Hi loopers,
I hope you all had a nice Passover and Easter! Happy We’re just coming back from a trip to St. Augustine and getting back into the swing of things. I’m so excited to see all the spring, warmer-weather events popping up.
As always, the events below are free unless noted, because ‘what should we do?’ should not turn into Saturday morning stress. Follow @theparentloopnyc on Instagram for more.
P.S. We have some fun raffles on social media coming up!
Around The Loop: Little shoutouts, local sightings, and meaningful connections from the week.
Pranced last Friday with my friend Mary + a group of awesome women who love a good crosswalk dance. Every Friday, 6:30 am, 96th and CPW. In case you missed it, check out my interview with the lady-in-neon who started it here.
I’ve been passing out flyers for our Let’s go, moms! dance party on the UWS and it’s been so great to chat with moms (hi, Sophie!) and meet their little ones.
About to kick off two raffles this weekend: one, for two free tickets to Let’s go, moms! and another, for three free classes at Muse Arts on @theparentloopnyc. Keep an eye out and can’t wait to give these to a couple lucky loopers!
Mother’s Day gift idea: Take care of the logistics, cover the night and morning shift, and send mom to something genuinely fun. Let’s go, moms!, our first moms+friends dance party, on Wed, April 29, from 7-10 pm at West Side Comedy Club. It’s a night for moms and their friends, with throwback singalongs and music from DJ MK. There will be a raffle (TULA gift card! Bondd Pilates classes!), fun, and plenty of friendly faces.
Friday - April 10
Fishing @ the Harlem Meer (Charles Dana Discovery Center), 10am-5pm, borrow fishing poles (ID required) and bait from the Dana Center, all ages, check the alerts page before going.
2026 NY Auto Show @ Javits Center, 10am-10pm, all ages, tickets vary $8-22 (2 and younger free with paid adult).
Coloring for Babies and Toddlers @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 10:30-11:00am, ages 0-5.
Family Storytime @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 11-11:45am, ages 0-5.
Open Playtime @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 11am-12:00pm, ages 0 months-5 years.
Children's Family Board Games Night @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 3-4:00pm, ages 3-12.
College and Career Pathways: Virtual one-on-one counseling sessions, @ Bloomingdale Library (online), times vary, registration required, ages grades 7-12.
Big Umbrella Festival @ Lincoln Center. First day of one of my absolute favorite events. Every year, they welcome kids, teens and adults, for dynamic series of programming, designed with and for neurodiverse audiences. Events include dance performances, art installations, hands-on-art activities, tours, theatrical performances, and much more. The Parent Loop pick!
Note: The NY Historical Society will be open 11am-2pm on Friday and 2-5pm on Saturday. No family events listed those two days.
Saturday - April 11
Big Umbrella Festival @ Lincoln Center, times and performances vary.
Pipes and Drums on the Fountain Terrace @ Bryant Park, part of the NYC Tartan Week celebrations, 10am-12:45pm, all ages. The Parent Loop pick!
Fishing @ the Harlem Meer (Charles Dana Discovery Center), 10am-5pm, borrow fishing poles (ID required) and bait from the Dana Center, check the alerts page before going.
2026 NY Auto Show @ Javits Center, 10am-10pm, all ages, tickets vary $8-22 (2 and younger free with paid adult).
Teen Advisory Group @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 10am-12:00pm, ages 13-18. Teen volunteers ages 14-18 can earn volunteer/service hours. Email [email protected] for more information.
Puzzles & Play @ Bloomingdale Library (100th & Amsterdam Av), 10am-2:00pm, all ages.
Open Process Art Afternoon @ Columbus Library (51st & 10th Av), 12-3pm, ages 18 months-12 yrs.
Together in Song with Suzi Shelton and Friends @ NY Public Library for the Performing Arts (Lincoln Center), 11am, registration required, ages 4-8. The Parent Loop pick!
NYC Tartan Day Parade @ 59th West 44th St, 2-4pm, all ages. Any Outlander fans? Sam Heughan is the Grand Marshal this year.
Gladiators NYC in Central Park @ Central Park (Lawn Behind the Met Museum), 2-4pm, all ages, bring your own blanket.
Note: The NY Historical Society will be open 11am-2pm on Friday and 2-5pm on Saturday. No family events listed those two days.
