All Weekend

Love from Mt. Pom Pom Art Workshop with Misaki Kawai – Hudson Square
Children adore Misaki Kawai's crazy creations, which are currently on display at the Children’s Museum of the Arts. With a 20-foot-wide fuzzy pink dog with hair you can comb, kooky costumes to try on, comic books to leaf through and video installations, what's not to love? This weekend, kids can meet and work with the artist herself in a series of drop-in workshops. Arrive early in order to snag a spot! Free with admission: $10.

Brooklyn Mutt Show – Park Slope
Move over Westminster Dog Show winners. At this annual canine competition, entrants are judged in unique categories, like how much they look like their owners and sloppiest kiss. Plus no pedigrees are required (or even wanted) at this mutt fest... I mean mixed breeds show. $5 suggested donation to watch. $25-$30 to compete.

Early Bird Gets Into the Mobil – the Bronx
In this Wave Hill art workshop, families can create bird-themed paper sculptures to celebrate spring and the return of our feathered friends. Free with admission: $8 for adults, $2 for children ages 6 and up, free for kids under 6 and to all before noon on Saturday.

UniverSoul Circus – the Bronx
The troupe began its NYC run this week, pitching its tent in the Bronx before heading to Brooklyn and Queens later this spring. Although UniverSoul was originally founded to showcase the talents of African-American performers, this year's edition features acts from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, like all-female bicycle act Chain Reaction from China and the Zhukau Acrobatic Troupe from Belarus. There's plenty of homegrown talent too, including ringmaster Tony Tone, a live hip-hop DJ and break-dancing clowns. $20-$40.

The Never Ending Story – Greenwich Village
The Roseneath Theatre of Toronto brings its critically acclaimed stage adaptation of the classic German novel The Neverending Story (which is better known in the U.S. as a 1984 family film) to the Skirball Center. The show follows the adventures of a shy bullied boy who loses himself, literally, in a fantasy book. If your kids love the Narnia saga, this should be a big hit. Best for ages 8 and up. $20-$30.
 

Saturday, March 24

Eggs-Travaganza Easter Egg Hunt – Crown Heights
Bring your own basket to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for its annual hunt featuring eggs filled with prizes and treats. This year the museum has changed the format a bit: Egg hunts are timed and kids are grouped by age, so even little ones will be able to snag some orbs. $14.

NYRR Youth Jamboree – Washington Heights
Do your kids like to run around? That was rhetorical. Well, bring them to the New York Road Runners' youth program at the Washington Heights Armory today, where children of all athletic abilities can compete in a mix of fun track and field events throughout the day. All participants receive a complimentary T-shirt and ribbon. FREE

NanoDay – Midtown East
Head to the Sony Wonder Technology Lab for hands-on workshops in nanoscience and nanotechnology. School-age kids can meet teachers and students from Stonybrook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory to learn about their cutting-edge research, and visit the Lab's nanotechnology exhibit to learn about the various applications of nanoscience. Afterward they can explain all of this to us parents! FREE

Nimbaya! – Upper West Side
Symphony Space welcomes Nimbaya!, an all-female West African music and dance troupe that plays the djembe, an instrument historically reserved for men. A fabulous way to celebrate Women's History Month. $25 for adults, $15 for children.

Byzantium and Islam: A Festival for All Ages – Upper East Side
The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts a day-long fest in honor of its Byzantium and Islam: Age of Transition exhibit. Families can help create a giant mosaic, listen to folk songs, draw in the galleries and learn about textiles. Free with admission: $25 suggested donation, free for children under 12.

Get Out and Play Day – Staten Island
The Greenbelt Nature Center invites families to engage in nature exploration, games and unstructured outdoor play. FREE

Flooky & the Beans – Park Slope
Massachusetts kid rockers Flooky the Robot and his Beans make their NYC debut at the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Best for the preschool set. FREE

Scandinavian Sing-along – Murray Hill
Kids can sing and dance to English versions of classic Scandinavian children's songs with Danish musicians Anne Mette Iversen and Vibe Normann. Afterward, stay and explore the recently remodeled Heimbold Family Children’s Learning Center. $7 for the sing-along, $8 for the center.

Design a City Block – Murray Hill
Also at Scandinavian House, school-age kids can work with educators from the Center for Architecture Foundation to create a city block in honor of Helsinki, which was named the 2012 World Design Capital. FREE but pre-registration required.

