Weekend Events in Brooklyn & NYC: May 13th-15th

Hi everyone! It feels like Spring outside and the calendar is full of fun events to enjoy this weekend!

This weekend check out the Brass Bands Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park, International Migratory Bird Day in Prospect Park, Swamp in the City on Governors Island, Suzi Shelton Free Family Concert at the Old Stone House, Photo Scavenger Hunt in Sunset Park, Urban Wildlife Festival in Highbridge Park, an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Storytime at the Central Brooklyn Public Library Plaza, Sheep Shearing Festival at Queens County Farm Museum, Movie Under The Stars: Encanto in Clove Lakes Park, Baby & Me Yoga in The Battery Labyrinth, Zing at Maspeth Queens Public Library, Movies Under The The Stars: Spider-Man No Way Home in Bill Brown Playground, Hopalong Andrew Outdoor Concert in Cobble Hill Park and a Block Party on St. Felix Street.

Also check out long running events like Pinocchio at Puppetworks, Roller Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park, Family Discovery Days at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree Free Tour at South Street Seaport, Wake Up Daisy! at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, Farm Exploration Days in Randall’s Island Park, The Yard: Adventure Playground on Governor’s Island, Seaport Discovery: Exploring Our Waters with Eric Carle at South Street Seaport Museum and the Baby Farm Animals & Children’s Fun at Aviator Sports and Events Center.

Check the calendar to see everything going on this weekend. Also like us on Facebook for updates.

Have a wonderful weekend with the family!

~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)

Friday May 13th

Zing at Maspeth Queens Public Library
Fridays 1030-1130a in May. For Ages 3-5yrs old. Space is limited. Registration required. Zing! For Kids is a heart-led organization powered by fun experiences that help kids feel amaZING through movement, mindset, and play.

Baby & Me Yoga in The Battery Labyrinth
Fridays 130-230p until June 24th. Free. RSVP to save your spot and receive updates. The Battery Conservancy and HRP Mamas invite parents to practice yoga with their babies in a relaxed, supportive environment while learning to regain the strength in their core muscles after giving birth. Babies are placed on a yoga blanket in front of mom’s mat (or they can be kept in their stroller if they’re sleeping!). This flowing yoga practice focuses on strengthening the Pelvic floor and abdominal muscles (you will be checked for Diastasis Recti.) Students are welcome to take a break to feed or change their baby if needed. Baby Yoga, massage, and songs are included. Babies are 4-6 weeks until crawling. Bring a yoga mat for you and a blanket or beach towel to place your baby on in front of your mat. The Battery Labyrinth: Enter park across from 17 Battery Place. There is also a Prenatal Yoga class Fridays 3-4p.

Hopalong Andrew Outdoor Concert in Cobble Hill Park
Fridays 4p. $20/family. Location: near Memorial Wall. $20/family. Hopalong Andrew plays interactive concerts geared for all-age enjoyment, singing the great folk songs, fireside ballads, and cowboy favorites of the silver screen. Hopalong Andrew performs as a rollicking 1-man band, bringing his guitar, banjo, harmonica, and suitcase drum kit.Weather questionable? If he is cancelling he will post on IG/FB about 45 min/hour before. Otherwise it’s ON.  Hopalong Andrew has outdoor concerts all over Brooklyn. See website for information on the other locations/times.

Movie Under The Stars: Encanto in Clove Lakes Park
Friday May 13th 8-10p. Free. Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park or playground! A Colombian teenage girl has to face the frustration of being the only member of her family without magical powers. Movies begin at dusk. This event is FREE and open to the public. Glass bottles and alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. In the event of heavy rain or extreme weather, the screening may be canceled. The decision to cancel the event will be made prior to the screening and will be prominently posted on the website.

See all the Friday events here.

Saturday May 14th

International Migratory Bird Day in Prospect Park
Saturday May 14th 10a-1p. Free. Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse. Did you know? Prospect Park is an essential stop-over location for migratory birds, and a haven for more than 250 species of birds. Join Prospect Park Alliance to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day with nature activities for the whole family. Blooming Naturalists, 10a-12n: Learn about native plants and their importance to migratory birds. Nature on the Go!, 11a-12n: An Alliance Naturalist will lead children and families to areas near the Audubon Center, where you can learn about the nature that is all around us. This program departs from the Audubon Center promptly at 11a. Nature’s Helpers, 12n-1p: Learn how to keep Prospect Park healthy by cleaning up the lakeshore, spreading mulch or removing invasive species. This program departs from the Audubon Center for Prospect Park Lake promptly at 12n.

Sheep Shearing Festival at Queens County Farm Museum
Saturday May 14th 11a-4p. Advance Tickets: $12; $8 (ages 3–11). Free for 0-2 year olds. Online Tickets Only. Advance tickets recommended. Time for a haircut! Watch as our sheep get their much-needed spring trims. Celebrate Spring on the farm! Join us for NYC’s only sheep shearing festival. Farmer-led tours and sheep shearing demonstrations connect visitors to life on the farm. See where your vegetables come from. Learn about wool processing, natural dyes and visit with fiber artists as they showcase their craft. Live music, historic farmhouse tours, kids crafts and a free scavenger hunt add to the fun! Learn home composting techniques and Adopt-a-Worm at the Con Edison Ecology Booth. Local brews, tasty food vendors, and hayrides will keep you coming baaa-ck for more. Shearing times: 1130a, 1230p, 130p, 230p & 330p. Purchase tickets here.

