Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities In NYC (June 12-14)

First Annual Hudson River Park Games

Enjoy sports under the summer sun at the first annual Hudson River Park Games! Kids can start the day with a 5K fun run, and then participate in a variety of sporting events, such as a soccer workshop and an Xpogo Clinic and Free Jump. Head over to the Games “Village” on Pier 26 for face painting, chalk art, and a bean bag toss. Big City Fishing will also be on hand for catch-and-release fishing, and to teach the kids about water quality, fish biology, and more! Plus, mom and dad can register in advance for classes such as yoga, barre, and cardio kickboxing. (Saturday)

The Mamas Expo at the New York Hall of Science

This weekend, head to the Mamas Expo brought to you by the Mamas Network--it's a two-day family-friendly gathering that brings together resources, businesses, brands, educators, caretakers, parents, grandparents, performers, artists, and kids to offer an exclusive look at new resources available for parents, children, and families–and of course, to have fun! (Saturday-Sunday)

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party in Madison Square Park

Rustle up the kids and head over to Madison Square Park for some BBQ! The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party is a two-day food fest where visitors can sample barbecued ribs, chicken, sausage and more from the best pitmasters in the US. The block party will also include cooking seminars with nationally renowned chefs, plus live music by Whiskey Shivers and Nikki Lane. (Saturday-Sunday)

Bubble Battle 2015 in Union Square

Wage a bubble war with your kids and other New Yorkers in Union Square. The event, loosely based on Dr. Seuss’s “The Butter Battle Book,” encourages a “party boat” theme. Dress in swimsuits, as dolphins, or use your imagination! (Saturday)

Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island

You can travel back in time to the roaring ’20s by simply taking the Governors Island Ferry! Don your flapper best and head out to the Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party, where you can pose for vintage portraits, learn the hottest dance steps of the time, and check out the carnival games at Kidland, which offer prizes for “junior gents and flapperettes.” Plus: don’t miss live musical and dance performances in period style. And if you can't make it this weekend? Never fear, the party will return to Governors Island in early August. (Saturday-Sunday)

Mermaid Parade at the Children's Museum of the Arts

A Mermaid Parade just for kids! Kids can make their own costumes, mini-floats, record Underwater Songs in the Sound Booth, and participate in several other under the sea activities. (Saturday)

Storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston at Lincoln Center

Internationally renowned storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston is coming to Lincoln Center to share her repertoire of songs and stories from the African and African-American oral traditions, accompanied by traditional African music. Audience participation is encouraged as Alston brings these stories to life and shares the mythology, beliefs, and cultural practices that have been preserved for generations! (Saturday)

Catch the Cool at the Queens Museum

Enjoy a family day at the Queen Museum with art workshops, musical performances, story time, tours, games, outdoor activities and more. Have your kids build-a-city or try Korean brush painting at this free, drop-in-event. (Sunday)

DayLife 2015 on the Lower East Side

Attend the Lower EAT Side summer kickoff party in the Lower East Side where foods from the neighborhood, fashion, music, games–like giant Jenga!–and other activities will be present. The festival will take over Orchard Street between East Houston and Delancey Streets. (Sunday)

KulturFest NYC

KulturfestNYC, the first-ever international festival of Jewish performing arts presented by the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene at Museum of Jewish Heritage, will encompass a series of events that include dancing, singing, movies and lectures this summer. The festival will kickoff with Swedish and Yiddish dancing and singing on June 14 and end with a musical biography with the legendary actor Theodore Bikel on June 21. (Starts Sunday)

Riverdale RiverFest at the College of Mount Saint Vincent

Riverdale RiverFest, the annual community festival that celebrates the Hudson River, is back at The College of Mount Saint Vincent. Participants will have the chance to take boat rides on the Hudson River, listen to local music, sample food, see a medieval battle demonstration and learn about the history of the Hudson River Greenway. (Sunday)

Drums Along the Hudson: A Native American and Multicultural Festival in Inwood Hill Park

This year the city’s only open air pow-wow will honor the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso and actress/singer Tichina Arnold. Featuring the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, this Native American festival will include festivities such as storytelling, arts and crafts, food, a guest appearance in the Environmental Tent by Captain Planet, live dance and drumming performances, and, new this year, a World Market Tent. Hosted by Sandra Bookman. (Sunday)

10 Great Events for Summer

Explore the worlds of Katniss Everdeen and Alice in Wonderland, paddleboard in Central Park, and read poetry on Governors Island with these picks for family fun in June and July.

Summer Fun Guide 2015

School’s out, and the days are long—sure, it may be hot, but we think there’s no time like summer to get out and take advantage of all the city has to offer. We’ve selected from seasonal classics and new favorites to put together this guide to NYC summer fun.