With warmer weather on the horizon, there are a variety of interactive outdoor activities and workshops for families to enjoy. These include celebrating Easter, Passover, and Earth Day! Learn more about the various events taking place in New York City this April.
April 1st to April 5th:
2018 Easter Parade: This year’s annual Easter Day parade starts on East 49th Street near St. Patrick’s Cathedral, going up 5th Avenue to 55th Street. Participants wear a variety of innovative costumes, which may include flowers or live animals, such as rabbits or pet snakes. Part of the Easter parade is the Easter Bonnet Festival, where people wear creative bonnets made out of frames, carrots, and other absurd materials, such as plastic birds, feathers, or even bubble gum. It takes place on Sunday, April 1st.
Easter at the High Line Hotel: The High Line Hotel is hosting its 5th annual Easter Event on Sunday, April 1st. There will be two petting zoos on-site as well as a multitude of arts and crafts, complimentary face painting, balloon animals, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. The hotel is located in the Meatpacking District, at 180 10th Avenue. Additional Easter-related events include Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Green Meadows Farm Easter Egg Hunt, The Kids Cruise Easter Party, and Tale of the Bunny Picnic.
French Comfort Food: Do you have a picky eater in the family? Help expand their palette by enrolling them in one of the cooking classes hosted by Sprouts Cooking Club. The non-profit organization teaches children from all socioeconomic backgrounds the importance of food and using the right ingredients through hands-on cooking with assistance from talented chefs from popular restaurants. On Tuesday, April 3rd, Sprouts will be cooking at Almond restaurant, located at 12 East 22nd Street. Additional events will take place that week, including Farm-to-Table Cooking and Master Pizza Making Class.
Spring Break in Prospect Park: On Tuesday, April 3rd, join the spring festivities at Prospect Park for a full day of nature-themed activities. Programming includes learning more about birds, participating in mildly competitive puzzles and card games, and taking rides on the carousel. Directions to the Audubon Center at the Boathouse can be found here, as can the directions to the Lefferts Historic House.
April 6th to April 12th:
Children’s Carnival: The children’s carnival at the Queens County Farm takes place two weekends in April, one on Saturday, April 7th through Sunday, April 8th and on Saturday, April 14th and Sunday, April 15th. Visitors will have access to carnival and hayrides, interactive games, and local food vendors will be on-site all day. The venue is located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park.
Puppetsburg & Wine Tasting: Puppetsburg is a uniquely-styled hands-on puppet show for infants and children up to the age of 4. This month’s show takes place on Sunday, April 8th and can be found at the ‘Some Good Wine’ Event Space,’ located at 13 East 8th Street. The shows involve music, dancing, instruments, and plenty of solo time with the puppets. Each presentation is chock-full of celebrity, pop culture references, as well as a specially curated wine tasting for the parents.
Music for Austim Concert: The Third Street Music School is hosting a free Music for Autism concert on Sunday, April 8th. Performances are free for individuals with autism and their family members, but pre-registration is required. It will take place at 235 East 11th Street in the Anna-Maria Kellen auditorium.
Make it: Custom Wood Lego Heads: The New York Hall of Science is hosting multiple Make it! workshops on Sunday, April 8th. Children will learn how to create their own wooden Lego miniature figurine heads using hand tools like files, rasps, saws, and sandpaper. The activity is geared for children ages 6 and older. The museum is located at 47-01 111th Street, Corona.
Treasures from the Earth: The Rubin Museum of Art is hosting Family Sundays, an afternoon of activities both children and their parents will enjoy. April’s theme is inspired by The Second Buddha: Master of Time, and focuses on the teachings and meditations of Padmasambhava, the second Buddha. The museum is located at 150 West 17th Street, and will take place on Sunday, April 8th.
April 13th to April 19th:
Big Umbrella Festival Kickoff Event: The Big Umbrella Festival is geared toward helping children on the Autism Spectrum, and their families celebrate the arts. It kicks off on Saturday, April 14th with two sensory-friendly performances. The festival goes until Sunday, May 6th, taking place at various venues throughout Lincoln Center.
Artopia! Passport to the Arts: The Wingspan Arts Center is hosting its’ 10th annual Journey Around the World through the Arts on Saturday, April 14th. Children will get the opportunity to learn more about the various cultures and communities around the globe through interactive craft activities, as well as dance, music, and theatre workshops. The venue will also have face painters and a photo booth on-site. The venue is located at 630 9th Avenue.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live: King for a Day!: Daniel Tiger, the acclaimed television series from PBS Kids, is headed to the stage for its third year! In this brand-new adventure, Daniel learns about the responsibilities that come with being King. The performance will feature new songs and live performances, and a few surprise guests. There are two performances on Saturday, April 14th at the Kings Theatre, located at 1027 Flatbush Avenue.