Swamp in the City on Governors Island
Saturday May 14th 11a-5p. Free with RSVP. Board the ferry to Governors Island to experience Swamp in the City: A Cajun & Creole Music Festival! This FREE daytime event will take place in Colonels Row on Saturday, and will feature two stages of live music featuring world-class Louisiana dancehall bands, intimate duos/trios between sets, a Swamp in the City bar, a food truck parked near the main stage, and plenty of open space to dance, have a picnic and soak up the scene. For more information and a complete schedule of Swamp in the City’s events throughout the weekend, please visit www.swampinthecity.com. Note: there are fees for the ferry. See the website for the ferry schedule & details.

Urban Wildlife Festival in Highbridge Park
Saturday May 14th 12n-3p. Free. Location: West 172nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue. We welcome guests of all ages to join us at the 12th Annual Wildlife Appreciation Festival hosted by the Urban Park Rangers and the Fort Tryon Park Trust. Get to know your wild neighbors, including squirrels, turtles, raccoons, opossum, and coyotes while participating in activities to build your awareness and understanding of the natural world! The festival is an opportunity to get up close and personal with NYC’s wild residents! Find out the best places in New York City and New York State to watch wildlife. There will be fun activities including live animals presented by Wildlife In Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation (WINORR), the CityParks PuppetMobile, games, and music by Hopalong Andrew! This event is RAIN OR SHINE! Please check the weather and bring rain gear if necessary. The animals don’t mind a little rain!

Brass Bands Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday May 14th 2-6p. Free. Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy is excited to announce our second annual Brass Bands Festival in the Park on Saturday, May 14! Come enjoy a brand-new summer kickoff event that will feature both roving and stationary live musical sets by a diverse and energetic range of NYC’s brass band community. Visitors will experience the performance in an interactive and self-guided way throughout the afternoon, as New Orleans’ second-line style processionals welcome the public across multiple lawns and plazas. See the website for the full schedule of events.

See all the Saturday events here.

Sunday May 15th

Suzi Shelton Free Family Concert at the Old Stone House (Park Slope)
Sunday May 15th 11a-12n. Free. The Saghir Lewis Team presents Suzi Shelton with special guest Nate Shaw live on the Little Lawn at Old Stone House. All are welcome at this free outdoor show!

Block Party on St. Felix Street (Fort Greene)
Sunday May 15th 1-4p. Free (suggested donation: $5). Register here. Spring has sprung and it’s time to celebrate! Join Brooklyn Independent Middle School for our 1st annual Spring Festival fundraiser. We’ll be shutting down St. Felix Street between Hanson Place & Lafayette Avenue. Performances from BKI’s cast of “Annie”, BKI Choir, Brooklyn Music School, and BKI Rock Band! Bounce house! Flamenco lesson! Face painting! 45-foot long obstacle course! Food and drinks! $1 Book Fair! FDNY Demo! Free throw and hula hoop contests!….AND SO MUCH MORE!

Photo Scavenger Hunt in Sunset Park
Sunday May 15th 1-2p. Free. Location: Sunset Park Playground. This guided hike through Sunset Park will challenge your photography skills as you work to complete a photo scavenger hunt. Bring your own digital camera or smartphone.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Storytime at the Central Brooklyn Public Library Plaza
Sunday May 15th 330-430p. Free. Ages 3-8 years. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month! Join us for an afternoon of reading stories from different Asian American cultures, including Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan. We will also sing songs and make Tibetan prayer flags with our own wishes and prayers! In case of heavy rain, we will move indoors to the Central Library Info Commons Lab, located off the Main Lobby & space will be limited. Masks are required for all participants 2 years and up for indoor programs.

Movies Under The The Stars: Spider-Man No Way Home in Bill Brown Playground (Sheepshead Bay)
Sunday May 15th 815-1015p. Free. Location: Lawn Area. Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park or playground! This summer, NYC Parks and The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment will host family-friendly movie showings across the five boroughs. With Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear. Glass bottles and alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. In the event of heavy rain or extreme weather, the screening may be canceled.

See all the Sunday events here.

All Weekend

Pinocchio at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Saturdays & Sundays 1230p & 230p until August 7th. Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each. Suggested for 3 and up. Pinocchio Collodi’s Adventures of a Marionette. Adapted for Marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. Call for Reservations (recommended): 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: [email protected].

Family Discovery Days at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Saturdays-Sundays 1030a-1230p until May 22nd. Free with Garden admission. This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Experiment, learn, and play! Hands-on activity stations throughout the Discovery Garden encourage families to explore science and nature together. Pot up a plant or create a nature craft to take home alongside volunteer Discovery Docents and GAP Teen Apprentices. All programs are outdoors and canceled in inclement weather. Also check out Discovery Days: Spring Break Week Tuesday-Friday April 19th-22nd 1030a-1230p.

