What's on in Manhattan for families

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Saturday, October 10, 2026

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Sunday, October 11, 2026

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

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

Friday, October 16, 2026

• 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

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Sunday, October 18, 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Saturday, October 24, 2026

• Pumpkin Point

  10am, Nolan Park, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A free pumpkin patch with trick-or-treating, ghost tours, pumpkin painting, fall foliage walks and performances. The ferry costs $5 round trip, free for children 12 and under. Organizer

• High Line Halloween: Gnome-topia

  11am, The High Line, 14th Street Passage, Chelsea, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A/C/E/L to 14 St-8 Av

  Themed games and activities for families at the High Line's 14th Street Passage, with a garden gnome theme. Costumes welcome. 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

• Halloween Boo Bash

  noon, White Garden, Randall's Island Park, Randall's Island, Manhattan · Free

  Come in costume for themed activities, crafts, music and treats at the White Garden on Randall's Island. Organizer

• Autumn Starfest

  7pm, Inwood Hill Nature Center, Inwood, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 215 St or A to Inwood-207 St

  The Urban Park Rangers and the Amateur Astronomers Association host the annual fall stargazing night in Inwood Hill Park. Dress warmly. Organizer

Sunday, October 25, 2026

• Pumpkin Point

  10am, Nolan Park, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  The second day of the free pumpkin patch with trick-or-treating, ghost tours, pumpkin painting and performances. Leftover pumpkins are composted on the island. Organizer

• Geology: Central Park Rocks!

  1pm, Harlem Meer, Central Park, Central Park, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 2/3 to Central Park North-110 St

  A Ranger-led look at the geology under Central Park and how the rock shaped the park's design. Organizer

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

• Ranger Tot Time

  11am, Inwood Hill Nature Center, Inwood, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 215 St or A to Inwood-207 St

  A morning of kid-friendly activities with the Urban Park Rangers at the Inwood Hill Nature Center, aimed at toddlers and preschoolers. Organizer

Friday, October 30, 2026

• Haunted Heights: Halloween at Morningside Park

  3pm, North Lawn, Morningside Park, Morningside Heights, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: B/C to 116 St

  NYC Parks, Friends of Morningside Park and Columbia University host a Halloween afternoon on the North Lawn. Organizer

• Family Halloween Themed Activities

  4pm, Hamilton Fish Recreation Center, Lower East Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: F to 2 Av

  Halloween activities with prizes, free candy and popcorn at the Hamilton Fish Recreation Center. It is indoors, so rain does not matter. Organizer

Saturday, October 31, 2026

• Halloween Celebration

  11am, American Museum of Natural History, Upper West Side, Manhattan
  Subway: B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History

  A costume-friendly day under the Blue Whale with live music, crafts, face painting and a trick-or-treat parade. Check amnh.org for the event ticket price, as the museum's pages list it differently; masks are asked to stay home. Organizer

• Hippo Playground Halloween Parade

  3:30pm, Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Riverside Park, Upper West Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 86 St

  The annual costume parade for kids in Riverside Park, with music from Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band. Organizer

• Inwood Hill Park After Dark Hike

  4pm, Inwood Hill Nature Center, Inwood, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 215 St or A to Inwood-207 St

  A Halloween walk through Inwood Hill Park at dusk with the Urban Park Rangers, for bats, bones and the like. Start time is 4pm, so it is light at first. Organizer

• Village Halloween Parade

  7pm, Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Village, Greenwich Village, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A/B/C/D/E/F/M to W 4 St-Wash Sq

  The 53rd Village Halloween Parade with costumed marchers, giant puppets and bands, going up Sixth Avenue from Canal Street to West 15th Street. It runs rain or shine and the crowds are big. Organizer

Saturday, November 7, 2026

• Christmas Tree Arrives at Rockefeller Center

  Rockefeller Center, Midtown, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr

  Rockefeller Center says the 2026 Christmas Tree arrives on November 7. Details on viewing are expected closer to the date. Organizer

• Jazz Age Lawn Party

  Colonels Row Green, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A 1920s themed lawn party with live music, dance lessons, vintage portrait sessions, antique cars and croquet, 11am to 5pm both days. Tickets are sold through the party's own site, and the page does not state a children's policy. Organizer

• Fly Away Redbirds Nostalgia Ride, Morning

  10am, New York Transit Museum (rides depart from Old South Ferry Station), Financial District, Manhattan · $60 adults, $40 children
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry or R/W to Whitehall St

  A round-trip ride on the vintage Redbird subway cars, leaving from the old South Ferry station. Tickets are $60 adults and $40 children. Holiday Nostalgia Rides for 2026 are not yet published. Organizer

• Fly Away Redbirds Nostalgia Ride, Afternoon

  2pm, New York Transit Museum (rides depart from Old South Ferry Station), Financial District, Manhattan · $60 adults, $40 children
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry or R/W to Whitehall St

  A round-trip ride on the vintage Redbird subway cars, leaving from the old South Ferry station. Tickets are $60 adults and $40 children. Holiday Nostalgia Rides for 2026 are not yet published. Organizer

Sunday, November 8, 2026

• 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

• Leaf Peeping in Central Park Hike

  1pm, Central Park, West 100th Street entrance, Central Park, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: B/C to 103 St

  A hike around the North Woods of Central Park for fall color, led by the Urban Park Rangers. Organizer

Saturday, November 14, 2026

• 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