Events: Top Kid-Friendly Activities For The Week

Unicycle Festival NYC 2015 will kick off this Thursday in Battery Park! Photo by Steve via Flickr.

Labor Day weekend is fast approaching, and for families across the country that means one last chance to bid summer farewell. In store for NYC families are several fests and fairs including the Unicycle Festival and the ever-popular West Side County Fair in Riverside Park. Flutter over to the American Museum of Natural History and check out its Butterfly Conservatory. Take in some tugboat racing or a marvelous moon celebration. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

For even more ways to enjoy Labor Day in the city, click here!

Thursday, September 3-Sunday, September 6

Unicycle Festival NYC 2015
Various locations throughout NYC
Various times
(Uni)cyclists of all ages and abilities are welcome at Unicycle Festival NYC 2015! This annual event takes place over several days beginning in Battery Park on Thursday and ending on Governors Island on Sunday. Fest activities on Governors Island include one-wheel relay races, kite flying, sumo wrestling, and games of unicycle basketball and hockey. This year, for the first time, the festival will host a costume contest during which cyclists can vie for top prizes. Festival-goers can also learn how to ride a unicycle during afternoon riding workshops. Admission is free.

Beginning Saturday, September 5

The Butterfly Conservatory
American Museum of Natural History
10am-5:45pm
The Butterfly Conservatory is back at the American Museum of Natural History! More than 500 of these winged creatures can be found fluttering through the conservatory during this seasonal exhibition. Butterfly lovers of all ages will learn about the caterpillar transformation process and other fascinating butterfly facts. Species include swallowtails, blue morphos, and owls. Free with museum admission.

Saturday, September 5

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Forsyth Street (between East Broadway & Division Street)
4pm-10pm
Chinatown will host the second annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival this Saturday. All ages can enjoy street dance performances, giveaways, arts and crafts, traditional Chinese food, and more. This year’s live entertainment includes a Zumba session and a performance by the Salome James Jazz Trio. Admission is free.

Sunday, September 6

23rd Annual Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition
Pier 84
10am-2pm
Watch as tugboats race on the Hudson during the 23rd Annual Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition. Boats will also vie for awards in “nose to nose pushing” and “line toss” competitions. Kids will get a kick out of watching the spinach eating contest. To view all the racing action from the water, hop aboard the Spectator Boat. Boat departs at 9:30am. Spectator boat tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for kids.

West Side County Fair
Riverside Park
1pm-6pm
What better way to celebrate Labor Day weekend than with a county fair. The West Side County Fair in Riverside Park will include attractions like sideshow performers, carnival rides and games, reptile shows, aerialists, and live music. Plus, be sure to end your day at the fair with cotton candy! Admission is free.

Plugged in Band

<div>Plugged In is a nonprofit program that offers online programs to student&nbsp;musicians (Ages 10-18) in a non-competitive environment and provides band and individual performance opportunities in support of community and charitable causes.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Our programs include:</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Rock Band Classes</div> <div>Private Music Lessons</div> <div>Summer Camp</div> <div>Digital/Audio Production</div> <div>Songwriting and Recording Workshops</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Oh and hey parents, we are now offering private music lessons and our rock band program for adults too. Reach out to us for more information.&nbsp;</div>

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Looking for something to do with the kids in New York City that is fun, exciting, and educational? The Intrepid Museum offers family-friendly activities and programs all year long that keep children engaged, entertained, and curious about history and science. Fun rain or shine, the Museum offers both indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits and activities. With so many things to do and see, you&rsquo;ll never hear &ldquo;I&rsquo;m bored,&rdquo; when you climb aboard Intrepid. A non-profit, educational institution featuring the legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid, the space shuttle Enterprise, the world&rsquo;s fastest jets and a guided missile submarine.<br /></span></p>

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Summer Game Camp</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash;</p> <p dir="ltr">- Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers!</p> <p dir="ltr">- Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more!</p> <p dir="ltr">- Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch!</p> <p dir="ltr">- A digital campus!</p> <p dir="ltr">- Moderated chat hours!</p> <p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr">Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more!</p> <p dir="ltr">Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm</p> <p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr">Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together!</p> <p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.</p>