Top 10 April family events in Brooklyn

Go-to Brooklyn parent resources Macaroni KID Brooklyn NW and Brooklyn Bridge Parents have teamed up to bring you some of the best family events for Brooklyn families in April including Solar Eclipse parties, Earth Day celebrations, spring activities, and community festivals. Happy April!

1. Celebrate Holi at Brooklyn Children's Museum

Saturday, April 6 | 10am-12:30pm, 1-3:30pm, 4-6:30pm | $15 admission, $10 powder | Crown Heights

Get ready for the Museum's annual celebration of springtime, renewal, color, and play with Ajna Dance Company and The Culture Tree! Known as the “Color Festival,” Holi originated in India and is now enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. Come hungry and ready to play as they celebrate a day of art, dance, food, music, and wonder that will make your whole family feel like you’ve been transported to the streets of India (or Trinidad or Guyana). And it wouldn’t be Holi without color powder. They’ll be taking over neighboring Brower Park with pounds of color powder to throw in the air. Make sure to wear WHITE for color powder play and secure your tickets and powder early for this unforgettable day!

2. Princess Bash at CityPoint

Saturday, April 6 | 11am-1pm | Free for crafts, $20 per 2yo+ kid for Princess Bash | Downtown Brooklyn

Join a Princess Party with Elsa (Snow Queen), Ariel (Mermaid Princess), and Asha (Wish Princess): Interactive storytime, sing-along, royal ball with dance lessons, temporary tattoos, and princess meet and greet with individual photos. Kids are encouraged to come dressed up. Best for ages 3 - 9 years. All children 2 years and up need a ticket (adults do not need a ticket).

3. Catch the Solar Eclipse on April 8 in Brooklyn

The eclipse will last from 2:10–4:36 pm on Monday April 8, peaking at 3:25pm with 90% of the sun's surface covered by the moon. Solar Safety Reminder: Never look directly at the sun—even if you’re wearing sunglasses—without specifically-designed solar eclipse glasses.

Solar Eclipse Community Event at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Monday, April 8 | 1-5pm | FREE | Prospect Heights
Gather on the Garden’s lawns to marvel at the sky as the moon passes between the Earth and sun and observe the effects of the eclipse on their collections: Will blooms be fooled into closing? Will leaves turn in? Participate in the Garden-wide experiment and let them know what you see. Blankets are welcome! Outside food is not permitted but may be purchased at the Canteen. ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses provided by Warby Parker.
Solar Eclipse on the Triangle with Adams Street Library
Monday, April 8 | 1-2:30pm | FREE | DUMBO
Get ready for the Solar Eclipse with the Adams Street Branch. Meet them outside on the Pearl Street Triangle from 1-2:30pm to celebrate this exciting event! They will have solar eclipse glasses, props to take photos with and a solar eclipse-themed Grab and Go craft kit for kids.
The Great North American Solar Eclipse at Marsha P. Johnson State Park
Monday, April 8 | 2-4pm | FREE | Williamsburg
Come by the Park House to learn about and experience this natural phenomenon! Eclipse glasses will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis! All ages are welcome. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Clinton Hill Eclipse Party
Monday, April 8 | 2-4:30pm | FREE | Clinton Hill
Experience the celestial event of the year at Clinton Hill Library! The library team will be spending the afternoon creating pinhole viewers, chalking up their sidewalk with beautiful designs, and safely observing the deep partial eclipse as it passes over the city. They will have a limited number of eclipses glass to give out (first come, first served) and more pairs on hand to pass around and share. All ages welcome!
Teen Solar Eclipse Watch with Brooklyn Heights Library in Cadman Plaza
Monday, April 8 | 3-4pm | FREE | Brooklyn Heights
Come join Brooklyn Heights Library out on Juneteeth Grove in Cadman Plaza for a Teen Solar Eclipse Event! Eclipses are all about letting go! Join them before the Eclipse to write down all our worries on our paper plates then tear them apart after the Eclipse. Solar Eclipse Glases are included!

4. Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Open Stage Variety Show in Downtown Brooklyn

Tuesday, April 9 | 7pm | $15 suggested donation | DUMBO

City Tech presents the Bindlestiff Open Stage Variety Show, a monthly open mic for variety artists, where emerging performers and seasoned pros alike hone new acts in front of a live audience, hosted by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus co-founder Keith Nelson.

5. Family Discovery Weekends and Cherry Blossoms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Saturdays and Sundays starting April 13 | 10:30am-12:30pm | Free with Garden admission ($12-18, free for ages 0-11) | Prospect Heights

Learn and play together in the BBG's Discovery Garden. Hands-on stations throughout the garden’s courtyard, meadow, woodland, and marsh encourage families to explore nature alongside our volunteer Discovery Docents and teen garden apprentices. This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Free with Garden admission. Visit the website for Cherry Blossom bloom updates.

