Public Programs – Children's Museum of Manhattan

JULY

ARTS-tropolis: CMOM’S SUMMER ART FESTIVAL
Join us as we experience the magic of NYC all summer long! Explore themes of food, music, animals, street art, community, fashion, and more!
Monday – Wednesday, July 1 – 31 | Museum-wide

SOUNDS OF NYC: DANCE & ARTS WORKSHOPS
New York City is a melting pot of musical genres, reflecting its diverse population and vibrant cultural scene! Join us as we commemorate traditional sounds that makeup up our unique city through artmaking activities and a movement workshop led by Ana ‘Rokafella’ Garcia and Kwikstep!
Monday – Sunday, July 8 – 14

Storytime with Denise Rosario Adusei: CESARIA FEELS THE BEAT
In honor of Disability Awareness Month, join us for a special reading with Denise Rosario Adusei and her brand-new book Cesaria Feels the Beat as well as an interactive sign language activity to follow! In this powerful and inspiring picture book, Cesaria, a deaf girl, stands up for herself by removing her shoes during her Carnival dance performance so she can feel the music and rhythm through her bare feet. Join us afterward for a special sign language activity where we will learn to sign words used in the book.
Friday, July 12 | 11:00 am | Drop-in | Ages 3 – 6 | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Rokafella x Kwikstep: Hip-Hop 101 Performance
Join legendary dancers Kwikstep and Rokafella on a presentation of Breakdance and Poppin dance moves followed by a movement workshop for kids and their families!
Saturday, July 13 | 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm & 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Sign-up | All ages | 3rd Floor | Discovery Classroom

NYC CONCRETE JUNGLE
New York City is more than skyscrapers and flashing lights—it is the home to lots of wildlife! Join us as we celebrate the infamous pigeons and MTA’s subway rats, along with those highlighted in ChickenShed NYC’s Summer Theater Camp Performance!
Monday – Sunday, July 15 – 21

Rats on Parade
Inspired by public art projects like “Cows on Parade” in New York – where cow sculptures were transformed into artistic canvases – we invite you to unleash your creativity and decorate your own rat sculpture as part of CMOM’s Museum-wide public art project, “Rats on Parade.”
Monday – Friday, July 15 – 19 | 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace
Saturday & Sunday, July 20 – 21 | 10:15 am – 4:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Storytime: How Can We be Kind? by Janet Halfman
Join us for a delightful story where we explore the ways we can be kind to one another just like animals are, while at the same time learning about the magic and beauty of the natural world!
Monday – Sunday, July 15 – 21| 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 3 – 5 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Chickenshed NYC: Summer Theatre Camp!
Join us as we create a fun-packed improv adventure led by Chickenshed NYC’s skilled team of professionals! Together, we will enjoy the magic of theatre through songs, movement, props, puppetry, and more!
Saturday & Sunday, July 20 – 21 | 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm & 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Via Sign-up | Ages 2 – 5 | 3rd Floor | Discovery Classroom

NEW YORK CITY STREET ART
New York City has a thriving street art scene, filled with graffiti and vibrant murals adorning buildings throughout the boroughs. Join us this week as we explore the designs and creative expressions that make our city the art center of the world!
Monday – Sunday, July 22 – 28

Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez: Relief, Drips and Tags
Join multi-media artist Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez for a Styrofoam printmaking workshop exploring the interconnectedness of typography and graffiti art.
Saturday, July 27 | 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm & 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Sign-up | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Artist Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez: Names, Aliases and Identities!
Join multi-media artist Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez for a taggin’ workshop as we draw inspiration from his mural Collage de Graffiti en un Museo de Gente Chiquitico (currently on-view). Together, we will explore ideas of time and space within a community-based setting.
Sunday, July 28 | 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm & 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Sign-up | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Storytime: The Artist by Ed Vere
Join us for a story of a brave little artist who goes on an epic adventure to share her creativity with the world as she adds color and life to a drab gray city, bringing beauty to those who live there.
Monday – Sunday, July 22 – 28 | 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 – 8 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

AUGUST

ARTS-tropolis: SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL CONTINUES
Join us as we experience the magic of NYC all summer long! Explore themes of food, music, animals, street art, community, fashion, and more!
Thursday– Saturday, August 1 – 31 | Museum-wide

