Chocolate Makery & Slime Studio
Jewish Children's Museum 792 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NYBecome a chocolatier for a day. Harvest the cocoa pods, grind and roast beans and mold a delicious chocolate creation. Or get all gooey and create fruity slime. Both programs run throughout the day. Each museum admission includes one free program ticket, additional tickets are $3 each.
Wave Hill Family Art Project
Wave Hill West 249th Street & Independence Avenue, Bronx, NYEnjoy nature-inspired art projects among gorgeous gardens and trees overlooking the Hudson River. Themes change weekly. Takes place indoors, but there is some outdoor walking to get to the project. The number of families able to participate at any given time will be limited to about nine. If you arrive and capacity is full, program…
Lunar New Year at CMOM
Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) 212 West 83rd Street between Broadway & Amsterdam, New York, NYJoin Children's Museum of Manhattan to celebrate Lunar New Year at the CMOM. Use design, puppetry, and creativity to explore symbols of calm, peace, elegance, and beauty in the year of the rabbit. Create 3D rabbit puppets and paper lanterns. Join interactive storytime with Playing with Lanterns by Wange Yage. On Saturday, join an…
Lunar New Year at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Brooklyn Children's Museum 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NYJoin Brooklyn Children’s Museum to usher in the Year of the Rabbit. Learn about the festival and traditions of Lunar New Year through storytelling, live music, calligraphy workshops, kung fu lessons, and a rooftop lion dance parade led by the Chinatown Community Young Lions. Also ice skate on the roof and explore interactive exhibits.
The Skyscraper Museum Family Program: Shapes & Skyscrapers
The Skyscraper Museum 39 Battery Place, New York, NYEngage with a Skyscraper Museum educator to explore the principles of urbanism, architecture, and engineering through fun hands-on activities. Explore different themes each session. Free, but online registration required. Walk-in spots sometimes available if sold out.
Story Hour at Sugar Hill Children’s Museum
Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling 898 St. Nicholas Ave at 155th Street, New York, NYJoin interactive Story Hour with special guest artists. Lots of excellent entertainers and musicians representing diverse cultures and viewpoints. Also at 1 pm.
Griffins, Goblets, and Gold: A Wizarding Tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum Of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, New York, NYExplore art and spaces in the Metropolitan Museum of Art reminiscent of Harry Potter and the Wizarding World, from part of an actual castle to mythical creatures like griffins and dragons. Participate in interactive activities, make surprising connections, explore the museum from a wizard’s perspective - and maybe even do a little magic. Private tours…
Whitney Museum Open Studio
Whitney Museum of American Art 99 Gansevoort Street, New York, NYAll ages are invited to get creative in the Laurie M. Tisch Education Center. Make art inspired by works on view in the collection and current exhibitions. Each week is a different artmaking project. See our complete guide to the Whitney Museum.
Winter Blast: A Family Day of Native Games
National Museum of the American Indian - New York One Bowling Green, New York, NYPlay Native games from across the Western Hemisphere. Try your hand at Inuit yo-yo, ring and pin, Hawaiian chess, hoop throwing, and more.
42 Screening + Jackie Robinson Trivia
Jackie Robinson Museum 75 Varick St, New York, NYJoin the Jackie Robinson Museum for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to watch feature film “42” surrounded by artifacts from Robinson’s life and the moments portrayed on screen. Show off your Jackie Robinson knowledge and win prizes in family-friendly trivia games before and during the movie. Tickets include all-day admission to the museum; which opens at 11…
Guggenheim for All Family Day
Guggenheim 1071 5th Avenue at 89th Street, New York, NYIn this drop-in program designed for children with autism and sensory sensitivities and their families, explore works from Nick Cave: Forothermore in sensory-friendly experiences in the galleries and create your own art in the studio. Free. Registration required.
New-York Historical Society Sunday Story Time
New-York Historical Society 70 Central Park West at 77th Street, New York, NYThis weekly program in a charming children's library includes the reading of a New-York-themed book, a related craft project and silly dances and games.
