Earlier this week, I shared a comprehensive post (and pdf) of free summer concerts in NYC*. Thanks for all of your encouraging feedback! As I mentioned in that post, I would be sharing my top family friendly picks in a separate post. Initially, I planned on only including eight picks, but I could not. Below are my top twelve summer concert picks for families:
1. Albee Square Summer Concerts for Kids – Downtown Brooklyn
Thursdays (May 17th to August 23rd) at 10am
Kid-friendly performances.
2. Carroll Park Kids’ Concerts
June through September, once a month
Astrograss and The Deedle Deedle Dees are on the schedule for 2012.
3. Fort Greene Park Conservancy’s Music in the Grove: Kids
Wednesdays (June 20th to August 15th) from 10am to 11am
Listen to kid favorites (Audrarox, Astrograss and more) at the grove.
4. Carl Schurz Park: Children’s Activities
Multiple dates in July and August
Activities include musical concerts (Audra Rox, The Fuzzy Lemons, and more).
5. Friends of Washington Market Park Summer Concert Series
Thursdays in July and June at 6pm
Each summer, family-friendly bands perform music outside in Washington Market Park.
6. Kids in the Square
Thursdays (June 14th through August 9th) starting at 10am
Presented by the Union Square Partnership, this family-friendly series that is held on the South Plaza features music, fitness, and more. Hot Peas & Butter, Suzi Shelton and Zak Morgan are on the schedule for this year.
7. Mad. Sq. Kids Concerts
Tuesdays and Thursdays (June 12 to August 9th) at 10:30am
The Itty Biddies, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band and Princess Katie & Racer Steve are scheduled to perform during this 10th anniversary season.
8. River to River Festival
June 17th to July 15th
This festival brings a variety of family and musical performances (as well as dance, theater, film, etc.) to Downtown NYC.
9. Sandbox Music
Mid-July to mid-August
Professional musicians from Central Park Brass will perform and teach kids to accompany their live brass instruments with percussion.
10. Summer on the Hudson: Children’s Performance Series
Thursdays (July 12th to August 16th) 10:30am to 11:30am
Families (with kids up to age 7) will enjoy the music portions of this series. The Funkey Monkeys and Baze and His Silly Friends are on the lineup.
11. SummerStage Kids
Multiple dates from June through August
Music plays a large part in this series of events for families with kids (ages 3-12). Robbi K and Recess Monkey are just a couple of the musical acts on the lineup.
12. Flushing Town Hall Free Summer Concerts
Sundays on July 15th and 29th, August 12th and 26th
These summer garden concerts are popular with local families.
Did I miss your family favorite? If so, please let me know in the “Comments” section below. (Personally, Mad. Sq. Music and Sandbox Stories – where I “lost” Sean – both hold special memories for my family.)
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