The New York Almanac

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

• Colombian Inspired Gold Foil Art

  Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
  Subway: 1 to 79 St or B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History

  In PlayWorks, kids tear and mold gold foil into small sculptures, inspired by Colombian gold craftsmanship. Runs through the weekend in 45 minute sessions. Organizer

• Street Art on the Move: Truck Design

  Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
  Subway: 1 to 79 St or B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History

  A Makerspace craft inspired by painted South American trucks: kids make a mini vehicle with animal scenes and landscapes. Two sessions a day Tuesday to Friday, afternoons over the weekend. The museum is built for ages 0 to 6. Organizer

• Storytime at The Met: Drip! Drop! Splash!

  10:15am, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
  Subway: 4/5/6 to 86 St, then about a 10 minute walk west to Fifth Avenue

  A toddler storytime in the galleries with a second session at 11am. Free with museum admission, no registration listed. Organizer

• Stomp, Clap and Sing with Esther Crow

  10:30am, Central Library, Dweck Center, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza

  Singer Esther Crow performs original acoustic songs for babies and young children, some as duets with her handmade felt puppets. Free, at the Brooklyn Public Library's main branch. Organizer

• Banned Books Week Family Storytime

  11am, Spuyten Duyvil Library, Spuyten Duyvil, The Bronx · Free

  A family storytime built around books that have been banned or challenged. Tickets are first come, first served for up to 20 families, handed out from 10:30am. Organizer

• After School Art Explorers: Free Drop-In

  2:30pm, The Jewish Museum, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 6 to 96 St

  A free drop-in art program for kids after school. Organizer

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

• Bird and Nature Walk: Clove Lakes Park

  10am, Clove Lakes Park, Sunnyside, Staten Island · Free
  Subway: S61/S62/S66 bus to Victory Blvd/Royal Oak Rd

  A free two-hour guided walk with Staten Island Museum naturalists Ed Johnson, Ray Matarazzo and Colleen Evans. Meet at the top of the park at Victory Boulevard and Royal Oak Road to look for migrating warblers, vireos and sparrows. Donations welcome; bring binoculars if you have them. Organizer

• Family Story Time

  10:30am, Museum of Modern Art, Midtown, Manhattan
  Subway: E/M to 5 Av/53 St

  A 30 minute story time for kids in the Education Center. MoMA lists kids 16 and under as free admission. Organizer

Thursday, October 8, 2026

• New York Comic Con

  Javits Center, Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan · Adult day tickets from $103.98, kids $38.65 with an adult ticket (Thursday)
  Subway: 7 to 34 St-Hudson Yards

  Four days of comics, cosplay, panels and screenings at the Javits Center. Family HQ has kid-friendly programming, games and a quiet space for younger fans and their grown-ups all weekend. Organizer

• Storytime at The Met: Drip! Drop! Splash!

  10:15am, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
  Subway: 4/5/6 to 86 St, then about a 10 minute walk west to Fifth Avenue

  A toddler storytime in the galleries with a second session at 11am. Free with museum admission, no registration listed. Organizer

• Animal Encounters

  2:30pm, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, Brooklyn
  Subway: C to Kingston-Throop Aves or 3 to Kingston Av

  A guided program with live animals led by museum staff. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Organizer

• Fall Scavenger Hunt

  3pm, Hunters Point South Park, Long Island City, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av

  Meet at the Queens Landing boathouse for an hour-long scavenger hunt along the waterfront, with hunt lists matched to different ages. Organizer

• Starlight Cinema: Ratatouille

  5:30pm, Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground, Van Cortlandt Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St

  Free outdoor screening of Ratatouille on the Parade Ground, the last in the Four-Legged Friends series. It gets cold after dark, so bring blankets and layers. Organizer

• From the South Bronx Reservation Opening Reception

  6pm, Museum of Bronx History, Norwood, The Bronx
  Subway: D to 205 St; 4 to Mosholu Pkwy

  Opening of an exhibit on late twentieth-century Native American revival movements told through the life and collection of Bronx Taino educator Bobby Gonzalez. Organizer

Friday, October 9, 2026

• Movie Night: Back to the Future

  5pm, Public Square and Gardens, Hudson Yards, Hudson Yards, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 7 to 34 St-Hudson Yards; A/C/E to 34 St-Penn Station

  Free outdoor screening on the big screen in the Public Square and Gardens at Hudson Yards; the space opens at 4pm and you can grab a seat or bring a blanket. Free popcorn while supplies last. Organizer

• Fall Exhibitions Opening Celebration

  6pm, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Concourse, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: B/D to 167 St; 4 to 161 St-Yankee Stadium

  The museum reopens after a month of installation with a free evening reception for its fall exhibitions. Admission is always free. Organizer

• Family Camping: Overnight at the Unisphere

  6pm, Unisphere, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Mets-Willets Point

  The Urban Park Rangers host an overnight family camping trip in the shadow of the Unisphere, from 6pm to 7am. Check the Parks page for sign-up and gear. Organizer

• An Evening with Edgar: The Poetry and Prose of Poe

  7:30pm, Poe Park Visitor Center and Poe Cottage, Fordham, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: B/D/4 to Kingsbridge Rd

