Back-to-school season is upon us. The events and activities organized below are a wonderful way to get into the educational spirit. For tips on a smooth back-to-school transition you can also read our guide here! These 30 programs, workshops, and exhibits are located inside and outside of the New York City area, including Philadelphia, the Hudson Valley area, and Connecticut.
Labor Day Weekend:
This year, Labor Day takes place on Monday, September 4th. Prior to returning to pencils and notebooks, enjoy one of the programs below.
Let’s Dance!: One way to encourage healthy fitness in children is to take them to classes or exhibits that advise movement. At the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, participants can explore the world of dance as an art form, an expression of different cultures and traditions, and as a physical activity. The exhibit will be open on Saturday, September 2nd, and is located at The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, New York.
The 8th Annual NYC Unicycle Festival: The New York City Unicycle Festival brings together recreational participants, world-class enthusiasts, and extreme sports viewers for four days of one-wheel madness across Governors Island, Battery Park to Central Park, and Brooklyn Bridge to Coney Island. There will be numerous public shows, a learn-to-ride zone, and more from August 31st to September 3rd.
Circus Amok: Entertainers at Circus Amok use a blend of traditional circus skills, post-modern dance and improvisational techniques during their performances. They perform at Socrates Sculpture Park, located at 32-01 Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, New York, on Saturday, September 2nd. Afterward, pay a visit to the Noguchi Museum, which has two floors of galleries and a sculpture garden. It is located at 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City, and is two blocks from the Socrates Sculpture Park.
Omar’s Summer Send-Off Party: Omar’s Summer Send-Off Party is the perfect opportunity to commemorate the end of summer and welcome the start of school. There will be live DJs, dance contests, fun games, magic shows, and other attractions. Forest Park Carousel is located in Forest Park, the Woodhaven section of Queens, New York, and has been considered to be a New York City landmark since 2013. The program takes place on Saturday, September 2nd, between the hours of 2:00pm and 6:00pm.
Richmond County Fair: The Richmond County Fair is in town for the weekend, including Monday, September 4th. Stop by and visit rides, attractions, exhibits and more during the three-day affair. Tickets should be purchased in advance, and funds are used to support educational programs at Historic Richmond Town. The fair is located at 441 Clarke Avenue, Staten Island, New York.
Labor Day in Prospect Park: Prospect Park is hosting its own Labor Day celebration on Monday, September 4th. The full day schedule includes the opportunity for children to pick up their own discovery pack, a ready-to-go kit for families to engage in. Additional programs include Race Around the Farm Yard and Nature on the Go! Afterward, parents and children should visit the Children’s Corner for a ride on the beloved 1912 carousel.
Back to School Bash 2017: Habana Works is throwing a Back to School party on Monday, September 4th. Entertainment includes face painters, stilt walkers, and special raffle items to help everyone in your family get ready for the school year. Habana Works is located at 757 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York.
September 5th to September 10th:
Wednesdays in Teardrop: Wednesdays in Teardrop is a recurring event on Wednesdays in Battery Park City. The first date in September is on Wednesday, September 6th. The excursion includes energetic lawn games designed to motivate children’s fitness and art projects, where children can work with materials such as clay and collages. All event supplies are provided. Rockefeller Park is located at 75 Battery Place, New York.
Family Game Time: On Saturdays in September, visit the 96th Street Library on the Upper East Side for the chance to play classic and new board games. The first date in September is Saturday, September 9th. The library is located at 112 East 96th Street, New York, New York, and games are available for access all day.
Message in a Bottle: On the second Saturday of each month, the Boscobel House and Gardens hosts a two-hour program designed for children ages 4-years-old and up and their guardians. This month’s activity falls on Saturday, September 9th, and the theme is Message in a Bottle. Children will explore the past through hands-on chores, games, and crafts. They can also take a flashlight tour of the Boscobel Mansion, located at 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, New York.
West Side Eats: On Saturday, September 9th through Sunday, September 10th, visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum at Pier 86, at West 46th Street and 12th Avenue. As part of the program, more than 20 vendors from popular Hell’s Kitchen eateries will set up their booth and offer samples of local fare. Visitors can enjoy delicious food, hear live music, and enjoy the waterfront scenery.
Grandparents Day: On National Grandparents Day, Sunday, September 10th, children who visit the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania with a grandparent receive discounted admission. Visitors can stroll the grounds highlighted on the “Founding Treasures” map. The historic public garden is located at 100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
September 11th to September 17th:
Brooklyn Book Festival: The Brooklyn Book Festival is one of America’s premier book festivals and is the largest free literary event in New York City. The 2017 festival includes prominent authors such as Sarah Dessen for the young-adult crowd and other well-renowned writers. Saturday, September 16th is Children’s Day and Sunday, September 17th is Festival Day and Literary Marketplace. The festival starts on Monday, September 11th.
The 91st Annual Feast of San Gennaro: The San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy begins on Thursday, September 14th and continues through Sunday, September 24th. Musical entertainment and food demonstrations will be provided every day of the festival. For more information on hours and directions, visit their website.