Rubin Family Sundays: Transcendent Blossoms
Rubin Museum of Art 150 West 17 Street, New York, NYLearn about and craft lotus flowers, a powerful symbol of overcoming hardship in Himalayan art, and imagine yourself rising above the murky waters to bloom. Pre-registration is required for either the 1 pm or 2 pm. Free tickets include access to the Museum galleries. Each month explores a new theme, with an art-making activity centered…
Celebrate Lunar New Year and the Year of the Cat
New-York Historical Society 70 Central Park West at 77th Street, New York, NYJoin New-York Historical Society and the Vietnam Heritage Center for performances, red envelopes, and festive activities celebrating Year of the Cat (Year of the Rabbit in some Asian countries). Learn about all the ways Tết (Lunar New Year) is celebrated in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Programming includes hands-on activities such as Tết card making, Bầu…
Oshogatsu: New Year’s Celebration
Japan Society 333 East 47th Street Midtown, New York, New YorkCelebrate the Lunar New Year Japanese-style. After watching a riveting Japanese taiko drum performance, kids are invited on stage for a hands-on drum mini-workshop. Activities include a live giant ink-painting demonstration, a New Year’s calligraphy workshop (kakizome) and postcard-making (nengajo) and take-home craft kits. Healthy Japanese light meals, snacks and festival-related refreshments available for purchase. Sign…
Queens Museum Lunar New Year Celebration
Queens Museum Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Queens, New York, NYCelebrate the year of the rabbit with folk dances, Lion Dance, Kung fu demonstrations, and traditional arts and crafts. Enjoy a 45-minute performance program featuring professional artists and students of New York Chinese Cultural Center's School of the Arts, as well as a hands-on Chinese calligraphy and ink brush painting workshop for kids and adults. Queens…
Sunday Art
Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NYExplore Brooklyn Museum galleries, look closely at an object from the permanent collection, and create art inspired by the work. Free with Museum admission.
Metropolitan Museum Of Art Storytime
Metropolitan Museum Of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, New York, NYLook, listen, sing, and have fun with picture books about snow; then continue your adventure with a self-guided gallery hunt in the Museum. Geared toward families with children ages 18 months–6, but all ages welcome. Space is limited; first come, first served. In the Uris Center for Education; enter at the (less-crowded, stroller-friendly) W 81st…
Start with Art and Music: Water and Sky
Metropolitan Museum Of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, New York, NYExplore art and music in the galleries while you look, move, and sing. Fabulous museum educators engage children in conversations and activities related to a few works in the vast collection while listening to live music. Share ideas and enjoy stories, sketching, singing, and other gallery activities that bring works of art to life. Share…
The Met Family Benefit: Globetrotters
Metropolitan Museum Of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, New York, NYPack your bags and set sail for a trip around the world at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 29th annual Family Benefit. From the temples of Egypt to the serene courtyards of China, stamp your passport as you travel around The Met collection from across the globe all in one night. Families of all ages…
Free Admission Noguchi Museum
The Noguchi Museum 9-01 33rd Road Queens, Long Island City, NYOn the first Friday of every month, enjoy free admission to a serene museum and gardens founded and designed by internationally renowned Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi. Advance reservations are highly recommended; tickets are released two weeks before each date. Housed in a repurposed 1920s red brick industrial building, with an attached concrete pavilion designed and…
Little New-Yorkers
New-York Historical Society 70 Central Park West at 77th Street, New York, NYJoin museum educators in the lovely children's library for story time and crafts. Each class includes a special hello song, silly dances and games, a story book reading, and a craft to do after the story. Themes related to New York history and current exhibits change monthly.
MoMA UNIQLO NYC Nights
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) 4 West 53rd Street, New York, NYVisit MoMA for free the first Friday of every month. Tickets must be reserved in advance (up to two adults, unlimited kids) and are released one week before each event. MoMA stays open late on the first Friday of every month with free admission for New Yorkers. Enjoy music by DJs from…
Drop-in Drawing
Metropolitan Museum Of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, New York, NYExperience The Met collection through creative drawing challenges in the galleries with expert teaching artists. Materials are provided, but you may bring your own sketchbook. Only pencils are allowed in the galleries. Demonstrations repeat every 30 minutes. For visitors of all ages. See our complete guide to visiting the Met.
Furry Friday with The Play That Goes Wrong
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog 101 Park Ave at West 41st Street, New York, NYRoam the galleries with fellow dog owners and lovers during American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog's pet friendly hours. Help off-Broadway production The Play That Goes Wrong look for their canine actor, Winston. Enter to win free tickets to the production, dress up as their favorite characters, and explore the history of dogs…
Coquí Club: Honoring Black & Afro-Latinx Artists
El Museo Del Barrio 1230 Fifth Avenue at E 105th St, New York, NYJoin an interactive, bilingual program facilitated by El Museo museum educators with storytelling, discussion and an art making project. February is an opportunity to honor and highlight the accomplishments of many Black leaders in the community. Learn bout special Black and Afro-Latinx artists and explore a little more about their identities as Black and Latino.…
Family First Saturdays: Exhibition Tour and Storytime at the Morgan
The Morgan Library & Museum 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NYLeap off the page with this new family program geared towards younger readers. Enjoy a family tour of the exhibitions Ashley Bryan & Langston Hughes: Sail Away and The Little Prince: Taking Flight followed by a live picture book storytime. Recommended for families and children ages 4–8.