6. BABYTOPIA: World of Fun for Bump through Preschool for NYC Parents

Saturday, April 13 | 11am-3pm | FREE entry, pre-registration required | Downtown Brooklyn

BABYTOPIA is a free event for new and expectant parents and families with toddlers and preschoolers at Atlantic Terminal. The event offers free kids activities and a one-stop opportunity to discover top local and national brands and services which make life through maternity and early parenting easier, more fun, healthy, and smart. Expect interactive elements like free professional bump and baby portraits, gear testing, and activities for toddlers including mini indoor baby gym, ball pit freebies, music classes, and more. A limited number of $25 VIP tickets include a swag bag and VIP access to all activities without the crowds from 11-11:30am.

7. Brooklyn Volunteer Day

Saturday, April 13 | Times vary, 9am-3pm | FREE with registration | Multiple locations

Join Brooklyn Org, The Service Collective, and community partners across the borough at 7 different family-friendly volunteer sites throughout the day:

Clean Up a Ballfield with Brooklyn Little league (ages 8+)
Beautification of Bensonhurst Park with United Chinese Association of Brooklyn (all ages)
Serve at CHiPs Soup Kitchen in Park Slope (ages 12+)
Sort Recycling with Sure We Can in E. Williamsburg (all ages)
Urban Farming with Wyckoff House Museum (ages 5+)
Community Cleanup with KAVI in Boerum Hill (ages 10+)
Food distribution with Mixteca in South Slope (ages 12+)

8. Court Street Fair

Sunday, April 14 | 10am-6pm | FREE | Carroll Gardens

Annual springtime street fair held along Court Street between Union and 9th St. in Carroll Gardens. More details to come.

9. Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Rocks! at Brooklyn Children's Museum
Saturday, April 20-Saturday, April 27 | 10am-5pm | $15 admission | Crown Heights
Join BCM during spring break for a week-long celebration of our amazing planet! Each day presents exciting STEAM-inspired programs consisting of dynamic performances, hands-on workshops, and special projects in BCM’s new makerspace, Nature’s Engineers. The week is organized around four overarching themes: Grow, Sustain, Care, and Explore.
Earth Day Celebration on Governors Island
Saturday, April 20 | 10am-3pm | FREE | Governor's Island
Governors Island’s third annual Earth Day celebration will celebrate the power of native plants through free educational activities and workshops for all ages, guided tours through the Island’s open space, a participatory mural inspired by the relationship between milkweed and Monarch butterflies, Governors Island Nature activities, volunteer stewardship projects, free bike lessons with Bike New York, and more.
Earth Day at The Seaport
Saturday April 20 | 11am-2pm | FREE | Lower Manhattan
Join The Seaport for Earth Day activities including sustainable castle construction, lego building, plants and science, and the beauty of recycled materials. It's all part of the upcoming Seaport Kids x Earth Day lineup of activities hosted by Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents.
Downtown Brooklyn Car-Free Earth Day in Albee Square
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-3pm | FREE | Downtown Brooklyn
Enjoy Earth-friendly and car-free activities including music, fashion, cycling lessons, and more. Albee Square West will be closed to traffic all day, so bring your bike or roller skates, and enjoy activities and music at Albee Square Plaza. Stop by CityPoint 12-2pm for for a Wind Energy Party for Families presented by Community Offshore Wind. Build wind turbines from recycled materials, wind energy crafts, and wind turbine cookie decorating. Learn about offshore wind coming to Brooklyn.
Earth Day Innovations with KoKo NYC at Atlantic Terminal Mall
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-3pm | FREE | Downtown Brooklyn
Come together to honor the planet and unleash your creativity in the name of sustainability. At the Inventor's Lab, they'll delve into the fascinating world of simple machines while embracing the ethos of recycling and repurposing. Come learn about the wonders of mechanics and discover how they can harness the power of everyday materials to create innovative solutions for a greener future. From bottle caps to cardboard boxes, every item holds the potential to be transformed into something extraordinary. Bring your imagination and get ready to roll up your sleeves and celebrate Earth Day by nurturing the planet and making a positive impact.
Earth Day Festival at Fort Greene Park
Saturday April 27 | 11am-2pm | FREE | Fort Greene
Get excited for Earth Day Festival 2024! With family-friendly activity stations and sustainable swaps, there's something to do for everyone in the neighborhood.

10. Cheer on Brooklyn Half Marathon runners

Sunday, April 28 | 7am-1pm | FREE | Greenpoint to Prospect Park

Cheer on friends, family, and neighbors during the upcoming Brooklyn Half Marathon! Recommended cheer spots include the Williamsburg Bridge Area, Cadman Plaza, Albee Square at City Point, Barclays Center Plaza, and Eastern Parkway Malls.