Get ready to get out and have some fun! The first week of May is jam-packed with kid-friendly activities, including a drum circle in Carroll Gardens, stilt walking in Downtown Brooklyn, a stroller walk in Prospect Park, a filmmaking workshop for teens in Bed-Stuy, concerts for little ones in Prospect Heights and Red Hook, a movie under the stars in Bath Beach, and much more! Also, don’t forget that Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 10th. This week, make a craft for Mom in Canarsie, Williamsburg, or in Downtown Brooklyn at Brooklyn Bridge Parents’ Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest, where you can pick from our flower bar to make a bouquet!
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.
Community Listening Session | Carroll Gardens
Monday, May 4th | 6:00pm-7:00pm | Register here
Come discuss the unopened pre-k Center on Van Brunt and President Streets. Columbia Street Waterfront Association members have toured the unopened school, and will share what they saw and discuss next steps.
TUESDAY
Stomp, Clap and Sing with Jam-I-Am | Prospect Heights
Tuesday, May 5th | 10:30am-11:30am
Sing, dance and play with “Jam-I-Am,” the kids music troupe founded by singer and multi-instrumentalist, Will Leet! A veteran of the NYC kids music scene, Will runs a fun, interactive, and educational music appreciation class for children. Discover a variety of instruments and explore musical genres from all over the world! Joined by Latin percussionist, C-bass Chiriboga, prepare to get on your dancing feet and sing along to your favorite songs! This event will take place at the Central Library.
Kids Create: Mother’s Day (Gift Decorating) | Canarsie
Tuesday, May 5th | 3:30pm-4:30pm | Ages 3-12
Come make something for mom at the Canarsie Library.
Lag Ba’Omer at Carroll Park | Carroll Gardens
Tuesday, May 5th | 4:30pm
Join the community for a family-friendly Lag Ba’Omer celebration like no other at Carroll Park. They will be bringing everyone into an interactive drum circle, where every participant gets a drum and becomes part of the beat. Through music and rhythm, participants will tap into what Lag Ba’Omer is all about – unity, connection, and joyful celebration – all while having a whole lot of fun. Perfect for kids of all ages (and their grown-ups too!)
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
Grab & Go: M is for Mom. Special Mother’s Day Card | Williamsburg
Wednesday, May 6th | 11:00am-3:45pm | Ages 4-12
Stop at Talea, say hello to the Leonard Library stuff, and pick up materials to make your own card. Make a card for your mom, grandmother, aunt, godmother or someone who is like a mom to you. They will supply the materials and you supply the imagination!
Wednesday Wonders | Downtown Brooklyn
Wednesdays in May | 3:00pm-4:00pm | Register here
Enjoy the wonders of Abolitionist Place – where every Wednesday offers a new adventure! Brianna Kalisch isn’t just a stilt walker – she’s a multi-talented circus artist, performer, and creative producer whose work blends physical artistry with storytelling. Catch her as she struts through the park and learn the art of stilt walking! All skill levels are welcome and equipment will be provided.
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.
Youth Birding | Prospect Park
Wednesday, May 6th | 3:40pm-5:00pm | Ages 6-19
Join the Central Library’s Librarians for Youth Birding in Prospect Park. Learn more about native birds and their habitat. Meet at the north enterance of the park off of Flatbush Ave. near the Kind David’s Breakfast Taco Truck.
Young Adult Book Group | Fort Greene
Wednesday, May 6th | 6:00pm-7:00pm | Ages 13 and up | Register here
Led by Greenlight Bookstore bookseller Micah, the YA Book Group is a space for the curious young reader interested in a curated, intentionally diverse and broad selection of books. While literature is of course at the core of this book group, cultivating community and connections are also at the root of YABG, so if this sounds like a good time to you, come join the fun! For May, the group discusses Nothing Burns as Bright as You, from New York Times bestselling author Ashley Woodfolk—an impassioned stand-alone tale of queer love, grief, and the complexity of female friendship. Two girls. One wild and reckless day. Years of tumultuous history unspooling like a thin, fraying string in the hours after they set a fire. Over the course of a single day, the depth of their past, the confusion of their present, and the unpredictability of their future is revealed. And the girls will learn that hearts, like flames, aren’t so easily tamed. Pizza will be provided.
THURSDAY
Prospect Park Stroller Walk | Prospect Park
Thursdays through October | 10:00am | Parents & caregivers along with their children under 3
Calling all parents and caregivers! Join a Prospect Park Alliance Naturalist for a leisurely stroll along Prospect Park’s waterways. Embrace the sound of streams and birdsongs, and enjoy the fragrant flowers and towering trees of Brooklyn’s Backyard. Please note that this walk leaves promptly at 10:00am from the Boathouse.
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.
Teen DIY: Pipe Cleaner Flowers | Canarsie
Thursday, May 7th | 4:00pm-5:00pm | Teens and young adults
Learn how to create a variety of pipe cleaner flowers. Build your own mini pipe cleaner flower bouquet to share with a special mother figure in your life or simply enjoy for yourself!
Filmmaking Workshop with Echoes of Incarceration| Bed-Stuy
Thursday, May 7th | 6:00pm-7:30pm | Teens and young adults
Join the award-winning youth filmmakers of Echoes of Incarceration for a hands-on, peer-led documentary workshop. Led by young people directly impacted by the criminal justice system, Echoes creates films that center lived experience and challenge dominant narratives about youth and punishment. Participants will step into a multi-camera interview setup, learn the basics of documentary interviewing, and explore how storytelling can be used as a tool for advocacy and change. Through guided prompts and collaborative filming, attendees will have the opportunity to conduct interviews and share stories. Open to teens and young adults. No prior filmmaking experience required. This event will take place at the Bedford Library.
