Spring Breaks in April

By Susan Russo

Special Free Events and Short Excursions

Manhattan

Macy’s Flower Show

When: April 1-6

Where: 34th to 35th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

Tartan Day Parade, with bagpipes, kilts and dancers

When: April 5, starting at 2:00 p.m.

Where: 45th to 55th Street on Sixth Avenue

“Pillow Fight in the Park,” teddy bears and pillows, but “no feathers”

When: April 5, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Where: Washington Square Park, West 4th and 6th Street between MacDougal Street and University Place

“Easter Parade” wear or admire fancy hats and costumes

When: April 20, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where: 49th to 50th Street on Fifth Avenue

“Celebrating Earth Day” a three-day event, with family activities, films and performances

When: April 22, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where: Union Square, 14th Street between Irving Place and Fifth Avenue

“Tribeca Family Festival” street fair, music, chefs’ demonstrations, crafts and films

When: April 26, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Where: Greenwich Street between Hubert and Chambers Street

 “9/11 Memorial 5K Run/Walk” Family Day, “to support the memorial and museum”

When: April 27, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where: Church Street between Cortland and Liberty Street

Brooklyn

“Brooklyn Zine Festival” writers, artists and workshops

When: April 26-27, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where: Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street, corner of Clinton Street

Newark, NJ

“Family Fun Days” Japanese cherry trees children’s activities, culture and crafts

When: April 12, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00pm

Where: Branch Brook Park, Park Street entrance

“Bloomfest” in Branch Brook Park, Japanese cherry trees, children’s activities, culture and crafts

When: April 13, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Branch Brook Park, 115 Clinton Avenue

Museums – Free at all times (check websites for addresses and hours)

Manhattan

American Folk Art Museum

Forbes Galleries

Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology

National Museum of the American Indian

Sony Wonder of Technology (call for tickets and reservations): 212-833-8100

Museums – “Pay what you wish”

Manhattan

American Museum of Natural History (extra cost for special exhibits, movies)

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters

El Museo del Barrio

Museum of Biblical Art

Museum of the City of New York

Studio Museum in Harlem

Bronx

Bronx Museum of the Arts

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Museum

Queens

MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) PS1

Queens Museum

Staten Island

Staten Island Museum

Museums – Free or “Pay what you wish” at certain hours

Manhattan

Museum of Jewish Heritage, Wednesdays 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Museum of Art and Design, “what you wish,” Thursdays 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Museum of Chinese in America, Thursdays 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Asia Society Museum, Labor Day through June, Fridays 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

International Center of Photography, “what you wish,” Fridays 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Morgan Library and Museum, Fridays 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Fridays 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Rubin Museum of Art, Fridays 6:00 to 10:00pm

Whitney Museum, Fridays 6:00 to 9:00pm

Guggenheim Museum, “what you wish,” Saturdays 5:45 to 7:45 p.m.

Jewish Museum, Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Queens

Museum of the Moving Image, Fridays 4:00 to 8:00pm

Noguchi Museum, “what you wish,” first Friday of every month, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Staten Island

Historic Richmond Town, Fridays 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Keep in mind that museums with short free hours get VERY crowded, so you need patience, maybe a companion or an e-book, or a plan to go when lots of people are going away from NYC for holidays. You’ve been warned!