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Free kid-friendly events this week in Brooklyn (4/20-4/26)

Earth Day celebrations continue this week! Families can also check out a Suzi Shelton concert in Prospect Heights, a digital scavenger hunt in Bed-Stuy, yoga for little ones in DUMBO, a rooftop sunset storytime in Greenpoint, city nature challenges in Red Hook and Brooklyn Bridge Park, a community meal in Kensington, and much more!

MONDAY

Free Admission Days at the Pier 2 Roller Skating Rink | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Mondays & Fridays | 3:30pm-6:00pm | FREE admission but skate rental is $8 and skate mate rental is $6

Come to the Pier 2 Roller Skating Rink for some free family fun and exercise. Enjoy the fresh air and gorgeous views as you skate around the rink.

Book Adventures: Earth Day Edition | Sunset Park

Monday, April 20th | 4:00pm-5:00pm | Ages 6-12

Come celebrate Earth Day by reading books about protecting our beautiful planet and then making a meaningful craft after.

 

TUESDAY

Stomp, Clap and Sing with Suzi Shelton | Prospect Heights

Tuesday, April 21st | 10:30am-11:30am 

Suzi Shelton is a Brooklyn-based award-winning singer/songwriter who brings joy to families with young children, toddlers, and kids. Suzi creates music that is both uplifting and fun, encouraging little ones to sing, dance, and explore the world around them. With 10+ albums and multiple singles under her belt, Suzi’s songs are filled with playful melodies and positive messages, making her a beloved figure among families who seek heartwarming and interactive musical experiences. For this program, she will be joined by NYC guitarist Jeff Litman at the Central Library.

Kids Create: Dream Journeys | Bed-Stuy

Tuesday, April 21st | 3:30pm-4:30pm

Kids imagine the future through Afrofuturist art in this creative afterschool workshop led by teaching artist Wéma Ragophala at the Bedford Library.

Cardboard Pinball: Exploring Simple Physics and Material Reuse | Bed-Stuy

Tuesday, April 21st | 4:00pm-4:45pm | Ages 10-14

Cardboard Pinball is a highly engaging, whimsical workshop where participants construct a functional pinball game entirely out of corrugated cardboard and a variety of mixed media. This project is intentionally designed to be accessible, offering clear instructions for easy assembly while allowing significant room for individual creativity in design and decoration. This event will take place at the Saratoga Library.

New Mom Meet Up at Fontainhas | DUMBO

Tuesdays | 4:30pm-6:00pm

Bring your baby to Fontainhas for some cozy chai and hang with other new moms. Hosted every week by the new mom pop-up POST.

 

WEDNESDAY

The Big Brooklyn Playdate | Prospect Heights

Wednesday, April 22nd | 10:30am-12:00pm | Ages 0-3

Stop by the Big Brooklyn Playdate to enjoy fun games and activities that delight young children and encourage early literacy. Science Baby will be hosting the Toddler Zone featuring hands-on, active, sensory play with big STEM concepts for little kids. Come to play and leave ready to turn ordinary objects in your home into your child’s favorite toys.

Through the Digital Garden: Alice’s Tech Tea Garden Scavenger Hunt | Bed-Stuy

Wednesday, April 22nd | 3:00pm-4:30pm | Register here

Welcome travelers! The Mad Hatter’s Tea Garden has lost the magical knowledge of tea plants. The Rabbit left clues around the library. Use your iPads to scan clues, discover plants, and learn what each plant does when brewed as tea. Help restore the garden before the Queen arrives! Participants will be working with soil and seeds, please plan accordingly to get your hands dirty! All ages welcome.

Earth Day Native Seed Celebration | Bay Ridge

Wednesday, April 22nd | 3:00pm-5:00pm

Come to The Narrows Botanical Garden for an afternoon of family fun and learning. There will be seed giveaways, demos, tours, and frogs and turtles to meet!

Free Admission at New York Aquarium | Coney Island

Wednesdays | 3:00pm-6:00pm | Reserve tickets here; free tickets are made available at 3pm the Monday before

Take advantage of free admission hours at the New York Aquarium from 3:00-6:00pm on Wednesdays. Note that advance timed tickets are required (max of 4 per group); the Wednesday Afternoon Ticket Store will open on Monday at 3:00pm for that Wednesday’s reservations.

 

THURSDAY

Storytime | Kensington

Thursdays | 2:00pm-2:15pm

Stop by Lofty Pigeon Books for storytime on Thursday afternoons.

Community Access Thursdays at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum | Crown Heights

Thursdays | 2:00pm-5:00pm | Reserving tickets in advance is recommended

Explore some of the museum’s most-loved exhibits, including toddler-favorite Totally Tots, the miniature shops of World Brooklyn, our NEST kids’ climber, and more. Then check out ColorLab, the family art studio located on the 2nd floor of the Museum, where artists of all ages can explore, make, and celebrate art. Plus, say hello to BCM’s live animals at Animal Encounters, which repeats twice, first from 3:00-3:20pm and again from 3:45-4:05 pm. It’s recommended that you reserve your tickets in advance online. Walk-ins always welcome.

