Summer is finally here! And this week is packed with kid-friendly events in our neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Highlights include the annual DUMBO Drop block party, outdoor movies under the stars, local school carnivals, the opening weekend of Photoville in Brooklyn Bridge Park, a celebration of Pride on Montague Open Streets, plus free kayaking, roller skating, walking tours, story times, cultural events, and so much more in our parks!
Tiny Storytime @ Books Are Magic | Cobble Hill & Brooklyn Heights
Tuesday, May 28 | 11am | 225 Smith Street in Cobble Hill
Thursday, May 30 | 11am | 122 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights
Join Book Are Magic for Tiny Storytime for ages 6-36 months, every Tuesday in Cobble Hill and Thursday in Brooklyn Heights!
Free Trial Class with Mister John’s Music for Babies & Toddlers | Park Slope & Brooklyn Bridge Park
Thursday, May 30 | 11am | Pier 6 next to Slide Valley in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Mister John’s Music is currently offering free trial classes in new Brooklyn locations in order to grow their patron-base! Check out a free class this week at Old Stone House in Park Slope or at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. With artists of the week such as Alicia Keys and Journey and regular features such as drag queen story time and interactive music videos, this is not your typical children’s programming! Each class is jam-packed with surprises for both adults and children, with underlying messages promoting creativity, inclusivity and kindness, all delivered through a celebration of music. Outdoor classes are BYO blanket/shade/sunscreen. Follow their Instagram account for announcements about inclement weather.
Grab & Go Craft @ Talea | Williamsburg
Tuesday, May 28 | 11am-4pm
Join Brooklyn Public Library’s Leonard Library staff every Tuesday at Talea Williamsburg for a pop up library and craft activity to pick up! This week, participants will be making paper collages. Making collages helps your child build fine motor skills. It’s also a fun way to develop your child’s awareness of color and texture. Drop in and check us out!
Comics with Mr. Nick at Hometown BBQ | Red Hook
Comics Club, presented by Brooklyn Public Library, has moved down Van Brunt Street to Hometown BBQ. We will still be drawing and learning about art from Mr. Nick. We’ll learn to make comic books, cartoons and graphic novels. Mr. Nick will bring his amazing artist skills to Hometown BBQ to teach you how. Don’t miss out. Beginners are always welcome! Supplies will be provided.
Ping Pong with The Push at Brooklyn Commons Park in Downtown Brooklyn
Tuesday, May 28 | 5:00-7:30pm | Register here
DJ Mike Doelo and The Push are back for another series of popular ping-pong match ups. Registration necessary, and participants will be required to sign a waiver for each event in the series.
Reading Room @ Abolitionist Place | Downtown Brooklyn
Wednesday, May 29 | 2-5pm
This pop-up reading room offers a curated collection of books and a place to read together in Downtown Brooklyn’s newest park. Designed for New Yorkers of all ages and always free!
Free Admission at New York Aquarium | Coney Island
Wednesday May 29 | 3-6pm | Reserve tickets here; free tickets are made available at 3:00pm the Monday before
After Memorial Day weekend, free admission hours at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island are extended from 3:00 all the way to 6:00 p.m. Check out larger-than-life animal sculptures made out of repurposed marine debris in the current exhibition Washed Ashore, open through September 2. 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.
Kayaking at Pier 2 | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Wednesday, May 29 & Thursday, May 30 | 5-7pm | Register here
Saturday, June 1 | 10am-3pm | Register here
Sunday, June 2 | 12-2:30pm | Register here
Glide along the water this summer and fall in our protected embayment with free public kayaking! Free kayaking is offered throughout the summer on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons through September. All levels are welcome including first-time kayakers — life vests and all equipment provided, as well as instruction. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present. Advanced registration required, providing 20 minute timed slots. Free registration opens 2 weeks ahead of each date.
Stroller Walk at Prospect Park Audubon Center | Prospect Park
Thursday, May 30 | 10am-12pm | RSVP here
Join a Prospect Park Alliance Naturalist at the Prospect Park Audubon Center for a leisurely stroll along Prospect Park’s waterways. Embrace the sound of streams and songs of birds. Enjoy fragrant flowers and explore the towering trees of Brooklyn’s backyard. Prospect Park Stroller Walks are held on Thursdays from April – June.