  Dramatic readings of Poe's poems and stories inside the cottage where some of them were written. Free; best for older kids and grown-ups. Organizer

Saturday, October 10, 2026

• Immersive Butterfly Vivarium

  Queens County Farm Museum, Glen Oaks, Queens · $7 to $9
  Subway: E/F to Kew Gardens-Union Tpke, then Q46 bus to Little Neck Pkwy

  Walk through a tented vivarium to see butterflies and moths up close during the holiday weekend. Timed tickets are sold online. Organizer

• Indigenous Peoples' Weekend

  Wave Hill, Riverdale, The Bronx
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St, then free Wave Hill shuttle; Metro-North to Riverdale

  Three days honoring Indigenous communities with nature programs, hands-on activities, a Three Sisters cooking demo and a walking tour with Oleana Whispering Dove on Monday at 1pm. Included with grounds admission. Organizer

• Rink at Rockefeller Center Opens for the Season

  The Rink at Rockefeller Center, Midtown, Manhattan · General skate from $22
  Subway: B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr

  The rink opens for its 2026 to 2027 season on October 10, with general skating from $22 for a 60 minute session. Hours had not been posted when we checked. Organizer

• Family Art Project: Corn Husk Dolls

  10am, Wave Hill, Riverdale, The Bronx
  Subway: 1 to 231 St, then Bx7 or Bx10 bus

  A drop-in family craft at Wave Hill for Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend. It repeats on Sunday, October 11. Organizer

• Neo Afro Diasporic Festival

  10am, Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture, Mott Haven, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 2/4/5 to 149 St-Grand Concourse

  Saturday of free workshops in Puerto Rican bomba, Venezuelan Tambor de San Millan and ancestral ceremony, plus the BomPlenazo music gathering. Free with RSVP; a Friday evening concert opens the festival on October 9 at 7pm. Organizer

• Super Seedlings: Family Gardening Fun

  10am, VCPA Learning Garden, Van Cortlandt Park, Riverdale, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St, then walk north; Bx9 to Broadway and Mosholu Av

  Little gardeners dig, water, harvest vegetables and make a seasonal craft in the Alliance's learning garden next to Riverdale Stables. Drop in or RSVP on Eventbrite; come by transit on October 10 because of a cross-country race. Organizer

• Family Gallery Talks: People and Characters

  10:15am, The Museum of Modern Art, Midtown, Manhattan · Included with museum admission; free for ages 16 and under
  Subway: E/M to 5th Av-53rd St

  Educators lead families through three artworks with drawing, movement and conversation. Space is limited, so register online ahead of time. Organizer

• Whitney Museum Pop-Up Open Studio

  10:30am, Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
  Subway: 1 to 79 St or B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History

  Hands-on artmaking and a bilingual library in the museum's Inside Art space, run with the Whitney Museum. Organizer

• Community Paddle at the Bronx Zoo

  11am, Mitsubishi River Walk, Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 2/5 to West Farms Sq-E Tremont Av

  Free canoeing on the Bronx River along the zoo's riverwalk with the Bronx River Alliance. Check the Alliance calendar for sign-up and age rules. Organizer

• Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration with NAIC-NY

  11am, Mitsubishi River Walk, Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 2/5 to West Farms Sq-E Tremont Av

  NYC Parks lists this Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration with NAIC-NY at the Mitsubishi River Walk in Bronx Park, and flags it as a Must See event. Check the Parks page for the day's program. Organizer

• The Past and The Curious Live

  11am, Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 66 St-Lincoln Center

  Fun forgotten firsts from history with Mick Sullivan, in the David Rubenstein Atrium. Free, all ages. Organizer

• Governors Island Tree Tour

  11:45am, Soissons Landing, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A free guided outdoor tour from the Governors Island nature team about the island's nearly 3,500 trees. It meets at Soissons Landing on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Register through the event page. Organizer

• Boo Bash in the Bronx

  noon, St. James Park, Fordham, The Bronx · Free

  A free Halloween afternoon in St. James Park. NYC Parks lists it as open to the public with no ticket. Organizer

• Bronx Night Market

  noon, Lou Gehrig Plaza, 161st Street and Grand Concourse, Concourse, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: B/D/4 to 161 St-Yankee Stadium

  Final market of the season with more than 40 vendors and cuisines from Bronx small businesses, plus live music and performances through the afternoon. Free, but RSVP for a ticket; runs rain or shine. Organizer

• Cottage Row Curiosities Market

  noon, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, Livingston, Staten Island · Free
  Subway: Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then S40 bus to Snug Harbor Rd

  A free community market along Cottage Row with more than 40 Staten Island vendors, food and drink, pop-up live music and free activities. The rain date is Sunday, October 11. Organizer

• Drop-in Drawing at The Met Cloisters

  1pm, The Met Cloisters, Washington Heights, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
  Subway: A to 190 St, then the M4 bus or a walk through Fort Tryon Park

  A drop-in drawing session for all ages among the medieval galleries uptown. Free with museum admission. Organizer

• The Adventures of Prince Achmed: 100th Anniversary Screening

  1pm, Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, Queens · $17.50 adults, $12 seniors and students, $10 youth, members free
  Subway: M/R to Steinway St or N/W to 36 Av

