Spring fairs and fests abound this weekend in NYC. The first weekend in May brings a block party with one of the nation’s best American art museums, a bird fest for outdoor lovers, and three spring events especially for families. Let’s hope those April showers bring an abundance of May flowers!
Saturday, May 2
Whitney Block Party
The Whitney Museum of American Art
10:30am-10pm
Celebrate the opening of the Whitney Museum’s new downtown location with a block party! On Saturday, the museum is offering free admission to visitors as well as performances and hands-on activities for all ages, created by local organizations and artists and sponsored by Macy’s. The festivities include karaoke, puppetry, dance, and poetry performances, map-making workshops, and much more. This event is free. No reservations are required, however, guests must have tickets for museum entry (available on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday).
On A Wing Festival
Central Park
12pm-3pm
All ages should fly over to Central Park for its annual On a Wing Festival. Fest-goers can watch a butterfly release show and puppet performance, go on a guided bird walk with the NYC Audubon Society and Urban Park Rangers, pose for photos with Big Mama, the European Eagle Owl, and encounter live bats and birds of prey. This event will take place rain or shine. The fest is free, however advance registration is required.
Sunday, May 3
Spring Family Day
Museum of the Moving Image
11:30am-4pm
Enjoy all that the Museum of the Moving Image has to offer during Spring Family Day. All ages can participate in interactive activities from the Future of StoryTelling and a “SmellSelfies” demo by the creators of the oPhone. Also, be sure to stick around for a screening of the new documentary, “I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story.” Free with museum admission (documentary screening not included with admission); children ages 12 and under are free.
Come Make Art! Spring Benefit 2015
Children’s Museum of the Arts
12pm-4pm
Join Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Eric and Stacey Eisner, and Jane Krakowski for the Children’s Museum of the Arts spring benefit! The afternoon will feature art workshops in different mediums including sculpture, photography, animation, and jewelry-making, Music & Story Time with Neil Patrick Harris and Max Casella, snacks, gift bags, and a silent auction. Ticket packages are available. Proceeds will benefit the museum’s free community programs.
Spring Family Fair
The Morgan Museum & Library
2pm-5pm
This Sunday, learn all about Abe Lincoln during The Morgan’s Spring Family Fair. Visitors will be treated to live music from the Ebony Hillbillies, a freedom quilt-making workshop, personalized handwritten notes in the style of our 16th president from professional scribe Karen Gorst, a performance by Lincoln impersonator and comedian Peter Strauss, and more. Tickets are $8 for adults and $2 for children.