Natural Wonders: This month’s workshop at From Wonder will focus on spring, as young children will learn more about “land art” and how to create their own art installations. As part of the program, they will also explore printmaking, using a gelatin print technique. The course is held at Giocare Playspot, located at 655 6th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, on Saturday, April 14th.
Spring Family Fair: On Sunday, April 15th, visit the Morgan Library and Museum to celebrate art and literature at their annual Spring Family Fair! Visitors will have the chance to peruse the historic library, engage in arts and crafts related to the exhibits, and much more. The venue is located at 225 Madison Avenue, New York.
Doktor Kaboom’s Look Out! Science is Coming!: This popular Queens Theatre favorite returns on Sunday, April 15th for two performances. Doktor Kaboom’s shows are highly improvisational, so families never feel like they are seeing the same show twice. The theatre is located at 14 United Nations Avenue South in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, directly under the iconic towers of the New York State Pavillion.
April 20th to April 26th:
French for Little Ones: Spark, a one-room annex at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, offers play hours, birthday parties, and language immersion classes. On Fridays starting April 20th through Friday, June 22nd, the museum is hosting French for Little Ones. It is geared for infants and children up to 3 years old, and through song, play, and dance, children and their parents will become familiar with French vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. The venue is located at 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn.
Harlem Grown’s Earth Day Celebration: In anticipation of Earth Day, Harlem Grown is hosting its’ annual Earth Day event on Saturday, April 21st. The non-profit organization has three farms in the Harlem area, from 34 West 131st Street to 118 West 134th Street. Participants will get the opportunity to enjoy family-friendly activities and to learn more about how to keep our planet healthy.
La MaMa Kids: Don Quixote Takes New York: From Saturday, April 21st through Sunday, April 29th, the Loco7 Dance Puppet Theatre Company re-imagines the classic text Don Quixote into a more child-friendly production by using puppetry, dance and music. Participants will follow Don Quixote on his quest for love, honor, liberty and justice for all. The performances take place at the Downstairs, located at 66 East 4th Street. Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College is also hosting its’ 11th annual National Grid Earth Day Celebration.
Family Art Project: Earth Day Gratitude Garden: As part of its Earth Day Weekend event, Wave Hill House is hosting a family art project, where families can sculpt a miniature garden using oil clay that will then be planted in their outdoor, communal “gratitude garden.” It will take place on Saturday, April 21st. The public garden and cultural center is located at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue in the Bronx.
Hydro Power Workshop: To celebrate Earth Day, the Queens Historical Society is hosting Hydro Power Family Workshop on Saturday, April 21st. The program is appropriate for school-age children, grades 5 to 8, and will introduce them to various aspects in the scientific and electric field. The venue is located at 143-35 37th Avenue, Flushing.
Tulip Time!: Tulip season runs from the end of March until mid-May, but the flowers are at their best halfway through April, making it the perfect time to visit the Queens Botanical Garden. On Saturday, April 21st, take advantage of a Tulip tour, Tulip and flower inspired crafts, and learn the basic techniques of painting with watercolors. The garden is located at 43-50 Main Street, Flushing.
April 27th to April 30th:
Arbor Day: Observe Arbor Day at Prospect Park on Friday, April 27th. Children will get the chance to get an in-depth look at the different habitats composing the Park’s wildlife, as well as participate in family-friendly nature activities. Directions to the Audubon Center can be found here.
Flower Explorations: On Saturday, April 28th, families can join the New York Hall of Science to partake in a hands-on science and sensory-rich workshop to learn more about flowers and other natural materials. This project is specially formulated for young children, ages 3 to 5, with autism-spectrum disorder, and their parents and siblings. The venue is located at 47-01 111th Street in Corona, Queens.
Street Games: The 11th annual Street Games will be held on Saturday, April 28th at Thomas Jefferson Park on Saturday, April 28th. Interactive games include an obstacle course, wheelchair basketball, and traditional favorites such as pogo sticks, hula hoops, and yo-yos. The park is located at 114th Street and Pleasant Avenue in Harlem, New York.
Sakura Matsuri: This year’s Sakura Matsuri festival takes place on Saturday, April 28th to Sunday, April 29th at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Activities include a flower hat dance with the Japanese Folk-Dance Institute of New York, a Sohenryu Tea Ceremony led by tea masters Soumi Shimizu and Sokyo Shimizu, and a flute concert. In total, there will be about 60 events and performances that celebrate traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. There are three entrances to the garden, and they can all be found here.
Contact the Nanny Authority Today!
At the Nanny Authority, our nannies are familiar with age-appropriate seasonal activities and events so parents can feel at ease knowing their children are engaging in a cultural, educational lifestyle when they’re not around. To learn more about how we can assist you in the search for a professional nanny, contact us via e-mail or at 973-466-2669 today.