President’s Day long weekend is here! Founding fathers aside, there’s lots to celebrate in this extra time off, including the spectacular Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum, President’s Day bashes, and a video game festival, all below.
Bonus: If you feel like a spontaneous family trip, we have five great history-minded ideas for you right here.
STARTING FRIDAY
Kickstart the weekend with “Lion King” puppeteer William Hubner, who’s teaching kids how to make recycled masks–and appreciate the environment–in Upper Manhattan. Roar! (Friday)
Budding artists can learn to make origami cranes, butterflies, and more at Chatham Square Library in FiDi. Get creative! (Friday)
Have you ever seen Mount Rushmore…in cheese form? History comes to delicious, 160-pound life at Ripley’s just in time for President’s Day Weekend. Groovy. (Friday & Saturday)
The video game festival known as IndieCade East is giving young gamers the chance to test out new platforms, see games being made live, and more at the Museum of the Moving Image. Better get that homework done quick. (Friday-Sunday)
STARTING SATURDAY
Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum means seven whole days of family fanfare, starting with circus fun with Bindlestiff and other performers this weekend. Get the scoop here. (Saturday)
Spice up your weekend at the Museum of the City of New York, where the 28th annual New York Sword Dance Festival returns. Gleaming blades, weaving choreography–oh my! (Saturday)
Fancy making your own perfume? Head over to the Museum of Art and Design’s Family Fun Day, which will teach you how to do just that in honor of their new exhibit. Get a whiff of that! (Saturday)
Celebrate Mardi Gras the wholesome way at the Children’s Museum of Art, where a costume parade, noisemaker workshops, and other artsy festivities await. Woot! (Saturday)
It’s Carnaval at El Museo del Barrio, which is hosting a bash of storytelling, mask making, and dance workshops for this week’s Super Sabado. Say “hola” to fun! (Saturday)
Who better to help tots learn about science, math, and life than Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat? Now at Liberty Science Center. (Saturday-Monday)
Calling all Harry Potter fans: James and Oliver Phelps, the actors who play the Weasley twins in the magical movies, will be signing autographs at the Discovery Times Square exhibit this weekend. Wow! (Saturday-Monday)
SUNDAY ONLY
Chase away the winter blues with the funky drum beats of Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band, who’s bringing their trademark humor to 92YTribeca. Ready to laugh out loud? (Sunday)
Commemorate George Washington’s birthday with a traditional country dance at Mount Vernon Hotel Museum, complete with 19th century garb and quenching refreshments. Hip, hip, hooray! (Sunday)
MONDAY ONLY
NY Historical Society presents a yummy twist on a historical day with History of Chocolate, a family-friendly festival of colonial hot chocolate making and tasting. Bottoms up! (Monday)
