Free Family Events This Weekend! (August 18-20)

The FlyNYC Festival will take place this Saturday at Pier 1 in Riverside Park! Photo via nycgovparks.org.

Have an amazing weekend without opening your wallet! For even more activity inspiration, check out our Weekend Planner.

Friday, August 18

FACE of 5th Avenue
5-10pm
Bay Ridge 5th Avenue, Brooklyn
All Ages
Looking for a fun Friday evening activity? Bring the family to Brooklyn for FACE of 5th Avenue. FACE, which stands for family arts culinary entertainment, features exactly that. Jam to live music while feasting on the diverse dining options, have fun with the kids through various children’s activities, and then admire the original artwork.

Harlem Dances: Fusha Dance Company
6:30-7:30pm
West Harlem Piers
All Ages
Come dance the night away in Harlem! Fusha Dance Company, a local group that features dancing, drums, and culture from Africa, will be performing during the last installment of this summer’s Harlem Dances event. Live it up while the weather is still warm and don’t miss out on seeing this exciting performance.

The Coney and a Casino with Paul Pippin

Schneps Connects

Saturday, August 19

Battle of Brooklyn Colonial Day
10am-3pm
Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
All Ages
Go back in time for a day at Fort Greene Park and learn all about cooking, games, and other activities from colonial times. See a demonstration of how bread was made, write a letter with quill and ink, and then get your picture taken in front of a wagon. Finish off your day by stopping in to the visitor center between 11am and 2pm for story time.

27th Annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest
12pm
Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk (from West 10th to West 12th Streets)
All Ages
Take your family’s creativity down to the shore this Saturday for the 27th Annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest. There are various categories of competition in which the whole family can compete as a team or against each other to see who has the best sandcastle-building skills. Don’t worry if each of your kids has a different vision—past creations have ranged from traditional castles to extravagant skylines and designs. Make sure to pre-register in order to ensure your spot in the competition.

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FlyNYC Festival
12-5pm
Pier 1 in Riverside Park
All Ages
Since 2009, the soaring FlyNYC Kite Flying Festival has brought families from all over the city to Riverside Park! With kite-making kits for the kids, kites available for purchase, and plenty of sky for everyone, this festival is a great way to enjoy the last few weeks of summer. Other attractions include a variety of food vendors, live music, and more.

North Slope Summer Stroll One with Pizza Eating Contest
5-9pm
North Slope (from Dean to Sterling Streets)
All Ages
This giant block party has something for everyone–and it’s free! A giant bounce house, face painting, and a rock wall are just a few of the fun activities kids can enjoy. The party will also feature exercise classes, vintage cars, and games. Make sure not to miss the pizza eating competition beginning at 6:30pm. Who doesn’t love bouncy houses and pizza?

Saturday, August 19-Sunday, August 20

Harlem Week’s NYC Children’s Festival
Saturday: 12-5pm; Sunday: 12-6pm
West 135th Street (between Malcolm X and A.C. Powell Jr. Boulevards)
Ages 5-12
Head uptown this weekend for Harlem Week’s NYC Children’s Festival! The specific children’s portion of Harlem Week includes a “Back-to-School” kids’ fashion show, as well as dance and spoken word performances, a double-dutch competition, games, sports clinics, face painting, and plenty more activities for the entire family.

Sunday, August 20

NYC Volkswagen Traffic Jam
10am
Governors Island
All Ages
If your little ones are obsessed with 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.

Valerie Green/Dance Entropy: Impermanent Landscape
2pm
Voelker Orth Museum, Queens
All Ages
Come see the marvelous mind bending dance performance “Impermanent Landscape” choreographed by Valerie Green at the Voelker Orth Museum. Inspired by the ever changing landscape of New York City, the performance uses the shapes and architecture of the human body to create this wonderful show adapted for the museum’s garden setting. Please note: This event is free, however there is a suggested donation fee of $5.

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Monster Mini Golf

Upon entering Monster Mini Golf, all perceptions of traditional mini golf will be spirited away by the indoor, 18-hole, monster-theme, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course! The locations in <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Deer Park</a>, and <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/gardencity/">Garden City, NY</a> invite guests to experience a host of family-oriented fun activities. Whether visiting for the first time or the one hundredth, mini golfers feel the excitement and adventure of playing mini golf amidst spooktacular monsters and custom, glow-in-the-dark, hand-painted artwork. While testing their skill on the fairways, lively music flows over the course from the unique &ldquo;WEIRD Radio&rdquo; station&rdquo; and an interactive DJ entertains golfers with contests, awarding cool prizes for the wackiest reasons. While the course is challenging enough for adults, it is also quite playable for children. Monster Mini Golf is open year-round and frightfully fun for the entire family. In addition to miniature golf and thrilling arcade and redemption games, the locations offer additional attractions. <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Monster Mini Golf in Deer Park, NY</a> offers a Laser Maze and a Virtual Reality experience. The Garden City location offers a Laser Maze, Bowling, and a Virtual Reality Experience. Two very posh, private party rooms are also available and are perfect for any event. Monster Mini Golf looks forward to making it a monstrous success. Monster Mini Golf is indoors, ensuring that the event will always take place, regardless of the weather. It is a climate-controlled, affordable source of family entertainment. For more details please visit <a href="http://monsterminigolf.com">monsterminigolf.com</a> or find them on Facebook.

Chickenshed NYC

Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that began in the UK in 1974. Chickenshed NYC is a young organization bringing that same ethos and unique methodology to the USA. Chickenshed&rsquo;s mission is to create entertaining and outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change. Chickenshed's model of Inclusive Theatre is based in the belief that everyone can flourish when everyone is included. At Chickenshed everyone is welcome, everyone is valued, and together we produce remarkable theatre. We want to break down barriers between people to create a world without labels and where differences no longer divide. At Chickenshed, support is given to those who need it, and given by those who can . We believe that creative activities, self-expression and performance should be available to anyone who has the desire, no matter their background or circumstances. We know that when everyone has the opportunity to shine, amazing things happen. Chickenshed NYC provides programming for little ones, children and youth through semester-long activities and performances.

USC Gymnastics & Baseball Training Facility

We offer sports activities, after school programs, birthday parties &amp; private lessons for kids ages 3&ndash;13 years! Our gymnastics classes are a great way to keep your child active and healthy. We strive to empower and challenge children through the sport of gymnastics.