Hands On History: Victorian Valentines
King Manor Museum 150-03 Jamaica Avenue, Queens, NYThe home-turned-museum of Rufus King - Founding Father and early voice in the anti-slavery movement- hosts free family programs the first & third Saturday each month with seasonal themes.
Kick off the Season of Love with Victorian valentine making using reproductions of historic patterns and ephemera. Mean valentines, known as Vinegar Valentines, were also…
First Saturday at Brooklyn Museum: Legacy
Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NYEnjoy engaging and eclectic free art and entertainment for all ages the first Saturday of the month at Brooklyn Museum. Ring in Black History Month and celebrate twenty-five years of First Saturdays. This month’s theme honors the legacy of Black artistic production in Brooklyn. Celebrate the creative excellence of Black artists who are shaping…
Family Concert: Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could, + Studio Art Session
The Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street, New York, NYGroove with Grammy-nominated Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could. Dance to rootsy, accordion-laced pop and rock music, as well as songs from the albums Under The Big Umbrella and Love Me For Who I Am where individuality is celebrated across abilities and kindness wins the day. From 11:30 am-3 pm, drop into Studio Art Session to…
Eldridge Eats: A History of the Lower East Side Food Tour
Museum at Eldridge Street 12 Eldridge Street, New York, NYVisit historic Lower East Side sites and nosh on delicious rugelach, pickles, knishes, and dumplingsStroll through the neighborhood’s 100-year history with long-time Lower East Side resident and Museum at Eldridge Street Docent Richard Soden. Learn about what life was like for Jewish immigrants at the turn of the last century: Where children played, where…
Guggenheim Stroller Tour
Guggenheim 1071 5th Avenue at 89th Street, New York, NYStroll around the ramps as museum educators lead an engaging one-hour tour for caregivers and their babies (up to 24 months). This interactive exploration of current exhibitions includes touchable objects, art-making, and adult conversation.
Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music
The Seaport Fulton & Front Streets, New York, NYJoin South Street Seaport Museum in person or virtually for a round-robin of shared sea songs, featuring members of The New York Packet and friends. Listen in, lead or request a song, and belt out the choruses. See our guide to the Seaport.
MoMA Family Gallery Talks
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) 4 West 53rd Street, New York, NYDiscover art together through engaging discussions and activities with new themes monthly. Look closely at modern masterpieces and cutting-edge contemporary art and make your own art. One time we discussed why Mark Rothko paintings are like sandwiches then made our own Rothkos from pre-cut paper. There are multiple groups roughly divided by age. Kids and…
Family Day: I Love NYC
Center for Architecture 536 LaGuardia Place, New York, NYLook at the various designs for the Love in Times Square Design Competition, an annual competition that invites architecture firms to think about how a Valentine sent from the heart of Times Square could express love for everyone. As a family, design and build your own model of a 3D Valentine for NYC. Sign up…
The Dark Crystal
Museum of the Moving Image 36-01 35 Avenue at 37 Street, Astoria, NYSee 1982, cult classic on a big screen. On a remote planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, to restore order to his world. Using a mix of puppetry, animatronics, modern special effects, and more, The Dark Crystal creates a sense of…
Valentine’s Day at the Jackie Robinson Museum
Jackie Robinson Museum 75 Varick St, New York, NYCelebrate Valentine’s Day with a special look a the loving partnership between Jackie and Rachel Robinson and the Robinson family. See items from the Robinson Family collection not regularly on display. Join story time at 1 pm & 2 pm and hands-on activities for children (ongoing between 12 pm & 3 pm).
Drop-in Drawing at The Met Cloisters
The Met Cloisters 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, New York, NYExperience The Met Cloisters collection through creative drawing challenges in the galleries with expert teaching artists. Materials are provided, but you may bring your own sketchbook. Only pencils are allowed in the galleries. Demonstrations repeat every 30 minutes. For visitors of all ages.
Eldridge Arts & Learning: Stained Glass
Museum at Eldridge Street 12 Eldridge Street, New York, NYLearn about the more than sixty stained glass windows of a historic synagogue and collage a colorful creation of your own. See how the colorful shapes and patterns bring the synagogue to life. from capturing natural light to displaying beautiful designs. Online RSVP required. Included with museum admission.
Poster Kids: Grow It!
Poster House 119 W 23rd Street, New York, NYIn this food-focused program, look at propaganda and advertisements from around the world featuring food. Share memories, plan meals, and write recipes in the galleries, then plant take-home gardens. For children 5–11 years old and their adults (siblings are welcome).