Free Family Fun this week in the NYC Metro Area

This week we’re going to take a look at all of the free family fun events happening in the NYC Metro Area.

Free Family Fun this week in the NYC Metro Area

This weeks schedule will cover all ages groups!

Kids’ Chocolate Education Events – Voilà Chocolat

Date: September 30, 2015 through October 21, 2015
Hours: Wednesdays through Oct. 21, 4-4:30pm (6 and younger); 4:30-5pm (7 and older)
Cost: FREE
Ages: All Ages
Address: 221 W. 79th St. Upper West Side, NY 10024
Phone: 212-920-8799
Website: voila-chocolat.com/blog/2015/8/10/free-kids-open-houses
Description: A chance to get a taste (pun intended) of the chocolate experiences open to kids at this venue. At each session kids can sample chocolate and other handmade treats, learn how chocolate is made, discover what makes dark chocolate different from milk chocolate and what “white chocolate” really is, examine a real cocoa pod and cacao nibs, and complete her or his own chocolate-themed drawing.
Space is limited and RSVP is required, see website for details.

Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park – Fort Tryon Park

Date: October 04, 2015
Hours: 11:30am-6pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: 741 Ft. Washington Ave. Fort Washington, NY 10040
Phone: 212-795-1600
Website: WHIDC.org
Description: Rub the rust off thy armor, iron thy chain mail, gird thy loins and polish up on ye chivalry as this popular festival gallops into Fort Tyron Park for another year.
The area around the Cloisters Museum in Fort Tyron Park is transformed into a medieval village that will delight and entertain your kids. See maidens in armor and knights in distress, jugglers, jesters, magicians, musicians, storytellers, and puppeteers. There will also be authentic artisans on hand including a blacksmith, manuscript illuminator, and pottery decorator.
You can even taste medieval food! The highlight of the day is a jousting event between knights on horseback. There are even rumors of dragons (although these ones are tame, not Game of Thrones style).
Please note there is no parking at the festival.

Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals – The Cathedral Church of St. John The Divine, Pulpit Green

Date: October 04, 2015
Hours: 11am-4pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: 1047 Amsterdam Ave. Upper West Side, NY 10025
Phone: 212-932-7314
Website: stjohndivine.org
Description: The annual Feast of St. Francis festival is now in its 31st year. The signature Cathedral service runs from 11am-1 pm and features the Missa Gaia (or Earth Mass) with a massed choir of hundreds of voices, a dance performance by Forces of Nature, and musical performances by the Paul Winter Consort, all in celebration of the beauty of the animal kingdom. The service concludes with the Procession of the Animals, a silent parade of creatures great and small down the Nave of the Cathedral.
Following the Procession there is a special outdoor fair featuring animal, environmental and social justice organizations. The Mettawee River Theatre company will be performing and the will be face-painting, food and more.
What this event is famous for is the opportunity to line up on the Pulpit Green to have your creature companions blessed. Members of the clergy will be located at stations on the Pulpit Green for pet blessings starting at approximately 1:30pm.
Advanced passes need for the service, a limited amount will be available on the day but you must arrive by 8:30am.

Feature Screening: ALICE IN WONDERLAND – Sony Plaza Atrium, Sony Wonder Technology Lab

Date: October 10, 2015
Hours: 10:30am, 12:15pm, and 3pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: 550 Madison Ave. Midtown, NY 10022
Phone: 212-833-8100
Website: sonywondertechlab.com
Description: Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s beloved story by watching both the original and most recent cinema versions. You can also take part in an animation workshop at 11am on the same day (see separate listing).
10:30am and 12:15pm: WALT DISNEY’S ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951). G rated.
3pm: TIM BURTON’S ALICE IN WONDERLAND (2010). PG rated.
RSVPs open for this event Sep. 26. Separate tickets required for each screening.

Bats at Belvedere Castle – Central Park: Belverdere Castle

Date: October 10, 2015
Hours: 6-7:30pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: Central Park, 79th Street Upper West Side, NY 10019
Phone: 212-860-1370
Website: centralparknyc.org
Description: See live bats and learn about the bats that live in Central Park from the Organization for Bat Conservation. Find out how to spot and identify our winged friends in their natural surroundings. In case of bad weather check the website or call.

Target Family Design Festival – Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Date: October 10, 2015 through October 11, 2015
Hours: 11am-4pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: 2 E. 91 St. Upper East Side, NY 10128
Phone: 212-849-8353
Website: cooperhewitt.org/event/target-family-design-festival-10-10-2015/
Description: Be a mini designer for the day at this family festival. Workshops for all ages include a wide range of topics, from puppet design with Sesame Street and instrument design with Bash the Trash, to 3D fashion design with 3D Systems. Plus be among the first to experience the new hands-on exhibition Pixar: The Design of Story.
Part of National Design Week.

