Top 10 April family events in Brooklyn

Go-to Brooklyn parent resources Macaroni KID Brooklyn NW and Brooklyn Bridge Parents have teamed up to bring you some of the best family events for Brooklyn families in April including holiday celebrations, spring activities, and community festivals. Happy April!

1. Celebrate Holi at Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Saturday, April 6 | 10am-12:30pm, 1-3:30pm, 4-6:30pm | $15 admission, $10 powder | Crown Heights

Get ready for the Museum’s annual celebration of springtime, renewal, color, and play with Ajna Dance Company and The Culture Tree! Known as the “Color Festival,” Holi originated in India and is now enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. Come hungry and ready to play as they celebrate a day of art, dance, food, music, and wonder that will make your whole family feel like you’ve been transported to the streets of India (or Trinidad or Guyana). And it wouldn’t be Holi without color powder. They’ll be taking over neighboring Brower Park with pounds of color powder to throw in the air. Make sure to wear WHITE for color powder play and secure your tickets and powder early for this unforgettable day!

2. Catch the Solar Eclipse on April 8 in Brooklyn

The eclipse will last from 2:10–4:36 pm on Monday April 8, peaking at 3:25pm with 90% of the sun’s surface covered by the moon. Solar Safety Reminder: Never look directly at the sun—even if you’re wearing sunglasses—without specifically-designed solar eclipse glasses.

• Solar Eclipse Community Event at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
  Monday, April 8 | 1-5pm | FREE | Prospect Heights
  Gather on the Garden’s lawns to marvel at the sky as the moon passes between the Earth and sun and observe the effects of the eclipse on their collections: Will blooms be fooled into closing? Will leaves turn in? Participate in the Garden-wide experiment and let them know what you see. Blankets are welcome! Outside food is not permitted but may be purchased at the Canteen. ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses provided by Warby Parker.
• Solar Eclipse on the Pearl Street Triangle in DUMBO with Adams Street Library
  Monday, April 8 | 1-2:30pm | FREE | DUMBO
  Get ready for the Solar Eclipse with the Adams Street Branch. Meet them outside on the Pearl Street Triangle from 1-2:30pm to celebrate this exciting event! They will have solar eclipse glasses, props to take photos with and a solar eclipse-themed Grab and Go craft kit for kids.
• The Great North American Solar Eclipse at Marsha P. Johnson State Park
  Monday, April 8 | 2-4pm | FREE | Williamsburg
  Come by the Park House to learn about and experience this natural phenomenon! Eclipse glasses will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis! All ages are welcome. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Clinton Hill Eclipse Party
  Monday, April 8 | 2-4:30pm | FREE | Clinton Hill
  Experience the celestial event of the year at Clinton Hill Library! The library team will be spending the afternoon creating pinhole viewers, chalking up their sidewalk with beautiful designs, and safely observing the deep partial eclipse as it passes over the city. They will have a limited number of eclipses glass to give out (first come, first served) and more pairs on hand to pass around and share. All ages welcome!