  Lotte Reiniger's 1926 silhouette animation, the oldest surviving animated feature, screens on 35mm with live piano accompaniment. Organizer

• Woody Guthrie's Songs To Grow On

  1pm, Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library (Dweck Center), Prospect Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza

  New York City Children's Theater brings an interactive folk musical about a girl on a cross-country road trip, with Woody Guthrie songs and plenty of wiggling along. Seating is first come, first served, so arrive a little early. Organizer

• Navratri aboard Wavertree

  2pm, South Street Seaport Museum, Financial District, Manhattan
  Subway: 2/3/4/5/A/C/J/Z to Fulton St

  A Raas-Garba dance celebration for Navratri on the deck of the 1885 tall ship Wavertree. Check the ticket page for prices. Organizer

• Ghana Jazz Collective with Shenel Johns

  3pm, Louis Armstrong Center, Corona, Queens
  Subway: 7 to 103 St-Corona Plaza

  An afternoon of Ghanaian jazz in Jerry's Place at the Louis Armstrong Center, across the street from Armstrong's house in Corona. Organizer

• Crazy Science: Cosmic Science

  4pm, Staten Island Children's Museum, Livingston, Staten Island · Included with admission: $10, free under 1
  Subway: Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then S40 bus to Snug Harbor Rd

  Space-themed science demonstrations with big visuals and hands-on experiments from the Crazy Science team. The 45-minute show is included with museum admission. Organizer

• Movie Under the Stars: Ghostbusters (PG)

  6:45pm, Frank Principe Park, Maspeth, Queens · Free

  A free outdoor screening of Ghostbusters on a park lawn. Bring a blanket and a jacket for the October evening. Organizer

Sunday, October 11, 2026

• Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day

  Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, Brooklyn
  Subway: C to Kingston-Throop Aves or 3 to Kingston Av

  Native artists share traditions through performances and activities across the museum all day. Organizer

• Free Second Sunday

  Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A/C/E to 14 St or L to 8 Av

  Admission to the whole museum is free on the second Sunday of the month, and ages 25 and under are always free. Family programming on these days is not listed on the pages we checked. Organizer

• Birding with an Indigenous Perspective

  9:30am, Wave Hill, Riverdale, The Bronx
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St, then free Wave Hill shuttle; Metro-North to Riverdale

  Morning bird walk through the gardens and woodland led from an Indigenous point of view, part of Indigenous Peoples' Weekend. Organizer

• Transit Tots

  9:30am, New York Transit Museum, Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn · $40 per family (1 child, up to 2 adults)
  Subway: 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall; A/C/G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn

  An early hour of story time, crafts and imaginative play for toddlers before the museum opens. $40 covers one child and up to two adults, and includes museum admission for the day. Organizer

• Dia de Muertos Celebration at The Met Cloisters

  10am, The Met Cloisters, Washington Heights, Manhattan
  Subway: A to 190th St

  A day of bilingual art-making, music and activities for Day of the Dead among the medieval galleries and gardens of The Met Cloisters. Check the Met site for admission details. Organizer

• Family Art Project: Corn Husk Dolls

  10am, Wave Hill, Riverdale, The Bronx
  Subway: 1 to 231 St, then the Bx7 bus to 252 St

  A hands-on family art project at Wave Hill, 10am to 1pm. Organizer

• Bilingual Author Event with Luz Maria Mack

  10:30am, Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
  Subway: 1 to 79 St or B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History

  A bilingual author program for young children, with two sessions (10:30am and 11:30am). Organizer

• Pug Day

  10:30am, Alice Austen House Museum, Rosebank, Staten Island
  Subway: SIR to Clifton, then S51 bus to Hylan Blvd/Edgewater St

  The Pug Dog Club of Greater New York's annual Pug Fun Day on the lawn of the waterfront photographer's cottage, with views across the Narrows. Rescheduled from an earlier date because of weather; check the museum page for admission details. Organizer

• Bug Buddies: Household Bugs

  11am, Queens County Farm Museum, Glen Oaks, Queens · $12
  Subway: E/F to Kew Gardens-Union Tpke, then Q46 bus to Little Neck Pkwy

  A hands-on insect program for young naturalists with the motto Don't Squish It, Study It. This session looks at the bugs that share our homes. Organizer

• Dig & Create: Free Family Drop-In

  11:30am, The Jewish Museum, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 6 to 96 St

  A free drop-in family art-making program at the museum. Organizer

• Halloween Paper Crafts and Letterpress

  noon, South Street Seaport Museum, Financial District, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 2/3/4/5/A/C/J/Z to Fulton St

  A free drop-in Halloween craft and letterpress printing workshop with the Seaport Museum's print shop. Organizer

• Second Sundays at Pioneer Works

  noon, Pioneer Works, Red Hook, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: F/G to Smith-9th Sts, then B61 bus

  The Red Hook art and science center's free monthly open house: open studios, exhibitions, workshops, live music and food across three floors and the garden. All ages; RSVP required. October includes a cephalopod camouflage workshop and solar gazing with amateur astronomers. Organizer

• Family Afternoon: Drip! Drop! Splash!

