Family Days: Memorial Day Kid-a-palooza

Get ready to enjoy a three-day weekend! If you’ve been obsessively checking your calendar like I have, you’ll know that Memorial Day is exactly one week from today. The reason being? I’m taking off Thursday and Friday, making it the longest weekend I’ve ever had. There will be plenty to eat, see, and do in all boroughs all weekend long. Here are some activities guaranteed to entertain every member of the family, from your cousin’s newborn to your mother-in-law.

Friday-Sunday

Brooklyn Bridge’s 125th Birthday
To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge, both Brooklyn and Manhattan are hosting a variety of family-oriented activities honoring the most iconic bridge in history. Catch a free showing of Enchanted, on Friday night at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park. All you have to bring is a picnic basket and something to quench your thirst; free popcorn will be provided. Head to the park on Saturday or Sunday for a Brooklyn-inspired round of miniature golf. The course features pint-size versions of historic landmarks in the city’s most populous borough such as the bridge (naturally), KeySpan Park, and Grand Army Plaza. If you’re crossing the bridge from the Manhattan side, listen in on Ron Schweiger, Brooklyn’s official historian, as he provides information and gives giving walking tours of the bridge

The 13th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts
Make it a family affair at this annual festival, which was attended by over 3000 people last year. Children from local schools will perform unique song-and-dance routines especially created for kids by kids. Afterward, check out the street fair on East 10th Street, which features food and crafts created by long-time residents of the neighborhood. The original purpose of the celebration was to discover new writers in the historically artistic community so, as a result, there will be no shortage of poetry readings and other literary-based events. It’s good to note that childrens’ activities end at 5:00pm, leaving you plenty of time to spend the rest of the night (until 1:00am) indulging in anything from bellydancing to a comedy show. For a complete list of events visit the official MySpace (every event has one at this point, right?) The fair is free, but donations are appreciated.

Sunday Only

Family Day at the Guggenheim
Treat the kids to a fun-filled afternoon of storytelling, music, and other special performances. The annual event includes discounted family rates as well; only $15 per family, $10 for museum members, and free admission for family of members. Amaze the kids with I Want to Believe by internationally-recognized artist Cai Guo-Qiang, who happens to be overseeing the opening and closing ceremonies at this year’s Olympics. The exhibit features a psychedelic installation of cars fused with light tubes and suspended from wires of varying lengths, among other things. The other, A Year with Children 2008, is a collection of contemporary art created by second-through sixth-graders who participated in the museum’s long-running program, Learning Through Art.

Memorial Day Revolutionary Walking Tour
Head down to the Southstreet Seaport for a comprehensive trek through the streets of Lower Manhattan. The tour, geared toward children ages four and under, starts at noon from City Hall Park. Cost of the tour is included in museum admission. Stops include Federal Hall and liberty pole.

« previous post    next post »