There are so many free kid-friendly activities all over Brooklyn this week, including Fall Fest at Atlantic Terminal Mall, a Panamanian Parade in Crown Heights, an Anti-Racist Family Day at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Bed Stuy Walls Mural Festival & Block Party, Wellness + Workouts week at Montague Open Streets in Brooklyn Heights, and the BKLYN ROCKS! Fashion Show at Abolitionist Place in Downtown Brooklyn. Plus, plenty of story times, music classes, and a free Open House at My Gym locations. Don’t forget to also check out our annual Halloween Guide for all the free events happening all over Brooklyn this October!
Bilingual Spanish Storytime at Adams Street Library | DUMBO
Monday, October 7 | 10:30-11:00am | Ages 18-36 months | Registration opens 48 hours in advance
We will be hosting a special Spanish story time in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Read books, sing songs, learn fingerplays, and play with other toddlers and caregivers! Geared towards ages 18-36 months. Space is limited and registration is strongly recommended. Registration opens 48HR before the program. There is no waitlist for the program.
Free Admission Days @ Pier 2 Roller Rink | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sundays | 10am-12pm
Pier 2 Roller Rink offers free admission hours on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. Roller skate with amazing views of the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan! Skate rental is $8 per person.
My Gym Free Open House | Park Slope & Cobble Hill
Monday, October 7 | 3:30pm, 4:30pm & 5:30pm | RSVP for Park Slope location | RSVP for Cobble Hill location
Stop by our Open House and see why kids—from infants to 10-year-olds—love My Gym! Enjoy a day filled with laughter, surprises, fun activities, new friends, and exclusive sign-up deals. Thinking about joining? RSVP for FREE today! We can’t wait to meet you! This is a FREE Event designed exclusively for families eager to learn more about My Gym. Members are welcome to bring a new guest. RSVP is required.
Brooklyn Marine Terminal Public Workshop #1 | Carroll Gardens
Monday, October 7 | 6-8pm | RSVP here
The NYC EDC (Economic Development Corporation) is offering another public workshop to help shape the Vision for Brooklyn Marine Terminal! Join community leaders, elected officials, and City representatives at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary & St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church in Carroll Gardens. Participants will learn more about the project, the City’s goals, and the opportunities and challenges at the site as we begin to collectively define the community’s vision. Attendees are welcome to stop in or leave at any time throughout the event. This event is free, and light refreshments, and child care will be provided. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and language interpretation will be provided in Spanish and Mandarin.
Free Music Show with Hopalong Andrew at Whole Foods | Gowanus
Hopalong Andrew’s weekly shows at Whole Foods are FREE! Make sure to double check in his Instagram the morning of to make sure class has not been cancelled for any reason.
Stomp, Clap and Sing with Araceli at Central Library | Grand Army Plaza
Tuesday, October 8 | 10:30-11:30am
Singer Araceli accompanied by her Peruvian instrument, called charango, and her marionette will sing beautiful stories in English and Spanish. A fun and interactive performance where everyone can learn and become familiar with the Spanish language. Through music and repetition of words, we learn together!
Pumpkin Picking & Fall Fun at BumbleBeesRus | Clinton Hill
Tuesday, October 8 | 10:30-11:30am | Ages 2-4 | RSVP by calling 718.676.0800 or emailing [email protected]
All are invited to this fall event at BumbleBeesRus for children ages 2-4 and their caregivers! Join for a fall read aloud and pumpkin painting fun.
Free Storytime at Private Picassos | Clinton Hill
Tuesday, October 8 | 11:00-11:30am
Join us each Tuesday at 11am and select Saturdays at 10am for a special storytime – perfect for babies and toddlers. Private Picassos Founder Valeen Bhat will read a favorite kid’s book in our cozy reading nook. Hang out after for coloring, toys and exploring all of the books we have at our Studio.
Grab and Go Craft: Fall Leaves Wreath at TALeA | Williamsburg
Tuesday, October 8 | 11am-3:45pm
Visit us at Talea Williamsburg, say hello to the Leonard Library staff, and pick up the Grab & Go Craft Kit for a Fall Leaves Wreath! Materials Include: Paper Plate (center cut out), Construction paper in fall colors, Foam leaves, and String.
