NEW-Kids Class! Ice Cream Sundae Decorating in Queen

Looking for indoor family fun this spring? Sign up for an ice cream sundae decorating class at the new Tipsy Scoop in Astoria! 

During this 1.5 hour class they show  kids how to make their "Cool Kids Club" sundaes* with non-alcoholic ice cream and fun candy toppings. Plus! parents will get unlimited tastes of their boozy flavors while your kids create their masterpieces! 

Items made during the class are 100% alcohol free. This class is appropriate for all ages. All minors must be accompanied by an adult on weekends various times from 1-7 pm. Fee $35.

Tipsy Scoop Queens -38-15 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

https://tipsyscoop.com/collections/queens-classes-events/products/kids-class-sundae-decorating-in-astoria

Celebrate Black Dance in New York

This May New York  becomes a center for Black dance and music offering an opportunity for families to celebrate this artistic legacy.

 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the company that defines artistic excellence and Black cultural legacy concludes its national tour at The New Jersey Performing Arts Center - 1 Center St, Newark, NJ for three unforgettable performances from May 8–10, including a special Mother’s Day performance on May 10. The weekend features five premieres, and every performance concludes with Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations, the ultimate anthem to resilience and joy! Be reminded why Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the most moving and joyous experiences you can have in the theater. https://www.njpac.org/event/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater-3/

Celebrating Judith Jamison Workshop

Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Ailey Studios on May 10 as we honor Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison on what would’ve been her 83rd birthday and is now recognized as Judith Jamison Day in New York City. Led by Ailey instructor and former Ailey dancer Linda Celeste Sims, participants will learn choreography from Ms. Jamison’s most iconic solo, Alvin Ailey’s Cry; and excerpts from Divining, Ms. Jamison’s first choreographic work. This workshop is open to dancers of all levels ages 13 and up. https://ailey.org/

Join members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on May 30 at 2 pm outdors in The Plaza at Brooklyn Academy of Music 300 Ashland, Brooklyn, for a special workshop during the company’s season at BAM. Inspired by Ronald K. Brown’s powerhouse work Grace, this free workshop will introduce participants to Brown's unique movement style through a guided warm-up and choreography. Explore themes of transformation, healing, and compassion through movement and discover how grace can be embodied in dance and in everyday life. https://ailey.org/

Audition for The Ailey School Junior Division

Auditions for the Alvin Ailey Junior Division’s Pre-Professional Program for the 2026-27 school year are being held on June 9–11 at The Ailey School for prospective students ages 7–17. 

Students experience a highly structured curriculum of world-class training through after-school and weekend classes. All levels include training in ballet and at least one other technique. As students progress, more techniques are added to their training such as jazz, Ailey Horton, Graham, pointe, tap, and West African.

Registration for the June auditions opens on May 19. Mark your calendar to secure your child’s spot for audition day.

Harlem Mouse/Country Mouse                                                                                        Featuring the Dance Theatre of Harlem School and Company                                        Narrated by Darryl Quinton and Sunny Hostin

Dance Theatre of Harlem at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts - 250 Bedford Park Blvd W, Bronx, NY on Sunday, May 17 at 3pm  presents their annual family matinee, Harlem Mouse/Country Mouse—an enchanting retelling of Aesop’s “City Mouse and Country Mouse.” Referencing the rich traditions of the Black South and the vibrant energy of modern-day life in Harlem, this joyful story-ballet celebrates the unique expressions of dance, music, and poetry that arise when cultures meet.

Conceived by Artistic Director Robert Garland and School Director Tai Jimenez, this lively production set to music from R&B to folk, with costumes by Katy Freeman, is a heartwarming spring treat for audiences of all ages. Ticket information https://dancetheatreofharlem.org/

DanceAfrica 2026                                                                                                                Uganda’s Ndere Troupe

This Memorial Day weekend May 23-25, the nation’s largest festival dedicated to African diasporic dance and music opens Brooklyn’s stages and streets to the rich culture and artistry of Uganda. Now in its 49th year, this year’s festival honors the East African nation’s past, celebrates its present, and rejoices in its future.

Anchored by heart-pounding performances from Uganda’s Ndere Troupe, the long weekend unfolds with a mix of dance, music, film, and visual art—plus plenty of food, crafts, and fashion at the outdoor bazaar. Enjoy traditional dance and music from Uganda, view visual art, sample FilmAfrica’s cinematic offerings, participate in classes, attend late-night dance parties, and mingle with neighbors from around the block—and around the globe—in the iconic outdoor bazaar. It’s all waiting for you at Brooklyn’s most unmissable summer celebration at Brooklyn Academy of Music - 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY For ticket information https://www.bam.org/danceafrica-community-day

Free Tickets to 2026 FIFA World Cup for Youth Teams

 

Send your kid’s team to the game!

