Mostly free spring break activities to do with your kids in NYC 

Breakin’ on a budget

We are lucky to live in a city where there are always events and activities to participate in—which are balanced out by incredibly expensive options, too! 

Head to the 2024 Schomburg Center Black Comic Book Festival on the 26th or 27th for panel discussions, workshops, cosplay showcases, and more. Grab your tickets.

Lincoln Center also hosts free events with its Lincoln Center Presents programming. On Wednesday, April 24, attend the Jazz at Lincoln Center: The music of Nat King Cole.

You can also take advantage of the many gratis events at local parks. Catch a Ninja Turtles movie under the stars at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn, gather around the campfire in Morningside Park in Manhattan or a puppet show on Fort Totten in Queens.

Travel without a passport

You don’t have to book a flight to feel like you’ve traveled far when you live in NYC. There are plenty of cultural neighborhoods across the city. Some examples:

Head to Flushing, Queens, and spend the day at the Tangram mall. Pick out something fun at Chinese retailer Miniso, then head upstairs to the food hall to try Filipino ube ice cream from Soft Swerve, Korean corn dogs from CrunCheese, or Hong Kong-style French toast from Sing Choi Kee. Be sure to grab a nice set of chopsticks from Pearl River Mart. 

Eat your way through the Bronx’s real Little Italy, Arthur Ave. Go to Full Moon Pizzeria for a slice, then head to Artuso’s for your favorite pastries. While you’re at it, grab fresh ingredients for Sunday sauce. Visit Borgatti’s for fresh-cut pasta, Casa Della Mozzarella for housemade mozzarella, Madonia for fresh-baked bread, and the Arthur Avenue Retail Market for meats and veggies. The kids can even watch some cigar rolling while you’re at it. 

Get on the water

Even if you’re not cruising to a tropical island for the break, living in a city surrounded by water still has fun opportunities to spend the day on a boat.

Jump on the NYC Ferry and spend the day discovering a different hood. Take the Astoria route to Long Island City and picnic in Gantry Plaza State Park, hop on the South Brooklyn route and take a quick bus ride (or walk!) over to Industry City, or make it an adventure and take the Rockaway route to the beach for the day. 

Canoe the Bronx River on April 20th with the Bronx River Alliance. Don’t miss our roundup of other Earth Day events during the break. 

Try tacos on a boat ride. La Barca, aka “the taco boat,” has a $5 boarding pass for its one-hour cruises.

Or there’s always the classic rowboats in Central Park. $25 will get you an hour on the lake for up to four people. 

Make a difference

Spring break is fun, but if you want to fit in a moment to give back as well, April is Youth Action Month. NYC Service and NYC Public Schools have partnered up to showcase volunteer projects with community-based organizations that need their support. Students ages 14-18 years old can register to volunteer for a project near them. Sign up here.

To read more of our schools stories, click here.