Comics with Mr. Nick at Red Hook Interim Library | Red Hook
Come to the brand new Red Hook Interim Library on Van Brunt St. to learn something new or indulge your love of drawing this summer. You will be drawing and learning about art from Mr. Nick. Topics such as how to make comic books, cartoons and graphic novels will be covered. Mr. Nick is a profession artist that has created and published his own series of comic books. Don’t miss out. Beginners are always welcome! All supplies will be provided. For kids age 10 and up.
Children’s Zumba Class at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Tuesday, October 8 | 3:30-4:15pm | Ages 5+ | Register here
Join us for dancing in fun in the multipurpose room! Zumba Kids classes are rockin’, high-energy dance parties packed with kid-friendly routines. We break down steps, add games, activities and cultural exploration elements into the class structure. Helps develop a healthy lifestyle and incorporate fitness as a natural part of children’s lives.
Tween Tuesdays at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Tuesday, October 8 | 4-5pm
If you are a tween in between the ages of 10 and 12, join us in the Teen Gaming Room for Tween Tuesdays! We will be making crafts, playing music and playing both board and videogames!
Learn to Play Basketball at Red Hook Park Recreation Center | Red Hook
Children will learn improved flexibility and endurance as well as develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Free Admission at New York Aquarium | Coney Island
Wednesdays | 3-6pm | Reserve tickets here; free tickets are made available at 3pm the Monday before
Take advantage of free admission hours at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. There’s so much to do while you’re in Coney Island; check out our guide to planning a day trip to Coney Island! Note that advance timed tickets are required; the Wednesday Afternoon Ticket Store will open on Monday at 3:00 pm for that Wednesday’s reservations. Do not come to the aquarium without a reserved ticket! There’s a maximum of 4 tickets per order.
Game On at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Wednesday, October 9 | 4-5pm
Join us in the Mezzanine Game Room for gaming of all kinds! Switch, Jenga, Clue, Wordle Board Game, Exploding Kittens, and more!
Tunes at the Triangle at the 6th Ave. Triangle | Park Slope
Join us every Wednesday in October at the 6th Ave Triangle (6th Ave & St Marks) for an evening of incredible performances by local artists.
Sally J. Pla Comes to Brooklyn Public Library | Central Library
Wednesday, October 9 | 6:30-8:00pm | RSVP by calling 917.751.4890 or e-mail [email protected]
Join Schneider-award-winning middle grade author Sally J. Pla to discuss her new book, The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn, and how writing neurodivergent characters led her to realize she was neurodivergent herself. In addition to being an author, she has appeared on television and radio as a neurodiversity advocate.
Lalo-Palooza in the Park with Suzi Shelton at J.J. Byrne Playground | Park Slope
Each week, Lalo-Palooza will feature Brooklyn’s own award-winning children’s performer Suzi Shelton and a diverse cast of guest musicians. During this popular free outdoor music series, families can expect music and fun, kid-friendly activities, like giant bubbles by Park Slope Parents and a coloring station with weekly giveaways from best-selling baby and toddler gear brand Lalo. Bring the whole fam, and get ready to dance and sing in the sunshine with Suzi & friends at JJ Byrne Playground!
Anti-Racist Family Day at Brooklyn Children’s Museum | Crown Heights
Thursday, October 10 | 2-5pm
Join Brooklyn Children’s Museum for the fourth annual Anti-Racist Family Day, in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library! Participants will learn about age-appropriate anti-racist practices, including celebrating and affirming different races and identities, talking about injustice and fairness in our society, and modeling ways young children can engage in activism. This program is free and included with Museum entry during Amazon Free Hours. Capacity is limited; first come, first served.
Visit Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s STEM Makerspace: Nature’s Engineers| Crown Heights
Thursdays | 2:30-4:30pm
Brooklyn Children’s Museum has a new natural science-inspired makerspace, and you can visit it for FREE during Amazon Free Hours on Thursday afternoons! Nature’s Engineers is designed for children to learn from nature and engage in hands-on STEM activities, fostering creativity and critical thinking. This month’s project is making a fossil! Join in September to analyze fossils from BCM’s collection. Visitors will practice describing, measuring, and comparing attributes of objects to understand what Earth was like thousands of years ago. Then, visitors will create their own fossil cast inspired by BCM’s collection of fossils!
