Lots going on for families in the city this weekend, from early Lunar New Year festivals with lion dances and other cultural fun to a big children’s film festival featuring over 75 screenings. And did we mention a cool new exhibit that uses science to explain jaw-dropping skateboard tricks? That’s only the beginning, so dive in!
STARTING FRIDAY
It’s Grand Central’s 100th birthday! All day long, you can celebrate with live performances, ticket giveaways, yummy treats, and more. Huzzah! (Friday)
Kick off baby’s weekend at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum with a story and crafts session for little ones 18 months to 2 and 1/2 years. How cozy. (Friday)
A truly unique event: Canstruction, the awe-inspiring design contest for building giant structures with canned food for a charity food drive. Don’t miss it! (Friday-Sunday)
STARTING SATURDAY
Learn everything you need to know about babies and pregnancy at Citibabes and Mama Glow’s Prenatal 101, featuring a panel of doctors, advocates, and other wellness experts. Get educated. (Saturday)
Artopia means super cool art projects like chromatography and balloon creating, baked treats, and students performances at The Anderson School in the UWS. Be creative! (Saturday)
Get a first glimpse of “LEGO Legends of Chima” at the Scholastic Store, which is screening the first two episodes of the lifelike animation on IMAX. Magical. (Saturday)
Ring in the Lunar New Year early at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) with a lion dance, dance & martial arts performances, and simple Mandarin lessons for even the youngest of kids. Hip hip hooray! (Saturday)
More New Year festivities: arts workshops, puppet shows, another lion dance, and even a parade at the Children’s Museum of the Arts. So many ways to celebrate! (Saturday & Sunday)
BAMkids Film Festival is back with over 75 films from children, with everything from feature films to shorts. Get the cinematic scoop here. (Saturday & Sunday)
If you like action sports or physics, check out the new Tony Hawk / Rad Science exhibit at the New York Hall of Science, which uses science to explore daredevil skateboard tricks. Nerdy is the new cool. (Saturday & Sunday)
SUNDAY ONLY
Introduce ages 6+ to international music at 92Y’s Family Music concert, where the cello and piano make magic for a manageable 60 minutes. Just right. (Sunday)
Embrace your inner gumshoe with a Harriet the Spy reading and discussion group with three brilliant sleuthy authors at Symphony Space. Stealth mode: on! (Sunday)
For the musical buff, lyricist Johnny Mercer reinvented famed tunes like “Moon River” back in the day. Young audiences can taste the magic at Kaufman Music Center–just be ready to sing along, too! (Sunday)
Can’t get enough Broadway? Sing along with 20-plus Broadway stars to fave numbers to shows like “The Sound Of Music” and “West Side Story” at John Jay College in Midtown West. Classic! (Sunday)
