Public Programs – Children's Museum of Manhattan

APRIL

Puppet-palooza!
Celebrate the holidays and caring for our world through the magic and joy of puppetry!
Tuesday – Wednesday, April 1 – 30

Break Week: Nature Puppet Fest!
Celebrate puppetry with performances, guest artists, and crafting with recycled materials.
Monday – Thursday, April 14 – 17

Rescue Team Puppets
Make big paper puppets of community helpers like service workers, doctors, teachers, and other role models! Use fabric to create their attire, outfits, and uniforms! Don’t forget the accessories!
Monday – Thursday, April 14 – 17 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Chickenshed NYC Puppet Singalong!
Join our friends from Chickenshed Puppet Theatre and their different puppet characters for a fun puppet sing-along!
Monday, April 14 | 11:30 am – 11:50 am & 12:00 pm – 12:20 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Guest Artists: Recycled Art Installation with Artist Dan Jones
Dan Jones is a Queens-based puppetry artist, writer, and multi-disciplinary theater maker whose design and fabrication work has been seen on stages across the country, as well as many Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. In this interactive drop-in space, create exciting puppets made out of recycled materials. Play off of Jones’ otherworldly creatures to create your own original puppets and start to see everyday objects with new eyes.
Tuesday, April 15 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Sing with the Earth! Hila the Earth Performance
Hila the Earth is an Eco-Rapper and comedian who performs as Planet Earth. Join us for an interactive concert where you can learn about advocating for the earth! Move your feet to songs about trees, vegetables, and reducing plastic waste. Get into colorful costumes and play along with nature themed puppets!
Wednesday, April 16 | 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm & 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

The Culture Tree: Climate Warriors Puppet Show
The Culture Tree and WonderSpark Puppets present the journey of three environmentally responsible friends who join forces to save planet Earth! Join us as we introduce young children to climate change and what we can do to help reverse the ways in which it has impacted our beautiful planet!
Thursday, April 17 | 11:00 am – 11:30 am | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Easter Egg-stravaganza!
CMOM’s museum-wide egg hunt is back! Join us for a weekend-long celebration and fun-filled activities including basket weaving, puppet-egg hunts, egg painting, and more!
Friday – Sunday, April 18 – 20 | Museum-wide

Puppet-Palooza Scavenger Hunt: New York Edition!
The city’s puppet friends are waiting to be found! Search for NYC-inspired puppets around the museum, from iconic NYC cars to a Broadway star, and complete the challenge to win a prize!
Friday – Sunday, April 18 – 20 | 10:30 am – 4:30 pm | All ages | Museum-wide (prize collection is on the 3rd floor)

Easter Basket Weaving
Weave, loop, twist, and curl repurposed materials to create an eco-friendly Easter basket that promotes the importance of recycling and the joy of spring.
Friday – Sunday, April 18 – 20 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Painted Wooden Egg Friends
Accompany your upcycled basket by painting your own wooden egg character inspired by spring florals and bright colors!
Friday – Sunday, April 18 – 20 | 10:30 am – 12:15 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Egg-stravagant Park Sensory Bin!
Play “I Spy” with our museum facilitators to find all the buried eggs in our park-themed spring sensory bin!
Friday – Sunday, April 18 – 20 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Critters, Creatures & Puppets, Oh My!

Camouflage Critters
Using leaves, sticks, and natural materials, create little critter puppets that celebrate nature like owls, foxes, deer, and rabbits for our special earth day programs!
Tuesday – Friday, April 22 – 25 & Sunday, April 27 | 10:30 am – 12:15 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace
Saturday, April 26 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Chinese Theatre Works Shadow Puppetry Workshop
Pi Ying Xi, or Chinese shadow performance, has a history going back 2000 years. In this workshop, students will get to know the basic elements of shadow theater. We will make our own shadow puppets based on traditional Chinese shadow figures and practice playing with them on CTW’s shadow screen.
Saturday, April 26 | 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm & 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 5 & up | 3rd Floor | Discovery Classroom