After School Movie: Encanto at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Thursday, October 10 | 3:30-5:00pm | Ages 5+
After School Movie at Brooklyn Heights Library! For kids ages 5 and up. This week’s movie: “Encanto” (2021). PG. Run time: 1 hour and 42 minutes. No registration required; attendance limited by room capacity.
Storytime in the Park | Fort Greene Park
Thursday, October 10 | 4:00-4:45pm
Sing, read, and play with librarians from Brooklyn Public Library! Have fun hearing great picture books read aloud and playing with other children during this program featuring guest musical artists from Urban Stages. For children of all ages and their caregivers. Storytime in the Park will be located at the bottom of the monument stairs in Fort Greene Park’s northwest corner. In case of extreme heat or inclement weather, the program will be held at Walt Whitman Library.
Brooklyn Robotics League at Adams Street Library | DUMBO
Thursday, October 10 | 4:00-5:30pm | Ages 9-17
Do you love LEGOs, robotics and teamwork? Join the Adams Street Library team to compete in the annual Brooklyn Robotics League! Kids and teens (ages 9–17) will learn to use advanced LEGO robotics sets while exploring STEM concepts and making new friends. In partnership with NYC First, we will be hosting workshops leading up to the big competition in 2025 at Central Library.
Brooklyn Robotics League at Central Library | Grand Army Plaza
Thursday, October 10 | 4:30-6:00pm | Ages 9-17
This is a registration session. Official class will start on October 17th, 2024. Love LEGOs, robotics and teamwork? Then head to a participating Brooklyn Public Library location for Brooklyn Robotics League. The theme for this year is Submerged, and kids and teens (ages 9–17) will learn to use the LEGO Spike Prime set while exploring STEM concepts and making new friends. In partnership with NYC First, BPL will host workshops leading up to the big competition at Central Library.
The Service Collective’s Fresh Fridge Fridays at Brooklyn Heights Community Fridge | Brooklyn Bridge
Let’s create a new routine on our way to school or work on Fridays! Pitch in and ensure the Brooklyn Heights Community Fridge is cared for each week. We’ll bring cleaning supplies (including trash bags and gloves), and you bring something to put in the fridge. We’ll clean the fridge together and stock it with what you bring.
Teen Reset: Dog Therapy at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Friday, October 11 | 4-5pm
Join us in the Game Room from 4 to 5pm in the Teen Gaming for Teen Reset! Today we have a therapy dog named Sandy joining us. Come and give Sandy a treat! Snacks and water are included.
Graphic Novel Book Club at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Friday, October 11 | 4-5pm
This month’s book is New Kid by Jerry Craft! Join us for Graphic Novel Book Club to make new friends, celebrate amazing books, and learn our very own cartooning skills. We’ll discuss the month’s book and pick a book for the next month. We’ll also practice our own cartooning skills with library provided materials. Can’t wait to see you there!
Native Species Planting Party at Bowling Green Cottage | Prospect Park
Learn all about how to use native plants to strengthen the ecology of our urban landscape, and then get your hands dirty in the gardens of the Bowling Green Cottage.
Nature Exploration | Prospect Park
Saturday, October 12 & Sunday, October 13 | 10am-1pm
Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs on Saturdays and Sundays at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation.
- Leaf Art | 10am–12 pm | Let’s have fun exploring the unique features of trees and their uniquely shaped leaves. Let your creativity flourish as you craft art inspired by nature.
- Animal Encounter | 11am–12pm | Join Alliance Naturalists in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection.
- Fall Nature Walk | 12–1pm | Join us as we discover the wonders of nature! Are you curious about how invasive insects, like the Spotted Lanternfly, prepare for winter? You’ll get hands-on experience in citizen science as we observe how insect and plant life prepare for seasonal changes. Plus, you’ll learn how to protect trees from pests.
3rd Annual Bed Stuy Walls Mural Festival & Block Party
The 3rd annual Bed Stuy Walls block party and mural festival will have 30+ artists painting live, music, kids, activity, and community engagement. Join between 10am and 6pm on Lexington Avenue between Stuyvesant and Lewis.