FRIDAY
Jam with Jamie and Friends | Red Hook
Friday, May 8th | 11:00am-11:45am | Ages 0-5
Get ready for a serious jam session that will get everyone up and dancing! Jam with Jamie and Friends comes armed with guitar and bubbles, ready to jam out to traditional children’s songs, rock n’ roll oldies, and today’s hits.
Abolitionist Place Second Anniversary Celebration | Downtown Brooklyn
Friday, May 8th | 2:o0pm-4:00pm
Abolitionist Place turns two this year, and in that time, it’s become a true neighborhood anchor. Across 1.15 acres, the park offers space to gather, play, and unwind, with open lawns, a dog run, a children’s play area, water features, and flexible seating that brings people together day to day. Now it’s time to celebrate. Join for an afternoon marking two years of this beloved space, with live music, balloon art, face painting, treats, and a few surprises along the way. Mixue Ice Cream & Tea will be on site serving refreshing summer drinks to keep things cool!
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.
Jewish Fairy Tales Storytime | Brooklyn Heights
Friday, May 8th | 3:30pm-4:30pm
The Brooklyn Heights Library will be welcoming storyteller Robin Bady, who will share stories of magic, demons, wise girls and strong men, seen through the lens of Jewish ethics, morality and humor.
SATURDAY
Mother’s Day Edition: Sensory Saturday at Bethany | Bed-Stuy
Saturday, May 9th | 10:00am-12:00pm | Register here
Moms will create beautiful bouquets at their UMCA Flower Bar while the children will have a blast in the sensory room!
Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, May 9th | 11:00am-2:00pm| Ages 1-10 | Register here
Brooklyn Org, City Point, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Stardust Fund, and Brooklyn Bridge Parents will unite the community, leading cultural organizations, and nonprofits for the third annual free “Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest” at City Point and Albee Square. There will be a free Mother’s Day Flower Bar (make a custom bouquet for mom), the Brooklyn Museum on Wheels, a bead bar, African dance workshop & drumming, DJ, and more kids’ activities. This event will take place inside and outside.
Events for Youth & Families: Junie B. Jones | Prospect Heights
Saturday, May 9th | 1:00pm-2:00pm
It’s Junie B.’s first day of first grade, and a lot of things have changed for her: Junie’s friend, Lucille, doesn’t want to be her best pal anymore and, on the bus, Junie B. makes friends with Herb, the new kid at school. Also, Junie has trouble reading the blackboard and her teacher, Mr. Scary, thinks she may need glasses. Throw in a friendly cafeteria lady, a kickball tournament and a “Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal,” and first grade has never been more exciting. This event will take place at the Central Library.
Young Naturalists: Natural Art Project | Fort Greene
Saturday, May 9th | 1:00pm-2:00pm | Ages 5-13
Young Naturalists is a youth-led program for kids to share and grow their knowledge about the world around them using Fort Greene Park as their open lab. Held biweekly from 1-2 p.m., with sessions ranging from bird identification and recycling mini games, to sharing all sorts of knowledge with one another, kids can expect to participate in hands-on activities and experiments and learn from their fellow Young Naturalists. For this week: Ever wondered what it would be like to make art with plants? Join the Young Naturalists at Fort Greene Park to discover the endless possibilities and create your own natural art masterpiece.
BKCM’s Open Stages | Park Slope
Saturday, May 9th | 3:00pm-6:00pm | RSVP here
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s Open Stages is a neighborhood-wide, free music festival with stages all over Park Slope, and a celebration of Brooklyn’s vibrant music scene. Open Stages takes place rain or shine, and all best efforts will be made to keep the music going regardless of weather. The festival is free and open to everyone, but it’s also a fundraiser that supports music education and therapy for over 7,000 New Yorkers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds across the five boroughs. If you’re able to make a contribution with your RSVP, every dollar makes a difference!
Movies Under the Stars | Bath Beach
Saturday, May 9th | 8:00pm
Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park or playground! This summer, NYC Parks will host family-friendly movie showings across the five boroughs.
SUNDAY
Bird Walk: Sights and Sounds of Spring Migration | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sunday, May 10th | 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.
Mother’s Day Basic Canoeing at the Audubon Center at the Boathouse | Prospect Park
Sunday, May 10th | 11:00am-12:30pm | Ages 8 and up
Few experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The rhythm of the waves, the sun on your face, and the exhilaration of slicing through the water all add up to an experience you’ll never forget. Trained Urban Park Rangers will lead participants on a canoe adventure. First come, first served.
Family + Abolition Reading Group | Crown Heights
Sunday, May 10th | 11:30am-1:00pm
Come read and discuss We Grow the World Together with like-minded parents and community members at Another World Brooklyn. The conversation will be led by a local parent and they will have printed selections available if you haven’t read it yet. Little ones are welcome to color and play. They will have childcare and snacks. Please bring your questions, ideas, thoughts and a food or drink to share if you’d like!
Japan Village Spring Festival at Industry City | Sunset Park
Sunday, May 10th | 1:00pm-5:00pm | Register here
Come to Japan Village’s Spring Festival. There will be games, karaoke, prizes, traditional Japanese dances, food vendors, an artist market, and more!
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Updated: May 2, 2026. Main Image: Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest at City Point BKLYN | Downtown Brooklyn