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, March 25

Macy's Flower Show – Midtown West
The World's Most Famous Store debuts its annual spring Flower Show today. This year's theme is Brazil so expect dazzling tropical displays featuring the lush wonders of the Amazon rainforest, and models that evoke mission-style villages and modern-day inner-city neighborhoods. In addition to marveling at the sights and smells, visitors can enjoy free family-friendly activities like a performance by DanceBrazil, a children's reading by Judy Collins, a demo by members of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and various flower workshops. FREE

Eggstravaganza – Staten Island
After hunting for Easter eggs at the Staten Island Zoo, kids can learn about ova laid by frogs, turtles and bugs. There will also be an egg craft project to take home. Egg hunt is $5 plus admission: $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-14.

Passover Nosh and Stroll – Lower East Side
Eat your way around the Lower East Side while learning about Passover traditions. Sample chocolate-covered matzo, fresh horseradish and (for parents) Kosher wine as you schlep through this tasty part of town with the Museum at Eldridge Street. $15.

Passover Spectacular – Lower East Side
More Passover fun at the Museum of Eldgrige Street: Families can search for clues all around the historic synagogue, and discover how new Jewish immigrants marked the holiday in the U.S. in days of yore. $15 per family.

Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade – Bay Ridge
Enjoy NYC's final St. Patrick's Day procession in Brooklyn. FREE

Cool Kids' Concerts at J&R Jr. – Financial District
Three popular family bands play complimentary concerts at J&R Jr. today. First up: songstress Suzi Shelton shares tunes from her new album Tomboy in a Princess Dress. Next up, The Z Brothers do cool mash ups of kids' songs and classic rock. Finally, Brooklyn music teacher Jon Samson gets kids up and hopping. FREE

Talons! – Douglaston
Learn all about hawks, falcons, owls and other birds of prey at this interactive presentation at the Alley Pond Environmental Center. $10.

Bald Eagle Viewing – Riverdale
Bald eagle viewing season is almost over! Today's your last chance to join the Urban Park Rangers as they search for these magnificent birds in the Bronx's Riverdale Park. With kids, it's best to bring your own binoculars, but if you don't own any you can ask to borrow a pair. FREE but reservations required.

Princess Katie & Racer Steve Monster Concert – Tribeca
The high-energy kid pop duo hits 92YTribeca for an interactive performance that will get families moving and shaking. This concert's theme is monsters in honor of the band's upcoming album Love, Cake & Monsters. Dressing up is encouraged so get your little goblins into their best costumes for the show. $15.

Kids 'N Comedy: The New York Show – Chelsea
Catch the teen stars of stand-up at the Gotham Comedy Club as they joke about adolescent life in NYC. If you enjoy the show, you can sign your own jokesters up for kids' comedy classes. $15 plus a one-item minimum.

Jazz Kids! – Greenwich Village
Jazz singer Amy Cervini’s interactive, hour-long jazz program is perfect for young hepcats. This week, kids can hear guest vocalist Melissa Stylianou belt out short and sweet standards, and get up and dance, sing along and even play with the instruments. $5.

The Beauty of Ballet – Corona
Got an aspiring ballerina at home? Then head to the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for this 45-minute show. Dancers and faculty from the School of American Ballet will demonstrate various steps and training exercises, and perform excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake with live accompaniment. FREE but advance registration required.

Mario the Magician – Tribeca
Mario and his sidekick, a live dove named Mozzarella, hit the stage for an interactive magic show inspired by old-time vaudeville and sprinkled with slapstick and a dash of rock 'n' roll. $20 for adults, $10 for children under 12.

The Paper Bag Players: Laugh! Laugh! Laugh! – Manhattan Beach
The venerable children's troupe performs comic musical skits about child superheroes, blowing the perfect bubble, first day of school jitters and other kid-centric topics at the Kingsborough Performing Arts Center. My seven-year-old son loves this group and has seen this specific show twice! $12.

See all Sunday events.

Outside NYC

Head to White Post Farm in Melville, Long Island for an Easter egg hunt and face time with the Easter Bunny.

More early Easter fun can be had this weekend in Connecticut, where families can ride a vintage locomotive with the Easter Bunny at the Danbury Railway Museum.

Don’t forget: There are lots of other options in our Event Calendar.

Planning an event? Submit it to our Event Calendar.

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