  1pm, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
  Subway: 4/5/6 to 86 St, then about a 10 minute walk west to Fifth Avenue

  A Sunday afternoon of water-themed art activities for families at the Met's Fifth Avenue building. Free with museum admission. Organizer

• Plim Plim en Vivo

  1pm, Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Bedford Park, The Bronx · Children 10 and under $10 via box office; adult prices on Ticketmaster
  Subway: 4 to Bedford Park Blvd-Lehman College; B/D to Bedford Park Blvd

  Live stage show with the preschool favorite Plim Plim, with songs, dancing and lessons about kindness and healthy habits. Performed in Spanish. Organizer

• Battle of Westchester Creek Commemoration

  1:30pm, Westchester Creek Headstone, 2900 East Tremont Avenue, Westchester Square, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 6 to Westchester Sq-E Tremont Av

  Ceremony marking 250 years since the Patriots of Westchester Village stalled the British advance after the landing at Throggs Neck, with a nod to local heroine Charity Ferris. Organizer

• Movers and Makers: Family Tour and Workshop

  2pm, New York Transit Museum, Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn · $20 adults, $10 children
  Subway: 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall; A/C/G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn

  A guided family tour of the museum's vintage subway cars followed by a hands-on workshop in the Education Center. Runs the second Sunday of the month. Organizer

• Plim Plim en Vivo

  3pm, Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Bedford Park, The Bronx · Children 10 and under $10 via box office; adult prices on Ticketmaster
  Subway: 4 to Bedford Park Blvd-Lehman College; B/D to Bedford Park Blvd

  Live stage show with the preschool favorite Plim Plim, with songs, dancing and lessons about kindness and healthy habits. Performed in Spanish. Organizer

• Crazy Science: Cosmic Science

  4pm, Staten Island Children's Museum, Livingston, Staten Island · Included with admission: $10, free under 1
  Subway: Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then S40 bus to Snug Harbor Rd

  Space-themed science demonstrations with big visuals and hands-on experiments from the Crazy Science team. The 45-minute show is included with museum admission. Organizer

• Family Camping: Staten Island

  6pm, Blue Heron Nature Center, Prince's Bay, Staten Island · Free

  An overnight camping trip for families with the Urban Park Rangers at Blue Heron Park, from 6pm to 7am. Check the Parks page for sign-up and what to bring. Organizer

Monday, October 12, 2026

• Columbus Day Parade

  Fifth Avenue, 44th to 72nd Street, Midtown, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr; 4/5/6 to 59 St

  Marching bands, floats and Italian American community groups head up Fifth Avenue on Columbus Day, Monday, October 12, from late morning into the afternoon. Arrive early for a curbside spot with small children. Organizer

• Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day

  10am, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, Brooklyn
  Subway: 3 to Kingston Ave; C to Kingston-Throop Aves

  Day two of the museum's celebration with Native artists sharing living traditions, including Haudenosaunee social dances. Included with museum admission. Organizer

• Indigenous Peoples' Day School Holiday in Prospect Park

  10am, Prospect Park Audubon Center, Prospect Park, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: B/Q/S to Prospect Park

  A school-holiday day out: leaf litter exploring and an animal encounter at the Audubon Center (10am to 3pm), ReImagine Lefferts exhibits and workshops at Lefferts Historic House (12pm to 5pm), and carousel rides at $3. Organizer

• Indigenous Peoples' Day: Native Plant and Bird Tour

  10am, Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Flushing-Main St

  A guided walk through the garden led by Haley Scott (Unkechaug) and Tecumseh Ceaser, looking at native plants and the birds that depend on them. Organizer

• Rockaway Fall Festival

  noon, Beach 17 at O'Donohue Park, Far Rockaway, Queens · Free

  A free fall day near the boardwalk with a pumpkin maze, a pumpkin patch, rides, crafts, games and music. It falls on the Monday holiday, so expect families. Organizer

• Indigenous Peoples' Day: Wampum Belt Making Workshop

  12:30pm, Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Flushing-Main St

  Help co-create a wampum belt with Matinecock wampum artist Tecumseh Ceaser in a drop-in afternoon workshop. Organizer

• Italian Heritage Month Celebration

  12:30pm, Arthur Avenue at East 186th Street, Belmont, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: B/D/4 to Fordham Rd, then Bx12 to Arthur Av

  Columbus Day celebration in the Bronx's Little Italy with a live set from Pane E Cioccolato and the neighborhood's bakeries, delis and restaurants open around it. Free street event. Organizer

• Schools Out Day Camp, Extended Hours

  4pm, Staten Island Children's Museum, St. George, Staten Island · $15 per camper
  Subway: Staten Island Ferry to St. George Terminal, then the S40 bus to Snug Harbor

  An after-school block of camp activities on a day the museum is open for Indigenous Peoples' and Italian Heritage Day. Costs $15 per camper. Organizer

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

• Storytime at The Met: Drip! Drop! Splash!