Nature Walk | Governors Island
Thursday, May 30 | 12-2pm | Register here
Take the ferry over to our green oasis for a special guided tour to discover and connect with the wildlife that calls this place home. Led by the Governors Island Nature program along with CCNY Insect Ecology Professor Amy Berkov, these monthly tours will take participants on a journey through the young urban forest of Hammock Grove and the immersive spaces at Outlook Hill and Discovery Hill. You’ll get to learn about these resilient, built landscapes directly from the people who know them best, and get the chance to participate in different community science projects.
After School Movie: Enchanted (2007) | Brooklyn Heights Library
Thursday, May 30 | 3:30-5:00pm | Ages 5+
After School Movie at Brooklyn Heights Library! This week’s movie is Enchanted (2007), rated PG. Run time: 1 hour and 47 minutes. No registration required; attendance limited by room capacity.
BRIC Youth Takeover 2024 at BRIC House | Fort Greene
Thursday, May 30 | 5-8pm
On May 30, youth take over the BRIC House as the hosts, curators and artists of the exhibitions Emerging Creators, This I Believe and the film festival Concrete Stories. Our main galleries will be activated with the works of more than 150 NYC students participating in BRIC’s Youth Education Residency Program. Simultaneously, The Gallery, The Project Room and Ballroom will be taken-over by BRIC’s Youth Curatorial and Media Fellows who have been collaborating with our marketing, production and contemporary arts department to curate exhibitions by teens, for teens. Join us in the celebration of the work of youth filmmakers, photographers, animators and visual artists!
Jazz at Jitu: The George Gray Coalition | Clinton Hill
Thursday, May 30 | 6-8pm | Jitu Weusi Plaza
A popular mainstay at Bed-Stuy’s Sistas’ Place, The George Gray Coalition makes its Jazz at Jitu debut with a live set on the plaza! Led by percussionist George Gray, the quintet will move through jazz standards and classics sure to please the crowd! Bring your own lawn chair if you like to this free outdoor jazz concert, or relax in plaza seating. In the event of inclement weather, we’ll move indoors across the street at 966 Fulton.
Movies Under the Stars: Under the Boardwalk (2023) in Irving Square Park | Bushwick
Thursday, May 30 | 8:15-10:15pm | PG | RSVP here by May 30
Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park! Two crabs embark on an epic journey to get home after a storm sweeps them away. Their courage soon unites their families, paving the way for great summers to come. Movie begins at dusk.
Urban Park Rangers: Fireside Storytime | Fort Greene Park
Friday, May 31 | 3-4pm
Join the Urban Park Rangers at the Visitors Center for fireside storytime. This event is free and open to all!
Free Admission Days @ Pier 2 Roller Rink | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sunday, June 2 | 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.
DUMBO Drop | DUMBO
Friday, May 31 | 3:30-6:30pm Kids Zone (FREE)
DUMBO DROP is an Annual Tradition where thousands of toy elephants parachute down from the skies of Dumbo onto cobblestoned Washington Street – Brooklyn’s most iconic block. Plus, there’s an epic block party with kids activities, restaurant row and more! Viewing tickets are sold out but all are invited to enjoy the FREE Dumbo Archway Kids Zone + Block Party as always.
YOGA YOGA for Teens | Brooklyn Heights Library
Friday, May 31 | 4-5pm | Ages 13-19
Join us every final Friday of the month for our back-by-popular-demand yoga class. No need for yoga clothes or mats. We’re flexible…and you will be, too, by the time you leave!
Vanderbilt Avenue Open Streets | Prospect Heights
Friday, May 31, 5-10pm | Saturday, June 1, 12-10pm | Sunday, June 2, 12-5pm
Vanderbilt Avenue’s Open Streets program features activities and performances for the community. Stay up to date on their Instagram to see what live music performances and other programming is coming this weekend! Highlights this weekend include:
- Skate Everything @ Pacific Street | Saturday, June 1 | 2-5pm | Skate Everything is back with free skateboarding lessons, no experience or board required!
