We’ve hand-picked the best kids’ events in Queens from our September 2011 calendar. Among tons of family-friendly things to do this month, our top picks include Sesame Street Live at the Nassau Coliseum, the New York City Honey Festival at Rockaway Beach, the Queens County Fair at the Queens County Farm Museum, an overnight adventure at the Queens Zoo, and a special Muppets program at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. Scroll down for details.
Also see: September 11 Memorial Events in Queens
Sounds on Sesame Street
Some kids are Elmo fanatics and others are Oscar the Grouch aficionados, but everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends will be rocking out at the Nassau Coliseum during Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music. Along with new-to-town music teacher Jenny, Big Bird and the rest of the gang discover unlikely instruments in everyday objects like trashcan lids and cookie jars. September 16 at 7pm; September 17 at 10:30am, 2pm, and 5:30pm; September 18 at 1pm and 4:30pm. Prices vary depending on seating. Nassau Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale. For tickets: 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
In the Land of Milk and Honey
To celebrate the initiation of legal beekeeping in and around NYC, the Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm is sponsoring a festival that is sure to be the bee’s knees. Held at Rockaway Beach, the First Annual New York City Honey Festival will be swarming with everything from contests for the best pie made with honey and the best bee costumes for kids and adults, to a short film event, a borough-wide honey tasting, and lots of honey bun eating. So pack up the kids and see what the buzz on the boardwalk is all about. September 17. 10am-sundown. Rockaway Beach, 95th Street on the Rockaway boardwalk.
Sleepover at the Zoo
Trade in your teddy bear for the real deal at a Queen Zoo Family Overnight Adventure on September 17. Explore the grounds after-hours and participate in fun-filled activities such as preparing animal enrichment treats and learning about animal diets. Families will also go on a late night walk in the Aviary to meet some of the animals up close. Call 718-271-1500 for times. $85. Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th Street, Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Play Fair
Bring your little city slickers out to the farm for the 29th Annual Queens County Fair at the Queens County Farm Museum. The event comes complete with Blue Ribbon competitions in produce, livestock, arts and crafts, and more. Kids will adore the Amazing Maize Maze, hayrides, and carnival rides, while adults can enjoy the pie-eating and corn-husking contests and pig racing. On Saturday, walk the fair to the sounds of the Bavarian Garden, an Irish band. On Sunday, German music will fill the grounds. As always, craft and food vendors will be selling delectable delights. September 17-18. 11am-6pm. $8; $5 children 12 and under (does not include maze, carnival rides and games, and certain other fair activities). Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park.
Meet a Muppet Maker
In a special program called “Look Both Ways and Go,” tweens and teens can meet Jane Henson, co-founder of the Muppets and wife of the late Jim Henson. Jane will give a very personal and surprising behind-the-scenes look at creating a cultural phenomenon. The program includes seldom-seen video clips from the Jim Henson Family Archives and stories about the early days when Jane met Jim in a puppet class. Among the rare material to be screened is an archival 35mm print of Time Piece, the Oscar-nominated experimental short film that was directed and written by Jim Henson. Order tickets online at www.movingimage.us or call 718-777-6800. Tickets include admission to the Museum and the exhibition Jim Henson’s Fantastic World. September 18 at 4pm. $25. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue (at 36th Street), Astoria.
For even more family activities in the NYC area, check out our Calendar of Events