Our NYC Community
Join us as we embrace and celebrate NYC families, friends, and community that makes up this electrifying city!
Monday – Sunday, July 29 – August 4

Park in My Pocket
Did you know that New York is home to thousands of parks, gardens and playgrounds? Where have you made the most memories? Celebrate your favorite outdoor neighborhood spaces by designing a tin box full of your favorite memories of that place!
Saturday & Sunday, August 3 – 4 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

A-MAZE-ing NYC Maps!
Inspired by the New York subway system, engineer your very own underground subway system with recycled objects and upcycled vintage NYC maps. Race a wind-up toy and see who can get to the end first!
Monday – Friday, July 29 – August 2 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Storytime: We Are Better Together: A Book About Community by Eileen Spinelli
Join us for a beautiful story in celebration of people coming together to solve problems, support communities and honor differences—perfect for young children who are learning about empathy and cooperation, and for sparking meaningful conversations at home or in the classroom!
Monday – Sunday, July 29 – August 4 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 5 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

GRUB GALLERY
Exploring the streets of New York can sure work up an appetite! What do you crave when your tummy grumbles? Bagels? Empanadas? A “baconeggandcheese”? Create miniature sculptures and collaborative collages inspired by our favorite New York City foods.
Monday – Sunday, August 5 – 11

Art on a Stick: Kebab Konnections
Kebabs are sticks with meat and/or veggies cooked over a grill! Originating from Middle Eastern cuisine, kebabs are enjoyed all around the world and during summer festivities, including Independence Day! Come and join our pretend grill and make a kebab!
Monday – Friday August 5 – 9 | 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Grill and Chill: Pretend Barbecue
Learn about the ingredients that make up your favorite cookout meal by making pretend barbecue food with 3D art materials!
Saturday & Sunday, August 10 – 11 | 10:30 am – 12:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Simply Sweet: Cotton Candy Machine!
Join us as we make physics-defying candy from sugar and air!
Saturday & Sunday, August 10 – 11 | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Sign-up* | All ages | 3rd Floor | Discovery Classroom
*Due to limited space, this program requires you to sign-up for entry. Sign-up in the lobby one hour before the event.

Storytime: A Pizza with Everything on It by Kyle Scheele
Join us for a mouthwatering and laugh-out-loud funny story of culinary catastrophe and family bonding!
Monday – Sunday, August 5 – 11 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 3 – 6 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

BIG APPLE, LITTLE TRENDSETTERS
New Yorkers are known to set fashion trends that the world follows, from clothing to architectural designs. Put your fashion design skills to the test by spending this week making unique garments and accessories!
Monday – Sunday, August 12 – 18

DIY Broadway Window Mannequins
Inspired by NYC’s infamous window display on Broadway, NYC’s fashion avenue, create a giant paper person and explore textures as you dress up your own window mannequin!
Monday – Friday, August 12 – 16 | 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Bestselling Book Collage
Write, collage, and doodle the next top-selling book, comic, or picture collection by personalizing a journal! Explore new, fun art tools to decorate, bedazzle and stamp and your work!
Saturday & Sunday, August 17 – 18 | 10:15 am – 12:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Block Party Summer Dresses
NYC is known for glitzy events and movie star red carpets. Become an up-and-coming fashion designer by creating your own block party-themed summer dress on a paper doll!
Saturday & Sunday, August 17 – 18 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Storytime: Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feler
Through an empowering, rhythmic text that is perfect for reading aloud, we will explore various skin tones, body shapes, hair types, and more, as we celebrate body positivity and confidence!
Monday – Sunday, August 12 – 18 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

LET’S GET PHYSICAL!
Build strong body awareness through a week of movement and music. Learn to control a kite of your own design and try and win a game of dance and speed!
Monday – Sunday, August 19 – 25

Movement Workshop: Dancing with Puppets
With the help of a puppet friend, flex those listening ears as you swish, shake, and crisscross applesauce ’till the music stops!
Monday – Friday, August 19 – 23 | 10:30 am – 11:00 am | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Storytime: We All Play by Julie Flett
Join us for a delightful picture book story mirroring and celebrating playtime and connection between children and the natural world!
Monday – Sunday, August 19 – 25 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 7 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

NEW YORK CITY STREET ART
New York City has a thriving street art scene, filled with graffiti and vibrant murals adorning buildings throughout the boroughs. Join us this week as we explore the designs and creative expressions that make our city the art center of the world!
Monday – Saturday, August 26 – 31