  10:15am, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
  Subway: 4/5/6 to 86 St, then about a 10 minute walk west to Fifth Avenue

  A toddler storytime in the galleries with a second session at 11am. Free with museum admission, no registration listed. Organizer

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

• Paper Bag Haunted House

  3:30pm, Woodhaven Library, Woodhaven, Queens · Free

  Kids make a paper bag haunted house at the Woodhaven Library, a craft for ages 6 to 12. Organizer

• Roberto Lugo Art Tour

  5pm, Madison Square Park, Flatiron, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: N/R/W/6 to 23 St

  A free 20-minute guided tour of Roberto Lugo's public art installation in Madison Square Park led by the Conservancy. Register on Eventbrite. Organizer

Thursday, October 15, 2026

• Storytime at The Met: Drip! Drop! Splash!

  10:15am, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
  Subway: 4/5/6 to 86 St, then about a 10 minute walk west to Fifth Avenue

  A toddler storytime in the galleries with a second session at 11am. Free with museum admission, no registration listed. Organizer

• Antiracist Family Day

  2pm, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 3 to Kingston Ave; C to Kingston-Throop Aves

  Age-appropriate activities and bilingual music that celebrate different identities and encourage young activists. It falls within the museum's free Community Access Thursday hours (2pm to 5pm). Organizer

Friday, October 16, 2026

• Science Open House

  10am, New York Botanical Garden, Bedford Park, The Bronx
  Subway: B/D/4 to Bedford Park Blvd; Metro-North to Botanical Garden

  For Open House New York weekend the Garden opens its herbarium, Pfizer lab and library for drop-in hours and short staff-led tours, limited to 15 people each and signed up first come, first served at the entrance. Included with admission. Organizer

• TGIF! Afterschool Story and Craft Hour

  2pm, The Green-House at Green-Wood, Sunset Park, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: R to 25th St

  Brooklyn Public Library's Bookmobile parks outside the Green-House from 2pm to 3pm, then a librarian leads stories and crafts inside from 3pm to 4pm. Free; children must be with an adult. Organizer

• Hallowscream Fright Walk

  4pm, J. Hood Wright Park, Washington Heights, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A to 175 St

  A costume-friendly spooky walk at the basketball courts in J. Hood Wright Park, on a Friday after school. Wear a costume if you like. Organizer

• Movie Night: Wicked

  5pm, Public Square and Gardens, Hudson Yards, Hudson Yards, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 7 to 34 St-Hudson Yards; A/C/E to 34 St-Penn Station

  Free outdoor screening on the big screen in the Public Square and Gardens at Hudson Yards; the space opens at 4pm and you can grab a seat or bring a blanket. Free popcorn while supplies last. Organizer

• Family Camping: Bronx

  6pm, Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Van Cortlandt Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St

  The Urban Park Rangers lead an overnight family camping trip at Van Cortlandt Nature Center, 6pm to 7am. Check the Parks page for sign-up and what to bring. Organizer

• Family Fridays: Hidden in the Star

  6:30pm, National Museum of Mathematics, Flatiron, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: F/M to 23rd St; 1 to 18th St

  A free evening of hands-on math with mathematician Emil Simeonov, finding hidden shapes in five-pointed stars and building puzzles. Register online in advance. Organizer

Saturday, October 17, 2026

• Open House New York Weekend

  Open House New York (citywide), Hudson Square, Manhattan · Varies by site

  Hundreds of buildings, sites and workspaces across all five boroughs open to the public for one weekend, many with tours and activities. Some need registration. Organizer

• Spooktacular

  Staten Island Zoo, West Brighton, Staten Island
  Subway: Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then S48 bus to Forest Ave/Broadway

  The zoo's Halloween walk-through with live music, games, costumed characters, scare zones and a pumpkin patch along a one-way route around the eight-acre grounds; costumes encouraged. Timed entry every 30 minutes and tickets must be bought in advance; children 2 and under are free but still need a ticket. Organizer

• Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade

  Tompkins Square Park, East Village, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: L to 1 Av; 6 to Astor Pl

  The 36th annual costumed dog parade returns to Tompkins Square Park on Saturday, October 17, with a mid-morning start and a costume contest; exact timing and route are announced closer to the day. Watching is free and no dog is required. Organizer

• Dia de Muertos Family Celebration

  10am, El Museo del Barrio, East Harlem, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 6 to 103 St

  Art-making, live music and community altars honoring loved ones who have died. Free. Organizer

• Family Art Project: Revealing the Palisades

  10am, Wave Hill, Riverdale, The Bronx
  Subway: 1 to 231 St, then Bx7 or Bx10 bus

  A hands-on family art project about the geology of the cliffs across the Hudson from Wave Hill. The view from the garden is part of the lesson. Organizer

• Halloween Family Day

  10am, MoMA PS1, Long Island City, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Court Sq, or E/M/G to Court Sq

  Free, all-ages Halloween activities led by artists, including pumpkin carving, costume making and spooky short films, with gallery access. Organizer

• Open House New York: Grand Army Plaza

  10am, Grand Army Plaza Arch, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza

  A special access tour of the Prospect Park entrance arch from the Urban Park Rangers and Prospect Park Alliance, as part of Open House New York. Organizer

• Orchard Beach and Hunter Island Walking Tour

  10am, Orchard Beach Parking Lot, Pelham Bay Park, The Bronx · $25, $20 members
  Subway: 6 to Pelham Bay Park, then Bx29 bus