Marionette Walkabout
Join Puppeteer GV Maldonado for an introduction to marionette puppets with puppets from the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater in Central Park. Learn how puppeteers make marionettes move and try your hand (literally) at operating a marionette!
Sunday, April 27 | 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm & 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Puppet Theatre
Experience the magic of animal puppets in our special CMOM puppet theatre!
Tuesday & Wednesday, April 29 – 30 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

MAY

Patterns of Belonging
Discover how artists use colors and patterns to tell stories of family and cultural roots and design your own patterned keepsakes!
Thursday & Friday, May 1 – 2; Tuesday – Friday, May 6 – 9

Crochet Play
Artist Lisa Solomon combines embroidery, crochet, and felt to remember her grandmother, who taught her how to crochet. Weave beads with fun ribbon and yarn to make woven art as unique as you!
Thursday & Friday, May 1 – 2; Tuesday – Friday, May 6 – 9 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Washi Collage
Explore different patterns, textures, and transparencies of Japanese Washi paper and create your own family collage!
Thursday & Friday, May 1 – 2; Tuesday – Friday May 6 – 9 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

May the Fourth be with You
Celebrate Star Wars Day at CMOM! Create super fun art-making projects in commemoration of this galactic (yet unofficial) holiday!
Saturday & Sunday, May 3 – 4

Space Creatures and Flying Pods!
Create your own mini clay space creature and design a flying pod for them to explore the universe!
Saturday & Sunday, May 3 – 4 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Rocket Light Board Sensory Activity
Turn the dial, press the button, and flip the switch! Test out your engineering skills by activating different light signals on a rocket’s dashboard.
Saturday & Sunday, May 3 – 4 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Parents’ Day
Celebrate Parents’ Day at CMOM all weekend long! Join us as we create thoughtful gifts and think about the special grown-ups in our lives in partnership with the Culture Tree.
Saturday & Sunday, May 10 – 11

Parents’ Day Celebration with the Culture Tree and author Nandana Sen
Join us for a special reading of Nandana Sen’s new book, Not Yet! This book explores a child’s fantasy world, and the connection between parent and child bedtime. Then, join us for an interactive dance workshop and fun family games you can play together!
Saturday, May 10 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

“You Rock!” Painting
Paint on a rock to make a gift for a special grown-up in your life. Let them know how much they rock!
Saturday & Sunday, May 10 – 11 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

International Museum Day
Celebrate International Museum Day with CMOM all week long! Create your own museum building inspired by installation artist Yayoi Kusama, sing and dance with a musical performance from Wendy & DB, and create your own 3D exhibits inspired by CMOM!
Tuesday – Sunday, May 13 – 18

Performance: Wendy & DB International Museum Day Celebration!
Musicians Wendy & DB join us to celebrate International Museum Day with their new album, Get your Sunny Side Up! Enjoy positive perspectives with their blues-infused pop as we sing and dance along with one of CMOM’s favorite bands.
Sunday, May 18 | 11:00 am – 11:30 am; 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Yayoi Kusama Installation
Create a collaborative reflective and mixed-media installation, inspired by the work of Yayoi Kusama. Create your own self-portrait to take home and celebrate all the kinds of art you can see in a museum!
Tuesday – Friday, May 13 – 16 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace
Saturday & Sunday, May 17 – 18 | 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Holding Home in Our Hands
Create textured art that feels like a warm embrace, using plush materials, soft pastels, and layering techniques to bring cozy feelings to life.
Tuesday – Sunday, May 20 – 25

Family Pattern Printmaking
Inspired by Japanese artist Mayumi Oda, families will create textile prints using foam sheets. Give your loved one a special artwork to hang up at home!
Tuesday – Sunday, May 20 – 25 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Pocket-Sized Home Charms
Craft small “home charms” using clay or fabric, shaping tiny sculptures of houses, favorite objects, or symbolic keepsakes. These tactile pieces will serve as reminders of what makes a home feel special!
Tuesday – Friday, May 20 – 23 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Saturday & Sunday, May 24 – 25 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Memorial Day
Commemorate Memorial Day with the comfort of community art and shared spaces at CMOM.
Monday, May 26

