Free Passes and Memberships
Culture Pass: Use your library card to book passes for you and your kids to over 100+ attractions in Brooklyn and NYC, including museums, public gardens, and heritage centers. Passes can be booked in advance here.
IDNYC: With an IDNYC card, you can get free or discounted memberships and entry tickets to a range of awesome local attractions, as well as discounted services and programs. Learn more about IDNYC benefits here and book an appointment here to apply for your IDNYC card.
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment
- Brooklyn Museum: Free for kids under 19, and pay-what-you-wish for adults. Look out for events at their Education Center. Adults can also reserve free passes through Culture Pass or for First Saturdays.
- Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonean Design Museum: Free admission 5-6pm daily
- Puppet Mobile: Follow their calendar to catch a puppet show in Brooklyn
- Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City: Free family friendly concerts, storytimes, dance workshops, and more. Their Big Umbrella Festival is specially curated for neurodiverse audiences.
- Shakespeare at Sunset in Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Field of Lights: Free immersive light exhibition at Freedom Plaza in Manhattan. Book tickets in advance online.
- Little Island: Explore the park and attend one of their summer events. Performances at The Glade are free on a first-come-first serve basis. Check the TodayTix.com app for discounted rush (evening-of) tickets for events at The Amph.
- Outdoor movies:
Nature and Water Fun
- Natural Areas Conservancy: Nature walks and lectures
- Hiking trails in Brooklyn and guided hikes led by NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers
- Hike or bike in Shirley Chisholm State Park
- Paddling/kayaking:
- Kayaking at Brooklyn Bridge Park: Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Advanced registration required; opens 2 weeks ahead of new dates.
- Public paddling at North Brooklyn Community Boathouse: Kid-friendly (with a height requirement of 4’10” for boat balance). Advanced registration required to join one of their twice monthly paddling outings.
- Paddling with Red Hook Boaters: Walk-up times available
- Gowanus Canal: Free walk-up paddling
- Brooklyn Botanical Gardens: Reserve free passes with your library card through Culture Pass
- Beach day!: Coney Island and Brighton Beach and the Rockaways are free to visit and have great parks and fun events for families all summer
- Park sprinklers and splash pads:
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Prospect Park
- Lakeside splash pad
- Harmony Park sprinklers
- Imagination Playground fountain and splash pad
- Domino Park splash pad: Just south of the playground
Parks We Love in Brooklyn
- Prospect Park
- Ride the carousel: The antique carousel is $3/ride, and free on Thursdays in August. The carousel is wheelchair accessible.
- Visit Historic Lefferts House: 18th-century Flatbush farmhouse and New York City landmark
- Gather with friends for a picnic or barbeque
- Nature Programs organized by the Prospect Park Alliance
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Sunset Park
- Fort Greene Park
- Green-Wood Cemetery
- Stroller tours help new parents get out into the fresh air in a beautiful location
- Battle of Brooklyn event in August
- Self-guided scavenger hunt
- And more!
Sports and Other Active Fun
- Kids in Motion events – range of outdoor activities and workshops including fitness demos, ball sports, water games, board games. Register in advance.
- CityParks Play – July-August free golf, tennis, and soccer lessons
- Bike or rollerblade:
- Brooklyn Greenway Initiative 26-mile route connecting Brooklyn’s waterfront
- LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park
Educational
- New York Aquarium: Free admission Wednesday after 3pm. Advanced time tickets required.
- Brooklyn Grange: Join a family farm day at the Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm in Sunset Park
- Brooklyn Abolitionist Heritage Walk: Follow the audio tour through learn about the history of the Underground Railroad and abolition in Brooklyn
- American Museum of Natural History: General admission is pay-what-you-wish for NY residents. Book tickets in advance here.
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum: Free admission Thursdays 2-5pm. Tickets can be booked in advance online.
- Weeksville Heritage Center
- Brooklyn Public Library events and classes
Support the Organizations you Love Through Memberships
Purchasing MEMBERSHIPS as gifts and asking family and friends to do the same can help you save money all year round and support the organizations you love. Many organizations offer members-only events and discounts on special shows. Here are some great membership opportunities to consider:
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum
- NY Aquarium
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Brooklyn Museum of Art
- Museum of Natural History
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Prospect Park Alliance (free carousel rides)
- Fort Greene Park Conservancy
Service
- The Service Collective: Join one of their kid and family-friendly volunteer projects to serve your community
- Brooklyn Book Bodega: Older kids and teens (10-17 years) accompanied by a guardian can volunteer at the Brooklyn Book Bodega and support their mission to increase the number of 100+ book homes in NYC.
- Volunteer with NYC Parks
Further Reading on PSP
- Indoor Activities for Yucky Days
- NYC Tourist Activities for Tweens & Teenagers
- It's Sooo Hot in the City! Cheap (or free!) things to do with Kids of All Ages in NYC During the Summer