- Book Ride from The Reading Line| Saturday, June 1 | 5:30pm | Shenequa Golding, author of the memoir A Black Girl in the Middle, will share her story of growing up in Queens and read from her debut essay collection memoir.
- Learn to Ride with Bike New York and Bergen Bike Bus @ Pacific Street | Sunday, June 2 | 2-4pm | Ages 5-11 | Free bike riding lesson on Vanderbilt Avenue between Pacific & Atlantic. Helmet and bike required. Sign up required!
Movies Under the Stars: Barbie (2023) in WNYC Transmitter Park | Greenpoint
Friday, May 31 | 8:00–10:15pm | PG-13: Material may not be appropriate for young children | RSVP here by May 31
Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park! Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans. Movie begins at dusk.
Community Science Seining | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday, June 1 | 10am-12pm | RSVP here
The first series of the season! Join to discover the amazing biodiversity of the East River with the Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy’s education team as they use a seine net to humanely catch-and-release organisms from the water, including fish, jellyfish, crabs, and more!
P.S. 321 Carnival | Park Slope
Saturday, June 1 | 10am-4pm
Adventure and fun await, including a 70-foot obstacle course, bounce houses and slides, axe throwing (the inflatable kind), cotton candy, popcorn, pizza, delicious food from local businesses, face painting, used book sale, carnival games and prizes, and more. The carnival is open to the community, and is rain or shine! Learn more about getting involved here.
Saturday Storytime at Barnes and Noble | Cobble Hill
Saturday, June 1 | 11-11:30am
Families, please join us here at Barnes & Noble Atlantic Ave for our Saturday Storytime led by a bookseller! We will start at 11 am in our lower-level Picture Book section and end tentatively at 11:30 am. We will have stools set up for the children to sit and enjoy our storytime.
Saturday, June 1 | 11-11:30am | RSVP here
Meet author Carlos Matias and enjoy treats from a local Queens food vendor. Kids can participate in an arts & crafts activity, using paper quarters to “purchase” delicious treats from the vendor, just like Ernesto does in “Emergency Quarters.” It’s a hands-on way to bring the story to life and teach valuable lessons about responsibility and decision-making. Join us for a celebration of food, community, and the power of imagination.
Herbert Von King Park Family Day | Bed Stuy
Saturday, June 1 | 11am-3pm
FAD Pop-Up Market at Empire Stores | DUMBO
Saturday, June 1 & Sunday, June 2 | 11am-6pm
This summer, FAD Market will continue its monthly pop-up at Dumbo’s Empire Stores in June, July, and August. Explore the creations of over 30 talented makers, artisans, and small businesses who reside and craft in New York City and beyond. Bring a friend and enjoy a curated selection of goods, featuring handmade jewelry, apparel, body and skincare products, tableware, as well as artisanal packaged food. Extend your visit to explore the highlights of Dumbo, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and more, making it a delightful day out!
P.S. 8 Paddle Wheeler | Brooklyn Heights
Saturday, June 1 | 12-4pm | Free; suggested $30/child
P.S. 8’s school fundraiser is open to the public! There will be a pirate ship ride, obstacle course, bounce house, face painting, temporary tattoos, a chess tournament, arts & crafts, and more!
Storytime at The Center for Fiction Bookstore | Fort Greene
Saturday, June 1 | 12pm | RSVP here
Join us every Saturday at noon for Story Time at The Center for Fiction Bookstore, where each week we read from some of our favorite books for young people! Led by our booksellers, this is a free community event open to people of all ages.
Photoville 2024 Opening Weekend Community Celebration | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Celebrate the opening of the 13th annual Photoville Festival with a community celebration! There will be two full days of family-friendly activities, carefully curated photography workshops for professionals and lovers of the craft, engaging tours, and a powerfully captivating night of visual storytelling. There is something for everyone! Plus, if you find yourself hungry, there will be delicious bites at the Smorgasburg Pop Up. All details here.
