SEPTEMBER FAMILY EVENTS IN & AROUND BROOKLYN!

​Photo by TA Smith

Time to come to terms with the fact that summer is ending, and Fall and the new school year is upon us!  Here are some ideas for fun family activities both in Brooklyn and the surrounding NYC boroughs, for the teeniest and the biggest kids to enjoy.  They will surely help you through your end-of-summer blues!


* Hansel & Gretel (Puppetworks): Starting on September 3rd and running through December 18th, this Brothers Grimm story will be performed by marionettes.  Recommended for ages 3+.  Saturdays & Sundays 12:30 and 2:30pm.  Child: $9, Adult: $10.   http://www.puppetworks.org/


* Lavendar Blues (LARK): Back in session on Saturday the 17th, this intimate music and movement session for babies and toddlers is held every Saturday at 9:30 and 10:30am.  $10.  http://www.lavenderbluesmusic.com/services.html


* Play:Ground (Governors Island):  Itching to get out of Brooklyn and try something new?  Only a short ferry ride away, this play space is modeled after a junkyard, where a child’s imagination can really go wild using an assortment of materials, tools, water, dirt and things that others might describe as trash.   Through September 25th on Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-4pm. https://govisland.com/exhibitions/playground


* Sensory Room (Brooklyn Children’s Museum):  Beginning Saturday, September 17th at 2pm on Saturdays following, the sensory room is a welcome environment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other special needs.  Sessions will accommodate 10 participants, pre-registration required.  All ages, see here for the schedule. http://www.brooklynkids.org/calendar/2016/9/17/sensory-room


* Moscow Ballet (Brooklyn Children’s Museum): Do you have a little ballerina?  Join a ballerina from the Moscow Ballet as she performs a Russian children’s story, ending with an interactive dance activity for all!  Ages 3+.  12-2pm on Friday, September 30th. http://www.brooklynkids.org/calendar/2016/9/30/moscow-ballet
* Medieval Festival (Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights):  Time-travel back to the Middle Ages and enjoy its ancient forms of fun. Wandering Fort Tryon Park’s lush grounds, families can rub shoulders with performers and festivalgoers dressed in clothing typical of the era, listen to authentic period music, and watch the antics of jugglers and jesters. All ages. http://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/things-to-do/medieval-festival-at-fort-tryon-park


* Museum Day Live! (Several Locations):  On September 24th over 1,300 museums around the country open their doors to the public free of charge. Previous years included family-friendly favorites like the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the Skyscraper Museum, El Museo Del Barrio, the NYC Fire Museum and the Museum of Arts and Design. Head to smithsonianmag.com to see which institutions are participating this year and to download a free Museum Day Live ticket. All ages.  http://smithsonianmag.com/museumdaylive


* World Maker Faire (NY Hall of Science, Queens): On October 1st and 2nd this show displays way-out-there experiments that will have your little mad scientists in awe. Past lineups have involved running through a life-size mousetrap, watching a Coke Zero and Mentos mountain explode, shooting marshmallows, flying model drones and powering your own DIY rides. Family passes (5 attendees) are available for Sunday, online advance purchase only. All ages.  http://makerfaire.com/


Lastly, don’t forget about the Smorgasburg, every Sunday in Prospect Park 11am-6pm (http://www.smorgasburg.com/) and get in your last swim at one of NYC’s awesome public pools…the season has been extended until 9/11!  Piece of advice:  read the rules before planning your trip.  https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/outdoor-pools