Want to know what fun things are happening in Manhattan this April? Check out our list of 10 free and low-cost events for kids and families in NYC, including a children's theater festival, Phineas and Ferb on stage, and Gustafer Yellowgold's new show.
April 1
No Fooling!
After a national tour, Gustafer Yellowgold returns home to NYC on April Fools’ Day with an all-new multimedia show celebrating the release of his new DVD/CD “Gustafer Yellowgold’s Year In The Day” at 92YTribeca. Click for details
April 5-9
Phineas and Ferb Go Live
Though Phineas and Ferb are famous for annoying their sister Candace with their grand plans, this may be their most impressive stunt yet: The brothers are going on a live tour, popping out of your television screen and landing squarely on stage in Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best Live Tour Ever! As the brothers attempt to achieve an epic escape, the whole familiar cast of characters gets involved in their hijinks, including Candace, Perry the platypus (also known as Agent P in his secret double life), and evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz. The plot takes place during the magical hiatus of summer vacation—and as any child knows, that’s a time when truly anything can happen. Click for details
Opens April 20
Green, Scheme, and Velveteen
In the mood for something new? The New York Children’s Theater Festival will showcase three never-before-seen productions chosen by a selective judging panel from a slew of submissions. Originally created to promote and develop live, innovative children’s entertainment, the festival has chosen three diverse shows this year that range in content from environmental awareness to bullying to love and friendship. Each weekend (April 20 through May 5), will feature its own show, with one performance on Friday evening and two during the day on Saturday. Up first is Go Green! Prince Charming’s Quest for Love and Ecology in NYC, an upbeat and exciting musical fairy tale about a modern-day Prince Charming faced with a big choice. Scheme of the Superbullies is next, and the pairing of hilarious songs and serious themes will have audience members of all ages laughing and thinking simultaneously. The festival concludes with The Velveteen Rabbit, an adaption of the class children’s story featuring both live actors and puppets.
April 27-29
More Than Movies
Whether you are specifically interested in the field of developmental disabilities or simply an enthusiast for unique and artistic films, the Sprout Film Festival is worth checking out. Now in its 10th year, the festival will present 53 films representing 13 countries, chosen from several hundred submissions. In addition to film screenings, directors, producers, and cast members will be in attendance to participate in Q&A discussions. The festival is a core program of Sprout, a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering travel, recreation, and arts programs to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A detailed schedule of screenings and programs is available online; please note, not all films are suitable for children. Seating for each screening begins 20 minutes before the film starts and is general admission. Click for details
April 29
Bring Your Own Monkey
On the last Sunday of April, 92YTribeca’s weekly B.Y.O.K. (Bring Your Own Kid) concert series will feature Recess Monkey. The acclaimed children’s music band hails from Seattle and is made up of three elementary school teachers who use inspiration from their classrooms to create catchy tunes. Jack Forman, Daron Henry, and Andrew Holloway perform songs that are a winning combination of sing-able and danceable. With titles like “Covered in Bandaids” and “Bravest Kid in the World” accompanied by impressive instrumental skills, not to mention the band’s obvious passion for teaching and performing, it’s easy to see why the trio strikes a chord with kids and parents alike. Click for details
Throughout April
Tree Huggers Unite
Earth Day falls on April 22 this year, but with all the fun nature-based activities happening throughout April, why not spend the whole month teaching your kids the importance of treating the Earth right? Better yet, use the holiday as an excuse to kick off a new family initiative to go green. These events make it easy to have fun while learning to care for the planet.
For even more fun things to do in NYC, head to our full, searchable calendar of events.
