Celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, with family-friendly events across Brooklyn and lower Manhattan! Our guide features family-friendly events this October, featuring Diwali storytelling, music, dancing, food, and of course, lights!
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Sparkles and Steps: A Diwali Event at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum | Crown Heights
Saturday, October 18 | 2-5pm | $35 | FREE for ages 2 and under
Join for a Diwali celebration on the rooftop of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum! There will be music by DJ Tauba, a dance workshop, delicious food and sweets from Imlee Kitchen, henna, sparklers, and a marketplace featuring South Asian vendors. Plus, there will be games and activities for kids of all ages.
Diwali Celebration | Marine Park
Saturday, October 18 | 4-5pm | FREE
The Carmine Carro Community Center in Marine Park will host a Diwali celebration, with traditions from the holy month of Kartika on the Hindu calendar, plus dances performed by Bharatanatyam dancer Sloka Iyengar.
Sunday, October 19 | 10-11am | $20 | FREE for ages 2 and under
Celebrate the Festival of Lights at a special Diwali Puja at the Broome Street Ganesha Temple. It will be a morning of prayers, rituals, and blessings. After the puja, enjoy a Diwali storytime with author Anu Sehgal as she reads from her favorite bi-lingual Diwali book Kahaani Rangeeli. We’ll wrap up the day with a delicious prasaad and Diwali trivia. Note: avoid bringing strollers as there is no space to park them!
Diwali with Ajna Dance Company at Third Street Music School | East Village
Sunday, October 19 | 1-3pm | FREE | RSVP here
Join for a free family-friendly Diwali celebration hosted by Third Street Music School! The event will feature an interactive dance performance by Ajna Dance Company and henna art by Jolie Henna Entertainment and Afreenz Mehndi.
Diwali Celebration at the Seaport Museum | South Street Seaport
Monday, October 20 | 3-6pm | FREE
Join for a Diwali celebration at the South Street Seaport Museum! From 3–6pm, visitors can decorate a “diya lamp” (a battery-operated candle) on the cobblestones of Water Street outside the Museum and float it in a special pool. From 3–5pm, a henna artist will be available for decorative designs. At 4pm, there will be a Diwali Puppet Storytime and at 5pm, there will be an interactive dance workshop featuring Diwali songs, music, and stories. Participants will learn mudras (hand gestures) from classical dance forms and take part in group dancing.
Diwali Fest at Bhakti Center | Lower East Side
Monday, October 20 | 5-9pm | FREE
Craft your own Diwali Diya with Ms. Geshu at Leonard Library | Williamsburg
Tuesday, October 21 | 3:30-4:30pm | Ages 3+
Diwali celebrates themes of light and joy with traditional clay oil lamps called diyas. Join for a fun, hands-on Diwali celebration. Through stories, crafts, songs, and snacks inspired by Ms. Geshu’s book My Heart Would Like Some More, Please!, children will explore Diwali, Hindi language, and the foods of India.
Diwali Party at Fontainhas | DUMBO
Friday, October 24 | Kids’ activities start at 6pm, followed by an evening celebration for all | RSVP here | FREE entry
Join Fontainhas for a night of food, drinks, music, and kids’ activities to celebrate Diwali! From 6-7pm, there will be activities for kids including a storytime, bubbles, and diya painting. The celebration continues from 7pm onwards, with a lighting ceremony, Rangoli art (traditional Indian art form of making colorful patterns on the floor), Mehndi (henna), sparklers, drinks, and bites.
For the grown-ups:
Diwali Drag Brunch at Fontainhas | DUMBO
Sunday, October 19 | 12-3pm | $15 (includes one free chai)
Join for Brunch & Brawl: Diwali Dhamaka Edition at Fontainhas. Expect sparklers, drama, games, and explosive lipsync performances. Seating is first-come, first-served!
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Updated: October 20, 2025. Main Image: Diwali celebration at The Seaport.
