The city that never sleeps is the perfect place for high-energy kids. And there’s no question that New York is full of museums, zoos, theaters, and other spots kids love. Use this list as a guide to some of the family-friendly events happening this month in NYC.
American Museum of Natural History
212-769-5100
Flying Monsters IMAX film: this National Geographic film immerses audiences into the world of pterosaurs—reptiles that ruled the sky millions of years ago, through Jan. 4, 2013; Journey to the Stars space show: travel 13 billion years into the past and experience the life and death of stars, including the Sun, through Dec. 31; Spiders Alive: featuring about 20 species of live spiders, this exhibit highlights spiders’ anatomy, behavior, and characteristics, through Dec. 2
Atlantic Antic Street Festival (shown)
718-875 8993
On Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn, from Hicks St. to 4th Ave., this annual festival draws thousands of people to celebrate food, art, music, shopping, and fun. There will be free performances on multiple stages, as well as pony rides, storytelling, and face painting on a block dedicated solely to kid-friendly activities, 12–6 pm, Sept. 30
Dumbo Arts Festival
718-488-8588
Throughout the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, you’ll find art installations, musicians, dancers, poets, circus artists, and more. The Children’s Museum of the Arts will provide free family arts workshops in animation, clay creatures, mural making, and more, Sept. 28–30
Feast of San Gennaro
212-768-9320
Little Italy will be a lively and festive place during this 11-day feast, featuring colorful parades, free musical entertainment, a wide variety of ethnic foods, and a cannoli-eating contest, Sept. 13–23
Museum Day Live!
202-633-1000
Over 1,400 museums and cultural institutions nationwide waive admission fees to those who have downloaded a Museum Day Live! ticket (good for one person and one guest). Check the website for participating venues, Sept. 29
More fun stuff to do with kids this fall in NYC—>
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre212-988-9093
Little Miss Muffet’s Monster-Sitting Service: Molly Muffet, the great-great-great-great granddaughter of the original Little Miss Muffet, hatches a plan to start a babysitting service for baby monsters with Aloisius “Al” Albrecht Alviss Spider (a.k.a. the spider from the original story), Saturdays and Sundays, 1 pm, Sept. 8–30
The Triad Theater
212-362-2590
A Mermaid’s Tale: this musical performance is based on the novel The Sea Fairies by L. Frank Baum (author of The Wizard of Oz), and involves lots of audience participation, songs, and of course, mermaid princesses and other underwater royalty, Saturdays, 3 pm, starting Sept. 15
World Maker Faire (shown)
newyork@makerfaire.com
Head to the New York Hall of Science to see what some seriously creative people are making—from rockets and robots, to sustainable foods and upcycled clothes. Kids and families can also work on a number of unique, hands-on projects and see innovative live performances by some visionary music makers, Sept. 29-30