Kids Create: Pollinator Puppet Workshop | Prospect Heights

Thursday, April 23rd | 3:30pm-4:15pm

In this workshop, Esther and her puppet, Bernie the Bee, will assist kids in creating bee, bat and butterfly puppets and will teach about how these creatures pollinate many of the fruits and vegetables we eat, and how important they are to maintaining healthy ecosystems world-wide. Families are encouraged to bring recycled toilet paper rolls for the base of the puppets (paper bags also to be provided) and any other recycled/upcycled materials such as colored paper, fabric scraps, beads, sequins, pipe cleaners etc. Some materials will also be provided. Kids will be encouraged to name their puppets and give them voices and personalities; parents may need to assist younger children. This event will take place at the Central Library.

Afternoon Kids Event w/ Yevgenia Nayberg: Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters | Carroll Gardens

Thursday, April 23rd | 4:00pm | Middle schoolers | RSVP here

Come to this special event at Books are Magic’s Smith Street location. A graphic memoir account of creator Yevgenia Nayberg’s childhood, Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters is both deeply personal and a glimpse into broader Soviet intelligentsia experiences. Young readers curious about life elsewhere, particularly in the face of disaster, will find ample details to devour, while those dreaming of a creative life will take inspiration from Genya’s perseverance. Salient and yet often slyly funny, this is a must-read for any graphic memoir fan.

Aviva and Friends Presents: Funkytown Playground Yoga | DUMBO

Thursday, April 23rd | 4:15pm-5:00pm | Ages 2-5 | Must register here

Follow along as Aly Sunshine leads a fun and family-friendly introduction to yoga. Participants will  get to warm up, practice breathing and poses, and relax into a power down. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one and wear comfortable clothes to exercise in!

Sunset Storytime | Greenpoint

Thursday, April 23rd | 6:00pm-6:30pm

Join the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center for an all ages storytime on Thursday evenings! Participants will read some books, sing some songs and make some friends! Weather permitting, storytime will be held in the rooftop garden (take the elevator to the third floor)! When the weather is bad, the group will meet on the rug in the children’s area.

 

FRIDAY

Storytime at Jane’s Carousel | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Fridays in April (except 4/10) | 10:15am-10:45am

Hosted by Brooklyn Public Library in Brooklyn Bridge Park, storytime at Jane’s Carousel returns for some springtime stories, songs and Friday morning fun! There is no registration, but arrive early as there is a capacity limit.

Open Hours at the Environmental Education Center | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Fridays | 3:00-5:00pm

Visit the Environmental Education Center for Open Hours. Open Hours offer the opportunity for self-led investigation with guidance by expert educators to reveal the hidden stories found within and around Brooklyn Bridge Park. Explore their critter and fish tanks, a 10′ model of the Park, and enjoy custom arts, crafts, and reading materials which rotate on a monthly basis.

Free Admission Days at the Pier 2 Roller Skating Rink | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Mondays & Fridays | 3:30pm-6:00pm | FREE admission but skate rental is $8 and skate mate rental is $6

Come to the Pier 2 Roller Skating Rink for some free family fun and exercise. Enjoy the fresh air and gorgeous views as you skate around the rink.

Future Connections: The Interborough Express and You! | Brooklyn Heights

Friday, April 24th | 4:30pm-6:00pm | Ages 13-21, but all are welcome | Registration recommended

So many issues with the subway can be traced back to decisions that were made before any of us were born, more than a hundred years ago. The upcoming Interborough Express, however, will transform rapid transit for Brooklyn and Queens to connect the boroughs like never before. AND, unlike many infrastructure projects that take generations to complete, this one will be built in our lifetime. The Future Connections panel will feature experts in transportation planning, implementation, and advocacy speaking to how this ambitious project came to be and what still needs to happen to see it through. This conversation will be geared towards teens and young adults, but all are welcome!

 

SATURDAY

Car-Free Earth Day | Sunset Park

Saturday, April 25th | 10:00am-4:00pm

Car-Free Earth Day is back – and 5th Avenue from 41st to 45th Street in Sunset Park is at the center of the action. Come by to enjoy family-friendly activities, live music, and more with our neighbors.

Celebrate Earth Day at the Hoyt Street Garden | Downtown Brooklyn

Saturday, April 25th | 10:30am

Celebrate Earth Day at The Hoyt Street Garden with a nature-themed storytime and craft with author Lauren Fornoles.

Read with a Therapy Dog | Clinton Hill

Saturday, April 25th | 11:00am-12:00pm (but come early to reserve a spot) | Ages 5-12

Come read to Peanut! Kids can make enormous strides in building self-esteem and confidence while acquiring a love of books by reading to a therapy dog. Utilizing a registered therapy animal and their human teammate in a calm and relaxing atmosphere, this program helps improve children’s reading, communication, and social skills. Space is limited. Sign up the day of at the reference desk starting at 10:00am. First come first serve.

Car-Free Earth Day | Downtown Brooklyn

Saturday, April 25th | 12:00pm-3:00pm | FREE

Join the Atlantic Avenue BID on Hoyt Street between Atlantic Avenue and State Street for their plant giveaway, kids activities and education by the Nature Company, and great vibes. Grab your friends and family and meet up on the open street.