  Architectural history walk along the Riviera of the Bronx covering Robert Moses, the WPA and the islands joined to make the beach. Tickets through the Bronx County Historical Society. Organizer

• Paddle and Pick Up at Concrete Plant Park

  10am, Concrete Plant Park, Soundview, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 6 to Whitlock Av

  Guided canoe trip on the Bronx River combined with a litter cleanup, led by the Bronx River Alliance. Free; check the calendar for sign-up details. Organizer

• Riverfront Ramble

  10am, Fort Washington Park, Washington Heights, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A to 181 St

  A cross-river walking adventure and scavenger hunt run jointly by Riverside Park Conservancy, Fort Tryon Park Trust and Palisades Interstate Park, taking in Fort Washington Park, the George Washington Bridge and Fort Tryon Park. Complete the hunt to become a Riverfront Rambler. Organizer

• Shaping LGBTQ+ History: A Family Tour and Workshop

  10am, The Green-House at Green-Wood, Sunset Park, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: R to 25th St

  Families ride the trolley to the graves of LGBTQ+ artists and composers, then make clay keychains and pendants inspired by them back in the classroom. Free, but space is limited and tickets must be reserved; children must come with an adult. Organizer

• Super Seedlings: Family Gardening Fun

  10am, VCPA Learning Garden, Van Cortlandt Park, Riverdale, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St, then walk north; Bx9 to Broadway and Mosholu Av

  Little gardeners dig, water, harvest vegetables and make a seasonal craft in the Alliance's learning garden next to Riverdale Stables. Drop in or RSVP on Eventbrite; come by transit on October 10 because of a cross-country race. Organizer

• Washington Square Park Halloween Dog Parade

  10am, Garibaldi Plaza, Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A/C/E/B/D/F/M to W 4 St-Wash Sq

  Costumed dogs and their owners circle Garibaldi Plaza in Washington Square Park on Saturday morning, organized by the Washington Square Park Conservancy. Free to watch from the plaza steps. Organizer

• Pumpkin Carving Workshop

  10:30am, MoMA PS1, Long Island City, Queens
  Subway: 7 to Court Sq, or E/M/G to Court Sq

  A detailed pumpkin carving workshop with artist Danielle De Jesus. Registration is required and pumpkins are included while supplies last. Organizer

• Skyscraper Skeletons!

  10:30am, The Skyscraper Museum, Battery Park City, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 4/5 to Bowling Green; 1 to South Ferry

  A free Saturday morning family workshop on how tall buildings stand up, with building activities. Ends by noon; registration required. Organizer

• Fall Family Story Time

  11am, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Crown Heights, Brooklyn
  Subway: 2/3 to Eastern Pkwy-Brooklyn Museum or B/Q to Prospect Park

  Drop-in storytelling in the garden for families. Organizer

• Farmhouse Family Day: Autumnal Wonders

  11am, Wyckoff House Museum, East Flatbush, Brooklyn · Free

  Fall crafts and activities at the Wyckoff House, one of the oldest buildings in the city. It repeats on Sunday, October 18. Organizer

• Food Demos on the Urban Farm

  11am, Urban Farm, Randall's Island Park, Randall's Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 4/5/6 to 125 St, then M35 bus

  Drop-in cooking demonstrations at the Urban Farm Kitchen using produce grown on the farm, with samples to taste and recipe cards to take home. The farm grows more than 200 varieties, so there is plenty for children to look at between bites. Organizer

• Old Home Day

  11am, Historic Richmond Town, Richmond Town, Staten Island · Free
  Subway: SIR to New Dorp, then S74 bus to Richmond Rd/St. Patrick's Pl

  A free festival of historic trades with tinsmithing, blacksmithing, carpentry and basket-making demonstrations in the village buildings, a Native Encampment, period music and musket drills. Fresh-baked bread, soup and apple cider are served while they last. Organizer

• Open House New York: Fort Totten

  11am, Fort Totten Park, Bayside, Queens · Free

  The Urban Park Rangers walk through the historic structures of Fort Totten for Open House New York weekend. Registration may be required through OHNY. Organizer

• Terrific Tales from Ancient Traditions

  11am, Bay Terrace Library, Bayside, Queens · Free

  An interactive storytelling program for kids ages 5 to 8 and their families at the Bay Terrace branch. Organizer

• Whitney Open Studio

  11am, Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, Manhattan · Free with museum admission; free for ages 18 and under
  Subway: A/C/E/L to 14th St-8th Av

  Drop-in family art-making on the Whitney's third floor from 11am to 3pm, with a different project each week inspired by works on view. Organizer

• Williamsbridge Fall Fiesta

  11am, Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Williamsbridge, The Bronx · Free

  A free fall celebration at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center on Saturday late morning. Organizer

• Faber Park Fright Fest

  noon, Faber Park Recreation Center, Port Richmond, Staten Island · Free

  A free daytime Halloween party outdoors at the Faber Park Recreation Center. A Hocus Pocus movie night follows there at 7:15pm. Organizer

• Hallowscream Fright Walk and Fall Festival

  noon, J. Hood Wright Park, Washington Heights, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A to 175 St

  A daytime Halloween walk and fall festival at the basketball courts in J. Hood Wright Park. Costumes are welcome. Organizer

