Things to do with kids in New York City this weekend, found and checked for you.
Halloween is a Saturday, and the city is full of costume parades for little kids, from Greenpoint and Red Hook to the Hippo Playground on the Upper West Side. Queens County Farm hands out candy across 47 acres, and the Bronx Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo has its final weekend. This week has 25 outings, 15 of them free and 7 indoors.
What’s on today, Friday, Oct 30: Día de los Muertos at NYBG, Early Childhood Pumpkin Patch in Coney Island and Family Halloween at Hamilton Fish Park, plus 8 more.
Last checked · 25 kids events and outings at 24 places · 15 free · 7 indoor. Every listing links to the page we checked it on. How we choose
Top 5 picks
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Our plan for Saturday
Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 31. Two things from this week’s list, plus one of our regulars from Around town. Tap a stop for the details.
MORNINGCelebrate Halloween at Brooklyn Children’s Museum10am–6:30pm · Brooklyn Children’s Museum · Ticketed; general admission is $15 per person
- LUNCHAround townChelsea MarketOpen 7am–10pm · Chelsea · $$ (opens their site)
- NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
AFTER NAPHippo Playground Halloween Parade3:30–5:30pm · Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, Riverside Park · Free
Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan
Our plan for Sunday
Here’s how we’d do Sunday, Nov 1. Tap a stop for the details.
MORNINGDía de los Muertos at NYBG10am–6pm · New York Botanical Garden · Included with a garden ticket
- NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
AFTER NAPHaunted Carousel in Prospect ParkNoon–5pm · Prospect Park Carousel, Children’s Corner · $3 per ride; $13 for 5
Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan
Find your thing
Holiday season in NYC
- Santa visitsBreakfasts, photos and trains
- Christmas lightsDrive-thru and walk-through
- Thanksgiving weekendParades, turkey trots, what’s open
- Parades & tree lightingsDates and start times
- Christmas trainsPolar Express and Santa trains
- The NutcrackerShows for kids, sensory-friendly flagged
- Christmas marketsMarkets and winter wonderlands
- Christmas breakWhat’s open Dec 24, 25 and Jan 1
- Noon Year’s EveCountdowns at noon
- December with kidsThings to do all month
- Ice skatingHoliday rinks and skate aids
NYC favorites
A few of the places we keep going back to. The full list, with prices, hours and kid-friendly restaurants, lives in the guide.
Coming up
What to do with kids this weekend in New York City: the FAQ
What can we do with kids this weekend in New York City?
This weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1) our top picks are Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo (Sat, Oct 31 and Sun, Nov 1); Celebrate Halloween at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Sat, Oct 31); Halloween on the Farm at Queens County Farm Museum (Sat, Oct 31); Hippo Playground Halloween Parade (Sat, Oct 31). That’s four of 25 outings on this weekend, all checked on the organizer’s page and picked for kids ages 0–6. See the full list.
What are kid-friendly things to do in New York City this weekend?
This week we found 25 outings that work for kids ages 0–6, all of them this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Our top three: Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo, Celebrate Halloween at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Halloween on the Farm at Queens County Farm Museum. See the full list.
Where are the Halloween events for kids in New York City this week?
12 Halloween outings are on this week’s list for ages 0–6, including Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo, Celebrate Halloween at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Halloween on the Farm at Queens County Farm Museum and Hippo Playground Halloween Parade. Each one’s page has the date, time, price and the organizer’s link. See them in the list.
Are there free things to do with little ones in NYC this week?
Yes, 15 of this week’s 25 picks are free, including library storytimes and Village Halloween Parade. Tap “Free” in Find your thing. For free places you can visit any week, see free things to do in New York City in the city guide. Free museum days and free events coming up are on free things to do with kids in NYC.
What are good indoor activities for kids in New York City when it rains?
7 picks this week are indoors. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing. For indoor playgrounds and play spaces you can visit any week, see indoor play places in NYC.
Where can I find storytimes and toddler activities in New York City?
We list library storytimes and baby or toddler programs whenever we can confirm them. Each one links to the library or venue page with the time and place. See them in the list.
What’s on for babies and toddlers under 3 in New York City this week?
There’s no baby-only program on this week’s list, but 8 picks welcome kids from birth, including Celebrate Halloween at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Hippo Playground Halloween Parade and Ascarium at the New York Aquarium. See the full list.
How do you pick what goes on the New York City list?
We go through NYC’s library calendars, parks, museums, zoos and local family pages every week, and keep what works for ages 0–6. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the date, time, place and price there. This list was last checked Oct 28, 2026. How we choose and check listings.
How do I get this list every week?
Sign up for the Thursday email at the bottom of the page. It’s one short email, and you can unsubscribe any time.
Running something for little kids in NYC?
If it’s good for the under-6 crowd, we’d like to hear about it. Free events go on the list for free, always. If you want a guaranteed spot at the top or in the Thursday email, there’s a sponsored option too, and it’s clearly labeled. We’re just getting started, so the first 10 local partners in each city get 50% off your first booking.
Get this weekend’s list every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in NYC.
Nearby towns
- Things to do with kids in Brooklyn (14 listings)
- Things to do with kids in Bronx (7 listings)
Seasonal events and guides
- Things to do with kids in New York City in November
- Things to do with kids in New York City in December
- Santa visits in New York City
- Christmas lights in New York City
- Ice skating with kids in New York City
- Thanksgiving weekend in New York City
- Christmas parades and tree lightings in New York City
- Christmas train rides near New York City
- The Nutcracker for kids in New York City
- Christmas markets in New York City
- Christmas break with kids in New York City
- Noon Year’s Eve in New York City
- Free things to do in New York City
- Indoor play places in New York City
- Every year in New York City