Yom Kippur Family Musical Celebration at Bay Ridge Jewish Center | Bay Ridge
Yom Kippur Family Musical Celebration in person, for kids ages 0-6 + older sibs. Bring your clapping hands & dancing feet as we sing along with Dovy from Tkiya! Stories, puppets, musical instruments, learn about the holiday, & enjoy snacks for the kids. Please register in advance.
Japanese Storytime at Central Library | Grand Army Plaza
Saturday, October 12 | 10:15-10:45am
Join us for stories and songs in Japanese for children and their parents or caregivers.
Free Children’s Events at Dekalb Market Hall | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturdays & Sundays | 10am-12pm
On weekend mornings, stop by Dekalb Market Hall (downstairs at City Point) for free activities for kids ages 2 to 10 years old. Enjoy balloon twisting, magic shows, face painting, and more! Located in front of Osteria & Showroom Bakehouse.
Storytime with Charlie & Tommy Greenwald: The Rescues Best Day Ever at Books Are Magic | Brooklyn Heights
Saturday, October 12 | 11:00-11:30am | RSVP here
A trip to the vet, an unexpected storm, and overactive imaginations all contribute to three stories that take place in one exhausting day. Moose, Bear, and Tiger have a stressful time facing up to their fears, and eventually finding comfort snuggling down in a big comfy chair at the end of a very busy day! They support each other through a packed day full of drama and conflict, but all ends happily as they settle down together for a well-earned rest. Tommy Greenwald is the author of many popular books for children, including picture books, novels for middle grade readers, and The Rescues, his first series for emerging readers.
Magical Encounters at Adams Street Library | DUMBO
Saturdays, through October 26 | 11am-1pm
Free Books from the Brooklyn Book Bodega | Brooklyn Navy Yard
We have an excess amount of well-loved and overstock books for kids and adult readers. Please sign up to come to our Brooklyn Navy Yard Book Hub to take as many books as you can carry. We are unable to accommodate anyone under age 10 in this space. If you want to bring your children under the age of 10, please join us at a different event. During your 45 minutes, you will be able to select as many books as you can carry (approximately 100 books) from the varied selection of (used, like new, well-loved, child, YA, and adult) books that we have for this giveaway.
Storytime at The Center for Fiction Bookstore | Fort Greene
29th Annual Panamanian Parade | Crown Heights
The Panamanian Parade celebrates and honors the leaders, educators, artists, and celebrities who have left a cultural footprint on this nation. The Largest Panamanian Parade in the World outside of the Republic of Panama.
The Six Foot Platform on Car-Free Washington Street | DUMBO
Pinkalicious at Central Library | Grand Army Plaza
Saturday, October 12 | 1-2pm
This is the musical tale of Pinkalicious, who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe – a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast.
Greg’s Halloween Paw-Rade @ Greenwood Park | Park Slope
Theater 2020: Aesop’s Fables at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Saturday, October 12 | 2-3pm
Brooklyn Height’s own award-winning professional theater company Theater 2020 returns to our favorite library branch to present adaptations of Aesop’s Fables! Resident Playwright Lynn Marie Macy has adapted some fables for all ages and with the help of some puppets and stuffed critters, we will learn timeless life lessons about kindness, perseverance, and wisdom. Great for kids and adults alike. Doors open at 1:30 pm downstairs in the Multipurpose Room.
BRIC Jazz Fest: Revive Big Band @ The Plaza at 300 Ashland | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, October 12 | 3-5pm
BRIC, in partnership with Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, presents a FREE outdoor jazz concert at The Plaza at 300 Ashland ft. Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band! Join us as we kick off the 10th anniversary celebrations of BRIC JazzFest.
Play in the Square at Domino Park: Pumpkin Play | Williamsburg
Join Domino Park at the newly opened Domino Square for a fall series of kids programming. All ages are welcome! On October 13, join for Pumpkin Play with A Rosie Day.
Plant Tulip and Daffodil Bulbs at Cadman Park | Brooklyn Heights
Bring the whole family and help take care of our neighborhood park! Help plant hundreds of daffodil and tulip bulbs that will come up in the Spring. Gardening gloves and planting supplies are provided.
Montague Open Streets: Wellness + Workouts | Brooklyn Heights
- Barry’s Pop Up Class| 11am | Spots are limited: Sign up here.