Glittering World: Navajo Jewelry of the Yazzie Family – National Museum of the American Indian

Date: November 13, 2014 through January 10, 2016
Hours: Nov. 13-Jan. 10, 2016. Friday-Wednesday 10am-5pm, Thursdays 10am-8pm.
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: One Bowling Green Battery Park , NY 10004
Phone: 212-514-3700
Description: Jewelry making has long been an important part of the lives of Southwest Native peoples. During the last 50 years, Native jewelers in the Southwest—Navajos in particular—have created a contemporary aesthetic that draws on traditional materials and reflects the persistence of cultural values such as beauty, centering, and balance. Glittering World presents the story of Navajo jewelry through the lens of the gifted Yazzie family of Gallup, New Mexico—one of the most celebrated jewelry making families of our time.

Open Play Community Day – ATLAS Foundation for Autism

Date: January 03, 2015 through December 26, 2015
Hours: Saturdays, 10am-12pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: 252 W. 29th St. Chelsea, NY 10001
Phone: 212-256-0846
Website: atlasforautism.org
Description: It is estimated that 1 in 68 children (in multiple communities) in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)*. However despite these numbers, families living with autism find it more difficult to get out and about.
Every other Saturday ATLAS opens the doors of its 7,300 sq. ft. facility and welcomes members of the autism community and their families to drop in, play, gather & connect in a worry-free environment where acceptance is the norm.
This event is free but donations of any amount are appreciated will help provide refreshments and materials for Open Play Community Days.
Sep. 12 and 26, Oct. 10 and 24.
*Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder among children aged 8 years – Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2010.

Tuesdays at The Pavillion – Union Square Pavillion

Date: April 21, 2015 through October 13, 2015
Hours: Tuesdays, 3-5pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: 33 E. 17th St. Union Square, NY 10003
Website: nycgovparks.org
Description: Regular arts and crafts workshop in Union Square.

Down to Earth Farmers Market – Morningside Park

Date: May 23, 2015 through December 05, 2015
Hours: Saturdays, 9am-5pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: W. 110th St. and Manhattan Avenue Morningside Park, NY 10026
Phone: 757-633-6000
Website: downtoearthmarkets.com/
Description: This Saturday market runs from May until December and features the best seasonal produce as well as bread, meat and poultry, beverages, dairy, plants and specialty foods.

94th Street Greenmarket (formerly 92nd Street) – 94th Street

Date: June 28, 2015 through November 22, 2015
Hours: Sundays through Nov. 22; 9am-5pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: First Avenue, between East 94th and East 96th Streets Upper East Side, NY 10128
Phone: 212-788-7476
Website: grownyc.org
Description: This Upper East Side favorite is the place to find vegetables, fruits, baked goods, eggs and locally caught seafood.

Union Square Greenmarket – Union Square Park

Date: July 10, 2015 through January 01, 2016
Hours: Year round; Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 8am-6pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: Broadway and West 17th Street Union Square, NY 10003
Phone: 212-788-7476
Website: grownyc.org
Description: The world-famous Union Square Greenmarket began with just a few farmers in 1976 and has grown exponentially to be one of the most popular green markets in NYC. In peak season 140 regional farmers, fishers, and bakers sell their products. Come and buy everything from hand-picked fresh fruits and vegetables, to heritage meats and award-winning farmstead cheeses, artisan breads, jams, pickles, cut flowers and plants, wine, ciders, maple syrup, and much more. Yum!

The Saturday Morning Show – Brookfield Place Winter Garden: Hudson Eats

Date: September 12, 2015 through November 21, 2015
Hours: Saturdays, 11am-1pm
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages
Address: 220 Vesey St. Battery Park City, NY 10281
Phone: 212-417-7000
Website: brookfieldplaceny.com
Description: Every Saturday through the fall there will be fun, free shows for families at Hudson Eats in Brookfield Place. Highlights include puppet shows, story telling and live music.
Oct. 3: Rolie Polie Guacamole and Play Me A Story “Stone Soup”.
Oct. 10: Karen K and the Jitterbugs and puppeteer Nicola McEndowney.
Oct. 17. Mister G and Gary the Great.
Oct. 24: The Pop Ups and storyteller Anni Bluhm Robertson.
Nov. 7: Vered and Rock n Roll Mother Goose.
Nov. 14: JahPan and Seth Dale.
Nov. 21: Mills Trills and Mario the Musician.

Birding Basics for Families – Charles A. Dana Discovery Center

Date: September 27, 2015 through October 25, 2015
Hours: Sundays, 10am
Cost: Free
Ages: Young elementary, Tween, Teen, Adult
Address: Inside Central Park at 110th Street, between Fifth and Lenox Avenues
Central Park North, NY 10023
Phone: 212-860-1370
Website: centralparknyc.org
Description: Experience Central Park when it becomes a precious bird habitat and migration hot spot. Bring your family on a guided walk led by Conservancy Discovery Guides and NYC Audubon Society. Learn how to spot our feathered residents that make Central Park their home, and their foreign cousins as they pass through Central Park during their annual migration. Witness firsthand how the Conservancy’s work has made the Park a sanctuary for these birds. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Dana Discovery Center.
Families only, maximum of three children per parent or guardian; no groups. Ages 5 and older. Pre-registration is requested as space is limited, see website for details.
Terrain: Uneven, with hills, stairs, and wood-chipped trails and may not be suitable for strollers.
Birding Basics for Families is weather permitting. Please check our website for any changes or call 212-860-1370 for more information.