Free family day
No-ticket or likely-free events that work well as the anchor for a low-cost weekend plan.
Open this plan →New York City family weekend planner
Updated October 10, 2026
October 9–11
Sat · 11:00 AM · Bronx
Boo at the Zoo (Bronx Zoo)
Boo at the Zoo returns to the Bronx Zoo with costumes and treat stations, included with admission
Boo Bash in the Bronx
Free Boo Bash in the Bronx at St. James Park — costumes, candy and family entertainment
Sat · 10:00 AM · Brooklyn
Spooktober! At Prospect Park Zoo
Spooktober! at Prospect Park Zoo — a low-cost Halloween outing for the littlest ones
Sat · 11:00 AM · Bronx FreeIndigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration with NAIC-NY
Free Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration with NAIC-NY on the Bronx Zoo's river walk
Sun · 11:00 AM · Brooklyn
Free
Smorgasburg
Free Sunday Smorgasburg in Prospect Park — the city's biggest open-air food market
The weekend of October 9–11 brings Boo at the Zoo in Bronx (Saturday) and Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration with NAIC-NY in Bronx (Saturday). Every listing below comes from the organizer's own calendar, with times, venues, and official links — and the free ones are marked.
125 family events across 8 New York City cities this weekend — 98 likely free. Biggest clusters: park (86), community (15), ticketed (8).
Ranked by how hard each one is to catch otherwise — marquee one-offs first, always-on drop-ins last.
Why it ranks annual tradition · city-wide festival · editor's pick
Boo at the Zoo returns to the Bronx Zoo with costumes and treat stations, included with admission
All agesOfficial ↗
Why it ranks limited run · live show · editor's pick
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show off-Broadway at DR2 — puppetry magic for the preschool set
All agesOfficial ↗
Why it ranks annual tradition · city-wide festival
$$All agesOfficial ↗
Why it ranks one-time special · community program · editor's pick
Free Boo Bash in the Bronx at St. James Park — costumes, candy and family entertainment
FreeAll agesOfficial ↗
Why it ranks monthly · outdoors · editor's pick
Free Sunday Smorgasburg in Prospect Park — the city's biggest open-air food market
FreeAges 2–11Official ↗
Why it ranks one-time special · outdoors · editor's pick
Free Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration with NAIC-NY on the Bronx Zoo's river walk
FreeAges 6–11Official ↗
Why it ranks weekly · outdoors · editor's pick
Spooktober! at Prospect Park Zoo — a low-cost Halloween outing for the littlest ones
$Ages 6–11Official ↗
Pick a guide preset and FamHop will open it as an editable plan you can share for votes.
No-ticket or likely-free events that work well as the anchor for a low-cost weekend plan.
Open this plan →Shorter, earlier programs with age signals that are easier for little kids.
Open this plan →Libraries, museums, makerspaces, and indoor culture picks for weather or low-energy days.
Open this plan →A tighter cluster in one city so the day does not turn into a long drive.
Open this plan →Generated October 10, 2026 from official event sources
38 events · 32 free · already happened
(1) Everyone regardless of age needs a ticket. (Laps seats are available to purchase at the box office for infants.
Official ↗Van Cortlandt Manor: an after-dark walk through thousands of hand-carved jack o'lanterns.
Official ↗Join Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs on Thursdays and Fridays at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation.
Free Official ↗Children’s Corner, $3 per ride, $13 for a book of 5 tickets, Free with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership or higher.
Official ↗Celebrate the season at the Lakeside Fall Festival, a month-long fall experience filled with pumpkins, Haunted Hotel experience, carnival…
Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Green Park Gardeners NYC for a general cleanup at Andrew Haswell Green Park.
Free Official ↗10:00 am – 5:00 pm BCM is open for play! Come explore some of our most-loved exhibits, including toddler-favorite Totally Tots, the…
Official ↗Join Prospect Park Alliance at the Prospect Park Audubon Center for an uplifting and energizing morning walk including scenic trails along…
Free Official ↗62 events · 51 free
Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo: trick-or-treat Candy Trail, Hay Maze, Boo Carnival, costume parade, Wildlife Theater shows and Halloween activities for kids.
Official ↗(1) Everyone regardless of age needs a ticket. (Laps seats are available to purchase at the box office for infants.
Official ↗Van Cortlandt Manor: an after-dark walk through thousands of hand-carved jack o'lanterns.
Official ↗Free family Halloween celebration at St. James Park in the Bronx: games, activities, and treats, hosted by NYC Parks.
Free Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Parent-Child Relationship Association to help beautify Leif Ericson Park.
Free Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Security 5 Block Association to spread mulch in the street trees along Edgecombe Avenue between…
Free Official ↗Friends of Triboro G invites volunteers to tend to ground beds and standing planters every week.
Free Official ↗Go batty every weekend in October at the Prospect Park Zoo!
