This weekend’s events feature a multitude of activities and programs celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Parents that are looking to go outside of the city, take a trip to Philadelphia to visit Longwood Gardens or the Franklin Institute.
NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade: The 2017 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on Friday, March 17th. The parade is viewable along 5th Avenue between 44th Street and 79th Street or live on NBCNewYork.com from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
Kidville FiDi’s St. Patrick’s Day Party: The Kidville Financial District is throwing a St. Patrick’s Day party on Friday, March 17th. Festivities at the event include a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, and refreshments. Children will also get the opportunity to find gold hidden throughout the rooms and swap them for a surprise treat. Additional St. Patrick’s Day events are taking place at Dumbo Recess and Kidville in Williamsburg on Friday evening, and all weekend at The Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
Ghosts of the Museum: The Children’s Ghost Hunt at the American Museum of Natural History is sure to entertain the entire family. During this educational program, participants will be accompanied by Robin of Raven’s Walk and her raven, Edgar, through a trek in the haunted hallways of museum. The activity is suitable for children between the ages of five and ten-years-old, and takes place on Sundays in March.
Meet Bears at the Zoo: The Central Park Zoo offers numerous activities and programs for parents and children to enjoy together. One of the wildlife adventures that families can go on is exploring the world of bears. Attendees will work closely with the zoo keepers to understand how the grizzlies are cared for each day. This session takes place on Saturday, March 18th.
Children’s Museum of the East End: The 5th Annual Egg Drop Challenge takes place on Saturday, March 18th at the Children’s Museum of the East End in Long Island, New York. Children will get the chance to construct protective containers and afterward, join a staff member atop the pirate ship to throw the eggs overboard. It is a ten-foot drop to determine which protective containers will keep the eggs from cracking. The museum’s weekly Lego Club also takes place every Sunday.
OrKID Days: Visit the Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia on Saturday, March 18th for a fun, family-friendly pursuit. During the orchid quest, children can go on a hunt to discover orchids around the gardens, and collect stamps at story-time, puppet play, rainforest exploration, and other areas along the way. Participants that complete the journey receive a prize. While at the venue, visit the Orchid Extravaganza, featuring more than 4,500 orchids on display in the Conservatory.
The Witches: On Sunday, March 19th, the Film Forum located in lower Manhattan is showing The Witches, based on the novel by Roald Dahl. While vacationing with his grandmother in England, a young boy stumbles upon a convention of witches plotting to turn all children into mice. This children’s classic features an all-star cast and is sure to delight the entire family.
The Franklin Institute: Two innovative and interactive exhibits that are currently open at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia are Jurassic World, on display until April 23rd, and Robot Revolution, until April 2nd. The Robot Revolution is an exhibit supported by Google.org with additional and significant support from The Boeing Company. Visitors can step inside a simulated self-driving car, feel PARO (a therapeutic baby seal robot), program a robotic arm, and explore other cutting-edge technological advances. Attendees visiting the Jurassic Park exhibit will be able to come face-to-face with a Velociraptor, get a close-up look at the Tyrannosaurus rex, and audiences of all ages will get to learn all about these prehistoric creatures.