Fun and free/low-cost things to do with your kids this June in Manhattan, including family-friendly shows, summer festivals, and Father's Day fun.
June 1-3
Your Kid’s HOWL! Would Make Ginsberg Proud
Are you dying for your kids to grow up so you can dazzle them with your impressive knowledge of Allen Ginsberg’s poetry while they listen with wide eyes and a desire to discover their own “inner moonlight?” You need wait no longer—the 9th annual HOWL! Festival in the East Village is here to help you realize your beat poet-inspired dreams. This celebration of freewheeling bohemia (which saw 100,000 visitors last year) celebrates poetry, music, dance, and art. It also features a Kid’s Carnival, featuring carnival games, funhouses, fairway attractions, arts and crafts activities, miniature golf, and continuous kids’ entertainment. FREE!
June 5-10
Shakespeare for Kids
New York City Ballet performs A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Lincoln Center, offering a children’s workshop before the June 9 performance.
Opens June 6
Circus/Rock Concert/Opera
With a diverse cast of more than 75 international artists, Cirque du Soleil’s Zarkana is an acrobatic rock opera that transports audience members from Radio City Music Hall to a fantastical and suspenseful world, blurring boundaries between real and imaginary. The story follows Zark, a magician who has lost his powers and the love of his life, and is set in an abandoned theater filled with a collection of crazy characters who can perform remarkable acrobatics. Zark’s quest leads the audience through the chaos, and in the end, festivity and love transcend everything else.
June 9
All Together Now
All divisions of the Young People’s Chorus of New York will join together for a Spring Family Concert at the 92nd Street Y on June 9.
June 12
Mile of Smiles
The 34th annual Museum Mile Festival promises to impress fine art aficionados, parents, kids, and everyone in between. Ten museums, all situated on an impressive stretch of Fifth Avenue, will open their doors to promote visibility, accessibility, attendance, and joy for the arts. If you’re worried about your kid’s ability to enjoy three hours of museum time, fear not: there will also be chalk drawing on the streets, live model drawing classes for kids, and educational activities, plus entertainment by Sammie and Tudie’s Imagination Playhouse, Juggler Josh, Silly Billy, Daisy Doodle’s Parties, and a slew of others. FREE!
June 14-18
Father’s Day Fun
May was all about the mamas, but June is the time to show some appreciation for the dads of the world. Gather the family together and enjoy any one of these Father’s Day activities. Whatever you do, just make sure to let Dad know he’s the man!
June 17
Summer Kick-Off for Kids
If Dad is more of a low-key kind of guy, it might be best to pick a more kid-centric family activity for Father’s Day. NYC Kidsfest, the multicultural arts festival in Morningside Heights, is the perfect pick. Entering its 7th year, the festival will be packed with engaging and innovating entertainment as well as face painting and art activities. This year features the first KidsFeast corner, which will include fun activities and games that inspire kids to take care of their bodies through healthy eating and exercise. Entertainment includes Debbie Deane & Friends, FolkFoot, and Fuerza Peruana. FREE!
Search for even more fun family activities in Manhattan and the NYC area in our full calendar of events.
