17 Things to Do This Weekend with the Kids in Long Island
There is a lot of Long Island family fun happening this weekend!
Looking for fun plans the whole family will enjoy? Long Island is full of exciting events and activities perfect for parents and kids alike. From hands-on crafts and outdoor adventures to community festivals and cultural outings, there’s plenty to explore. Here is just a taste of what’s happening this weekend in Long Island!
Consult our calendar of events for a comprehensive list!
Art Explorers Club: Watercolor Wonders
Start the weekend with art. Bilingual educator Kim Zambrano will lead kids ages 5–10 in a fun, hands-on program featuring a gallery tour, watercolor painting in Heckscher Park, and the chance to create a colorful summer postcard inspired by their favorite memory. This monthly series encourages creativity, exploration, and connection in both English and Spanish.
August 9, 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave.
Adult + Child Art Class With Deborah Acquino
The Southampton Arts Center invites families to a lively adult-and-child art class that encourages creativity, connection, and hands-on fun. In a supportive environment led by an experienced instructor, young artists and their grown-ups will explore new techniques, experiment with various materials, and enjoy screen-free time together. Each session offers collaborative projects designed to inspire imagination and build confidence, making it a perfect activity for kids of all skill levels.
August 9, 10 am – noon
Southampton Arts Center, 25 Jobs Lane
Long Island Retro Gaming Expo
The Long Island Retro Gaming Expo is where gamers, new and old, can experience the joy and history of videogames in an environment that encapsulates the golden eras of gaming but re-imagined for today’s player. LI Retro houses over three levels of arcades, hundreds of console and PC gaming events, exclusive exhibits, engaging panels, curated vendors, live performances, and more.
Aug. 9, 10 am – 9 pm; Aug. 10, 10 am – 5 pm
Cradle of Aviation Museum, Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City
Stop the Bleed (Adults and Teens/Tweens)
Blood loss is the #1 cause of death from traumatic injuries. In this course led by medical staff from Stony Brook University Hospital, you’ll learn 3 quick techniques to help save a life. Hosted by Emma Clark Library.
August 9, 10 am – noon
Emma Clark Library, 120 Main Street, Setauket
Celebrate The Great Dora Fiesta with Beyond the Backpack! | Optimum x Paramount
Optimum and Paramount are teaming up for a family-fun fiesta to celebrate The Great Dora Fiesta with Nickelodeon’s Beyond the Backpack initiative. Families can enjoy a special meet & greet with Dora, interactive games like Isa’s Yummy Garden and Boots’ Banana Toss, maraca-making at Dora’s Music Center, and creative arts and crafts. Beyond the fun, parents and caregivers will gain access to valuable kindergarten readiness resources focused on literacy, STEAM, life skills, health and wellness, and family engagement—all designed to help preschoolers start school with confidence.
August 9, 11 am – 2 pm
John J. Byrne Community Center, Uniondale
13th Annual Long Beach Lifeguard One Mile Memorial Swim
The One Mile Swim starts at 9 am, rain or shine. Registration includes a T-shirt (for the first 200 registrants) and a bathing cap. Swimmers must be at least 14 years old and able to complete the course within 55 minutes. Lifeguards reserve the right to remove any swimmer for safety reasons. The Race Director may cancel or relocate the swim to the bay if conditions are unsafe.
August 10, 9 am – noon
On the Beach at Riverside Blvd., 2 Riverside Blvd, Long Beach
OFVS Car Wash Comp Crew Fundraiser
Our Fabulous Variety Show (OFVS) will hold a donation-based car wash fundraiser on Sunday, August 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at East Hampton Middle School. Proceeds will support the OFVS Competition Crew 2025–2026 as they prepare to compete in multiple Long Island competitions in early 2026.
August 10, 10 am – 2 pm
East Hampton Middle School, 76 Newtown Lane, East Hampton
Sing-A-Long with Alan Muraoka
Meet one of your favorite cast members from the beloved children’s television series Sesame Street! Alan Muraoka has played “Alan,” the proprietor of Hooper’s Store, for the past 21 years. Join him and Sesame Street muppeteers in a high-energy show featuring some of your favorite Sesame Street songs. This interactive show is packed with songs that both parents and children will know and love. And as an extra special treat, stick around after the show to get a photo with Alan Muraoka and his muppets!
