Harvest Glow is one of two big seasonal events opening at the Bronx Zoo this weekend. Photo by Terria Clay/courtesy of the Bronx Zoo
Harvest Glow, Ragamuffin Parade, and More Things To Do this Weekend in NYC with Kids
Kids can go apple picking near NYC at Alstede Farms, where low-to-the-ground trees are perfect for little pickers. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
Apple Picking near NYC: Best Apple Farms and Apple Festivals for Kids
GUIDE
NYC Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Farms, Festivals, and Kid-Friendly Getaways 2025
Try your hand at corn husking and more analog entertainment during the Corn Fest at the Queens County Farm Museum. Photo courtesy of the Queens County Farm Museum
Best 2025 Fall Festivals and Fairs in NYC this September and October
The Bronx Zoo celebrates Boo at the Zoo with family activities all October long. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher
Best Halloween Events in NYC 2025 for Kids and Families
All aboard for a day of fun when vintage transit vehicles take over Brooklyn Bridge Park for the New York Transit Museum's annual bus festival. Photo courtesy of the museum
22 Best Things To Do in NYC with Kids September 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors
Italian pride—and tasty eats—are on the menu at the annual Feast of San Gennaro, which takes over Little Italy in September. Photo by Jody Mercier
61 Free Activities in NYC September 2025 for Kids
The 2025-2026 public school year for NYC kids starts on Thursday, September 4.
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2025-2026
Get ready for back to school with all the right supplies, classes, and tips.
GUIDE
Back-to-School Guide 2025-2026
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
Ultimate New York City Bucket List: 100 Things To Do in NYC with Kids Before They Grow Up
Stranger Things: The First Shadow plays at the Marquis Theatre and gives the popular Neflix show a prequel. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
Best Broadway Shows for Kids and Families in 2025
Tom's Restaurant is situated on a fairly sleepy corner in Morningside Heights despite its high-profile turn in Seinfeld. Photo by Jody Mercier
Lights, Camera, New York! Where to Find Iconic NYC Movie Sites with Kids
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
Ultimate New York Bucket List: 100 Things To Do with Kids in NY State
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by Jody Mercier
47 Fun Indoor Activities in NYC for a Rainy Day
Vinland Playground got a fresh upgrade in Bay Ridge. Photo by NYC Parks/Daniel Avila
Jaw-Dropping New Playgrounds in NYC to Explore with Kids Now
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
100 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
Brooklyn's Flying Apple offers action-packed fun for kids of all ages.
24 Best Kids' Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in NYC
Discover the NYC-themed play space hidden inside the Toys
27 Free Things To Do Indoors in NYC: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in NYC
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids Guide
Visit the 180 Pool at the Crystal Springs Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort
14 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
Explore modern humanity through all-new world-wandering exhibitions at Mmuseumm.
Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Under-the-Radar Museums in NYC that Kids Love
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
For an only-in-NYC experience, head to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view. Photo by Jody Mercier
Best Attractions and Things To Do near NYC that are Kid-Friendly
Tea Around Town combines a sumptuous meal with a unique view NYC landmarks! Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Best NYC Tours for Families: From Boat Rides to Free Walking Tours and More
The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums in NYC
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
40 Best NYC Attractions to Do with Kids Right Now
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
GUIDE
NYC Kids Summer Guide: 728 Best Festivals, Deals, Activities & Free Things to Do
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Crafts for Kids Guide: Thousands of Craft Ideas

Best Things To Do in NYC with Kids August 2025

See Double Dutch routines from championship teams at Lincoln Center. Photo by Photo by Kevin Yatarola
See Double Dutch routines from championship teams at Lincoln Center. Photo by Photo by Kevin Yatarola
7/27/25 - By Drew Kristofik

Summer's not over, and there are so many fun things to do in New York City this August! Enjoy outdoor movies and concerts, summer festivals, and the best beach days.

Back-to-school season is right around the corner, but it's not here quite yet. August is the perfect time to coast down traffic-free Summer Streets, cheer athletes at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Fest, and discover your inner Michelangelo while making sand sculptures on Coney Island. Kids' Night on Broadway's summer edition offers free tickets for kids.

Plus, Shakespeare in the Park is back at the newly remodeled Delacorte with a dazzling production of Twelfth Night.

More Things To Do in NYC this August with Kids

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Summertime in NYC means it's time for the annual Sand Sculpting Competition at Coney Island.
Summertime in NYC means it's time for the annual Sand Sculpting Competition at Coney Island.

