It’s summer in the city, and we’ve rounded up the best events across the five boroughs to keep your family entertained all month long! Meet Daniel Tiger in the Bronx, catch Pokémon in Brooklyn, add up the fun with the Museum of Math in Manhattan, dress up as Huckleberry Finn on Staten Island, experience a three-day Powwow in Queens, and so much more!
Psst…Check Out 10 Best Free Kids & Family Activities in NYC This Week
Our Top Picks for July:
There is no more iconic way to celebrate Independence Day than with the Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks! The nation’s largest 4th of July celebration commemorates 50 years of patriotic spectacle for Macy’s and marks the nation’s 250th birthday. This year, the show will expand to both the lower East River in the Seaport District, the lower Hudson River in collaboration with Jersey City, and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, creating a shared experience that connects more communities than ever. See the website for the best viewing spots, or watch at home on NBC, Peacock, and the Spanish-language simulcast on Telemundo. Saturday, July 4, 8 – 10 pm. All ages. Free.
Pokémon Day Out will take over Brooklyn Bridge Park for a fun-filled, interactive weekend that will bring families and young Trainers together for a daytime adventure like no other. Families will step into the world of Pokémon with a chance to explore playful activities, enjoy live stage moments, discover and meet fan-favorite Pokémon, participate in unique photo ops, and more! July 24 – 26, Friday – Sunday, 10 am – 7 pm. All ages. Reserve tickets in advance. Free
Celebrate American Indian Culture through music, dance, Native American crafts, and food at the 47th Annual Thunderbird American Indian Powwow. This spectacular 3-day event features intertribal Native American dance competitions by over forty Indian Nations. The program features an expansive market of authentic Native American art, crafts, jewelry, and food. July 24 – 26, Friday, 7 – 10 pm; Saturday, 12 – 5 pm & 7 – 10 pm; Sunday, 12 – 5 pm. All ages. $12 – $38.
Our Top Free Picks for July:
Take part in an Indigenous Art Workshop with NAIC-NY at Starlight Park in the Bronx. July Friday, 3, 11 am – 3 pm and Saturday, July 25, 12 – 4 pm. All ages.
The fun will add up quickly at the NYC Math Festival hosted by MoMath at the National Museum of Mathematics. Saturday, July 11, 10 am – 4 pm. All ages.
Celebrate 30 years of BBG’s Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Block Party. Thursday, July 30, 4 pm. All ages.
More of our Favorite July Events and Happenings:
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood at the Bronx Zoo
Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx
Weekdays, 10 am – 5 pm, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am – 5:30 pm through Sept. 7
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the beloved PBS KIDS series from Fred Rogers Productions, comes to the Bronx Zoo with an all-new experience. Pass through the Tunnel of Make-Believe, climb aboard the life-sized Trolley, enjoy a live performance with Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat, and more!
Flower Power at NYBG
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
Tuesdays – Sundays, 10 am – 6 pm, through Oct. 18
Channel the spirit of the ’60s at Flower Power, a joyous celebration of flowers as enduring symbols of peace and love. NYBG’s galleries will showcase photography and visual art from the 1960s, while installations on the grounds invite everyone to “come together” and be empowered to embrace flowers as symbols in our own lives.
All-American Magic Show
Queens Center, 90-15 Queens Blvd., Queens
Friday, July 3, noon – 2 pm
Get ready for an afternoon of family-friendly fun at Queens Center’s All-American Magic Show celebrating America’s 250th Birthday! This exciting event features mind-blowing magic shows, live music, balloon artists, face painters, giveaways, and interactive entertainment for all.
Huck Finn July 4th Fishing Tournament and Costume Contest
Willowbrook Pond Park, One Eton Place, Staten Island
Saturday, July 4, 9 – 11:30 am
This literary classic comes to life, complete with bamboo pole fishing and a Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, and Becky Thatcher Costume Contest for ages 5 – 14.