- Orangetheory Fitness| 12-5pm | Stop by Orangetheory Fitness to meet their staff and enter a raffle for free merch, free classes, and more!
- Tea + Acupuncture with Tee Acupuncture | 1-3pm | Come meet Dr. Kang Tee from Tee Acupuncture for a cup of herbal tea and learn how you could benefit from acupuncture and Chinese herbology.
- Wundabar Pilates Class with Superstar Jordan Reising | 1pm | Sign up early here.
- Pilates with Good Day Pilates| 2pm | Sign up here.
- Rogue Connections | 3pm | NYC duo performing your favorite folk and rock hits.
- Open Level Flow Yoga Class with Gthr Yoga | 3-4pm | Register here.
- Slt Plank Off Challenge | 4pm | SLT Brooklyn Heights is opening its doors November 2024. Join SLT all day for fun, freebies, and a chance to win a free curated class for you and all of your friends.The Plank Off Challenge begins at 4:00 pm. The participant who holds the longest plank wins!
- Free Lemonade for Kids at Chama Mama | All Day | Kids: join your parents for a Chamalicous lunch, and get a free lemonade every day through December 31, 2024.
- Sundae Sundays at L’Appartement 4F | 12-5pm | L’Apéro by L’Appartement 4F will be outside serving to-go tahini cookie sundaes and charcuterie boxes featuring our signature selection of saucisson and cheeses.
Storytime w/ Irene Vázquez: Aiko and the Planet of Dogs at Books Are Magic | Brooklyn Heights
Sunday, October 13 | 11:00-11:30am | RSVP here
Talking space dogs + courageous girl astronaut + giant hungry catfish = one fun picture book. Irene Vázquez is a Black Mexican American poet, translator, and journalist born and raised on the Gulf Coast and now residing in Manhattan. After graduating from Yale, their first poetry collection, Take Me to the Water, was released by Bloof Books in 2022. By day, Irene edits books about feisty 12-year olds at Levine Querido. When not in the world of books, Irene likes drinking coffee, watching the WNBA, and playing with their cat (a tortie named Gemini).
Hispanic Heritage Month: Maria Hernandez Park History and Clean-up | Bushwick
Fall Fest at Atlantic Terminal Mall | Downtown Brooklyn
Sunday, October 13 | 11am-2pm | RSVP here
Vale Pumpkin Patch at The William Vale | Williamsburg
Sunday, October 13 | 12-3pm | RSVP here
Welcome to Vale Pumpkin Patch! Get ready for a fun-filled day of pumpkin picking, fall treats, and more at The William Vale. Join us on Sun, Oct 13, 2024 starting at 12:00 PM for a day of fall festivities. Bring your friends and family for a day of autumn fun! The Kid’s Costume Contest will be at 1pm and the Pet Costume Contest will be at 2pm.
BKLYN ROCKS! Fashion Show at Abolitionist Place | Downtown Brooklyn
Sunday, October 13 | 1:00-3:30pm
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and City Point announce the first fashion show ever at Abolitionist Place, bringing Fashion Week Brooklyn to Downtown Brooklyn! On Sunday, October 13th at 1pm, BKLYN ROCKS! will transform the pathways of Abolitionist Place into a vibrant runway produced, styled, and modeled by Fashion Camp 360, a program by NYPD’s Community Affairs and Youth Strategies Development, which mentors and empowers style-minded youth from ages 7-18 years. As part of the Brooklyn community spirit, Primark will donate all the clothing modeled by Fashion Camp 360 to the aspiring fashionistas walking the runway!
Solar Observing: Pioneer Works | Red Hook
Join the Amateur Astronomers Association with our friends at Pioneer Works for solar observing during their Second Sundays! We will be at Pioneer Works’ primary location: 159 Pioneer Street! The event is weather permitting; canceled if cloudy or raining.
Java St. Jazz at Java Street Community Garden | Greenpoint
Java St. Community Garden will be holding another installment of our Java Jazz Series. Cole Davis and Greg Lapine will perform 2 sets, leading into an open jam. All are welcome!
Updated: October 8, 2024. Main Image: Fall Fest at Atlantic Terminal Mall.