August 10, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
The Suffolk, 118 E. Main St., Riverhead
Collage Making Workshop with Madeline Cherney
In this Collage Making Workshop, participants will learn various collage-making techniques using paper, found materials, magazines, and mixed media. You will be encouraged to tap into your imagination, experiment with texture, layering, and composition, and create a unique, original work of art! Whether you are an experienced artist or just looking for a relaxing and expressive way to unwind, this workshop offers a welcoming space to explore the art of collage.
August 10, 10 am – noon
The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main Street, Stony Brook
Basket Weaving & Hand Stitchery
Watch experienced artisans demonstrate the fine art of traditional crafts. Hands-on activities included. The event will be held outside.
August 9, 10 am – 1 pm
The Greater Westhampton Historical Museum, 101 Mill Rd., Westhampton Beach
Unbox a Saurus For Us
Dr. Patricia Osiris is at LICM to visit with young paleontologists from the “Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed” gallery. She plans to unveil a never-before-seen dinosaur… if she can find a way to open its crate. This highly interactive show will have audience members assisting Dr. Patti in this “scientific” comedy.
Through Aug. 27; Aug. 9, 11 am & 1 pm
Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City
The Wizard’s Quest
Wizards, young and old, are invited to journey around the gallery to hunt for fantastical beasts and mythical monsters in this magical self-paced adventure activity. Solve riddles to collect potion ingredients along the way before mixing up a miniature vial of shimmering elixir to keep on a necklace or keychain. Perfect for both Potter and fantasy fans!
Tuesdays – Sundays 11 am – 4 pm through Aug. 31
The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor
Jaws-Some Scavenger Hunt
Celebrate 50 years of Jaws with our toothy scavenger hunt! Find jaw bones hidden throughout the museum’s exhibits to win a prize – a jawbreaker candy!
Tuesdays – Sundays, 11 am – 4 pm through Aug. 31
The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor
LuminoCity Dino Safari
Experience the magic as over 70 life-like dinosaurs come to life, moving, roaring, and towering up to 46 feet tall! This dino-themed amusement park is fun for all ages. Enjoy the Oviraptor Ride, Jurassic Fossils Hunt, Dino Carousel, Caveman Axe Throw, Dino Bunce, and more. Dress up as your favorite raptor and join this immersive dinosaur experience.
Fridays and Saturdays, 5 – 10 pm, Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 5 – 9:30 pm through Sept. 1.
Walt Whitman Shops, 160 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station
ColorPop Workshop for Kids – Parents’ Night Out!
Treat yourself to a well-deserved break and drop the kids off for a fun-filled, drop-off art party! Kids will enjoy 2.5 hours of themed painting, crafts, creative games, and a pizza dinner, all in a safe, screen-free studio space. Each evening features new art projects and guided instruction from our energetic team, making it the perfect creative escape for young artists, while you enjoy a worry-free night to relax, dine out, or unwind.
Fridays and Saturdays 5:30 – 8 pm, through Sept. 6
ColorPop Workshop Southampton Studio – 67 Jobs Ln, Southampton
Long Island History Hunt
A dozen museums and historical sites across Long Island—from Brooklyn to Montauk—have joined forces for the LI History Hunt, a digital adventure exploring hidden stories of spies, patriots, and presidents. Participants register via QR code or app.otocast.com, then visit landmarks to complete selfie challenges. Each completed challenge earns a prize entry, while visiting all 12 sites earns the title Revolutionary Trailblazer and a shot at the grand prize: $500, a colonial-style lunch at Ketcham Inn, museum memberships, and more.
Through Sept. 30 all day
Throughout Long Island and New York City
Arts in the Plaza
Arts In The Plaza is Long Beach’s Weekly Arts Festival! Featuring handcrafted art and live music, the spirit of Long Beach is celebrated every Saturday at this inspired outdoor community event. Find one-of-a-kind gifts for yourself and your loved ones at this exclusively handcrafted market. The epitome of shopping local and supporting small businesses, every booth is an opportunity to connect with a local artist. Find creations in myriad mediums including photography, jewelry, painting, drawing, wood, glass, mixed media, clothing, accessories and home decor. Live music can be enjoyed throughout the day. An eclectic and exciting line-up of musical performances is presented in both the morning and afternoon.
Saturdays 9 am – 2 pm through Oct. 25
Kennedy Plaza, 1 West Chester St., Long Beach
Plan Your Family Weekend!
Things to Do with the Kids This Weekend in Brooklyn
Things to Do with the Kids This Weekend in NYC
Things to Do with the Kids This Weekend in Staten Island
Things to Do with the Kids This Weekend in Westchester