Gowanus Community Festival | Gowanus

Saturday, April 25th (rain date April 26th) | 12:00pm-4:00pm

Gather with Gowanus friends and neighbors for live music, face painting, skating clinics, and more!

Earthing in My City | East New York

Saturday, April 25th | 1:00pm | Must register here 

This special children’s workshop will have reading and story time, a tea tasting, a scavenger hunt, foraging, and much more! Be sure to sign up.

City Nature Challenge: Buds, Birds, and Bugs Bonanza | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Saturday, April 25th | 1:00pm-2:30pm 

NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as we walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2026 City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition taking place April 24-26 between cities around the world to see which is most biodiverse. This program will focus on the many birds found at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data. Expand your knowledge of NYC’s flowering plants, fluttering friends, and crawling critters.

NARS Free Family Workshop | Sunset Park

Saturday, April 25th | 2:00pm-4:00pm 

Led by teaching artist Cynthia Reynolds, the Free Family Workshop is designed to engage families with children 4-8 years old in creative, hands-on art activities. These workshops offer a welcoming space for families to explore contemporary art and diverse cultural expressions together in a fun and supportive environment. Through these experiences, they aim to foster curiosity, critical thinking, confidence, active participation, and a deeper appreciation of both contemporary artistic practices and the rich cultural perspectives that shape them.

Red Hook Football Club Game | Red Hook

Saturday, April 25th | 4:00pm | Free tickets here (but a donation is welcomed!)

Come cheer on the Red Hook Football Club against NY Braveheart at Red Hook Field 5.

 

SUNDAY

Fountainhas Family Rave | DUMBO

Sunday, April 26th | 9:00am-11:00am | RSVP here

Come dance and make some magical memories with your little ones! Fountainhas will be having their kid-friendly family rave this Sunday with an Enchanted theme. There will be music at a safe volume, room to dance, and DJ VF spinning feel-good music (in a Disney princess costume). Coffee and food will be available for parents while kids do their thing. Be sure to RSVP!

Bird Walk: Sights and Sounds of Spring Migration | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Sunday, April 26th | 10:00am-11:00am | Register here

It’s April and the annual spring migration is underway. Every year, millions of birds make long treks from their winter grounds (usually further south of us, where it’s warmer) to their nesting grounds. Some species will find their mates in our park and settle down to raise their babies and others are just passing through on their way further north. Join educators from Brooklyn Bridge Park and learn about this extraordinary annual, natural phenomenon. Discover how to spot some of their spring migrants, recognize their songs, and maybe even see a nest or two! The group will meet at the Pier 1 Pavilion. All ages are welcome and no birding experience is necessary. Some binoculars will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own if they have them.

Free Admission Days at the Pier 2 Roller Skating Rink | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Sundays | 10:00am-12:00pm | FREE admission but skate rental is $8 and skate mate rental is $6

Come to the Pier 2 Roller Skating Rink for some free family fun and exercise. Enjoy the fresh air and gorgeous views as you skate around the rink.

Sunday, April 26th | 11:00am-12:00pm | RSVP here

Books Are Magic is having a special offsite storytime at The Secret Garden in Cobble Hill. Join Frederick Joseph, award-winning author of The Black Friend, as he offers a bighearted story about keeping hope alive in the face of grief – and a gentle allegory with an upbeat message about healing a fragile planet.

Kensington Earth Day Festival | Kensington

Sunday, April 26th | 11:00am-4:00pm

Come to the Kensington Earth Day Festival in Kensington Plaza and Albermarle Playground. There will be a community clean up, arts, music, community building, gardening, environmental education, giveaways, and more.

City Nature Challenge: Seining | Red Hook

Sunday, April 26th | 1:00pm-2:30pm

NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition taking place April 24- April 26 between cities around the world to see which is most biodiverse. Come join the Urban Park Rangers for an exploration of New York Harbor to see what denizens of the deep Rangers can catch with a seining net.

Poetry in the Park | Fort Greene

Sunday, April 26th | 1:00pm-5:00pm | FREE | Register here

Poetry in the Park, organized by the Fort Greene Park Conservancy and curated in partnership with Najee Omar, is an annual community celebration where poetry, music, and creativity fill the park for an afternoon of connection and inspiration. Held in celebration of National Poetry Month, the festival invites neighbors from across Brooklyn to gather beneath the trees and open sky to listen, create, and share. This year’s festival features powerful performances from acclaimed poets, a vibrant community open mic, and live DJ sets that keep the energy flowing throughout the day. Guests can also jump into hands-on creative experiences, including zine-making, walking haikus through the park, and a mind, body, and soul reflection space for writing and grounding.

The Longest Table Kensington: A Community Meal on Black Maternal Health

Sunday, April 26th | 3:00pm-6:00pm | Register here

This spring, Brown Babies n’ Books invites you to gather at The Longest Table – a powerful, intentional community meal rooted in collective care, courageous conversation, and connection. There will be food, books, music, and much more!

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