• Open House New York Weekend at Lewis Latimer House

  noon, Lewis Latimer House Museum, Flushing, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Flushing-Main St

  The restored home of inventor Lewis Latimer opens its doors for Open House New York Weekend with free tours and family activities. Organizer

• Springfield Park Fall Festival

  noon, Springfield Park, Springfield Gardens, Queens · Free

  A free afternoon of fall family activities on the lawn at Springfield Park. Organizer

• Reimagining: Fall Get-Together

  1pm, Enslaved African Burial Ground, Van Cortlandt Park, Van Cortlandt Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St

  An afternoon of live music by Juan Usera and The Sambuco Tribe and a chalk art project, Message to my Ancestors, led by Bronx artists along the pathway at the memorial site. Free, RSVP on Eventbrite. Organizer

• Dia de Muertos with Calpulli Mexican Dance Company

  2pm, Queens Theatre, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens · $25 to $40 plus $2 service fee
  Subway: 7 to Mets-Willets Point

  Calpulli Mexican Dance Company tells the story of Lupita, who journeys through Mictlan and is granted one chance to return and say goodbye. Shows at 2pm and 8pm in the Claire Shulman Theater. Organizer

• Grow and Gather: Family Gardening

  2pm, Queens County Farm Museum, Glen Oaks, Queens · $5
  Subway: E/F to Kew Gardens-Union Tpke, then Q46 bus to Little Neck Pkwy

  A one-hour family gardening session on the farm where kids learn new skills, get their hands dirty and taste fresh produce. Organizer

• Word Art Workshop and Artist Talk with Roemello Agjmurati

  2pm, Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor, Livingston, Staten Island · $8 adults, $5 students and seniors, $2 children 2 to 12
  Subway: Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then S40 bus to Snug Harbor Rd

  Learn about the practice of triennial artist Roemello Agjmurati and make your own graphic design piece, with all materials provided. Free with museum admission; registration recommended. Organizer

• Family Halloween Carnival

  2:30pm, East Flushing Library, Flushing, Queens · Free

  Games and creative crafts for kids and families at the East Flushing branch of Queens Public Library. Organizer

• Flagpole Pinata Party

  3pm, Soissons Landing, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A free drop-in workshop where families make piñata pieces from 3 to 5pm, then a 5pm procession led by the First Panamanian Marching Band of Brooklyn. RSVP is required. Organizer

• Movie Under the Stars: Hocus Pocus (PG)

  7:15pm, Faber Park Recreation Center, Port Richmond, Staten Island · Free

  A free outdoor Hocus Pocus screening at Faber Park. Dress warmly and bring something to sit on. Organizer

Sunday, October 18, 2026

• Little Manila Parade and Block Party

  General Hart Playground, Woodside, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to 69 St

  A Filipino American Heritage Month parade and block party in Woodside with food, music and cultural programs. NYC Tourism lists the date; confirm times with the organizers. Organizer

• Open House New York Weekend

  Open House New York (citywide), Hudson Square, Manhattan · Varies by site

  Hundreds of buildings, sites and workspaces across all five boroughs open to the public for one weekend, many with tours and activities. Some need registration. Organizer

• Special Day for Children with Developmental Disabilities

  9:30am, New York Transit Museum, Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall; A/C/G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn

  A free, quieter early opening of the Transit Museum for children with developmental disabilities or autism and their families, before the public comes in. Organizer

• Battle of Pell's Point Reenactment

  10am, Orchard Beach Promenade, Pelham Bay Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 6 to Pelham Bay Park, then Bx29 bus

  250th anniversary reenactment of the 1776 battle with the tall ship Lynx, the whaleboat Albatross, Continental and British reenactors, fife and drum and narrated maneuvers along the promenade. Free. Organizer

• Flavors of the World Festival

  10am, Queens County Farm Museum, Glen Oaks, Queens · $25
  Subway: E/F to Kew Gardens-Union Tpke, then Q46 bus to Little Neck Pkwy

  A one-day food festival on the farm with dishes from around the globe and live performances celebrating the borough's many cultures. Tickets are sold online. Organizer

• Free Halloween Puppet Pop-up

  10am, Old Stone House, Park Slope, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: R to Union St

  White Bird runs a free all-ages puppetry pop-up at the Old Stone House in Washington Park. A good short stop on the way to Park Slope. Organizer

• Grave Beginnings: Walking Green-Wood

  10am, Green-Wood Cemetery, Sunset Park, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: R to 25th St

  A free 90-minute introductory walking tour of the cemetery's landscape and its notable residents, aimed at first-time visitors. Organizer

• Open House New York: Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument

  10am, Fort Greene Park Visitor Center, Fort Greene, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: C to Lafayette Av

  Rangers talk about the Brooklyn landmark that honors the prisoners who died on British prison ships, as part of Open House New York. Organizer

• Upcycled Fabric Pumpkins

  10:30am, Greenbelt Nature Center, Greenbelt, Staten Island

  A craft session making fall pumpkins from repurposed fabric at the Greenbelt Nature Center. Check the Parks page for any fee or sign-up. Organizer

• Access Family Program: Dressing for the Job, Intrepid Style

  11am, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
  Subway: A/C/E to 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, then the M42 bus west