Sunday - April 12
Big Umbrella Festival @ Lincoln Center, times and performances vary.
Fishing @ the Harlem Meer (Charles Dana Discovery Center), 10am-5pm, borrow fishing poles (ID required) and bait from the Dana Center, check the alerts page before going.
2026 NY Auto Show @ Javits Center, 10am-7pm, all ages, tickets vary $8-22 (2 and younger free with paid adult).
Sunday Story Time: Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans @ NY Historical Society (Lower level, 77th & CPW), 11:30am-12:30pm, ages 3-6. Inc. with museum ticket (see prices above). Hello song, silly dance/game, story time, and make your make your own garbage can to sort your trash and recycling.
Storytime @ The Strand (81st & 82nd), 12pm & 3pm, ages 0–7.
Storytime @ Book Culture (2915 Broadway & 114th St), 1pm, ages 0–7.
Ongoing Spring Events
Big Umbrella Festival @ Lincoln Center. First day of one of my absolute favorite events. Every year, they welcome kids, teens and adults, for dynamic series of programming, designed with and for neurodiverse audiences. Events include dance performances, art installations, hands-on-art activities, tours, theatrical performances, and much more. The Parent Loop pick!
Blooming Wonders @ Artechouse NYC (Chelsea Market), times vary, approx. 40 min, prices and times vary, +$20, ages +4, goes until May 31.
The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle @ New York Botanical Garden, until April 26, ticket prices vary.
Upcoming hot events
Family Day: Spring Fest @ Carnegie Hall (Resnick Education Wing), April 18, ages 3-10, free, first-come, first-served.
Ballet Essentials with the NYC Ballet @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building, 7th floor), April 20 and May 16, $30 per ticket, teens and adults, little or no dance training required.
Let’s go, moms! @ West Side Comedy Club (75th & Broadway), Wed, April 29, 7-10 pm, $45. Celebrate Mother’s Day a little differently this year. Get your tickets here.
Children's Access Workshops w. the NYC Ballet @ Lincoln Center (Rose Building, 7th floor). May 2, for children with physical disabilities. Only kids participating need a ticket, $8 per ticket and you can contact for financial support if needed, ages 4-12.
Kid Fest @ Pier 57, May 3, 12-3pm, all ages.
Family Saturdays @ New York City Ballet (David Koch Theater, Lincoln Center), The Comedy of Coppélia on May 30, price varies +$29, ages +5. Tickets are required for infants, children, and adults.
Indoor favorites for rainy days
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre @ 81st and CPW, in Central Park, tickets +$12 for ages 2 and up, for ages 3-7, various times.
The Met’s 81st studio @ The Met (on the bottom floor; a state-of-the-art space), stroller parking, 10am-5pm, ages 3-11.
Hands-on-activities (Discovery Room ages 0-12,Climate Learning Lab ages 8+, Human Origins Learning Lab ages 8+) @ American Museum of Natural History, NYC residents pay-what-you-wish. Note: The Discovery is moving from a first-come, first-serve to a registration-based approach so make sure to sign up when you get to the museum.
Libraries are open Friday and Saturdays, closed Sundays: Bloomingdale Library (99th st), Riverside Library (66th st), St. Agnes Library (81st st), Columbus Library (51st st).
Bookstores, times vary: Book Culture (@112th, @114th), The Strand (81st & 82nd on Columbus), Barnes and Noble (@82nd st).
Activities led by moms
Mommy & Me Pilates @ Bondd Pilates (66 E 85th St). First class is free, then $35. Fridays 9:30 am and Sundays 10:30 am.
@fridaysweprance.nyc, 6:30 am, 96th and CPW, women+, ages 18 and up.
Morning Meeting: Fitness and Connection. First class free, then $28. Check out the times and locations in the google form.
I’m always looking for great partners. If your business would like to sponsor the dance party, contribute to a swap, or be part of a future The Parent Loop event, just reply here and let’s grab coffee!
Because “What should we do?” doesn’t need to be stressful.
The Parent Loop
Disclaimer: Event details, dates, and links are subject to change — please check with venues before heading out. Some product links may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share items we genuinely use and love. The Parent Loop and its admins are not responsible for member posts, recommendations, transactions, services or arrangements made through the Whatsapp groups. Participations is voluntary, and each member is responsible for their own decisions, screening, and interactions.