Free Canoeing on the Gowanus Canal
Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse, 165 2nd St., Brooklyn
Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 18, see website schedule
Hop into a Gowanus Dredgers canoe and paddle at your own pace inside the protected Gowanus Canal. Enjoy discovering the canal’s unique mix of wildlife and urban waterway infrastructure, practice your paddling skills, or take a guided audio tour and learn more about the history, cleanup, and revitalization of our favorite urban waterway.
FIFA Family Fun
Queens Theater, 14 United Nations Ave S, Queens
Thursday, July 9, 4 pm; Tuesday and Wednesday, July 14 – 15, and Sunday, July 19, 3 pm
World Cup Matches viewings at Queens Theatre include foosball and FIFA video game tournaments, face painting, giveaways, soccer demonstrations, free snacks, and more!
Summer Fridays at Historic Richmond Town
Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave. Staten Island
July 10 – Aug. 28, Fridays, 4 – 8 pm
Join Historic Richmond Town every Friday this July & August for Summer Fridays, a weekly evening event featuring great food, cold drinks, and relaxing outdoor fun for all ages! Bring a chair or blanket and unwind on the beautiful, historic grounds of Staten Island’s most beloved village.
Bee Hive Opening Day
Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building M, Staten Island
Saturday, July 11, 4 – 4:45 pm
Families will get an up-close look at an educational hive, explore authentic beekeeper tools like smoker equipment and protective suits, and even try on kid-friendly beekeeper gear. Kids can help decorate a beehive during a hands-on art activity, attend a special “Ask a Beekeeper” Q&A session, and sample delicious honey during a guided tasting.
Ranger Games: Nature World Cup
Indian Field in Van Cortlandt Park, East 233 St. bet. Jerome Ave. and Van Cortlandt Park East, Bronx
Sunday, July 12, 11 am – noon
Play and learn new and exciting nature-themed games that will test basic soccer knowledge and skills while combining elements of nature and park history.
Balloon Museum’s Inaugural Exhibition, DAYDREAM, AIR BECOMES ART
Tin Building, 96 South St., Manhattan
Wednesday, July 15, 10 am
Guests are invited to escape into a dreamlike reality with a collection of works that you can touch, explore, and be one with the art. At the heart of the exhibition is renowned performance artist Marina Abramović’s Snowy/Windy/Spring on Planet Z, an otherworldly installation and her first-ever work comprised of air, that places visitors inside an extraterrestrial meadow of inflatable grass and swirling artificial snow.
A Women’s Soccer Takeover: Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit
Citi Field, 41 Seaver Way, Queens
Wednesday, July 15, 8 pm
The reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC will host superstar forward Trinity Rodman and Washington Spirit in the first women’s professional sporting event at Citi Field.
Waterfront Festival
Randall’s Island Park, 10 Central Road, Manhattan
Saturday, July 18, noon – 3 pm
Celebrate the height of summer along the scenic waterfront with water-themed educational activities, crafts, games, face painting, live performances, and more.
Brooklyn Cyclones Paw Patrol Day
Maimonides Park, 1904 Surf Ave., Brooklyn
Sunday, July 19, 2 pm
Maimonides Park turns into Adventure Bay with Paw Patrol Day and Bark in the Park! The first 500 kids in attendance will receive a voucher good for FREE Mr. Softee AND a Paw Patrol Youth Jersey. After the game, all kids 14 & younger are invited to take the field and run the bases.
FoodeesFest Food and Culture Festival
Staten Island Mall, 2655 Richmond Ave., Staten Island
July 31 – Aug. 2, Friday, 1 – 9 pm; Saturday, Aug. 1, 11 am – 9 pm; Sunday, 11 am – 7 pm
Get ready for a weekend of delicious food, unique crafts, and family fun! With over 40 food trucks and vendors serving gourmet dishes and sweet treats, and dozens of artisans showcasing handmade jewelry, art, and crafts, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy a vibrant community atmosphere with activities for all ages!
Psst…Check Out New York State Summer EBT Food Benefits: Who is Eligible & How to Redeem Them
