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.

Latest posts by Drew

Best Family Festivals and Street Fairs in NYC this May

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 05/04/2025 - 7:37am

Enjoy the May Fair to welcome spring's arrival at the New Amsterdam School. Photo courtesy of the school

NYC street fairs and festivals are blooming all over this May, from glorious school fairs like Calhoun's carnival-fun-filled fest to the little-kid-friendly event at Columbia Greenhouse Nursery School.

Plus, Hippo Playground hosts a Spring Fair complete with pony rides, Randall's Island's Touch-a-Truck Fest returns, there's a Mother's Day Garden Party at the NYBG, and the annual salute to service that is Fleet Week punctuates Memorial Day weekend. Plus, don't miss Mommy Poppins' Spring Fling on Car-Free Montague Street our our very first Family Travel Fest!

61 Free Activities for Kids in NYC May 2025

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 10:39am

Jane's Carousel celebrates its 14th year in Brooklyn with free rides and face painting on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Photo by Sara M.

From Mother's Day to Memorial Day—and everything in between—we've got the lowdown on the best free things to do in NYC this May.

Summer's unofficial start might not happen until month's end, but we're shutting down spring with plenty of free fun, including the BAMKids Spring Fest and the 27th annual Blessing of the Bikes at the beginning of the month, mid-May brings the Submerge Marine Science Fest and Mommy Poppins' Spring Fling on Car-Free Montague Street. At month's end, Fleet Week takes center stage, and we're even hosting our first Family Travel Fest.

Read on for more than 60 free things to do this May in New York City, including fun events in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Find more top May activities on our list of the best things to do this May.

Best Things To Do in NYC May 2025 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 04/27/2025 - 6:29am

Brooklyn Bridge Park celebrates spring with a Kite Fest on Saturday, May 17. Photo by John Eng

May brings with it plenty of things to celebrate, including Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and more. Here are our top things to do in NYC this May with kids!

May is so jam-packed, it would be easy to miss some stellar happenings, but we're rounding up all our top picks for NYC families below. March with giant puppets at the Ecological City Puppet Parade, celebrate the season at Hippo Playground's Spring Fair, and keep the fun rolling with the New York Transit Museum's Party on Wheels.

Don't miss Mommy Poppins' own Spring Fling on Car-Free Montague Street or our first NY Family Travel Fest at the month's end!

Best Things To Do on Mother's Day 2025 in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 04/20/2025 - 11:56am

Mother's Day is the last day to check out Animationland at the National Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

It's just about time to celebrate Mom for Mother's Day 2025! This year, Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 11. While there are many delicious restaurants serving Mother's Day brunch near DC, there are also plenty of other fun things to do on Mother's Day 2025 near DC with kids.

Here are 16 fun Mother's Day activities in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. They include everything from exhibits to live theater to farm visits.

Need more inspiration? Check out our great ideas for Mother's Day gifts she'll love, and make-at-home Mother's Day brunch recipes kids can prepare without too much supervision. Happy Mother's Day from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

Easter Weekend 2025 in NYC: Easter Egg Hunts, Auto Show, and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 04/18/2025 - 8:01am

It's officially spring in NYC when Central Park starts to bloom. Photo by Brittany Petronella/NYC Tourism + Conventions

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Easter weekend.

The Easter Bunny hops into town this weekend, so grab your bonnets and head to the annual Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue, hunt for eggs while climbing at Brooklyn Boulders, or beat the Easter Bunny at axe throwing! We have all the top Easter Egg hunts detailed here.

You can also check out some cool cars at the New York International Auto Show and commune with Mother Earth on Governors Island

Earth Day 2025: 22 Earth Day Activities in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 04/11/2025 - 12:08pm

Celebrate Earth Day with Union Square's annual festival on Thursday, April 17. Photo courtesy of Union Square Initiative

Earth Day 2025 officially lights up the calendar on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, but NYC celebrates all month long, from last weekend's EarthFest at AMNH through Car-Free Earth Day the last weekend of the month.

Earth Rocks takes over the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and Governors Island and Randall's Island each celebrate with their own Earth Day festivals. Plus, Broadway's Earth Day Celebration salutes the planet with songs and activities. Read on for all our top picks for celebrating Earth Day with kids in NYC and find more good-for-the-planet tips on our Earth Kids Guide to a Greener Planet.

Best Art Summer Camps near NYC: Performing Art Camps, Theater Camps, Sleepaway Art Camps

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 03/31/2025 - 2:46pm

Get ready to shine onstage at Child's Play NY. Photo courtesy of Child's Play NY

New York City is the epicenter for the arts, so of course, it's home to a diverse and amazing selection of art summer camps. With many world-class professional artists teaching here, there's a huge selection of art summer camps in NYC, ranging from visual art camps to performing art camps and filmmaking summer camps. From Brooklyn to Midtown to the Bronx and beyond, you can find the perfect New York City art summer camp from our list below for your budding artist.

For more summer camps in New York City, including free and cheap summer camps for NYC Kids and popular preschool camps in NYC, be sure to bookmark our NYC Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory to search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

Easter Egg Hunts and More Best Things To Do in NYC April 2025 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 03/30/2025 - 5:54am

The Macy's Flower Show is one of the most colorful destinations in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier

Dinos, Easter, and Earth Day add up to lots of fun for kids in New York City this April!

April arrives with fool-proof fun: The animatronic Dinosaur Safari is stomping through the Bronx Zoo again, families can shift gears at the New York International Auto Show, and everyone can celebrate Earth Day at the American Museum of Natural History.

Catch some rising stars at LaGuardia High's production of Little Shop of Horrors, hang with Mommy Poppins at Babytopia, and show off your Easter finery at the annual Easter Parade or one of these Easter egg hunts popping up all over town.

Drew Kristofik

Latest posts by Drew

Pages