NYC FAMILY FUN
Another rainy weekend, but NYC's got lots of indoor options. Some multicultural fall festivals are rain or shine (we recommend this compact windproof umbrella), others are moving indoors. Always click on the 'More Info' button on the event listing to confirm before you head out.
Stay dry at Broadway/Off-Broadway shows and other all-ages theatrical options, get creative at engaging museum family programs and explore free indoor spaces.
UPTOWN
🌮 Sample a collection of Central and South American gastronomies and groove to salsa, reggae, rumba, jazz etc. live performances at Inwood's Latin Night Market (tonight, before the rain starts).
🌮 Join free Lantern Making Workshops in preparation for next week's Morningside Lights processional.
UPPER EAST SIDE
🎨 Join free storytime (Sat-Mon mornings) at the Met in the new, free admission 81st Street Studio. Explore hands-on stations where art and science meet. Older kids can sleuth in the Whodunit at the Met Family Scavenger Hunt.
🎨 New learning centers host free open houses - ages 5 & under can play and sing at the Vivvi Upper East Side Opening Party, ages 4+ can get creative at the MakeInspires UES Open House Party.
UPPER WEST SIDE
🎶 Celebrate Latin jazz rhythms at the WeBop Family Jazz Party.
🎶 Watch Mischief Everywhere You Look: A Playful Site-Specific Dance Performance, a playful free performance in Riverside Park.
🎶 Through Oct 10, more than 50 giant hyper slow-moving images of 20 of New York City Ballet’s current dancers loom over Lincoln Center in SlowDancing/NYCB.
MIDTOWN
🎨 Look closely at modern masterpieces and cutting-edge contemporary art and make your own art at MoMA's free Family Gallery Talks: Sculpture. See innovative pop art made of surprising materials (including a room of chocolate art!) at ED RUSCHA / NOW THEN at MoMA. Get creative anytime at the hands-on Art Lab. Buy an annual membership for $90 (tax-deductible) for unlimited visits all year long.
🎨 The beloved LOVE sculpture is back in NYC as part of a public exhibition Robert Indiana at Rockefeller Center. Take a spin on Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace before it closes Sep 24.
🎨 Fun shows for even the youngest theater goers include the Eric Carle Story Show, Sesame Street: The Musical and the Gazillion Bubble Show.
🎨 While the annual Paws on Parade at Bryant Park is cancelled, puppy lovers can get their fix in any weather at the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, home of fun exhibit Fashionable Dogs and Thursday afternoon Stuffy Storytimes.
🐶 Live out rescue team dreams through themed environments, games, and activities at The PAW Patrol Experience at Camp Columbus Circle.
🐶 In Flatiron, explore La Familia Madrigal's real-life Casita, complete with secret passages, interactive magic and live music at Camp's Encanto experience.
🐶 Admire gorgeous costumes & sets from all the eras at Taylor Swift: Storyteller at the Museum of Arts & Design.
CHELSEA/FLATIRON
🎨 Drop in to Whitney Open Studios on Saturday and make optical illusions inspired by the Hindu deity Ganesha at Rubin Family Sundays: Obstacle Illusions on Sunday.
🎨 Meet favorite authors at special storytimes for middle grade and picture books at Books of Wonder, a great rainy-day destination.
🎨 Enjoy free admission to interactive MoMath on Sunday. See our guide to free museum hours all over town.
DOWNTOWN
🍁 Enjoy shadow puppetry, mooncakes, traditional Han garments, sugar paintings and more at the (indoors) China Institute Mid Autumn Family Festival
🍁 Learn about the construction process during Skyscraper Museum Family Program: Hard Hat Area! Introduction to Construction!.
🍁 Journey through vibrant culture and history in bilingual musical My Magical Colombian Bus.
🍁 Explore magical miniature art exhibition Small Is Beautiful and other all-ages interactive experiences.
🍁 Celebrate Italian-American culture with colorful parades, live music, carnival style rides and lots of delicious food at the 96th annual Feast of San Gennaro.
🍁 Enjoy outdoor music & puppetry at a destination playground during weekly Playscape Performs.
BROOKLYN
🥨 Celebrate Oktoberfest at DeKalb Market Hall with live music, games, kids activities, food and more, plus lots of German food and beer.
🥨 Free (indoor) family puppet shows include Emit Theatre's Waves of Wonder: a Play About Water and Our World at happening Industry City and Aesop's Fables at the Brooklyn Heights Library.
🥨 Imagine sunny weather at Rock And Roll Playhouse at Brooklyn Bowl: Bob Marley
🥨 Travel back in time with Dinosaur Yoga and Jurassic Mini-Golf at the Brooklyn Children's Museum.
🥨 See a screening of a 1985 classic comedy Pee-wee’s Big Adventure
🥨 Perrault's 1697 French fantasy is brought to life with hand puppets in Puppetworks intimate Puss in Boots.
Find more family fun the Bronx and Westchester & beyond.
