The exterior footprint of the new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer is camoflauged by the landscape, but its programming impact will be hefty.
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Hop the ferry to Governors Island to explore all the island has to offer. Photo by Diana Kim
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Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
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Dinosaur Safari returns to the Bronx Zoo this spring. Photo courtesy of the zoo
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There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
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For an only-in-NYC experience, head to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view. Photo by Jody Mercier
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The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
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The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
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Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
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See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
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Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
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Free Activities for Kids in March 2025: 46 Things To Do in NYC

Celebrate all things Irish at St. Patrick's Day Parades all across NYC this month. Photo by Jody Mercier
Celebrate all things Irish at St. Patrick's Day Parades all across NYC this month. Photo by Jody Mercier
2/25/25 - By Drew Kristofik

When it comes to free activities this March, NYC kids are in for a treat. We've found 46 completely free things to do in NYC this month, including everything from St. Patrick's Day celebrations to Holi at The Seaport and our own CAMPTOPIA event full of summer camp fun. Plus, kids can learn how to walk like a wizard, paint with mud, and meet some horses and the officers who ride them.

Read on for our picks for the best free family activities in New York City this March, including picks in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.

More Things To Do in NYC this March with Kids:

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Free Things To Do in NYC: Saturday, March 1-Sunday, March 9, 2025

Hands-on Black History: Elizabeth Cisco at King Manor

Jamaica, Queens
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Celebrate Women’s History Month and follow in the footsteps of activist Elizabeth Cisco, a Jamaica local whose activism lead to integrated schools! Participants make pins that draw attention to causes they support and write letters to elected officials to make their voices heard. READ MORE

Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade at Rockaway Beach

Far Rockaway, Queens
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Head to Rockaway Beach for an early St. Patrick’s Day Parade the first Saturday in March. The 50th annual procession starts with a mass for peace at St. Francis de Sales Church, before stepping off behind grand marshals that include congressmen and respected community members. READ MORE

Women's History Month: Historic Female Monuments in Parks

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Celebrate Women's History Month with the Urban Park Rangers, who highlight generations of female influence in parks. Design your own empowering monument.    READ MORE

The Beauty of Ballet at Queens Theatre

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Have you ever wondered how ballerinas dance on their toes? Or how dancers turn without getting dizzy? Learn the answers to those questions and more during this family-friendly performance featuring excerpts from famous ballets including The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.  READ MORE

Wrapped Packages Family Program at Lehman College Art Gallery

Kingsbridge Heights, the Bronx
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Experience an inquiry-based inclusive family tour of the Wrapped Packages: Surprises Unknown exhibition. Create a 3-D sculpture based on the work of Claudia DeMonte. READ MORE

Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade

West Brighton, Staten Island
Sunday, March 2, 2025
The annual Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade attracts thousands of spectators to Forest Avenue each year for a procession of the borough's pipe bands, school bands, revelers in Irish pride, and celebrated figures. READ MORE

St. Pat's for All Parade 2025 in Woodside, Queens

Sunnyside, Queens
Sunday, March 2, 2025
The St. Pat's for All Parade celebrates the diversity of the Irish and Irish American communities of New York. First held in 2000, St. Pat's for All cherishes and celebrates an inclusive St. Patrick's season.  READ MORE

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss at Hunts Point Rec

Hunts Point, the Bronx
Friday, March 7, 2025
Little ones and their adult caregivers are invited to celebrate Dr. Seuss with story-telling, songs, games, and more. READ MORE

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at River Terrace

Battery Park City
Saturday, March 8, 2025
The legendary Bindlestiff Family Cirkus stops by Battery Park City with a show and skills workshop. Learn some new tricks, and experience dynamic novelty acts in an engaging and participatory way that you won’t find in other types of circus. READ MORE

Gladiators NYC in Central Park

Central Park
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Knights in full armor battle on the grass in Central Park behind The Met. Bring a blanket and a picnic.  READ MORE

SOLD OUT - Annual St. Patrick’s Day Open House at the Irish Arts Center

Midtown West
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Get a taste of Ireland’s rich cultural traditions at Irish Arts' 25th annual open house! Guests of all ages can join in a céilí, sample the many educational offerings, make arts and crafts, and delight in the day’s free music and dance performances. READ MORE

The Beauty of Ballet at Hostos Center

South Bronx
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Have you ever wondered how ballerinas dance on their toes? Or how dancers turn without getting dizzy? Learn the answers to those questions and more during this family-friendly performance featuring excerpts from famous ballets including The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker.  READ MORE

Walk Like a Wizard in Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Learn simple wood carving skills, use sandpaper and wax, and bring a staff to life, then take a hike through Prospect Park and be inspired by the magic of nature. Bring an inspiring quote to share from your favorite book.   READ MORE

Outdoor Skills: Knot Tying in Inwood Hill Park

Inwood
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Learn tips and tricks to tie some very useful knots with the Urban Park Rangers. READ MORE

