Free Family Events This Weekend! (March 16-18)

The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place this Saturday along Fifth Avenue! Photo via facebook.com.

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

Through Friday, March 16

Celtic Sounds
12:30-1:30pm
One Liberty Plaza
All Ages
Stop by during lunch and enjoy traditional Celtic music! On Friday, Jameson’s Revenge will perform.

Friday, March 16

Tilt Kids Festival: Bassam Saba & Musicians of the NY Arabic Orchestra
5:30pm
Cultural Services of the French Embassy
Ages 4 and up
Part of the Tilt Kids Festival, this performance teams Bassam Saba with April Centrone and members of the New York Arabic Orchestra; they’ll take you and your kids on a journey into Arabic music. Reservations required; seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Saturday, March 17

8th Annual Irish Arts Center Book Day
9am
Various locations throughout NYC
All Ages
Celebrate Irish literature citywide on Saturday! Enjoy this free program, rich with reading opportunities, for every type of book lover. This event will be conducted in all five boroughs in various locations; please see website for details. This event starts at 9am and will last until there are no more books to give away!

NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
11am-5pm
5th Avenue (between 44th and 79th Streets)
All Ages
Come out and experience the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day in the Big Apple. Where else can you find hundreds of happy people wearing green in the middle of March? Be sure to dress warmly so that you can truly revel in the experience. A long-standing tradition (since 1762!), this is sure to be on many a New Yorker’s event list this week.

50th Anniversary of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” Screenings
12:15-4pm
The Paley Center
All Ages
Remember Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood? Chances are, your kids have never seen the show, and there’s no better way to introduce them than at this event. Every Saturday, the Paley Center will screen Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods.

Sunday, March 18

Special Day for Special Kids
10am-12pm
New York Transit Museum
All Ages
This event is designed for children with disabilities and their families. Come to the museum early and enjoy fun activities in a smaller environment. Registration is required.

Brooklyn’s St. Patrick’s Parade
1pm
Begins at: 15th Street & Prospect Park West
All Ages
Celebrate the holiday with this parade, that travels from 15th Street & Prospect Park West down 15th Street to 7th Avenue, along 7th Avenue to Garfield Place, up Garfield Place to Prospect Park West, and along Prospect Park West to 15th Street.

Polaris Productions Theater Camp

Kids will learn, rehearse, and perform the wonderful Maurice Sendak and Carole King musical, Really Rosie. For 10 weekdays, campers will take part in physical and vocal warm-ups and learn choreography, staging, and vocal parts. They&rsquo;ll develop skills in acting, singing, character development, and more. This camp will ignite your child&rsquo;s imagination and passion for performing, build their self-esteem, and help them form lasting friendships. They&rsquo;ll have fun! At camp&rsquo;s end, the kids will perform Really Rosie for family members and friends. Kids of all levels of experience, ages 8 through 13, are welcome to join.

Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy

The Morgan Library &amp; Museum will present a major exhibition devoted to the life and career of its inaugural director, Belle da Costa Greene (1879&ndash;1950). Widely recognized as an authority on illuminated manuscripts and deeply respected as a cultural heritage executive, Greene was one of the most prominent librarians in American history. The exhibition will trace Greene&rsquo;s storied life, from her roots in a predominantly Black community in Washington, D.C., to her distinguished career at the helm of one of the world&rsquo;s great research libraries. Through extraordinary objects―from medieval manuscripts and rare printed books to archival records and portraits―the exhibition will demonstrate the confidence and savvy Greene brought to her roles as librarian, scholar, curator, and cultural executive, and honor her enduring legacy.

Asphalt Green

Asphalt Green&rsquo;s high-quality sports programs start at 4 months old. Two beautiful facilities in vibrant Manhattan neighborhoods provide the optimal space for children to learn the fundamentals, play for leisure, or compete at the highest level. As the leading sports and fitness facility in Manhattan, Asphalt Green&rsquo;s never-before- seen training methods focus on improving your mental and physical game. Whether participating in swim, soccer, flag football, martial arts, basketball, baseball, tennis, or volleyball, coaches instill values that set athletes up for success in life and bring out their full potential in sports.