Every kid deserves to feel the energy of a live event. That’s why StubHub’s Access: New York program is offering young New Yorkers the chance to attend world-class live events in-person, for free. Through this program, selected groups can receive free group tickets to concerts, theater performances, and professional sports games including matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium.            Access: New York offers youth teams free tickets to live events across our state – helping build team spirit, reward hard work, and bring communities together.      Coaches, teachers, mentors, and group leaders are invited to nominate eligible youth teams, clubs, and community groups from anywhere in New York State. Know a youth team, club, or group that deserves this experience? Nominate your group or team at www.stubhub.com/accessny.

https://www.stubhub.com/accessny/?utm_source=schneps&utm_medium=eblast&utm_campaign=nyc&utm_content=schneps_eblast_genpub&utm_term=spring

Bilingual Birdies Duo Concert in Spanish & English

 ¡Hola, hola! ¿Cómo estás? Get ready to sing, dance, jump, shake, laugh, march, run, freeze, tap, smile, and have the most fun ever en español with Bilingual Birdies! Families go on a joyful adventure with songs, dance, and puppetry, to learn new words in Spanish while they're having a blast in this 45-minute live music interactive experience. Whether you know a bit of Spanish already or are completely new to the language, this is the perfect way to celebrate diversity and embrace Latin American cultures! The session is led in English and Spanish and all are welcome. Bilingual Birdies has been rocking the early childhood world in NYC since 2006 and can't wait for your family to join their upcoming fiesta! at the Brooklyn Central Library, Plaza - 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238 on Oct 10 at 10:30 am

Mooncakes Festival

 The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture. Similar holidays are celebrated by other cultures in East and Southeast Asia. This year the Moon Festival will be celebrated on September 29, 2023. The following books will help everyone share the holiday with young children.

Moon Festival Wishes

by Julian Lin

In this beautifully illustrated book, children aged 2 to 6 will follow Mei as she and her family prepare for and celebrate the Mid-Autumn, Mooncake, or Moon Festival. They will also enjoy reading the story behind one of the most important Chinese celebrations. More interesting facts and questions for discussion are included at the back of the book.

Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival

by Eugenia Chu and Y Y Chan

The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the warmth of family, the joy of togetherness, and the enchantment of the moonlit sky. With captivating illustrations and engaging storytelling, this nonfiction book aims to introduce young readers to the vibrant and fascinating world of one of Asia's most celebrated holidays by delving into its history, traditions, and activities.

Our Moon Festival

by Yobe Qiu

The story highlights different families and their diverse traditions as they observe Zhong Qiu Jie, Tết Trung Thu, and Tsukimi! In all three stories, children will learn about foods, traditions, dances, parades, and poetry involved in the celebration of the Moon Festival. Just like "Our Lunar New Year" by the same author, children will be so captivating by the celebrations that they will feel part of holiday too!

Mooncakes

by Loretto Seto

The story highlights different families and their diverse traditions as they observe Zhong Qiu Jie, Tết Trung Thu, and Tsukimi! In all three stories, children will learn about foods, traditions, dances, parades, and poetry involved in the celebration of the Moon Festival. Just like "Our Lunar New Year" by the same author, children will be so captivating by the celebrations that they will feel part of holiday too!

Thanking the Moon

by Grace Lin                                                                                                               

This simple, young, and satisfying story follows a Chinese American family as they celebrate the Mid-  Autumn Moon Festival. Each member of the family lends a hand as they prepare a moonlit picnic with  mooncakes, pomelos, cups of tea, and colorful lanterns. And everyone sends thanks and a secret wish  up to the moon.

                                                                                                                                     

A Charlie Brown Christmas

 The holidays wouldn’t be complete without watching the classic specials we grew up with. Peanuts fans will have even more ways to watch Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang as Apple and PBS team up for special, ad free broadcasts of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas. But take note, because both air on broadcast TV for one day only! 

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will be live on PBS and PBS KIDS on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m./6:30 p.m. CT. You can catch A Charlie Brown Christmas on PBS and PBS KIDS on Sunday, Dec.19 at 7:30 p.m./6:30 pm CT.

The classic holiday Peanuts specials are also available to stream ad free and in HD on Apple TV+, after the TV provider acquired the rights last year. You’ll need a subscription, though you can also start a free trial to view the two classics. 

"Imagine Your Story" Queens Library Summer Reading 2020 Project

This year, our Summer Reading theme is Imagine Your Story. We are inviting children in grades 2-6 to participate in our Tell Your Tale: Share Your Stories program. Every week, we’ll share creative prompts that children can respond to by submitting 400 words or less on our website. Every Thursday at 5pm, we’ll share some of the stories we receive on our Facebook Live program! This week’s prompts are:

Option 1: 
In older stories, the characters don't have the cool technology we do today. Think of a story in which you could save the day with our tech!

Option 2: 
You have access to a time machine and you can go anywhere at any time (future or past). Where (and when) do you go? What do you do when you get there?

We can’t wait to read your children’s imaginative responses and to share them with our community!