SEPTEMBER

West Indian Day Celebration
The West Indian Day Parade began in the early 20th century with Caribbean immigrants arriving in the US from islands like Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Haiti, among others. Come celebrate West Indian Day at CMOM, honoring Caribbean culture, pride, resilience, and unity!
Sunday & Monday, September 1 – 2

Take Flight: Costume Design
Costumes with electrifying feathers are the life force of the West Indian Day Parade, with feathers symbolizing the ability to persevere and take flight on the journey into spiritual rebirth. Unleash your creativity as we fashion our own wearable wings, headpieces, and costumes!
Sunday & Monday, September 1 – 2 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

West Indian Day: Saltwater(color) Paintings
Celebrate the beautiful waters connecting Caribbean Islands by creating your own colorful paintings with watercolor and discover what happens when you add salt to your artworks!
Sunday & Monday, September 1 – 2 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Backpack-to-school Adventures
Make back-to-school an adventure as you explore art-making, design, and literacy activities!
Tuesday – Friday, September 3 – 6

Pen Pals
Give traditional number 2 pencils a new look as you decorate your own with bendable sticky yarn sticks, pipe cleaners, and mixed-media materials!
Tuesday & Wednesday, September 3 – 4 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor| Makerspace

Color Exploration: Cellophane Stained-Glass Windows!
Explore color mixing and transparency as you layer strips and geometric shaped pieces of cellophane onto sticky contact paper that transforms into a unique stained-glass window!
Thursday – Friday, September 5 – 6 | 2:45 – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Storytime: Isabel and her Colores Go to School by Alexandra Alessandri
Join us for an interactive storytime led by our educators! This story features Isabel, who is nervous about class at a new school. This is a universal story about feeling new and making new friends and learning how to overcome those feelings of fear!
Tuesday – Friday, September 3 – 6 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 – 8 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Grandparents’ Day
Saturday & Sunday, September 7 – 8

Interactive Storytime: Who Takes Care of You by Hannah Eliot
Join our educators for an interactive story-time, exploring how childcare looks different from family to family. The book Who Takes Care of You knows that whether there’s one caregiver, or two, or four—whether it’s a mommy, a grandpa, or a sitter—the most important thing for a child to know is that they are loved.
Saturday, September 7 | 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 0 – 2 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Storytime: The Truth About Grandparents by Elina Ellis
Join us for this interactive storytime featuring The Truth About Grandparents, which celebrates the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.
Sunday, September 8 | 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 8 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

More Backpack-to-school Adventures
Tuesday – Saturday, September 10 – 14

Autumn Collage
Celebrate Fall with a collage exploring the textures and colors of the season. Use natural materials such as seeds, bark, and leaves in vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow.
Tuesday – Thursday, September 10 – 12 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Pattern Painting
Alma Woodsey Thomas was an artist known for her bright abstract paintings that used puzzle-like patterns and repetitive brush strokes. Create your own patterned artwork inspired by Woodsey Thomas using oil pastels and watercolor paint in all of the colors of the rainbow!
Friday, September 13 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Saturday, September 14 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Open-Ended Playtime: Color Sorting Sensory Bin
Stimulate your senses and develop problem-solving skills as you sort pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and legos into their respective colors!
Tuesday – Friday, September 10 – 13 | 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Storytime: Make Something Out of Nothing
Join us for a heartfelt story and colorfully whimsical illustrations about classrooms as a safe community to be ourselves, make mistakes, and the importance behind being a friend to others!
Tuesday – Thursday, September 10 – 12 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Storytime: KINDergarden: Where Kindness Matters Every Day by Vera Ahiyya
Join us for a story about a classroom coming together to calm the nerves to offer inspiration to new kindergartners and the adults in their lives.
Friday & Saturday, September 13 – 14 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 8 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Latinx Festival: Timeless Traditions
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring different traditions through ideas of family, ancestry, culture, and the arts.
Sunday, September 15 & Tuesday – Sunday, September 17 – 29

Patitas Y Antenas: South American Insects
Learn about the fascinating insects found in Central and South America!
Sunday, September 15

3D Iridescent Beetle Pins
Use iridescent paper and mixed-media materials to create Brazilian beetle pins.
Sunday, September 15 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up 1st Floor | Makerspace

