Put on that sun screen, grab some water, and get out and enjoy these kid friendly June events in the greater New York City area.
Summer is here and outdoor activities are in full swing. Below is a list of Free events happening all over the city. So, put on that sun screen, grab some water, and get out and enjoy what New York City has to offer.
Figment NYC – Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Park
Saturday, June 1 – Sunday, June 2, 2019
10AM to 6PM
Price: Free
Attracting tens of thousands for the past twelve years, this family-friendly festival is an explosion of creative energy and imagination, perfect for adults and kids alike.
Transcending white-walled galleries and don’t-touch-that museums, FIGMENT NYC invites you to actively engage with the art: you can touch it, smell it, paint it, talk to it, dance with it, play with it, and learn from it through direct participation and experimentation. Participatory art creates dynamic collaborations between the artists, the audience, and the environment. You are invited to experience innovative installations, mobile art, performance art, dance and theater, social experiments, video projections, and plenty of music, DJs, and sound art. Create something new and make friends in FIGMENT’s games, workshops, arts & crafts stations, costume tents, community building projects, lectures & seminars on participatory art and culture, and who knows what else!
Saturday, June 1st from 6pm-10pm FIGMENT NYC offers its first FIGMENT AFTER DARK program, featuring projects that have a special interactivity when the lights go down. Once the stars are out, stick around to see wearable art, LED based sculptures, art cars, blacklight reactive interactivity and more.
Visit https://newyork.figmentproject.org/figment_2019 for more information
City of Science
Sunday, June 2
Washington Square Park
10am to 5pm
Ages: All
Price: Free
A larger-than-life touring event where the wondrous properties of science, technology, engineering, and math collide. Filled with interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities, and enormous exhibitions, this FREE program – part of the World Science Festival designed specifically for kids – unleashes everyone’s inner scientist.
Launch objects 20 feet in the air with a seismic accelerator, walk on water, topple seven-foot tall dominoes, create an orbiting universe at the Warped Space Gravity Simulator, explore mind-bending challenges and puzzles, and more.
Visit https://www.worldsciencefestival.com/education/city-of-science/ for more information
Summer Music Family Concert Series
Begins on Thursday, June 6
At 5:30PM
Ages: 3-13
Price: Free
Bring a blanket and a picnic supper and enjoy the music on the lawn…
June 6th: Jonny Hirsch Band
June 13th: Rolie Polie Guacamole
June 20th: Astrograss
Visit http://www.washingtonmarketpark.org/events/ for more information
Riverdale RiverFest
Sat Jun 8, 2019 – Sun Jun 9, 2019 – see all dates
12:00pm to 6:00pm
Age: All
Price: Free admission. Fees for food, rides
RiverFestBX is an annual community festival to celebrate the Hudson River and support the Bronx Link of the Hudson Valley Greenway that is under development.
It takes place each June on the banks of the Hudson River, on the scenic grounds of the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Participants have opportunities to take boat rides on the Hudson River, listen to music by local musicians, enjoy art exhibits, sample an eclectic variety of food, and learn about the Hudson River Greenway and the history, biology and geology of the area.
South Street Seaport’s Pioneer takes on passengers both Saturday and Sunday at 12n, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, and 5pm for one-hour spins around the Hudson. Register in advance. Tickets are $30/person.
The fest schedule includes:
Live music
Pet adoption center
Arts and crafts
Delicious food
Bronx Children’s Museum Bus
Bike Helmet Giveway (Sunday only)
Visit https://www.riverfestbx.org/ for more information
Museum Mile Festival
Tuesday, June 11
5pm to 8pm
Ages: All
Price: Free
NYC’s biggest block party brings art outside (and in) on Fifth Avenue between 82nd Street and 105th Street. Eight of New York City’s finest cultural institutions are open free to the public throughout the evening, with outdoor events along the way.
Citi Summer in the Square: Kid’s concert
Thu June 13, 2019 – Thu August 8, 2019
Age: 0-10
Price: Free
Union Square Park
The Union Square Partnership’s Summer in the Square returns in 2019 with more family concerts. This free weekly summer entertainment series is held on Thursdays in Union Square Park and offers a wide variety of live children’s entertainment.
Kids’ Concerts: 11am – 12pm
Schedule:
Thursday, June 13: Mike Messer
Thursday, June 20: Hot Peas N’ Butter
Thursday, June 27: Union Square Play
Thursday, July 11: Thunder and Sunshine
Thursday, July 18: Union Square Play
Thursday, July 25: Marionette Show
Thursday, August 1: Story Pirates
Thursday, August 8: Little Rockers
For more information visit: http://summerinthesquare.nyc/
Adventures NYC — Central Park
11am to 4 pm
Saturday, June 15
Ages: All
Price: Free
Get outdoors and active at this annual family fest presented by the NYC Parks Department and partners. The alfresco fun includes rock climbing, zip lining, yoga, mountain biking, surfing VR, and obstacle courses. There are also water sports like paddle boarding and log rolling, so pack your swimsuit! Waivers must be signed on-site.
Get ready to bike, climb, race, and “surf” at Adventures NYC! Join NYC Parks in Central Park to celebrate the great outdoors and enjoy a day of adventure – for free.
Activities include:
- Rock Climbing
- Zip Lining
- Key Log Rolling
- Stand-up Paddle boarding
- Red Bulls Soccer Challenge
- Rod and Reel Skills
- GaGa Ball
- Obstacle Races
- Free Bike Valet Parking
- Outdoor Survival Training
Please note: Activity lines are subject to close early, so arrive early!
Certain activities require a waiver, which will be provided at the event for participants to sign. Participants under the age of 18 must have a legal guardian present to sign the waiver.
13th Annual Make Music New York
Fri Jun 21, 2019
10:00am to 10:00pm
Age: All ages
Price: Free
Now in its 13th year, Make Music New York is a unique festival of 230 artists performing 1,000+ free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City, all on June 21st, the first day of summer. MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in more than 700 cities around the world – a global celebration of music making.
Completely different from a typical music festival, MMNY is open to anyone who wants to take part.
From 10 in the morning to 10 at night, musicians of all ages, creeds, and musical persuasions – from hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock – perform on streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, cemeteries, parks and gardens. From high school bands to marquee names, MMNY is open to anyone who wants to take part, enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend
For more information check out http://www.makemusicny.org/
NYC Public Pools Open — Citywide
Thursday, June 27
As usual, NYC’s FREE outdoor pools open the day after public school lets out and remain available through Labor Day. (Year-round indoor pools require a recreation center membership.) We have a roundup of our favorite places to take a no-cost dip but there are lots of options in all five boroughs. Most are open from 11am-3pm and 4pm-7pm daily, weather permitting. And before you go, be sure to read our post about public pool rules—some of them might surprise you. FREE