• Teen Solar Eclipse Watch with Brooklyn Heights Library in Cadman Plaza
  Monday, April 8 | 3-4pm | FREE | Brooklyn Heights
  Come join Brooklyn Heights Library out on Juneteeth Grove in Cadman Plaza for a Teen Solar Eclipse Event! Eclipses are all about letting go! Join them before the Eclipse to write down all our worries on our paper plates then tear them apart after the Eclipse. Solar Eclipse Glases are included!
• Solar Eclipse Garden Party at Saratoga Library in Bed Stuy
  Monday, April 8 | 2:30-3:30pm | FREE | Bed Stuy | Ages 12-19
  Psyched about the 2024 Solar eclipse? Come over to the Saratoga branch’s garden from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm to celebrate this historical event, and see the total eclipse live and in action. Grab a pair of eclipse glasses, enjoy some snacks, and create some fun eclipse themed crafts.
• Solar Eclipse Viewing at Green-Wood Cemetery
  Monday, April 8 | 1:30-5pm | FREE with RSVP | Green-Wood Cemetery
  On April 8, join Pioneer Works at The Green-Wood Cemetery to celebrate the solar eclipse! We’ll gather in Green-Wood’s Meadow and at the Historic Chapel, where you can enjoy the celestial spectacle through special-edition glasses and telescopes equipped with solar filters. There will be an intimate soil soundscape installation, a community mural with the Red Hook Art Project, a listening session pop-up with Sacred Bones Records, and a gong sound bath by Samer Ghadry, alongside NASA’s livestream of the eclipse from the path of totality. Food and soft drinks available for purchase. Special-edition eclipse viewing glasses will be available for free on a first come basis.
• NYU Tandon Solar Eclipse Viewing Party in Downtown Brooklyn
  Monday, April 8 | 3-4pm | Brooklyn Commons Park, Downtown Brooklyn
  Join NYU Tandon, Brookfield Properties, and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership for a solar eclipse viewing party in Brooklyn Commons Park! Come by to watch the solar eclipse with friends and grab a pair of Tandon-exclusive sunglasses (plus other exciting swag).
• Eclipse Musical Conduction for Casey Benjamin at Central Library
  Monday, April 8 | 2:30-3:30pm | FREE | Plaza of Central Library, Prospect Heights
  During the Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, as a cosmic offering to Brooklyn musician, producer, and artist Casey Benjamin, musician Vernon Reid will conduct members of Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber and special guests on the plaza of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library branch in a community-based program to lift Casey’s name into eternity. This event is organized in partnership with the Benjamin family. Eclipse glasses will be available.
• View the Solar Eclipse on Governors Island
  Monday, April 8 | Governors Island will be open from 7am-6pm
  Governors Island is open from 7am-6pm on Mon­day, April 8. Hop on the fer­ry — we sug­gest the 2:30pm fer­ry from the Bat­tery Mar­itime Build­ing — and head to one of our hand-picked eclipse view­ing spots. Free, ISO-cer­ti­fied solar eclipse glass­es will be dis­trib­uted to safe­ly view this celes­tial spectacle. Vis­i­tors can pick up a pair of glass­es (one per per­son) inside the Secu­ri­ty Office at Build­ing 140 as soon as they get off the fer­ry at Sois­sons Land­ing. Glass­es are first come, first served as sup­plies last.

3. Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Open Stage Variety Show in Downtown Brooklyn

Tuesday, April 9 | 7pm | $15 suggested donation | Downtown Brooklyn

City Tech presents the Bindlestiff Open Stage Variety Show, a monthly open mic for variety artists, where emerging performers and seasoned pros alike hone new acts in front of a live audience, hosted by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus co-founder Keith Nelson.

4. Celebrate Ramadan and Eid

Celebrate the end of Ramadan with family-friendly Eid al-Fitr events in Brooklyn this month.

• Eid Storytime & Craft at the Cortelyou Library | Flatbush
  Friday, April 5 | 4-5pm | FREE
  Join us for Book Adventure: Eid Storytime & Craft and learn about the traditions and customs of the Muslim holiday of Eid. We’ll make a lunar craft to celebrate!
• Eid al-Fitr School Holiday in Prospect Park
  Wednesday, April 10 | 12-5pm | FREE
  Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. Programs will include Discovery Pack (families will be given a backpack filled with nature activities and exploration tools), Animal Encounter, and Family Bird Walk. Carousel rides will also be offered ($3/ride).
• Celebrate Eid with New Neighbors at St. Ann’s Church | Brooklyn Heights
  Wednesday, April 10 | 5:30-7:30pm | Pay What You Wish (or make a donation)
  Join New Neighbors for a family-friendly Eid community holiday dinner — this is an opportunity to meet community members and eat some of the best potluck food you’ve ever tasted! In addition to delicious home-cooked food, enjoy some great conversation, live music, and craft activities for kids. All ages are welcome! Register here.
• Teen Eid Celebration with Henna at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
  Thursday, April 11 | 5-6pm | FREE
  Join us in the Teen Room for a post Eid celebration with Henna and fun discussions! Henna is a form of paste deprived from a plant and can be used as temporary tattoos for celebrations. Snacks and water are included!
• Celebrate Eid al-Fitr at Brooklyn Children’s Museum | Crown Heights 
  Sunday, April 14 | 11am-4pm | $15 | Children 1 are free
  Celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan at Brooklyn Children’s Museum! Enjoy a day of music, dance, food, and art that honors cultural traditions from across the Muslim world. Get ready to move to the intricate rhythmic patterns of Indian classical dance with the Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts, discover the story of Eid at an engaging puppet show presented by The Culture Tree, hear Turkish, Kurdish, and Islamic classical music performed by the Wahab Orchestra in partnership with the Turkish Cultural Center, and learn Sufi-inspired songs at an interactive drumming circle led by Brother Mustafa. Buy tickets here!
• A Pink Eid in Brooklyn | Borough Park 
  Sunday, April 14 | 2-6pm | $10 | Kids 12 and under are free
  This event will be in collaboration with children’s book author of A Pink Eid in Brooklyn, Fatima Younus. Featuring engaging story-times, food vendors, henna, custom live artwork, kids crafts, opportunity to shop from small businesses, raffles & more! Whether you’re coming to enjoy the festive atmosphere, meet new friends, or just to bask in the beauty of Brooklyn bathed in pink, there’s something here for everyone. Don’t forget to wear something pink to truly embrace the spirit of the day! See you there for an unforgettable celebration of connection, and pink-tastic Eid fun!

5. Family Discovery Weekends and Cherry Blossoms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Saturdays and Sundays starting April 13 | 10:30am-12:30pm | Free with Garden admission ($12-18, free for ages 0-11) | Prospect Heights

Learn and play together in the BBG’s Discovery Garden. Hands-on stations throughout the garden’s courtyard, meadow, woodland, and marsh encourage families to explore nature alongside our volunteer Discovery Docents and teen garden apprentices. This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Free with Garden admission. Visit the website for Cherry Blossom bloom updates.

6. BABYTOPIA: World of Fun for Bump through Preschool for NYC Parents

Saturday, April 13 | 11am-3pm | FREE entry, pre-registration required | Downtown Brooklyn

BABYTOPIA is a free event for new and expectant parents and families with toddlers and preschoolers at Atlantic Terminal. The event offers free kids activities and a one-stop opportunity to discover top local and national brands and services which make life through maternity and early parenting easier, more fun, healthy, and smart. Expect interactive elements like free professional bump and baby portraits, gear testing, and activities for toddlers including mini indoor baby gym, ball pit freebies, music classes, and more. A limited number of $25 VIP tickets include a swag bag and VIP access to all activities without the crowds from 11-11:30am.

 

7. Brooklyn Volunteer Day

Saturday, April 13 | Times vary, 9am-3pm | FREE with registration | Multiple locations

Join Brooklyn Org, The Service Collective, and community partners across the borough at 7 different family-friendly volunteer sites throughout the day:

• Clean Up a Ballfield with Brooklyn Little league (ages 8+)
• Beautification of Bensonhurst Park with United Chinese Association of Brooklyn (all ages)
• Serve at CHiPs Soup Kitchen in Park Slope (ages 12+)
• Sort Recycling with Sure We Can in E. Williamsburg (all ages)
• Urban Farming with Wyckoff House Museum (ages 5+)
• Community Cleanup with KAVI in Boerum Hill (ages 10+)
• Food distribution with Mixteca in South Slope (ages 12+)

8. Court Street Fair

Sunday, April 14 | 10am-6pm | FREE | Carroll Gardens

Annual springtime street fair held along Court Street between Union and 9th St. in Carroll Gardens. More details to come.