Top Things To Do in NYC with Kids this August

Harlem Week

Harlem – FREE
Friday, August 1-Sunday, August 17, 2025
The 51st annual Harlem Week returns with live and virtual experiences celebrating the people, arts, culture, entertainment, and history of Harlem, centered around the theme, “Black Constellation: Mapping Our Joy, Dreams, and Liberation." READ MORE

BAAND Together Dance Fest at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side – FREE
Tuesday, July 29-Saturday, August 2, 2025
See five of NYC’s most iconic dance companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—as the BAAND Together Dance Festival returns to the Koch Theatre.    READ MORE

LeFrak Center at Lakeside: Opening Weekend Celebration

Prospect Park, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, August 2-Sunday, August 3, 2025
Following renovations, and with new operators in place, Prospect Park's LeFrak Center reopens for rollerskating, boating, and—for the first time—pickleball! READ MORE

Summer Streets

Multiple Locations – FREE
Saturdays August 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
New York's favorite car-free street festival returns as Summer Streets opens miles of NYC streets for people to play, run, walk, and bike across multiple weeks and in all five boroughs. READ MORE

Radiolab for Kids: Terrestrials on Little Island

Greenwich Village – FREE
Wednesday, August 6-Thursday, August 7, 2025
Head to The Amph for a live performance of Terrestrials, an all-ages show exploring the strangeness that exists right here on Earth. Enjoy storytelling and inquiry with Lulu Miller. Audience participation encouraged! READ MORE

Double Dutch Fusion Freestyle & Open Jump at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side – FREE
Thursday, August 7, 2025
The National Double Dutch League (NDDL) presents an electrifying event that celebrates the history and cutting edge of Double Dutch! Cheer along and be amazed by dazzling Double Dutch Fusion Freestyle routines from championship teams.  READ MORE

Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night

Central Park – FREE
Opens Thursday, August 7, 2025
Revel in the midsummer madness as twins Sebastian and Viola survive shipwreck, revenge plots, and the trick doors of love. After a 1-year hiatus, The Public Theater's run returns to the newly renovated Delacorte Theater.   READ MORE

Family Concert: A String Quartet at Play at Geffen Hall

Upper West Side – FREE
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Brooklyn Rider and Mexican-born jazz singer Magos Herrera take audiences of all ages on a multi-sensory, participatory journey inside the world of a string quartet, with music that celebrates the Latin American songbook. READ MORE

Arte Pa Mi Gente: 2nd Latiné Children's Music Day at Teatro SEA

Lower East Side – FREE
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Teatro SEA hosts a spectacular afternoon of music, dance, culture, and community. The free outdoor celebration features an exciting lineup of top-tier performers dedicated to uplifting Latiné children’s music and culture, including Grammy Award-winning artist Lucy Kalantari.   READ MORE

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Flushing, Queens – FREE
Saturday, August 9-Sunday, August 10, 2025
This annual sporting and multicultural event is held to celebrate the fifth moon (or the fifth month) of the lunar calendar. In addition to providing audiences with traditional Chinese foods and performances, the festival hosts dragon boat teams from across North America. READ MORE

Clueless: Film and Discussion with Costume Designer Mona May at the Morgan

Midtown East
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Enjoy a special 30th anniversary screening of Clueless (PG-13, 1995), starring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, and Brittany Murphy. The film is a funny, clever adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma, and includes a discussion with the film’s costume designer, Mona May. READ MORE

Hamilton Sing-Along at Old Stone House

Park Slope, Brooklyn – FREE
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Bring a blanket and a picnic for a screening of Hamilton: An American Musical on the field behind the Old Stone House. Fans are welcome to sing along!  READ MORE

33rd Annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest

Coney Island, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Hundreds of sand sculptors descend on Coney Island annually to create amazing works of art using all-natural elements at the beach.  READ MORE

Hudson River Park's Blues Barbecue at Pier 76

Midtown West
Saturday, August 16, 2025
The 25th annual Hudson River Park Blues Barbecue Festival returns to Pier 76 for a day filled with smoky goodness and great music. Pit powerhouses like Bark BBQ, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Jase’s BBQ, Kimchi Smoke, and Tikkun BBQ fire up their smokers while you take in live blues and roots performances. READ MORE

One Crown Heights Neighborhood Festival

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Celebrate diversity and unity in the community through local eats, live music, dance, double dutch, and performances at the ninth annual One Crown Heights fest.   READ MORE

Kids' Night on Broadway 2025

Midtown West
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Kids’ Night on Broadway, a Broadway League event where kids 18 and under can attend participating Broadway shows for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult, returns this summer with 18 Broadway shows to choose from. READ MORE

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the US Open

Flushing, Queens – FREE
Saturday, August 23, 2025
The 27th edition of this great day of family fun traditionally offers interactive games, face painting, balloon artists, prizes, music, special guests, and more. Kids can step onto the US Open courts, just like the pros, with tennis activities for all ages and abilities.  READ MORE

Battle of Brooklyn Family Day at Green-Wood Cemetery

Greenwood, Brooklyn – FREE
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Commemorate the Battle of Brooklyn, fought in 1776 on land now a part of Green-Wood Cemetery, during this family-friendly afternoon event, which includes a parade up to Battle Hill. READ MORE

16th Annual NYC Unicycle Festival

Manhattan & Brooklyn – FREE
Thursday, August 28-Sunday, August 31, 2025
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus rolls out its annual NYC Unicycle Festival across New York City, bringing together recreational riders, world-class performers, mountain and off-road unicycle enthusiasts, and mono-wheel vehicle inventors.  READ MORE

Richmond County Fair

Richmond, Staten Island
Saturday, August 30-Monday, September 1, 2025
An old-fashioned county fair in New York City, the 42-year-old Staten Island tradition features family fun and entertainment for all ages, including circus performers, crafts and rides for the kids, live music, plenty of eats, and contests. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
Recent Articles By Drew Kristofik:
Read more articles by Drew Kristofik.