Women in Architecture at the Skyscraper Museum

Battery Park City
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Learn about the importance of diversity and how women architects like Zaha Hadid, Denise Scott Brown, Natalie de Blois, Maya Lin, and Jeanne Gang have designed skyscrapers and other buildings that changed city skylines. Choose your favorite featured architect and make your own creation based on their distinctive style. READ MORE

CAMPTOPIA at Pier 57: A world of fun with summer camps

Chelsea
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Discover and play with dozens of summer camps and activities at CAMPTOPIA, hosted by Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents, and presented by NORY. Free activities include a magic show, Wicked musical theater workshops, animation, arts and crafts, STEM and robotics, games, and more. It's the most fun way to find the perfect summer camp.  READ MORE

The Mushroomers: A Workshop Performance at QED Astoria

Astoria, Queens
Sunday, March 9, 2025
When a daytime mushroom and a nighttime mushroom with different routines bump into each other, they learn to see the world through each other’s eyes. A theatre piece for 2-5 year olds and their families, the show is being developed through the New Victory Theatre’s LabWorks Residency.  READ MORE

Kindie Rock

Battery Park City
Wednesdays through Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Shake all those wiggles out at Battery Park City's weekly kid concerts. Attendance is first-come, first-served, so arrive early for one of the two sessions. READ MORE

Free Things To Do in NYC: Monday, March 10-Sunday, March 16, 2025

Stomp, Clap and Sing with Olivia at Brooklyn Public Library

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Olivia Patiño presents a fun-filled, interactive kids’ show, blending country, pop, and playful tunes, all accompanied by her acoustic guitar. READ MORE

Drop-In Program: After-School Gallery Explorers at the Jewish Museum

Upper East Side
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Preschoolers and elementary school-aged children are invited to explore and create during drop-in Tuesday afternoon sessions at the museum. READ MORE

Astronomy: The Full Moon in Inwood Hill Park

Inwood
Friday, March 14, 2025
Observe the full moon through a telescope and learn how the movements of the moon and sun appear to us as we watch from Earth. READ MORE

The Reminders at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Brussels-born emcee Big Samir and Queens-born emcee and vocalist Aja Black perform a unique mashup of razor-sharp rhymes, raw vocals, and reggae-tinged beats. READ MORE

Hands-on History: Join or Dice at King Manor

Jamaica, Queens
Saturday, March 15, 2025
After the British passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765, the colonists knew life was not all fun and games…because their playing cards and dice were being taxed! Commemorate the anniversary of the Stamp Act by making folded paper dice and enjoying games in King Manor’s classroom. READ MORE

Lenfest Kids: Big and Small

Morningside Heights
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Thinking about small perspectives isn’t just a way of understanding cinema, it’s a way of understanding the world. Shrink down and journey inside the human body in Fantastic Voyage and Osmosis Jones.  READ MORE

Women's History Month: Historic Women of Central Park

Central Park
Saturday, March 15
Celebrate women who broke records, broke ground, and blazed trails as the Urban Park Rangers lead a hike through Central Park to sites honoring these historic figures who acted to increase our liberty, safety, and prosperity.   READ MORE

Spring Mud Painting Masterpieces in Conference House Park

South Shore, Staten Island
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Celebrate the coming of spring and get those hands dirty while creating a nature-inspired masterpiece using various types of dirt and clay collected from all around Staten Island!    READ MORE

Seaport Kids: Celebrate Holi at South Street Seaport

South Street Seaport
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Shake off the winter blues and douse your family in the colors of spring! The Seaport celebrates Holi with colorful puppets, dances, drummers, delicious food, and powder play. READ MORE

27th Annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Throggs Neck, the Bronx
Sunday, March 16, 2025
The Throggs Neck Benevolent Association's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade turns out the crowds to celebrate the holiday. The parade route heads down East Tremont, toward Harding Avenue, and turns right onto Harding Avenue. There is a reviewing stand at Harding and Tremont. READ MORE

Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick's Day Parade

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Head to South Slope for this festive St. Patrick's Day Parade, which is the oldest St. Paddy's Day parade in Brooklyn. Music, marching bands, face painting, Irish dancers, and antique cars are all on display. READ MORE

Women's History Month: Women in the Wilderness in Forest Park

Forest Park, Queens
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Learn about women who braved the Appalachian Trails, made scientific discoveries, and encouraged others to explore nature no matter their gender or age.   READ MORE

Free Things To Do in NYC: Monday, March 17-Sunday, March 23, 2025

New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fifth Avenue

Midtown
Monday, March 17, 2025
NYC turns green once again as its famous St. Patrick's Day Parade marches up Fifth Avenue, starting at 44th Street, past St. Patrick's Cathedral at 50th Street, all the way up to 79th Street and the Irish Historical Society, where the parade finishes at about 4:30-5pm. READ MORE

13th Annual St. Patrick’s Citywide Book Day

Citywide
Monday, March 17, 2025
The Irish Arts Center undertakes the 12th edition of one of its most beloved programs: Book Day, in which the center pays homage to Ireland’s rich literary tradition by giving away FREE books by some of the country’s—and Irish America’s—most celebrated writers. READ MORE

