Free summer events for NYC kids and families: June

june 1-5

Celebrate Israel Parade
Photograph: Noel Y. C.67.ft.67celebrateisraelparade03.JPG1484211
DUMBO Kite Flying
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Howl Festival
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Howl Festival
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Madison Square Kids Summer Kids Fest
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Madison Square Kids Summer Kids Fest
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PLG Arts "Daydream"
Photograph: Renee Elias-Reyes67.ft.67plgartsDaydream02.jpg1484337
PLG Arts "Daydream"
Photograph: Renee Elias-Reyes67.ft.67plgartsDaydream05.jpg1484358
Red Hook Waterfront Festival
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Red Hook Waterfront Festival
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Saturday Sculpture Workshops
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Saturday Sculpture Workshops
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World Science Festival
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World Science Festival
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World Science Festival
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World Science Festival
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Celebrate Israel Parade

Photograph: Noel Y. C.

June 1-5

Target Free First Friday Night
Thanks to the Target Free First Friday Night program, admission to the Children's Museum of Manhattan is free this evening. Kids can run around the interactive exhibits, or get creative doing themed art projects. June 3 5–8pm. Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 W 83rd St between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway (212-721-1223, cmom.org).

World Science Festival
Little Galileos can look skyward during a stargazing party (June 3) or set sail for Governors Island, where scientists lead explorations revealing fun facts about New York’s local flora and fauna (June 4). The festivities wrap up on June 5 with the World Science Festival Youth and Family Street Fair. The area surrounding Washington Square Park is transformed into a science wonderland, complete with interactive exhibits, performances by the Central Park Zoo’s Wildlife Theater and an appearance by dancing mad scientist Jeffrey Vinokur, among other offerings. June 3 at 8pm, June 4 10:30am–5pm, June 5 10am–6pm. Various locations (212-348-1400, worldsciencefestival.com).

Dumbo Kite Flying Society
Dumbo’s Galapagos Arts Space takes kids on a high-flying adventure with a free cloth-kite clinic. Don’t worry if your little one is more Charlie Brown than Ben Franklin—they provide loaner gliders and lessons. June 4 at 10am. Brooklyn Bridge Park, Main St at Plymouth St, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-222-8500, galapagosartspace.com).

18th Annual Red Hook Fest
Dance Theater Etcetera once again turns Valentino Park into an outdoor showcase for young spoken-word artists, performance troupes, dancers and hip-hop acts. This year’s lineup includes Inspirit and Climbing PoeTree. Free kayak rides are also on the menu. Rain date is June 5. June 4 11am–7pm. Louis J. Valentino Pier, Coffey St at Ferris St, Red Hook, Brooklyn (dancetheatreetcetera.org/rhwaf.html).

Spring Kids Fest
Time Out Kids teams up with the Madison Square Park Conservancy for this outdoor fair abounding with art activities, live music (Joanie Leeds will croon tunes from her latest album, What a Zoo!), theater performances, storytime, snacks from the Treats Truck and more. June 4 10:30am–1:30pm. Madison Square Park, Broadway at 23rd St (212-538-4071, madisonsquarepark.org).

Creativity Workshop With Laura Lee Gulledge
Artist and author Laura Lee Gulledge (Page by Paige) helps tweens re-examine their self-perception by creating drawings using only words. June 4 4–5pm. Word, 126 Franklin St at Milton St, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (718-383-0096, wordbrooklyn.com).

Art Island Outpost: Media Lab
While cavorting through the wide-open spaces of Governors Island, families can stop by Our Lady of Sea Chapel to participate in free workshops or watch film screenings and theater performances. Led by teaching artists from the Children's Museum of the Arts, cinephiles will create collaborative, animal kingdom-themed stop-motion animation. June 4, 5 11am–3pm. Governors Island (212-274-0986, cmany.org).

Daydream
For the sixth year running, PLG Arts freely adapts A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a condensed family-friendly tale about a construction crew in Prospect Park that stumbles on a battle between the Fairy King and his queen. June 4 at 11am, June 5 at 2pm. Prospect Park Imagination Playground, Prospect Park, Ocean Ave between Lincoln Rd and Parkside Ave, Brooklyn (718-393-7733, plgarts.org).

Saturday Sculpture Workshop
Drop into Queens’ inspirational outdoor sculpture park for free family classes led by a different local artist each week. Some of our favorite workshops this summer include saurkraut making with Linda Ganjian (June 18), bubble blowing with Harriet Salmon (July 16) and T-shirt decorating with Darren Goins (Aug 27). On June 24, McKendree Key lets kids smash plates, Greek-wedding style, then teaches them how to create mosaics out of ceramic shards. See website for the full lineup. June 4 noon–3pm. Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd at Broadway, Long Island City, Queens (718-956-1819, socratessculpturepark.org).

Howl! Festival
The Lower East Side’s bohemian roots are celebrated around Tompkins Square Park (the city’s ’60s counterculture epicenter) with concerts, poetry readings and art shows. Obstacle courses, toddler rides and a midway with carnival booths add to the fun. June 4, 5 11am–6pm. Various locations around Tompkins Square Park and the Lower East Side (howlfestival.com).

Kayaking On The Hudson
The New York City Downtown Boathouse offers complimentary kayaking every weekend through October at three Hudson River docks. No need to make a reservation; just walk right up and wait in (a bit of a) line. Never kayaked before? Not to worry: The nautical experts provide the equipment and the know-how—although they do ask that you sign a liability waiver and wear a bathing suit, shorts and T-shirt. Kids under 16 must be accompanied in the boat by an adult. June 4, 5 10am–5pm. •Pier 40, Houston St at the Hudson River (downtownboathouse.org). •Pier 96, W 56th St at the Hudson River. •Pier 1, W 72nd St at the Hudson River.

Learn To Ride—Kids
If you're thinking about trading in your tot's tricycle for a big-kid bike, stop by one of these free lessons all over the city where little ones can learn two-wheeler basics (sans scraped knees, we hope). Helmets required; pre-registration recommended; parents must be present. Locations vary, so check the website for details. June 4 noon–4pm. 167th St between Gerard and Cromwell Aves, South Bronx (212-870-2080, bikenewyork.org). June 5 1–4pm. St. Nicholas Ave between 181st and 183rd Sts.

Celebrate Israel Parade
The Jewish homeland celebrates its 63rd birthday with a march up Fifth Avenue, featuring floats, musicians and dancers. Afterward, head over to Central Park’s SummerStage for a 2:30pm concert sponsored by the National Council for Young Israel. June 5 11am–4pm. Fifth Ave from 57th St to 74th St (646-467-8030, salutetoisrael.com).

Stories For All Ages: Douglas Florian
To commemorate Shavuot, the day the Israelites received the Torah, the Museum of Jewish Heritage will host popular children’s author and artist Douglas Florian. He will read from his lauded book A Pig Is Big and poetry collections like Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs and Beast Feast in the museum's picturesque park. June 5 at 11am. Robert F. Wagner Park, Battery Pl between West St and First Pl (212-267-9700, bpcparks.org).

Abracadabra Magic Show
Cool down with cool tricks at the Chelsea mega-emporium, which hosts a 20-minute magic show every Sunday, with tot-friendly tricks like collapsing wands, disappearing coins and a seemingly endless stream of scarves. The show is free, but the pre- and postperformance sales pitch may make your cash disappear. June 5 at 3pm. Abracadabra Superstore, 19 W 21st St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-627-5194, abracadabrasuperstore.com).