Memory House Collages
Families are invited to create a memory house collage, filling each room with images, symbols, or words that represent loved ones they want to remember—family traditions, favorite recipes, or small rituals passed down.
Monday, May 26 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Memory Ribbon Installation
Draw or write a happy memory onto a piece of ribbon. Tie the ribbon to our growing community installation honoring wonderful people and places.
Monday, May 26 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

A Seat at the Table
Food brings people together! Create art inspired by shared meals, cherished recipes, and the traditions that turn a table into a gathering place.
Tuesday – Sunday, May 27 – June 1

My Favorite Food Magnets
Realistic versions of foods out of ceramic and other non-edible materials are often put on display in Japan to invite people into restaurants! Find inspiration from artists such as Urata Takako and other artists and sculpt your own favorite snack as a magnet for your fridge. It’s good enough [not to] eat!
Tuesday – Sunday, May 27 – June 1 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Feast for the Eyes 3D Collage
Have you eaten sushi? What about ramen noodles? Families will learn about foods in Japan and create a playful dish inspired by how these dishes are made. Have fun shaping pretend food from soft materials such as tissue paper, cotton balls, and paper!
Tuesday – Friday, May 27 – 30 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Saturday & Sunday, May 31 – June 1 | 11:15 am –12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

JUNE

We Are the Rainbow!
Families are invited to soak up the fun as we open Dynamic H20 and celebrate water all summer long! This month, we’ll focus on rainbows, silver linings, and celebrating Pride month through artmaking, special guest artists, and fun science experiments! We’ll also celebrate Parents’ Day, Eid al-Adha, and Juneteenth with special activities and art projects.

A Rainbow of Possibility
Rainbows can represent hope and promise — especially after stormy weather. Kick off June with colorful artworks made by our favorite artists: you!
Tuesday & Wednesday, June 3 – 4 & Tuesday – Friday, June 10 – 13

Rainbow Screenprinting
Explore Screen-printing and color mixing techniques with us by making your own rainbow print!
Tuesday & Wednesday, June 3 – 4; Tuesday – Friday, June 10 – 13| 10:30 am – 12:15 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Loose Parts Rainbow Artmaking
Sort, arrange, and play with different textured and colored objects, and then add to our collaborative cloud and rainbow textured artwork!
Tuesday & Wednesday, June 3 – 4; Tuesday – Friday, June 10 – 13 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Alphie’s Storytime: Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Little Cloud likes to stand out from the crowd. When all the other clouds drift up, he goes his own way, changing shapes to become a sheep, an airplane, a shark and a funny clown. It’s all fun for little cloud but so is making it rain! Join us for an interactive read-aloud followed by a collage activity.
Thursday, June 12 | 4:00 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha is the second of two important festivals in Islam, alongside Eid al-Fitr. Join us as we learn more about this holiday and create special art projects that focus on giving back to our community.
Thursday – Sunday, June 5 – 8

Eid al-Adha Watercolor Postcards
Kind messages are often sent to neighbors and friends for Eid al-Adha. Create your own watercolor cards to give to your community and learn how to wish people a happy holiday in Arabic!
Thursday – Sunday, June 5 – 8 | 10:30 am – 12:15 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm| Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Eid al-Adha Charity Boxes
This holiday is celebrated with family, meals, and acts of kindness to remind us of sharing and caring for others. Decorate a charity box with gifts or kind words to give to someone in need.
Thursday – Sunday, June 5 – 8 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm| Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Parents’ Day
Celebrate Parents’ Day at CMOM all weekend long! Join us as we create thoughtful gifts and think about the special grown-ups in our lives.
Saturday & Sunday, June 14 – 15