SOLD OUT - Saturday Matinee: The Lego Movie in Battery Park City

Battery Park City
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Everything is awesome! Families are invited to a mystery Lego build and film screening of The Lego Movie (2014, PG), complete with popcorn and other surprises. READ MORE

The Beauty of Ballet at Aaron Davis Hall

Harlem
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Have you ever wondered how ballerinas dance on their toes? Or how dancers turn without getting dizzy? Learn the answers to those questions and more during this family-friendly performance featuring excerpts from famous ballets including The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.  READ MORE

Nature Exploration: Seton Falls Park

Eastchester, the Bronx
Saturday, March 22, 2025
The Urban Park Rangers lead a hike through a park full of natural wonders that is often referred as the “Grand Canyon” of the Bronx!    READ MORE

Crafting the Night Sky at Salt Marsh Nature Center

Marine Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Celebrate the spring equinox by joining the Urban Park Rangers to map the NYC night sky. Make an embroidery hoop of stars and constellations and learn about our place in the fabric of the solar system.   READ MORE

Discovery Hike: Vernal Pools in Alley Pond Park

Oakland Gardens, Queens
Saturday, March 22, 2025
The Urban Park Rangers invite families to explore the vernal pools—seasonal wetlands—of Alley Pond Park. Rangers talk about what kinds of amphibians can be found here, their life cycles, and how the geological history of Long Island has contributed to the formation of these unique habitats.   READ MORE

Rosie Revere, Engineer at the Skyscraper Museum

Battery Park City
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Young learners take inspiration from a reading of Andrea Beaty’s illustrated book, Rosie Revere, Engineer. After the story, little engineers use different materials to design and construct their very own innovative skyscraper. READ MORE

Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Sunday, March 23, 2025
The Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade kicks off at 1pm and runs along 3rd Avenue, starting at Marine Avenue and marching down to 67th Street. READ MORE

Signs of Spring Hike in Central Park

East Harlem
Sunday, March 23, 2025
The Urban Park Rangers lead a walk to discover some of the early flowers of spring! Learn about some of the flowers as well as the history of the Conservatory Garden. READ MORE

It's A Horse of Course Hike and Greet in Roy Wilkins Park

Jamaica, Queens
Sunday. March 23, 2025
The Urban Park Rangers and the Parks Enforcement Patrol Mounted Unit team up to share info about the Mounted Unit and their enforcement tactics during a guided hike through the park.   READ MORE

Free Things To Do in NYC: Monday, March 24-Monday, March 31, 2025

Teen Night: Sun Kissed at the Brooklyn Museum

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Friday, March 28, 2025
Be kissed by the golden, life-giving sun at this year’s second Teen Night. The March edition of this teen-led program centers on art, activism, mental health, and wellness. Celebrate your inner wealth and radiance with art-making, performances, and other activities inspired by Solid Gold, a shimmering exhibition dedicated to the element that has inspired countless works of art, fashion, film, music, and design. READ MORE

Insect Exploration Hunt in Riverside Park

Upper West Side
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Help the Urban Park Rangers explore the park, looking for insects such as ants, wasps, beetles, butterflies, mantids, and many more. Learn more about how insects are great for the environment.    READ MORE

The Beauty of Ballet at Claire Tow Theater

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Have you ever wondered how ballerinas dance on their toes? Or how dancers turn without getting dizzy? Learn the answers to those questions and more during this family-friendly performance featuring excerpts from famous ballets including The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.  READ MORE

Birding: Early Spring Migrants at Salt Marsh Nature Center

Marine Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, March 29, 2025
The Urban Park Rangers lead families on a walk along the Salt Marsh Nature Trail to discover different migratory birds that are in the NYC area during early spring. READ MORE

Create-athon: Plant Music at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Composer and Lincoln Center Collider Fellow Angélica Negrón leads participants in an exploration of acoustics, music, and organic materials. What kind of sound can a piece of fruit make? Or a plant leaf? How can we manipulate these sounds to make music? READ MORE

Outdoor Skills: Advanced Firemaking in Willowbrook Park

Bulls Head, Staten Island
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Search for different materials to use as kindling and learn advanced techniques to build an outdoor fire. The Urban Park Rangers demonstrate various drill methods, including pump drill and bow drills.   READ MORE

Nature's Workshop: Recycled Plantable Paper Making in Herbert Von King Park

Bed Stuy, Brooklyn
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Welcome springtime with the Urban Park Rangers by making recycled paper, embedded with native seeds.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Beach 130th St. and Newport Ave.
Hunts Point Recreation Center
Brooklyn Central Library - Dweck Center
Fifth Avenue at 44th Street
Irish Arts Center (but this event is citywide)
Alley Poind Adventure Course in Alley Pond Park

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
Recent Articles By Drew Kristofik:
Read more articles by Drew Kristofik.