Afternoon of Play | Commodore Barry Park
Saturday, June 1 | 1-4pm
Join us in the park for an afternoon of play, giving kids an opportunity to create using their imaginations! There will be activities using recyclable materials, inspired by our friends at play:groundNYC. Meet in the lawn area by N. Elliott and Flushing.
Alvin Ailey’s Revelations Celebration Community Workshop | The Plaza at 300 Ashland | Fort Greene
Saturday, June 1 | 2-3pm | RSVP here
Alvin Ailey’s Revelations is the world’s most popular work of modern dance. Learn excerpts from this masterpiece in a workshop conducted by former Ailey company members Amos Machanic and Cheryl Rowley-Gaskins, with live music by Ailey percussionist, Roderick Jackson. Join with your friends and family – all ages are welcome! Dance for a moment, remember it for a lifetime. Advanced registration is not required but is helpful to communicate any changes to the program. In case of rain, workshop will move into the Adam Space, located in the Peter Jay Sharp building at 30 Lafayette Avenue.
Read with a Therapy Dog | Brooklyn Heights Library
Saturday, June 1 | 2-3pm | Ages 5-12
Read to a dog at the library! Our certified therapy dog Flash Gordon loves to be read to. 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. Sign up at the desk for a 10 minute slot on the day of the program. First come, first serve. Space is limited to six children per session.
Pinkster Celebration at Lefferts Historic House | Prospect Park
Saturday, June 1 | 2-5pm | RSVP here
Prospect Park Alliance presents a Pinkster celebration in the yard of Lefferts Historic House, an 18th century Flatbush farmhouse that serves as the park’s historic house museum, in timing with the completion of a multi-year restoration. Chief Baba Neil Clarke, the Pinkster Players and friends, including long-time Lefferts storyteller Tammy Hall, will lead this family-friendly event, which will feature music, history, performances, storytelling, demonstrations, games and food related to this historic celebration of Africans in New York.
Urban Farm Tour | Governors Island
Saturday, June 1 | 2-3:30pm | Register here
Discover a world of bees, compost, and organic gardening right in New York City! Join the Bee Conservancy, Earth Matter NY, and GrowNYC for a tour of the Urban Farm on Governors Island, and learn about each organization’s work. Tours take place on the first Saturday of every month from 2 – 3:30pm (weather permitting).
Brooklyn Ballet Performance in Cadman Plaza Park | Brooklyn Heights
Saturday, June 1 | 6pm
Experience the vibrant fusion of ballet and street dance with Brooklyn Ballet as they kick off Cadman’s Juneteenth programming with a powerful, free performance in Juneteenth Grove. This multidisciplinary program highlights themes of perseverance, faith, community, and resilience, feature the Brooklyn premier of Still I Rise, inspired by Maya Angelou’s iconic poem. Join for an unforgettable evening that honors the spirit of freedom and unity. This is Brooklyn Ballet’s first time performing in Cadman Plaza Park!
DUMBO Family Games on Car-Free Washington Street | DUMBO
Sunday, June 2 | 11am-1pm | Washington Street from Front Street to Water Street
Join every Sunday on car-free Washington Street for free kids activities and a community hang! Curated by the DUMBO BID x Brooklyn Bridge Parents and supported by Leaf Medical & Leaf Dental in DUMBO.
Montague Open Streets | Brooklyn Heights
Sunday, June 2 | 10am-7pm | Montague Street from Clinton Street to Hicks Street
Celebrate Pride on Montague this weekend! Highlights include:
- Barry’s Pride Pop Up Class | 11am-12pm | Start off the day’s Pride celebration outside with instructor Oscar Alvarez at Barry’s first ever Pop Up outside on Montague Street. Spots are limited. Registration required. Click here to register.
- Mister John’s Music Celebration of Queer Music | 11am-1pm |Early childhood music classes boost brain functioning, motor skills and language development, but at Mister John’s Music positive social-emotional dynamics and shared experience are the focus. Get ready for a magical music class full of surprises set to your favorite tunes from your favorite queer artists as we kick off Pride month together. All ages welcome. Mr. John is new to Brooklyn, so stop by to say hello.
