Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities in NYC (June 27-29)

sow large — The Flax Harvest at Prospect Park

HOT OFF THE BLOG

The forecast looks lovely this weekend–head to Governors Island for some fun in the sun. Be sure to check out Hammock Grove and the many new additions to the land. Read all about it here!

Check out an awesome indoor and outdoor sculpture garden in the Hudson Valley. It’s well worth the road trip, because the kids will love it. Don’t miss these 5 things to do there right now!

And soccer fans take note: Here’s our guide to where to watch the games with kids, from Bryant Park to the Paley Center. Game on!

WEEKEND PLANNER

FRIDAY

Enjoy a movie in the park when “Tangled” plays in Crocheron Park in Bayside, Queens. Bring your own popcorn! (Friday)

Make your own cardboard car and then watch a Winnie the Pooh movie after for a drive-in movie effect at downtown’s Ottendorfer Library. Vroom Vroom! (Friday)

Come to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan to delight in the classic story “Rainbow Fish”—then make your own rainbow fish to take home. Get creative! (Friday)

Mulan the Musical returns to Broadway—follow the tale of a Chinese peasant girl-turned-warrior. Get your tickets today! (Friday-September 14)

SATURDAY

Explore the Museum of the City of New York’s exhibit “Canvas: Graffiti Art from the Martin Wong Collection” and then create magnets featuring graffiti-style designs. Be crafty! (Saturday)

Get out in the sunshine at family day at Roger Morris Park in Washington Heights–kids can play colonial games, make historical crafts, and take free tours of the Morris-Jumel Mansion, Manhattan’s oldest surviving house. Park it here! (Saturday)

Study the microscopic organisms living in Central Park’s Harlem Meer, try your hand at fishing, or go on a guided water walk during the park’s Fishing and Water Celebration. Yay for the environment! (Saturday)

Head to the New York Public Library to enjoy magical tales of alchemy told by award-winning storyteller LuAnn Adams. Listen up! (Saturday)

Learn about Muslim culture at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, where kids can design their own “Fanoos”—a colorful lantern used to light the streets during Ramadan. Bright idea! (Saturday)

It’s Bug Day at the New York Hall of Science—think lessons on beekeeping, honey sampling, a lady bug release, and even bug eating for the brave. Bug central! (Saturday)

SUNDAY

Gear up for the Fourth of July and listen to revolutionary tales at the DiMenna Children’s History Museum! Grab a book! (Sunday)

Join the history book club for ages 9-12 and read “A Diamond in the Desert”—then meet at the DiMenna Children’s History Museum for a discussion. Bring your questions! (Sunday)

During Prospect Park’s Flax Harvest, see the park’s flax crop, help weed, plant, and water it, and then try out the tools used to transform flax fibers into linen cloth. Work the land! (Sunday)

Grab the family and venture to Central Park to have some fun with Bill B, the Science and Dance Man. Sing songs about energy and biodiversity. Sing along! (Sunday)

Check out Rockaway!, a free public art festival right on Rockaway Beach. Kid-friendly activities abound during the day—great for all ages. Beach time! (Sunday)

Saf-T-Swim

For over 35 years, Saf-T-Swim Swim School has been teaching lifesaving swimming skills throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and now Little Neck. The school is proud to be Long Island's #1 swim school and a leader in water safety education. With swim programs for infants as young as 4 months, beginners, and advanced swimmers, Saf-T-Swim offers swimming programs for every age and skill level. Discover why generations of Long Islanders have trusted Saf-T-Swim time and time again with equipping their little ones the essential skill of swimming. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

British Swim School - Long Island

The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"