Free Family Events This Weekend! (August 25-27)

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will take place this Saturday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park! Photo via facebook.com.

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

Through Friday, August 25

US Open Experience
10am-8pm
South Street Seaport
All Ages
For the first time ever, tennis fans of all ages can visit the US Open experience, a two-day, free tennis extravaganza bringing the tennis experience from Queens to Manhattan’s South Street Seaport District. Families can enter into a modified version of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, featuring the iconic Unisphere. The tennis festival feature tons of events including player appearances, autograph signings, photo opportunities, food tastings, and musical performances.

Through Saturday, August 26

Central Park Conservancy Film Festival
6:30pm
Central Park
Ages 13 an up
Watch spectacular films under the stars at the 2017 Central Park Conservatory Film Festival. As a beloved tradition, this year’s festival will continue featuring free outdoor screenings and will be traveling to different parks around the New York City area in honor of the Conservancy’s ongoing commitment to support our fellow city parks. The festival will also have DJ Spin Diesel who will be playing music before the movie begins at 8pm. Guests should arrive at 6:30pm.

Friday, August 25

Free Entrance Days at National Parks
9am
Various National Park sites throughout the country
All Ages
Head to the park for a family picnic to celebrate the 100th birthday of our National Parks on Friday, August 25. Admission to all parks throughout the New York City area will be free. This is a great opportunity for people of all ages to visit their local park or explore a new one.

Saturday, August 26

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day
9:30am-4pm
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Queens
All Ages
This Saturday, Net Generation will present Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the US Open in honor of the tennis icon. This annual event, which is the largest single-day tennis and entertainment event in the world, will feature live music by Sofia Carson, Jack & Jack, Why Don’t We, and more. Plus, kids will have the amazing opportunity to watch Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal–two of the top men’s players in the world–duke it out in fun exhibition matches and skills competitions! Before the stadium show, beginning at 1pm, little tennis stars can enjoy free tennis activities on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center starting at 9:30am. Please note: Games and activities are free; stadium show requires the purchase of a ticket (starting at $10).

10th Annual South Slope Soap Box Derby
11:30am-5pm
KoKo NYC, Brooklyn
All Ages
Watch the South Slope Soap Box Derby on Saturday, the culmination of KoKo NYC’s Soap Box Summer Workshop! Kids between the ages of 7 and 15 have built their own soap boxes throughout the summer. They’ll put their creations to the test during this annual neighborhood race.

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
12-1pm
Books of Wonder
Ages 2-5
Visit Books of Wonder for their Saturday Storytime featuring The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. The show is a puppet performance based on Eric Carle’s iconic children’s book. Kids and families can watch the hungry caterpillar devour food and transform into a beautiful butterfly. After the performance, children and their families can meet the cast, get their pictures taken, and purchase books signed by the performers.

Indonesian Street Festival: The Spice Islands
12-5pm
East 68th Street (between Madison and 5th Avenues)
All Ages
Be sure to visit the Indonesian Street Festival where families can learn more about Indonesian heritage by experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of its exotic culture. The theme for this year’s festival is The Spice Islands in honor of 350 years of the Breda Treaty between England. The festival will feature authentic Indonesian cuisine from across the archipelago, workshops for kids, entertainment, and prizes all afternoon for everyone.

Sunday, August 26

41st Annual Brighton Jubilee
10am-6pm
Brighton Beach Avenue (from Corbin Place to Coney Island Avenue), Brooklyn
All Ages
Enjoy the final days of summer during the 41st annual Brighton Jubilee! It’ll be a fantastic day at the beach where you can play in the waves and sand or stroll along the Riegelman Wooden Boardwalk. There will also be food stands aplenty to make sure you have enough calories to walk the three-mile boardwalk. This event will take place rain or shine.

Battle of Brooklyn: Commemoration
11am-3pm
Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
All Ages
Take a trolley into the past during this year’s Commemoration of the Battle of Brooklyn at Green-Wood Cemetery. The Battle of Brooklyn, the first battle of the American Revolution to be fought after the Declaration of Independence had been signed, took place in 1776. In memory of the battle, families can take a ticketed trolley tour of Green-Wood’s 478 luscious green acres, experience life during revolutionary-era New York through re-enactments and historical cooking demos, participate in the Battle of Brooklyn Parade, and take part in the closing ceremony. This event will take place rain or shine.

Wash Day
2-4pm
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
All Ages
Head to Prospect Park this Sunday for Wash Day! Learn how people cleaned their clothes during the 19th century, and cool down while in the hot summer sun! Tubs, washboards, and bar soap will be provided. Please note: While this event is free, there is a suggested donation fee of $3.

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp 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; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons 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; &nbsp; 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! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior 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.

Treehouse Shakers

<div>Treehouse Shakers&rsquo; Branching OUT After-School program is for ages 12-14. This awarded program is for young people who identify as LGBTQIA+, or are seeking to become better allies. Branching OUT centers on discovering and exploring one&rsquo;s story and identity through an intentionally artist-led format. During our community-based program, young people will explore and reflect on their own story to create a larger, more meaningful experience, while gaining self-empowerment and gathering with like-minded peers. Through the guidance of our awarded teaching artists, young people will create narratives that will be turned into podcasts, dances, songs or poetry.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Young people have the opportunity to learn new art forms, work with professional artists, while building a meaningful community.</div>

CK Kids

CK Kids offers various classes and programs, including Afterschool Program, Lil Chefs, Boys Hip-Hop, Ninja Starz, Lil Artists, CK Kids Athletic Programs, Acrobatics, Dance and Drama, and Karate.&nbsp;