Official ↗Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs on Saturdays and Sundays at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban…
Free Official ↗Mick Sullivan’s hit children’s podcast The Past and The Curious comes
Official ↗Children’s Corner, $3 per ride, $13 for a book of 5 tickets, Free with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership or higher.
Official ↗Celebrate the season at the Lakeside Fall Festival, a month-long fall experience filled with pumpkins, Haunted Hotel experience, carnival…
Official ↗Family-friendly museum programming, discovery activities, and exhibit-based learning.
Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Friends of Lillian D. Wald Playground for a general cleanup at Lillian D Wald Playground.
Free Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Westerleigh Parks Coalition to do a general clean up and pick up natural debris at Northerleigh Park.
Free Official ↗During the 2026 season, the PuppetMobile will present a fresh take on the classic fairytale Pinocchio written by Julia Darden and directed…
Free Official ↗Whether you’re new to birding or looking to build your skills, this introductory outing is a great way to explore Prospect Park and learn…
Free Official ↗Celebrate Autumn in Prospect Park by supporting migratory birds!
Free Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center to do a general clean up at Mapes Park.
Free Official ↗10:00 am – 5:00 pm BCM is open for play! Come explore some of our most-loved exhibits, including toddler-favorite Totally Tots, the…
Official ↗what other market can you do all your food shopping, sample local wine and explore Brooklyn’s favorite park?
Free Official ↗Join Prospect Park Alliance and Shape-up NYC for a fun-filled dance fitness zumba class at the Boathouse!
Free Official ↗Join Prospect Park Alliance and Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute (SCCI) for a new exhibit that explores how Brooklyn’s beloved daughter…
Free Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Owl’s Head Park Volunteers to spread mulch around trees and plant in the wildflower garden on the…
Free Official ↗Have you ever wondered what lives beneath your feet on the forest floor?
Free Official ↗Books, songs, and early-literacy activities for children and caregivers.
Free Official ↗Stories, songs, and rhymes for young children and caregivers at Queens Public Library branches.
Free Official ↗Hands-on science, art, and maker activities for kids.
Free Official ↗Drop-in building activities for school-age kids.
Free Official ↗25 events · 15 free
Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo: trick-or-treat Candy Trail, Hay Maze, Boo Carnival, costume parade, Wildlife Theater shows and Halloween activities for kids.
Official ↗(1) Everyone regardless of age needs a ticket. (Laps seats are available to purchase at the box office for infants.
Official ↗Van Cortlandt Manor: an after-dark walk through thousands of hand-carved jack o'lanterns.
Official ↗presented in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance, is considered the “Woodstock of Eating.” The celebrated open-air food fair is back in…
Free Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Parent-Child Relationship Association to help beautify Sunset Park.
Free Official ↗Go batty every weekend in October at the Prospect Park Zoo!
Official ↗Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs on Saturdays and Sundays at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban…
Free Official ↗Children’s Corner, $3 per ride, $13 for a book of 5 tickets, Free with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership or higher.
Official ↗Celebrate the season at the Lakeside Fall Festival, a month-long fall experience filled with pumpkins, Haunted Hotel experience, carnival…
Official ↗Family-friendly museum programming, discovery activities, and exhibit-based learning.
Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Friends of Hamilton Metz Field to plant daffodil bulbs along the playground area!
Free Official ↗Celebrate Autumn in Prospect Park by supporting migratory birds!
Free Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Kew Kids Forest School to steward at Forest Park.
Free Official ↗10:00 am – 5:00 pm BCM is open for play! Come explore some of our most-loved exhibits, including toddler-favorite Totally Tots, the…
Official ↗Nestled inside Prospect Park’s tree-shaded southwest corner, this much-loved market is where South Slope and Windsor Terrace residents…
Free Official ↗Join Prospect Park Alliance and Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute (SCCI) for a new exhibit that explores how Brooklyn’s beloved daughter…
Free Official ↗This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Owl’s Head Park Volunteers to spread mulch around trees and plant in the wildflower garden on the…
Free Official ↗Have you ever wondered what lives beneath your feet on the forest floor?
Free Official ↗Jump to the kind of weekend you're after — story time, hands-on science, music, the outdoors, and more.
Sports, playgrounds, swimming, biking, and run-around energy burners.
Zoos, farms, gardens, and wildlife walks to get up close with the outdoors.
Fairs, parades, seasonal celebrations, and big community gatherings.
Drop-in making, painting, drawing, and creative studio time.
Concerts, recitals, dance, theater, sing-alongs, and live shows.
Farmers markets, food trucks, tastings, and cooking fun.
Read-alouds, story hours, rhyme times, author visits, and book clubs.
Science, coding, robotics, building, and other hands-on, curious-kid programs.
Weekly storytimes and library programs: the New York City library events calendar.