain or shine.
Saturday, August 22-Sunday, August 23
Danny Weinkauf and His Red Pants Band
The Bronx Zoo
Various times
Enjoy a performance by the Grammy-award winning They Might Be Giants bassist Danny Weinkauf, who is known in the world of kindie pop for his hit “I am a Paleontologist” as well as for his first solo album for kids, No School Today. His new song “Champion of the Spelling Bee” is #1 on Sirius XM’s Kids Place Live and was featured in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Performances will be at 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm.
Sunday, August 23
NYC Volkswagen Traffic Jam
Governors Island
10am
If your little ones can’t get enough of 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. Registration is not required for spectators. This event is free.
