#KidsCorner | Books, music, puppets, movies, carousel rides, bikes, video games and health
BY QEDC It's In Queens
The Queens Book Festival will take place at LIC Landing by COFFEED (52-10 Center Blvd.) from 11:30 am to 7 pm on both days this weekend. Now in its second year, this free literary event celebrates the written word and illustration with panel discussions, author conversations, STEM activities, and workshops. The first half, May 27, is dedicated to youth literacy. The second half, May 28, has an adult focus.
The Chai Found Music Workshop rocks Queens Botanical Garden (43-50 Main St. in Flushing) on May 27 at 3:30 pm. This highly esteemed Chinese chamber music ensemble is a cultural envoy for Taiwan, performing contemporary classical music as well as traditional Chinese and Taiwanese music. Event kicks off the 2017 Music in the Garden series. Please note that readers of this column can get free participation in the Taiwanese Puppet-Making Workshop for Children, which will take place before the concert. Use the code QBGFAMILY. Puppeteer Wan Da Chung will demonstrate techniques in manipulating puppet movements. Children will decorate their own Taiwanese hand puppet to take home. Pre-registration on Eventbrite required.
Grab a chair, blanket, and some popcorn to enjoy a free Movie Under the Stars: Finding Dory at Gorman Playground (35th Avenue in Flushing) on Friday, May 26, at 7:30 pm. Monsters University will screen on Saturday, May 27, at 8 pm at Underhill Playground (Underhill Avenue in Fresh Meadows). Arrive 30 minutes in advance to get a good spot.
Kick off the holiday weekend with Omar’s Summer Blast-Off Party at the Forest Park Carousel (Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive in Woodhaven) on Saturday, May 27, from 2 pm to 6 pm. Enjoy free entertainment, music, and dance contests.
NYC Parks facilitates free Learn to Ride clinics so youngsters can hone their bicycle skills. Participating venues include Rosemary’s Playground (vicinity of Madison Street and Woodward Avenue in Ridgewood), May 27, 11 am to 1 pm; and Bowne Park (vicinity of 32nd Avenue and 155th Street), June 24, 11 am to 1 pm.
Head to the Museum of the Moving Image (36-01 35th Ave. in Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District) to share a piece of history with your family in the Video Arcade exhibit. Show off your skills at Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Space Invaders, and other Old Skool games. Enjoy a screening of The Muppets at Walt Disney World on Sunday, May 28, at 1 pm. Tickets for the film are $15 and can be purchased onsite or online.
The fifth annual Pediatric Health & Safety Fair will be at the Community Medical Center Pediatric Clinic (41st Avenue between 80th and 81st streets in Elmhurst) on Thursday, June 1, from 10 am to 2 pm. Staff from the Pediatrics Department at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst and community partners will raise awareness about common childhood accidents and preventive actions that parents and caregivers can take to help keep kids safe. Presentations will be made by the hospital’s Pediatric Emergency and Primary Care physicians, and representatives from FDNY, NYPD, and NYC Parks. Other participating organizations include NYC Poison Control, Queens Public Library, MetroPlus and Healthfirst health plans, and Elmhurst Greenmarket/GrowNYC. Attendees will enjoy free family-friendly entertainment, such as clown acts, a puppet show, a magic show, and a healthy cooking demonstration. More information at 718.334.5919.
Visit Macaroni Kid for a full list of upcoming events, giveaways, and discounts.