I feel so lucky to raise my children in Brooklyn. We are constantly out and about and exploring something new (when our calendar isn’t packed with birthday parties). My oldest is seven now, and below are our family favorites that we’ve found throughout the past few years. I’ve included pictures and videos where I have them. If you want more weekly and up-to-date content, be sure to follow my page on Instagram: SaturdayMorninFever.

Top Kid-Friendly Activities in Brooklyn by Season

Summer Family Activities

Splash Pads

Take advantage of the best in Brooklyn: Water Lab @ Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Lefrak Splash Pad in Prospect Park; Domino Park in Williamsburg.

Free Public Pools

These are one of the best free resources to families in NYC. I’ve visited the Douglass & Degraw pool and have a post about my experience here. Make sure to read the rules before you visit, there are many and they are in enforced. In Brooklyn you can also find the mini-pool at PS 20, the Commodore Barry Pool, and the McCarren Park Pool. All have similar operations for kids at the right price!

Luna Park @ Coney Island

Luna Park has games and rides for kids of all ages. There are plenty for toddlers as well as for thrill seekers in your family. It’s one to include on the bucket list!

Coney Island Beach

Coney Island is great free beach option with fun for the whole family. My kids love how close the park is to the subway. This is a great beach for sand lovers and my kids spend more time castle building than swimming. It can get quite busy so prepare to keep an eye on your belongings.

Governor’s Island

Governor’s Island is reachable by three ferry locations- Red Hook, Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and Wall Street in Manhattan. If you have a child who can ride a bike, I highly recommend taking the red hook ferry and bringing your bike!

Outdoor Movies in a Park

Movies with a View: Fun outdoor movies in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Paramount + Movie Nigthts: Rotating schedules in Fort Greene Park, Prospect Park, & Coney Island.
SummerStarz: Free screenings in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Outdoor Concerts and Open Streets Events

Sprinkler Saturday @ Vanderbilt Open Streets

Vanderbilt Avene Open Streets has programming every weekend from April-Septeember with frequent concerts.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival has concerts throughout the summer.
Montague Open Streets has a rotating Sunday schedule.
Open Stages: Brooklyn Conservatory of Music creates over 30 outdoor spaces and events.

Winter Things to Do

During the winter, family activities and events are a bit more sparse. Since we are all a bit more desperate, I’ve included a few more options for toddlers and kids throughout NYC, not just Brooklyn.

Industry City

This is one of my favorite free destinations in Brooklyn. Of course, there are many vendors that cost money, but the bulk of the space is free for children to explore. Japan Village is one of my kids’ favorites, and CREA now offers date night drop-offs for children.

Chuck E Cheese

This location is so secure; they take a selfie with parents and children, and no one can exit without displaying. No toddlers can run away here!

NY Transit Museum

This is a crowd-pleaser for every family member. My kids have so much fun running around all the old train tracks at the lower level. I learn something new every visit- when I get a moment to read by myself.

American Dream

There is so much to see at American Dream in New Jersey. It should be on every family’s bucket list to explore at some point. I needed to break down the activities because there are so many of them.
Nickelodeon Universe: Great for toddlers and above. The Paw Patrol playground is phenomenal, and they have thrill rides, too.
Dreamworks Water Park: Also great for toddlers and above; significant play areas and thrill water slides.
Big Snow: Yes, this is indoor skiing. I think this is great for kids starting around 5 and above who are interested in skiing or snowboarding. (I’d skip the sledding portion; it’s underwhelming.)
Legoland Discovery Center: This is great for ages three to five or Lego enthusiasts older than that. (It may not justify being the sole destination but is a great combination with something else. We went here with my three-year-old while the seven-year-old went skiing.)

Genius Gems

This space has over 100,000 magna tiles, so there are never short of things to build. Both of my children love to roam free around, and as a bonus, there is a snack area that sells wine and beer!

Karaoke

Private room karaoke was a surprise treat as a family activity recently. I’d highly recommend signing up some time with friends for kids who can read. We had a great experience at Insa Brooklyn.

Ferox Athletics

If you have active kids, Ferox open play is a perfect fit. It can get busy, so I think it’s best for kids starting at age four.

Rock & Roll Playhouse @ Brooklyn Bowl

This is one of our families' favorite events. Almost every Sunday, there is a kids' concert at 12 p.m. Doors open at 11, and make sure to get there early if you want a table!

Ice Skating Rinks

Lefrak Center: A real rink in Prospect Park that also has hockey and figure skating lessons.
Glide BK: A pop-up in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Scenic but small rink.
Industry City : A small “faux ice” rink. Maybe a good way to combine with an afternoon of good food at Japan Village or Sahadi’s.

Indoor Play Activity

This can feel like the holy grail for cold weather. Sometimes, you need to get out of the house. I made this Google Maps list of all the indoor areas I could find with things to do around Brooklyn.