8. Celebrate Earth Day

• Earth Day Wind Energy Party for families at City Point 4/20

Saturday, April 20 | 11 am – 1 pm | FREE | City Point

We are celebrating Earth Day with our first ever wind energy party on Earth Day, Saturday, April 20 from 11 am to 1 pm. Kids will be able to build wind turbines and other sculptures from recycled materials with Koko NYC, decorate (and eat) your own wind turbine cookies, have fun doing some Earth Day crafts and learn about offshore wind energy coming to Brooklyn. Best for ages 2 – 10. The free event will take place on the ground floor next to Rumi’s at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn. The free event is presented by Community Offshore Wind, a joint venture between RWE and National Grid Ventures to bring local, clean energy to the Northeastern U.S. Their Brooklyn project will power more than 500,000 US households, while generating more than $3 billion in economic benefits for New York communities and creating more than 800 new, good-paying jobs for workers across the state.

• Earth Rocks! at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
  Saturday, April 20-Saturday, April 27 | 10am-5pm | $15 admission | Crown Heights
  Join BCM during spring break for a week-long celebration of our amazing planet! Each day presents exciting STEAM-inspired programs consisting of dynamic performances, hands-on workshops, and special projects in BCM’s new makerspace, Nature’s Engineers. The week is organized around four overarching themes: Grow, Sustain, Care, and Explore.
• Earth Day Celebration on Governors Island
  Saturday, April 20 | 10am-3pm | FREE | Governor’s Island
  Gov­er­nors Island’s third annu­al Earth Day cel­e­bra­tion will cel­e­brate the pow­er of native plants through free edu­ca­tion­al activ­i­ties and work­shops for all ages, guid­ed tours through the Island’s open space, a par­tic­i­pa­to­ry mur­al inspired by the rela­tion­ship between milk­weed and Monarch but­ter­flies, Gov­er­nors Island Nature activ­i­ties, vol­un­teer stew­ard­ship projects, free bike lessons with Bike New York, and more.

• Earth Day at The Seaport
  Saturday April 20 | 11am-2pm | FREE | Lower Manhattan 
  Join The Seaport for Earth Day activities including sustainable castle construction, lego building, plants and science, and the beauty of recycled materials. It’s all part of the upcoming Seaport Kids x Earth Day lineup of activities hosted by Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents.
• Downtown Brooklyn Car-Free Earth Day in Albee Square
  Saturday, April 20 | 11am-3pm | FREE | Downtown Brooklyn
  Enjoy Earth-friendly and car-free activities including music, fashion, cycling lessons, and more. Albee Square West will be closed to traffic all day, so bring your bike or roller skates, and enjoy activities and music at Albee Square Plaza. Stop by CityPoint 12-2pm for for a Wind Energy Party for Families presented by Community Offshore Wind. Build wind turbines from recycled materials, wind energy crafts, and wind turbine cookie decorating. Learn about offshore wind coming to Brooklyn.
• Earth Day Innovations with KoKo NYC at Atlantic Terminal Mall
  Saturday, April 20 | 11am-3pm | FREE | Downtown Brooklyn
  Come together to honor the planet and unleash your creativity in the name of sustainability. At the Inventor’s Lab, they’ll delve into the fascinating world of simple machines while embracing the ethos of recycling and repurposing. Come learn about the wonders of mechanics and discover how they can harness the power of everyday materials to create innovative solutions for a greener future. From bottle caps to cardboard boxes, every item holds the potential to be transformed into something extraordinary. Bring your imagination and get ready to roll up your sleeves and celebrate Earth Day by nurturing the planet and making a positive impact.
• Earth Day Festival at Fort Greene Park
  Saturday April 27 | 11am-2pm | FREE | Fort Greene
  Get excited for Earth Day Festival 2024! With family-friendly activity stations and sustainable swaps, there’s something to do for everyone in the neighborhood.

10. Cheer on Brooklyn Half Marathon runners

Sunday, April 28 | 7am-1pm | FREE | Greenpoint to Prospect Park

Cheer on friends, family, and neighbors during the upcoming Brooklyn Half Marathon! Recommended cheer spots include the Williamsburg Bridge Area, Cadman Plaza, Albee Square at City Point, Barclays Center Plaza, and Eastern Parkway Malls.