  A children's session on why gear is built for safety and survival, part of the museum's Access Family Program series. Check the Intrepid page for eligibility and registration. Organizer

• Archtober Family Day

  11am, Flushing Town Hall, Flushing, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Flushing-Main St

  AIA Queens leads architecture-inspired crafts and pumpkin decorating for kids, with all materials provided. Free with an RSVP. Organizer

• Behind the Scenes: Collections Care Tour

  11am, Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor, Livingston, Staten Island · $8 adults, $5 students and seniors, $2 children 2 to 12
  Subway: Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then S40 bus to Snug Harbor Rd

  The collections manager shows highlights from the art and history collections and explains how they are preserved, followed by a guided tour of the exhibition Staten Island: Making History. Free with admission; space is limited so register ahead. Organizer

• CMS Kids: Building Blocks of Music

  11am, Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, Manhattan
  Subway: 1 to 66 St-Lincoln Center

  A relaxed, interactive concert for young children and their families from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Three shows through the day. Organizer

• Farmhouse Family Day: Autumnal Wonders

  11am, Wyckoff House Museum, East Flatbush, Brooklyn · Free

  Fall crafts and activities at the Wyckoff House, one of the oldest buildings in the city. This is the Sunday repeat of Saturday's day. Organizer

• The Brass Tree Live at the Garden

  11am, Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Flushing-Main St

  A free outdoor concert blending brass, percussion and jazz, supported by the Queens Arts Fund. Bring a blanket and settle in on the lawn. Organizer

• Open House New York Weekend at Lewis Latimer House

  noon, Lewis Latimer House Museum, Flushing, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Flushing-Main St

  The restored home of inventor Lewis Latimer opens its doors for Open House New York Weekend with free tours and family activities. Organizer

• CMS Kids: Building Blocks of Music

  1pm, Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, Manhattan
  Subway: 1 to 66 St-Lincoln Center

  A relaxed, interactive concert for young children and their families from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Three shows through the day. Organizer

• Fall Festival at Domino Park

  1pm, Domino Square, Domino Park, Williamsburg, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: J/M/Z to Marcy Ave; L to Bedford Ave

  A free harvest afternoon on Domino Square with a pumpkin patch, fall crafts, face painting, games, hot cider and live contra dancing with the band Petrichord. RSVP on Eventbrite is requested. Organizer

• Halloween Howl and Healthy Hound Fair

  1pm, Carl Schurz Park, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: Q to 86 St; 4/5/6 to 86 St

  An annual dog costume contest in Carl Schurz Park where more than 200 dressed-up pups parade before the judges, alongside a fair with pet health information. Kids love the costumes even if the family dog stays home. Organizer

• How Did They Do That? Tapestry Weaving

  1pm, The Met Cloisters, Washington Heights, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
  Subway: A to 190 St, then the M4 bus or a walk through Fort Tryon Park

  A family-friendly look at how medieval tapestries were made, at the Cloisters. Free with museum admission. Organizer

• October Family Day: Artmaking Workshops

  1pm, Queens Museum, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
  Subway: 7 to Mets-Willets Point

  Drop-in artmaking workshops across the museum plus a performance of Woody Guthrie's Songs to Grow On. Check the museum's page for admission details. Organizer

• Dia de Muertos with Calpulli Mexican Dance Company

  2pm, Queens Theatre, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens · $25 to $40 plus $2 service fee
  Subway: 7 to Mets-Willets Point

  Calpulli Mexican Dance Company tells the story of Lupita, who journeys through Mictlan and is granted one chance to return and say goodbye. Sunday matinee in the Claire Shulman Theater. Organizer

• CMS Kids: Building Blocks of Music

  3pm, Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, Manhattan
  Subway: 1 to 66 St-Lincoln Center

  A relaxed, interactive concert for young children and their families from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Three shows through the day. Organizer

• Classical Interludes: Ljova and WhEE

  4pm, Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library (Dweck Center), Prospect Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza

  A free Sunday afternoon chamber concert in the library's Dweck Center, part of the BPL Presents Classical Interludes series. Best for older children who can sit through an hour of music. Organizer

Monday, October 19, 2026

• Halloween Craft and Movie

  3:30pm, Coney Island Library, Coney Island, Brooklyn · Free

  Kids and teens watch Hocus Pocus and make paper Halloween lanterns at the Coney Island Library. Organizer

• Mummy Fashion Show

  4pm, South Jamaica Library, Jamaica, Queens · Free

  Families wrap each other up in a mummy dressing competition. Open to the whole family, according to the library. Organizer

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

• Storytime at The Met: Drip! Drop! Splash!

  10:15am, The Met Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
  Subway: 4/5/6 to 86th St

  A short picture-book storytime for toddlers and their grown-ups, followed by a look at water-themed art in the galleries. Sessions at 10:15am and 11am. Organizer

• Stomp, Clap and Sing with Mr. Patrick

  10:30am, Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library (Dweck Center), Prospect Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza

  Mr. Patrick and Mr. Mikey lead a live music party for the under-fives in the Dweck Center, with dancing, clapping and general silliness. A good weekday morning outing for toddlers and caregivers. Organizer