Baby Farm Animals & Children’s Fun at Aviator Sports and Events Center
Saturdays-Sundays 11a-4p until May 29th. Admission: $14 per person age two and above. Register here. The Baby Animals Are Here! Come discover Green Meadows Farm new little additions to the GMF family. So many NEWBORN BABY ANIMALS plus all of their amazing other farm animals — PONIES, ALPACAS, LLAMAS, CALVES, PIGS, SHEEP, GOATS, BUNNIES, and more. Paid admission include: happy hayrides, Visit Alpacas, Llamas, Sheep, Goats, Pigs, Rabbits, Chickens, and Ponies, Sit on Ten Different Tractors, Fun Roller Slides, Operate our Bulldozer, Milk “Katie” the Cow, huge Farm Playground and Open Areas for Picnics. Extra fee: Animal Feed.

Roller Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park
Monday to Friday: 12n-6p, Saturday: 12n-730p & Sunday:12n-6p. Admission: $6 weekdays, $10 weekends (Weekend pricing begins Friday at 4pm). Skate rentals: $7. The carousel is also open Thursdays–Sundays and Holidays 12–5p.

Wake Up, Daisy! at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park)
Fridays-Sundays 11-1145 (doors 1030a) & 1-145p (doors 1230p) until 12/31/22. Tickets: $12 adult, $8 child. Purchase tickets here. Location: 79th Street and West Drive Central Park. Wake Up, Daisy! tells the story of Daisy, a lively little girl living in the heart of New York City in an apartment overlooking Central Park. At Daisy’s much-anticipated birthday party, she encounters three special guests, known as her “Squad-parents”, from Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx who grant her the gifts of courage, knowledge, and a second chance. When an unwelcome guest shows up and casts a curse on her, Daisy’s life is forever changed. But through the support of her friends and an adventure throughout the city, Daisy’s strong self-determination and vivid imagination may be all she needs to break the curse.

Seaport Discovery: Exploring Our Waters with Eric Carle at South Street Seaport Museum
Fridays-Sundays 11a-5p in May. Admission is $5 per child aged 1-12, with no charge for accompanying caregivers, teens, and infants. Advanced timed tickets are recommended. Book today! Visit our new discovery room of maritime-themed art by Eric Carle, beloved creator of picture books for young children. Seaport Discovery: Exploring Our Waters with Eric Carle is designed specifically for children aged 2-7 and their adults. In June, it will open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Please note that people over age 5 will be required to show proof they are fully vaccinated to enter indoor exhibition spaces and to board Ambrose.

The Yard: Adventure Playground on Governor’s Island
Saturdays-Sundays 12n-4p. Free admission but fees for ferries. See website for details. Wel­come back to The Yard, New York City’s only adven­ture play­ground! The Yard offers free week­end play from 12 – 4pm. The Yard is a kids-only space stew­ard­ed by trained play­work­ers. The main play area is rec­om­mend­ed for young peo­ple ages 6 to 12 and the fam­i­ly play area wel­comes chil­dren under 5. The Yard sup­plies young peo­ple with loose parts mate­ri­als for build­ing, explor­ing, imag­in­ing and destroy­ing. In addi­tion to free week­ends, The Yard also offers sum­mer camp, school field trips, birth­day par­ties and spe­cial pro­grams, all with adher­ence to CDC guidelines. See the website for all the details.

Farm Exploration Days in Randall’s Island Park
Saturdays-Sundays 10a-4p until October 8th. Free. Location: Urban Farm. Explore the Urban Farm’s variety of crops, rice paddies, and fragrant herbs, and meet the chickens too! All ages welcome!

1885 Tall Ship Wavertree Free Tour at South Street Seaport
Fridays, Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p until May 22nd and Wednesday-Sunday starting May 25th. Free. The permanently-moored 1885 tall ship Wavertree is open to the public for FREE on Saturdays and Sundays, with timed entry, at Pier 16 (Fulton and South Streets). Guided tours depart hourly and last approximately 30 minutes. Advance reservations are recommended. Guided tours include access to the main deck and quarter deck. Learn how people worked and lived aboard a 19th century cargo sailing vessel, from the captain to the ship’s officers, cooks, and crew. Then visit the cargo hold and stand atop the viewing platform where you can take in the massive main cargo area. Proof of vaccine required for all guests over age 5. Masks required.

Sharks at the American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
Museum hours Wednesday-Sunday 10a-530p. Included in General Admission+One. See website for all the details.The new exhibition Sharks features dozens of life-sized models ranging from 33 feet to 5.5 inches long, fossils from the Museum’s collections, touch-free interactive exhibits that challenge visitors to hunt like a hammerhead, and more for visitors of all ages. Older than dinosaurs—and more threatened than threatening—sharks are spectacular, surprising, and often misunderstood. Discover the incredible diversity of this ancient and fascinating group of fishes. Note: The Museum continues to require vaccinations against COVID-19 and facial coverings.

See the calendar for all the events