- Free Ice Cream | 12-5pm | Get a free mini cup of ice cream with the every purchase at the newly redesigned Haagen Dasz.
- Rainbow Selfie Installation Station | 12-5pm |Commemorate Le Meraviglie’s 2nd Birthday and Pride at Montague Open Streets with a selfie in front of studio’s massive Rainbow installation. This is a selfie you don’t want to miss taking.
- Make Pride Bandanas with Brooklyn Cat Cafe | 12-4pm | Make tie dyed Pride bandanas with the staff and volunteers at Brooklyn Cat Cafe and pick up some coloring pages.
- HYPE Dance Party for Kids under 5 | 12:30-1pm | Kids under 5: Join HYPE for a dance party. HYPE is committed to providing a safe space to de-stress and have a blast.
- Art Centers for Kids Celebrate Le Meraviglie’s 2nd Birthday | 1-4pm |Join Miss Piera and the Le Meraviglie teachers at art stations all over the block for a creative activity. Parents, please accompany your kids. Special pieces of artwork and fun await.
- WundaMat Pride Class with Frankie Goodman | 1:30-2pm | Find real strength from the inside out with a Pride Pilates WundaMat class. Come celebrate self-love and empowerment to feel amazing in your own skin with a 30-minute mini workout. Open to all adults, regardless of experience. Bring your own mat. Spots are limited so sign up here.
- Double Dutch with Elite Brooklyn Jumpers | 1:30-3:30pm | Double Dutch (or learn to) with Elite Brooklyn Jumpers. Get ready to jump, twist, and twirl with Brooklyn’s best. No experience necessary.
- Brooklyn Irish Dance Co: Reimagine Irish Dance | 2-3pm | Join Brooklyn Irish Dance for Gender-Inclusive Irish Dance Lessons and Dancing. Embrace the joy of Irish dance reimagined.
- Siren Songs with Buoy the Mermaid Opera Singer | First Show: 3:45pm | Second Show: 4:30pm | Buoy, Brooklyn’s opera-singing Mermaid, and Capt Emma, her piano-playing Pirate accompanist, will enchant you with their siren songs. Tie on your tail and flex your fins for an interactive performance that will entertain people of all ages.
30th Annual Fun On 5th Festival | Bay Ridge
Check out the 30th annual Fun on 5th street fair in Bay Ridge, held along 5th Avenue. There will be many vendors, merchants, and artists, plus live local bands!
Waterfront Walks | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sunday, June 2 | 10:30am-12pm | RSVP here
Join our Docents for a free walking tour and learn more about Brooklyn Bridge Park’s history, design, and ecology. Tours last roughly 60-90 minutes, start from the entrance of Pier 1 and finish near Pier 3. Advance registration is required. Registration opens a month in advance of each date.
Sunday, June 2 | 11-11:30am | RSVP here
From two bestselling creators comes a lyrical and heartfelt picture book about a multiracial family’s trip to the beach that’s an ode to family, community, diversity, and—most importantly—fabulous beach hair! At the beach, everyone has beach hair. There’s twisty and twirly hair, flossy and glossy hair, hair that’s barely there, and hair that’s everywhere. The best part about a beach day is the belonging and joy that everyone feels when they let their hair run as wild and free as the sea.
Family Day at Barcade | Williamsburg
Sunday, June 2 | 12-5pm | Ages 10+
Join us for Family Day in Brooklyn! From 12-5pm on the first Sunday of each month, bring the family out for some classic arcade games and pinball! As this location doesn’t have a kitchen, feel free to bring a lunch! We also have snacks available for purchase. All children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Storytime with Children’s Author Maria Mandel Dunsche
Join us for a very special storytime with childen’s author, Maria Mandel Dunsche! This will be an interactive and fun event held on Saturday, June 2nd, good for the whole family (but story will be enjoyed by the 3-8 year old crew!). Please be sure to pencil in this reading of Brave Mermaids, The Sea Dragon, and join us for an afternoon of fun.
Updated: May 26, 2024. Main Image: DUMBO Drop.