International Red Panda Day: Celebrate International Red Panda Day at the Brandywine Zoo on Saturday, September 16th. Participants will learn more about the red panda species, submit artwork for the Red Panda art contest, and earn a ‘Red Panda Ranger’ badge. The Brandywine Zoo is located at 1001 N. Park Dr., Wilmington, Delaware.
Apple Day at Terhune Orchards: On Saturday, September 16th, visit Terhune Orchards to partake in Apple Day, their annual tradition. Families can assist with the apple harvest, sample fresh apple pies, make batter-dipped apple rings, and more. Live entertainment will also be present, and parents and children will have the chance to pick their own apples and pumpkins for Halloween. The Orchards can be found at 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, New Jersey.
Southwest Brooklyn Fall Festival: The Southwest Brooklyn Fall Festival takes place on Saturday, September 16th this year. The event celebrates the best of Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, and the Columbia Waterfront, and is run by the Carroll Gardens Association. The festival is broken into two parts: on Columbia Street, from Degraw Street to Union Street and then on Union Street, from Columbia Street to Hicks Street. Don’t miss your chance to sample local fare, peruse retail vendors and homegrown artists, and watch live performances.
That Chemistry Show: That Chemistry Show is now playing at the The Physics Theater, located at 300 West 43rd Street. During this 80-minute performance, “mad scientist” Borislaw Bilash will take adults and children on an incredible exploration.
Live Animal Adventure: On Saturday, September 16th, families should visit the Brooklyn Children’s Museum half-hour live animal adventure exhibit. During this exhibit, children of all ages can learn about and touch animals from the Museum’s living collection. The venue is located at 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.
September 18th to September 24th:
National Alpaca Day: National Alpaca Days are happening from Saturday, September 23rd to Sunday, September 24th this year. At Lily Moore Alpaca Farm, visitors can meet the alpacas during a tour of the farm, learn about raising and breeding alpacas, shop for alpaca products, and enjoy a family-friendly time at the farm. The farm is located at 21 Moore Road, Pleasant Valley, New York.
7th Annual Honey Fest: The 7th Annual Honey Fest takes place on Saturday, September 23rd. More than two dozen vendors will share and sell their bee and honey-related products. Fun and educational activities will be provided by Arts in Parts, Sticker You, and NYC Facepaint. The venue has not been announced yet so keep an eye on this page for more information.
World Maker Faire: The New York Hall of Science is hosting this years’ World Maker Faire on Saturday, September 23rd through Sunday, September 24th. The two-day event is sponsored by Barnes and Noble. Topics covered at the fair included 3D Imaging, 3D Printing, and other kid-friendly related activities from Brooklyn Robot Foundry, Ashley’s Musical Plushies, and 44 Daughters. The venue is located at 47-01 111th Street, Corona, New York.
The 24th Annual Bus Festival: On Sunday, September 24th, visit the New York Transit Museum for their 24th Annual Bus Festival. Visitors can browse and come aboard more than a dozen buses from the museum’s vintage collection, representing over eight decades of New York City transit history. Additional festivities and food will also be provided. The museum is located at Boerum Place between State Street and Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, New York.
35th Annual Queens County Fair: The 35th Annual Queens County Fair is on Saturday, September 23rd through Sunday, September 24th this year at Queens Farm. Considered to be one of the most popular events of the year, families can enjoy hayrides, carnival rides, and additional children’s entertainment. While there, make it a point to visit the Amazing Maize Maze. It is located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, New York.
Hudson Nature Walk: This month, don’t miss your last chance to partake in the Hudson Nature Walk. During the one-hour interactive program, parents and children can join knowledgeable naturalists on a guided nature walk along the esplanade. The program’s last day is on Sunday, September 24th, and interested participants can gather at Pier 45 in Greenwich Village at the Christopher St. Fountain.
September 25th to September 30th:
Flashlight Maze at Varner Farms: Kick-start the fall season on Saturday, September 30th with a trip to Varner Farms. Activities include wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, the flashlight maze, and miniature donkey wagon rides. Varner Farms is located at 746 S. Trappe Road, Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
Korean Harvest Festival: The Koren Harvest Festival takes place on Saturday, September 30th at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. Explore traditional and modern Korean culture with music, food samples, and a tour of the Korean plants of the 92-acre botanical collection. The venue is located at 100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Whodunnit Family Scavenger Hunt: Reminiscent of the board game Clue, participants will receive a list of suspects, weapons and places, and it is up to them to catch the killer on the loose at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The program is geared toward kids ten years of age and older, and takes place on Saturday, September 30th. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located at 1000 5th Avenue, on E. 82nd Street, New York, New York.
Child Care Professionals Who Know NYC:
At the Nanny Authority, our nannies are knowledgeable in age-appropriate seasonal activities and programs, so parents can feel at ease knowing that their children maintain a cultural, educational lifestyle when they aren’t around. To learn more about how we can assist you in your search for a professional nanny, contact us via e-mail or at 973-466-2669 today!