Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities in NYC (April 3-5)

Families with children of all ages are invited to party with the New York Transit Museum this Thursday evening! NYC Family Ambassador Curious George will welcome guests during this night of exploration and discovery. Activities include a subway safari scavenger hunt, an electric circuits demo, and a model train workshop. (Thursday)

Start your engines for the annual New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Center. Beginning this Friday, auto enthusiasts will be able to view more than 60 new vehicles, including concept cars like the Buick Avenir and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, and supercars, such as the Aston Martin Vulcan, the McLaren 675LT, and the Koenigsegg One:I. Family-friendly exhibits include racing simulators, the Mercedes-Benz/Universal “Jurassic World” car, the Hyundai “Halo” displays, and much more. Don’t forget to bring your camera as photography and filming are encouraged. (Friday-April 12)

Join The Museum of the Moving Image for a screening of the children’s classic “The Wizard of Oz” in the stunning new 3-D version mastered by Warner Bros for the film’s 75th anniversary last year. After the film, enjoy the family workshop “Wizard of Oz Design Remix,” which will explore the creative process of crafting characters for the screen. (Starts Friday)

Join the city’s largest pillow fight in Washington Square Park in celebration of International Pillow Fight Day. Remember to bring soft pillows and wear your cute pajamas! At the end of the fight, you can choose to leave your pillow with a donation truck that will bring it to a person in need. (Saturday)

The beloved stories of children’s author Eric Carle will come alive with larger-than-life puppets during this family-friendly performance from The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Through stories such as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “Little Cloud,” and “The Mixed Up Chameleon,” ages 3 through 7 will learn the importance of being comfortable with themselves and embracing their inner beauty. Arrive an hour prior to the show for a pre-show arts & crafts activity. (Saturday)

The Sony Wonder Technology Lab will collaborate with Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE) Network for its annual Nano Days event, where children ages 6 and up can learn about nanoscience and nanotechnology through presentations, activities, and hands-on workshops. (Saturday)

Celebrate Easter Weekend at the Bronx Zoo! Join the fun with the Eggstravaganza Scavenger Hunt (with special treats from Albanese and Hershey), the Wildlife Hat Parade, and crafts with the Children’s Museum of the Arts. (Saturday-Sunday)

The American Museum of Natural History’s newest exhibit, “Life at the Limits: Stories of Amazing Species,” delves into the amazing superpowers that some animals and plants use to reproduce, find food, and survive. Featured creatures such as elephant seals, which can hold their breath for up to two hours while diving for food, and lizards that squirt blood from their eyes to ward off predators, as well as live animals on display such as the axolotl—an aquatic salamander that can regenerate limbs— will amaze children with their awesome abilities. (Opens Saturday)

Join Karina Zilberman and Rebecca Schoffer for this unique Passover experience. Children of all ages will love their recreation of the Passover story with songs, stories, movement, and games. (Saturday)

This Easter Sunday, an annual NYC tradition dating back to the 1870s, the Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival return to Fifth Avenue. Parade viewers can watch the pageantry pass by beginning at 49th street and ending at 57th Street. However, the area near St. Patrick’s Cathedral boasts the best viewing spots. (Sunday)

Looking for something for the kids to do over spring break? Join CMOM for hands-on activities highlighting Japanese history, heritage, and traditions through cooking demos, arts and crafts, and story-telling activities. (Saturday-April 12

Join the New-York Historical Society for the Qingming Celebration, or “Ancestor’s Day,” a Chinese tradition for which families gather together to remember loved ones and celebrate the arrival of spring. In conjunction with the ongoing exhibit “Chinese American: Inclusion/Exclusion,” the Society invites families to create Qingming kites and hear the story of a master kite-maker in Chinatown. (Sunday)

Celebrate Easter and get in the springtime spirit with these “egg-xelent” family friendly activities! Hunt for eggs, breakfast with the Easter Bunny, or enjoy a springtime skate at the Rockefeller Center rink.

Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival, Pillow Fight NYC, Nano Days at Sony Wonder Technology Lab, and more!

“Take the Stage with Broadway Stars” at Carnegie Hall, Sakura Matsuri Weekend at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Sunday Funday at CMOM, and more.