Free Kid and Family Activities in NYC: 10 Free Things to do this Week
When those lists come out of the most expensive cities to live in, New York City is always on the list, which can all feel a bit crazy. Rent is how much? That sandwich is $20?! With the cost of living increasing, many parents must be more frugal than ever.
But, hey, we aren’t bashing our city; we love it, and what we love most about it is that while expensive, it is one of the best cities that embraces community and offers so many free things for kids and families.
We always feature events on NYF, and you can find many on our calendar of events, but we are now sharing every week ten things you can do for FREE for the week ahead throughout the five boroughs.
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Free Family Events 4/26-5/2
Kids Week: Spring Water Colors Crafts. April showers bring May flowers. Join the Rangers to celebrate the first signs of spring and create a springtime-related craft using watercolors and other provided materials. Friday, April 26, 11 am – 12 pm. All ages. De Matti Park, Tompkins Ave., bet. Chestnut St. and Shaughnessy La., Mariners Park, Staten Island.
Arbor Day Creative Break at Little Island Go on a park-wide scavenger hunt and meet members of the horticulture team as you learn about Little Island’s diverse trees and become an official ‘Little Island Explorer.’ After the hunt, get creative with an art making activity, where you can craft nature-inspired art using leaves and twigs to create bugs, butterflies or trees. Friday, April 26, 11 am – 1 pm. All ages. Little Island, W 13th St, Meatpacking District, Manhattan.
Kids Superhero Party Dress up as your favorite superhero to celebrate the start of spring with thrilling activities, epic adventures, magic show, and fun! Saturday, April 27, 11 am – 1 pm. Ages 3-8. The Shops at Atlas Park, 8000 Cooper Avenue, Glendale, Queens
Earth Day Festival Celebrate Earth Day with family-friendly activities and sustainable swaps for all ages. Learn to repurpose clothing, trade plants, make music with recycled materials, decorate bandanas, create nutritional herb bundles and a community mosaic, participate in a planting project, and make seed bombs for green spaces across the city. Saturday, April 27, 11 am – 2 pm. All ages. Fort Greene Park, Dekalb Avenue &, S Portland Ave., Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
Crafts with Cathy Celebrate spring with a craft workshop where participants can create their own spring themed paper wreath. Saturday, April 27, 2 – 4 pm. All ages. Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, 4881 Broadway St., Inwood, Manhattan.
Tot Time Enjoy a fun morning of toddler-friendly crafts and activities! Storytime at 11:30am, and a short hike at 12:00pm. Tuesday, April 30, 11 am – 12:30 pm. Ages 2-5. Shirley Chisholm State Park (Hendrix Creek Patio), 1750 Pennsylvania Ave., East New York, Brooklyn.
Teen Fitness Teens are invited to learn the basics of Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, and weight training to improve their overall health. Tuesday, April 30, 2:30 – 4 pm. Ages 13-18. Hunts Point Recreation Center, 765 Manida St., Hunts Point, Bronx.
Little Movers Storytime: May Flowers. Hear stories all about spring flowers, sing songs, and get those wiggles out as you help your active child build important early learning skills. Discover ways to promote early literacy at home and meet other caregivers in the neighborhood. Wednesday, May 1, 11:15 am – noon. 18-36 months. Mariners Harbor Library, 206 South Ave., Mariners Park, Staten Island.
AANHPI: Create Your Own Leis Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month by making your own colorful lei. Wednesday, May 1, 3 – 3:45 pm. Ages 6-12. Auburndale Library, 25-55 Francis Lewis Boulevard, Flushing, Queens.
Butterfly Suncatchers Listen to a book about butterflies, and then color butterfly suncatchers to hang on a window to catch the light! Wednesday, May 1, 4 – 5 pm. Ages 6-12. Allerton Library, 2740 Barnes Ave., Williamsbridge, Bronx.