Spring Activities

Holi: Festival of Color and Spring

Brooklyn Children’s Museum Holi Fest: They run this every year and I’ve heard great things from friends!
Seaport Holi Festival: This is a new event in 2024 but based on current programming, I’m expecting it to be annual as well.
Holi Hai Festival: events through the NYC area

Tulip Festivals

Tulip Day: On one day every Spring, the Netherland Club gives away free tulips in Union Square. Mark this date on your calendar.
West Side Community Garden: This garden hosts a beautiful Tulip Festival every Spring in April.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Cherry Blossom Festival: Check their website for peak blooms. I recommend visiting on a weekday, as the weekends are quite crowded with families.
Plant Sale: Every spring, the garden sells plants from the gardens. Members get early access if you’re curious about some of the benefits!
Rose Garden: The rose garden will be in peak bloom in early June. I love this for all ages, as toddlers can run in the grassy area nearby while parents enjoy the views.

Central Park

Enjoy the fun on your schedule with a self-guided ramble tour.
Rent a boat at the Central Park Boathouse for an Instagram-worthy afternoon!

Earth Day Family Events

Free Citi bikes! Every Earth Day, the city sponsors free rides.
Governors Island Earth Day: Programming dedicated to climate and understanding the ecosystem around the city harbor.

Want to Fit an Open House into your Weekend Schedule?

Roller Skating

I love roller skating in these transitional months. It’s easy to layer, and there are often options for shade or sun.
Lefrak Center: Starting in April, this will switch from an ice skating rink to roller skating!
Pier 2 Roller Rink @ Brooklyn Bridge Park

Playgrounds:

Those first few sunny days, I always have energy to explore something new with my family. It’s the best time to take advantage of my favorite free resource in the city- Playgrounds!
Use my Brooklyn Playground Directory if you’re not sure where to start!

Top Event for Kids in Brooklyn by Weather

This list is similar to the season but the agenda is always slightly different when you have extreme weather in any direction.

Things to Do on Hot Days

Visit an Indoor Playground. Completely escape the heat and use my map.
Spend the afternoon at a brewery with friends. Buy some crafts for the kids and hav some fun indoors. My favorite spots: Beer Street South, Sixpoint Brewery, Transmitter Brewery, Talea Brewery, Wild East Brewery.
Wait until the evening and visit a playground after dinner. It will feel like a treat and you hopefully

Activities for Brooklyn Rainy Days

Industry City

This is one of my favorite free destinations in Brooklyn. There are of course many vendors that cost money but the bulk of the space you can explore with children at no cost. Japan Village is one of my kids’ favorites and CREA now offers date night drop offs for children!

Chuck E Cheese

This location is so secure; they take a selfie with parents and children and no one can exit without displaying. No toddlers can run away here!

NY Transit Museum

This is a crowd pleaser for every family member. My kids have so much fun running around all the old train tracks at the lower level. I learn something new every visit- when I actually get a moment to read by myself.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum

This is a popular activity but it’s a great destination. I think the toddler zone is particular highlight.

Target

One of my favorite activities is to give my children a $20 budget at the Atlantic Terminal location and let them figure out how they want to spend it! It’s minimum 30 minutes to make the decision and then they have a new toy to entertain them.

Guide for Sunny Saturdays

Visit the shadiest playgrounds, these have the best combination of shade and water features: St. Mary’s Playground, Fort Greene Park Playground, Pacific Park Playground
Enjoy a public pool

Families absolutely should take advantage of these. I’ve visited the Douglass & Degraw pool and have a post about my experience here. Make sure to read the rules before you visit as there are many. In Brooklyn you can also find the mini-pool at PS 20, the Commodore Barry Pool, and the McCarren Park Pool. All have similar operations for kids and you cannot beat the price!

Avoid: Governor’s Island, Brooklyn Bridge Park (not all of it but parts have very little shade), and JJ Byrne Playground

Family Fun in the Snow

Don’t travel very far, sidewalks, roads, subway, it’s all a mess in the snow. The key is to know the best within walkable distance.
Know sledding hills throughout the city:

Prospect Park: northeast corner near the Endale Arch
Fort Greene Park: multiple spots here; the biggest hill is near Dekalb and Willoughby Ave
Hillside Dog Park (Brooklyn Heights): On snowy days the children and dogs fight for the snow in the best way possible.

Can’t get enough kids events?

Follow Me Elsewhere

I share even more detailed activity agendas on social- mainly on Instagram and I’m dabbling on TikTok.

I also send a monthly newsletter with events, what’s new, and a broader real estate scope.

Looking for more Brooklyn neighborhood information?

Send me an email: katie.johnson@corcoran.com. I’m always working on more content and curious to hear feedback.

Exploring a move?

I work on one of the leading real estate teams at Corcoran and I’d love to hear from you. If you’ve got questions and want to grab coffee, send me a note: katie.johnson@corcoran.com. I love meeting other families in Brooklyn (best part about living here is the people you meet)!

-Katie

Top Kid-Friendly Activities in Brooklyn | Family Fun Events for Kids in Brooklyn by Season