Welcome to summer–Memorial Day is here! Over the long weekend, families can embark on prehistoric adventures at the Bronx Zoo’s all-new Dinosaur Safari, dive into the New York Aquarium’s partial reopening, and dance it out at the Governors Island Family Festival. And that’s just the beginning…see for yourself below.
STARTING FRIDAY
American Girl is hosting a fairy tale come true on Broadway, with a “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” screening, an actor Q&A, and a feast at the store’s cafe. Magical! (Friday)
Calling all Lego lovers: Build to your hearts’ content at Liberty Science Center, whose Block Party exhibit features more than 1,600 blocks, cogs, cylinders, and gadgets. Get busy! (Friday-Monday)
Shipwreck treasure and pirate lore come to Discovery Times Square, where you can ogle 500+ authentic items then dig for gold at a robot installation. Ahoy, there! (Friday-Monday)
Celebrate Memorial Day at the Intrepid Museum’s kick-off for its Summer Salute to Heroes, which includes festive activities and performances, an epic game of Simon Sez, and more. Feeling patriotic? (Friday-Monday)
You know it’s summer when Victorian Gardens, the amusement park in Central Park, opens its roller coasters and magic shows. See the line-up here. (Friday-Monday)
More carnival fun: Rides like Corona Choo Choo, Queens Himalaya, and Fantasy Frog Hopper come to Queen’s only amusement park at Flushing Meadows Carousel. Hop on! (Friday-Monday)
Marvel at Google-approved, kid-created art at the American Museum of Natural History, which is showcasing the 50 winners of the Doodle 4 Google contest. Genius. (Friday-Monday)
STARTING SATURDAY
Do you lava volcanoes? Learn all about these natural wonders, then create your own eruptions and “fizzy paintings” at the Chidren’s Museum of Manhattan. Getting hot, hot, hot! (Saturday)
Governors Island’s family festival and opening weekend means all sorts of kindie concerts, bubbles, puppet making, bouncy houses, and much more. What’s not to love? (Saturday)
Feel the beat at La Mama Theater’s beatbox workshop. Learn to combine rap, spoken word, and other vocal effects for a whole other kind of sound. Rock on! (Saturday)
The Cloisters is celebrating 75 years with a magical festival of unicorns crafts, mythical art hunts, and a Magic Tree House reading with author Mary Pope Osborne. Ooh, ahh. (Saturday & Sunday)
Go back to prehistoric times at the Bronx Zoo‘s brand new Dinosaur Safari, featuring 40-foot animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar, plus crafts and musicals galore. They’re alive! (Saturday-Monday)
The New York Aquarium reopens after being hit by Hurricane Sandy! Come say hello to the friendly creatures at the Aquatheater, now with a new sea lion demonstration. Wild! (Saturday-Monday)
SUNDAY ONLY
Summer on the Hudson brings soulful house music from local DJ Herbert Holler to an all ages dance party at West Harlem Piers Park this weekend. Ready to groove? (Sunday)
Turn an average picnic into an interactive dance and story circle at a Native American-themed edition of A Clearing in the Forest at Central Park. Hello, culture. (Sunday)