Love Vases
Create a beautiful vase for someone you love!
Saturday & Sunday, June 14 – 15 | 10:30 am – 12:15 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

“You Rock!” Painting
Paint on a rock to make a gift for a special grown-up in your life. Let them know how much they rock!
Saturday & Sunday, June 14 – 15 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Somewhere Under(water) the Rainbow
Express yourself and create your own colorful and exciting underwater creature. Join us for a weekend dance or dress-up party!
Tuesday & Wednesday, June 17 – 18; Friday – Sunday, June 20 – 22

Glowy Underwater Creature
Create your own glow-in-the-dark underwater creature with repurposed materials, stickers, and glow sticks. We can’t wait to sea what you make!
Saturday & Sunday, June 14 – 15 | 10:30 am – 12:15 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Alphie’s Storytime: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Listen to a story about a small rainbowfish with shiny, multi-colored scales. He learns about sharing and humility in this heartfelt picture book with beautiful artwork.
Tuesday, June 17 | 4:00 pm | Ages 5 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Rainbow Glow Dance Party
Join us for a Family Dance Party! Grab your underwater creature and a glow stick and dance along to family-friendly hits.
Saturday, June 21 | 4:15 pm – 4:35 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Be Yourself with Miss Jae!
Join Drag Artist Miss Jae as we celebrate ourselves and how special we are! Sing songs, learn some dance moves, play dress up, and be our fabulous selves alongside Miss Jae.
Sunday, June 22 | 11:00 am – 11:30 am & 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Juneteenth
Celebrate Juneteenth as we learn about this special holiday through interactive art making projects in celebration of Black liberation, resilience, and joy!
Thursday, June 19

Free To Be Me Mural
Join us to celebrate Black joy and love as we create a collage inspired by contemporary artists like Derrick Adams, Kerry James Marshall, and Amy Sherald.
Thursday, June 19 | 10:30 am – 12:15 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Quilt Artmaking Inspired by A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor
Be inspired by quilt artworks from Kim Taylor’s A Flag for Juneteenth and create your own quilt artwork!
Thursday, June 19 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor| PlayWorks

Artist Workshop: Juneteenth Zines with Lillian Young
Join us for an exciting day exploring Juneteenth with artist Lillian Young! Young’s series Black Elder Archive features a portrait of the “grandmother of Juneteenth”, Opal Lee. We’ll learn more about Lee through art, read-alouds and video, and then create our own zines with textured paper and markers.
Thursday, June 19 | 10:30 am – 11:15 am; 11:30 am – 12:15 pm; 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm; 3:00pm – 3:45 pm | Sign Up* | Ages 5 & up | 3rd Floor | Discovery Classroom

Proud to Color Our World
Rainbows are an international symbol for LGBTQ+ Pride. Join us as we color our world to honor community and our individual expression!
Tuesday – Sunday, June 24 – 29

Three-Dimensional Pride Flag!
Create a giant 3-dimensional Pride banner to honor Pride Month!
Tuesday – Sunday, June 24 – 29 | 10:30 am – 12:15 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Pride Parade Floats
Decorate your own mini pride boat! Test if your boat floats by joining the mini–Pride Parade in our water sensory bin. Hold onto that boat and bring it with you to our special Alphie’s Storytime: Everyone Loves a Parade! By Andrea Denish
Tuesday – Friday, June 24 – 27| 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Saturday & Sunday, June 28 – 29 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Alphie’s Storytime: Everyone Loves a Parade! By Andrea Denish
What is your favorite part about going to a parade? The bright colors? The fun music? The crowds of people celebrating? Join us for a special storytime exploring the many ways people celebrate in parades around the country. Stick around after the reading to march in a pride parade around Playworks and express what makes you feel proud! Wave a ribbon wand or show off your Pride Parade Float creation as we celebrate NYC Pride.
Sunday, June 29 | 4:00 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks