Free kid-friendly events this week in Brooklyn (9/7-9/13) | Brooklyn Bridge Parents

Labor Day and the West Indian American Day Parade open the week, school starts Thursday, and the weekend is the busiest one of the month: a free dance class for toddlers at City Point, BRIC’s back-to-school family day, the African Film Festival on Governors Island, two author storytimes on Montague Street, and our own Back to School Party in Brooklyn Heights on Sunday. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday, September 11, for all kid-friendly Jewish High Holiday events, click here.

MONDAY

West Indian American Day Parade | Crown Heights

Monday, September 7 (Labor Day) | steps off mid-morning | Eastern Parkway, from Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza | Free | All ages along the route; the crowds are heavy and the sound systems are loud, so the western end near Grand Army Plaza is easier with little ones

The parade closes out Carnival with costume bands, steel pan and food stalls the length of Eastern Parkway. Bring ear protection for small children. Note that every Brooklyn Public Library branch is closed for the holiday, and schools are closed too.

Last week of the free outdoor pools | Borough-wide

Daily through Sunday, September 13 | 11am-7pm, with a 3-4pm cleaning break | Olympic- and intermediate-sized NYC Parks pools | Free | All ages

It is the last week of the outdoor pool season: the Olympic- and intermediate-sized pools stay open through Sunday, September 13, while the mini pools closed after Labor Day. One last swim at Red Hook, McCarren or Sunset Park before the covers go on — suits required, and bring a sturdy lock.

Molière in the Park: Don Juan | Prospect Park

Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, September 7, 8, 11 and 12 at 7pm; Sunday, September 13 at 3pm and 7pm | LeFrak Center at Lakeside | Free, RSVP requested | Skews older — best for teens and theater-curious big kids

Free open-air classical theater at Lakeside: Molière in the Park stages Don Juan with the rink as its amphitheater. Every performance is free with an RSVP on the Prospect Park Alliance calendar; the evening curtains make it one for older kids.

Back to School Bash at Habana Outpost | Fort Greene

Monday, September 7 | 10am-2pm | Habana Outpost, 757 Fulton Street | Free | All ages

The solar-powered restaurant threw its annual back-to-school bash in the courtyard: free school supplies and eco-friendly recycled arts and crafts with the nonprofit Habana Works.

TUESDAY

Soccer Shots Free Fun Day | Brooklyn Heights

Tuesday, September 8 | 3:30-5:30pm | Cadman Plaza Park, Cadman Plaza East | Free | Best for toddlers and preschoolers through about age 8

A free drop-in session of the introductory soccer programme on the grass at Cadman Plaza, aimed at the youngest end of the age range. No registration listed, so turn up in trainers.

DUPLO Lego Time at Macon Library | Bedford-Stuyvesant

Tuesday, September 8 | 1-2:30pm | Macon Library, 361 Lewis Avenue at Macon Street | Free | Ages 5 and under with a caregiver

The branch sets out its DUPLO collection for an open build session, for children five and under with a participating caregiver.

WEDNESDAY

Cadman Park Library Storytime | Brooklyn Heights

Wednesday, September 9 | 10:30am | Brooklyn Heights Library, 286 Cadman Plaza West | Free | Babies and toddlers with caregivers

The Brooklyn Heights branch is back to its weekly midweek storytime after the Labor Day closure — songs, picture books and play for the youngest listeners.

Library Storytime in Fort Greene Park | Fort Greene

Wednesday, September 9 | 11am-12pm | Fort Greene Park, bottom of the monument stairs, northwest corner | Free | Birth to five with caregivers

Librarians from the Walt Whitman branch sing, read and play under the trees — great picture books read aloud, then playtime with the other kids. If the weather turns, the event page updates the day before.

Sounds of the Americas at The Plaza at 300 Ashland | Fort Greene

Wednesday, September 9 | 6-8pm | The Plaza at 300 Ashland, Flatbush and Lafayette Avenues | Free | All ages — an open plaza, easy with strollers

An open-air evening of music from across the Americas on the plaza, free and open to all. The series runs Wednesday evenings through September 30.

THURSDAY

Table Tennis Thursdays | Downtown Brooklyn

Thursdays, September 10, 17 and 24 | 12-2pm | Willoughby Plaza, Downtown Brooklyn | Free | All ages, paddles provided; easiest with school-age kids who can reach the table

Downtown Brooklyn Partnership sets up outdoor tables on the plaza for a two-hour lunchtime drop-in. It is the first day of school on the 10th, so this one is really an after-3pm-crowd sort of listing for the later dates.

Tween and Teen Create Space at Adams Street Library | Dumbo

Thursday, September 10 | 4:30-5:30pm | Adams Street Library, 9 Adams Street | Free | Tweens and teens

An after-school creative hour reserved for the big kids at the Dumbo branch. It runs Thursdays through the fall — September 17 is already on the calendar.

Nature Exploration: Tree Appreciation Month | Prospect Park

Thursday and Friday, September 10-11, 10am-3pm; Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13, 10am-1pm | Prospect Park Audubon Center | Free | Kids

Drop-in nature play at the Audubon Center, with September given over to trees — hands-on activities and guided looks at the forest, pitched at kid height.

FRIDAY

Day of Refuge, Remembrance and Community | Park Slope

Friday, September 11 | from 8am, continuing to 8pm Saturday | 267 Douglass Street, 4th floor | Free | Teens and grown-ups rather than young children

An open day of quiet space, community programming and remembrance marking the anniversary. It runs overnight into Saturday evening; the audience is teenagers and adults, so this is one for older kids.

SATURDAY

We Dance at City Point BKLYN | Downtown Brooklyn

Saturday, September 12 | 10-10:45am | City Point, main floor studio across from Joybird, 445 Albee Square West | Free with RSVP | Ages 18 months to 4 years with a caregiver

Mark Morris Dance Center brings its early-childhood class into the mall for a pop-up: movement, live music and early-childhood educators leading. RSVP in advance, it is a small room.

Dog-Friendly Storytime at Books Are Magic | Brooklyn Heights

Saturday, September 12 | 11am-12pm | Books Are Magic, 122 Montague Street | Free, RSVP encouraged | Picture-book age, roughly 2 to 6

Dan Yaccarino reads from I Am Murphy and I Am Waiting. Books Are Magic runs an author-led storytime most Saturdays and Sundays at the Montague store, and the book changes every week.

Free Kids Drama Class with The Drama Club NY | DUMBO

Saturday, September 12 | 10:30am-1pm | The RAT NYC, 68 Jay Street | Free | Ages 5 to 12

A free taster theatre class for school-age kids, games and scene work rather than a performance. Two and a half hours, so it suits a child who is happy to be dropped into a group.

BRIC Family Day: Back to School | Downtown Brooklyn

Saturday, September 12 | 12-4pm | BRIC House, 647 Fulton Street | Free | Toddlers through tweens

BRIC opens its building for an afternoon of hands-on art making, performances and giveaways timed to the start of term. Drop in any time in the four-hour window.

African Film Festival Family Day | Governors Island

Saturday, September 12 | 12-5pm | Nolan Park lawn, Governors Island | Free | All ages; rain date Sunday, September 13

The nineteenth annual Family Day: Sabar and Guinean dance workshops, Afro-Brazilian drumming, storytelling and double dutch through the afternoon, short films running 1-5pm and a textile workshop. The ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park makes it a straightforward outing.

Catch-and-Release Fishing in Brooklyn Bridge Park | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Saturday, September 12 | 10am-12pm | Pier 5 fishing stations | Free | Kids and up

Park staff run a free catch-and-release fishing lesson at the Pier 5 stations — gear provided, East River ecology included, and every fish goes straight back in.

Environmental Education Center Open Hours | Dumbo

Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13 | 1-5pm | 99 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn Bridge Park | Free | All ages

Drop in for tanks of local river life and hands-on exhibits — an easy free hour, rain or shine. Weekend open hours run 1-5pm.

Brooklyn Americana Music Festival free family day | Dumbo

Saturday, September 12 | 2-10pm, kids show at 2pm | Dumbo Archway, 155 Water Street | Free | All ages early on — the evening sets skew grown-up and there is a bar on site

Ten acts of Americana, country, folk and blues under the Manhattan Bridge, opening at 2pm with an all-new half-hour kids show from Neha Jiwrajka. Seating is first come, first served.

Kids and Volunteers Fest at Commodore Barry Park | Fort Greene

Saturday, September 12 | 2-5pm | Commodore Barry Park, N Elliott Place between Flushing and Park Avenues | Free | All ages

Friends of Commodore Barry Park and Partnerships for Parks throw an afternoon fest on the lawn: snacks, prizes, giveaways, arts and crafts, and a promised surprise guest.