Free things to do with kids in New York, NY

Museum on Wheels: Roebling Rink (Brooklyn Museum)

Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Park — Brooklyn · Kings Co. · Brooklyn

Free manga-inspired art-making (chibi faces, character cards, clay figurines) to celebrate the opening of Roebling Rink, with the Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

Bryant Park — Manhattan · New York Co. · Manhattan

Free-admission ice skating at The Rink plus the Winter Village holiday shops and skating shows.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free

Rink open daily, weather permitting. Holiday shop dates vary.

Youth Sports Club

Gymnasium (Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center) — Queens · Queens

Join our Youth Sports Club where will we hosting weekly clinics teaching youth how to play a variety of sports.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free
• Indoors

Family Time

Gymnasium (Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center) — Queens · Queens

Family Time is an open gymnasium time for members of all ages.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free
• Indoors

Autumn Leaves Story Time and Craft

Greenbelt Nature Center (Blood Root Valley) — Staten Island · Staten Island

Autumn is a colorful, magical season, so let’s learn more about it.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free
• Indoors

Ricitos and the Three Bears

Carmine Carro Community Center (Marine Park) — Brooklyn · Brooklyn

Join Teatro SEA for this bilingual musical adaptation of the Goldilocks story.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free

Discovery Hike: Urban Mammals

Eton Place Parking Lot (Willowbrook Park) — Staten Island · Staten Island

Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore the wide variety of mammals that live in New York City.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free

Basketball Clinic at Highbridge Recreation Center (Ages: 5 to 7)

Gymnasium (Highbridge Recreation Center) — Manhattan · Manhattan

NYC Parks instructional Basketball Clinic open to youth ages 5 to 7, to learn and practice the fundaments of Basketball through a series of drills.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• Free
• Indoors

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

Bryant Park — Manhattan · New York Co. · Manhattan

Free-admission ice skating at The Rink plus the Winter Village holiday shops and skating shows.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free

Rink open daily, weather permitting. Holiday shop dates vary.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Seth Low Playground (Seth Low Playground/ Bealin Square) — Brooklyn · Brooklyn

What treasure has Sammy the Squirrel hidden in the playground?

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free

Urban Park Rangers | Freedom Seekers: Stories by the Fire

Prospect Park — Brooklyn · Kings Co. · Brooklyn

Join the Urban Park Rangers for an outdoor storytelling program exploring the history of the Underground Railroad.

• Free

Basketball Clinic at Highbridge Recreation Center (Ages: 5 to 7)

Gymnasium (Highbridge Recreation Center) — Manhattan · Manhattan

NYC Parks instructional Basketball Clinic open to youth ages 5 to 7, to learn and practice the fundaments of Basketball through a series of drills.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• Free
• Indoors

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

Bryant Park — Manhattan · New York Co. · Manhattan

Free-admission ice skating at The Rink plus the Winter Village holiday shops and skating shows.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free

Rink open daily, weather permitting. Holiday shop dates vary.

Hibernation Hike

Pelham Bay Nature Center (Pelham Bay Park) — Bronx · Bronx

Learn about the amazing adaptations and behaviors different species rely on to prepare for and survive the upcoming winter months.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free
• Indoors

Orienteering Fundamentals

Greenbelt Nature Center (Blood Root Valley) — Staten Island · Staten Island

Learn to navigate through the Greenbelt as people did long before GPS, with a compass and a map!

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free
• Indoors

Nature Puppet Show

Crotona Nature Center (Crotona Park) — Bronx · Bronx

Unleash your creativity and learn about the many animals who call our parks home while you write your very own puppet show about our furry and feathered friends!

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free
• Indoors

Basketball Clinic at Highbridge Recreation Center (Ages: 5 to 7)

Gymnasium (Highbridge Recreation Center) — Manhattan · Manhattan

NYC Parks instructional Basketball Clinic open to youth ages 5 to 7, to learn and practice the fundaments of Basketball through a series of drills.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• Free
• Indoors

Festival of Lights: Santa in the Park

Carmine Carro Community Center (Marine Park) — Brooklyn · Brooklyn

Make holiday crafts and take a family photo with that famous jolly old man in red.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free

Festival of Lights: Chanukah

Carmine Carro Community Center (Marine Park) — Brooklyn · Brooklyn

Join Rabbi Heidi Hoover to hear the story of a miracle and its eight-day celebration.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free

Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting Celebration

Great Lawn (Astoria Park) — Queens · Queens

Performances and a special tree lighting.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

Bryant Park — Manhattan · New York Co. · Manhattan

Free-admission ice skating at The Rink plus the Winter Village holiday shops and skating shows.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free

Rink open daily, weather permitting. Holiday shop dates vary.

Holiday Park's Clash

Gymnasium (Full) (Kwame Ture Recreation Center) — Bronx · Bronx

2026 Holiday Parks Clash Middle School and High School's come out for some friendly competition

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free
• Indoors

Nature Open Mic

Greenbelt Nature Center (Blood Root Valley) — Staten Island · Staten Island

Nature provides inspiration. Come show off your talents and how nature inspires you.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free
• Indoors

Birding: Beginner Birding

Vermont Place Parking Lot (Highland Park) — Queens · Queens

Rangers will introduce beginner friendly resources that can make birding fun for anyone!

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free

Metaverse Scavenger Hunt

Old Mill Road and Richmond Hill Road (LaTourette Park & Golf Course) — Staten Island · Staten Island

Join the Urban Park Rangers for a nature scavenger hunt inspired by the popular mobile game application "Pokemon Go".

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free

Summer on the Hudson: Holiday on the Hudson

125th Street and Marginal Street (West Harlem Piers) — Manhattan · Manhattan

Celebrate the season with a holiday tree lighting, live music, decoration making, and hot chocolate (while supplies last).

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free

Winter Woods in Nature Exploration Hike

Arden Woods Parking Lot — Staten Island · Staten Island

Learn how the natural world adapts to colder weather and enjoy a peaceful walk through the changing forest.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Free

Basketball Clinic at Highbridge Recreation Center (Ages: 5 to 7)

Gymnasium (Highbridge Recreation Center) — Manhattan · Manhattan

NYC Parks instructional Basketball Clinic open to youth ages 5 to 7, to learn and practice the fundaments of Basketball through a series of drills.

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• Free
• Indoors