Hopping Chapulines Sensory Bin
Did you know that chapulines is the Spanish word for grasshoppers? Explore an Oaxacan-inspired sensory bin, filled with chapulines.
Sunday, September 15 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Story Time: Callaloo: The Legend of the Golden Coquí  by Marjuan Canady
Join Museum Facilitators as they share the story of two best friends and their journey through the enchanted Yunque rainforest in the book Callaloo: The Legend of the Golden Coquí by Marjuan Canady.
Sunday, September 15 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 3 – 7 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Culture & Ancestry
Explore fun traditions, iconic art forms, and cornerstones of Latinx cultures through art making, toy design, songs, and storytelling.
Tuesday – Sunday, September 17 – 22

Nitza Tufiño’s Neo-Borikén Mural
In honor of Nitza Tufiño’s love for the world of murals—and as an ode to the East October Street MTA Station ceramic tile mural—CMOM invites you to a week-long installation designed to foster community and belonging!
Tuesday – Friday, September 17 – 20 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Muñecas Limé: Doll Sculptures
Sculpt a doll from red clay and adorned in beautiful colors inspired by Liliana Mera Limé’s elegantly dressed faceless sculpted dolls. These dolls have since become an icon of Dominican culture and symbolize Dominicans’ mixture of African, European, and Aboriginal identities, races, and cultures.
Saturday & Sunday, September 21 – 22 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Paper Plate Chiringas (Kites)
Make your own kite inspired by a Sunday afternoon spent in El Morro in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico and fly it throughout the Museum.
Saturday & Sunday, September 21 – 22 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Story Time: Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora de Arcoiris
Ixchel wants to follow in the long tradition of weaving on back strap looms, just as her mother, grandmother, and most Mayan women have done for more than two thousand years! Join Museum Facilitators as they take you on a journey through a beautiful learning experience about ancestral traditions!
Tuesday – Sunday, September 17 – 22 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 – 9 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Art & Design
Inspired by cultural and ecological values, traditional weaving practices, and minimalist jewelry making, tap into your creative side to produce powerful and meaningful masterpieces!
Tuesday – Sunday, September 24 – 29

Sustainable Jewelry: Love + Language
Explore mixed-media materials to design your very own piece of jewelry inspired by Afrolunatika—a Puerto Rican based organic jewelry brand—and by a word that means something to you!
Saturday & Sunday, September 28 – 29 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Los Street Vendors: A Collection of Bilingual Books about Shapes, Colors, and Fruits Inspired by Latin American Culture by Mike Alfaro.
Jumpstart your Spanish-speaking skills with this bilingual board book boxset as we learn fundamental Spanish first words vocabulary for colors, shapes, and fruits!
Tuesday – Friday September 24 – 27 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 0 – 3 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Saturday & Sunday, September 28 – 29 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 0 – 3 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Storytime: Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community by Susan Verde.
Join us for a story time—told in elegant verse by Susan Verde and vibrantly illustrated by John Parra—that celebrates the power of art to tell a story and bring a community together!
Saturday & Sunday, September 28 – 29 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 8 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Artist Lia Zuvilivia: Mixed-Media Makerspace
Join artist Lia Zuvilivia for an interactive artmaking workshop informed by her creative practice spanning sculpture, painting, and collage. Design your own mixed-media artwork inspired by the colorful architecture of the La Boca barrio (neighborhood) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Sunday, September 29 | 11:00 am – 11:45 am & 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm | Sign-up | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

OCTOBER

Rosh Hashanah
It’s a sweet time of year! Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and learn about the traditions of this holiday with books provided by PJ Library.
Wednesday – Friday, October 2 – 4

Simanim Food Puppet Play
Discover the delicious foods (simanim) and how they symbolize hopes for a prosperous New Year! Perform a puppet show at our mobile puppet theatre with symbolic puppets with playful expressions.
Wednesday – Friday, October 2 – 4 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Story time: It’s Shofar Time! by Latifa Berry Krop
Happy Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year! Let’s embrace the opportunity to learn new things, try out new clothes, and savor new fruits. And don’t forget to listen to the meaningful sounds of the shofar! Come join us as we read It’s Shofar Time! by Latifa Berry Kropf and photographer Tod Cohen and celebrate this special holiday!
Wednesday – Friday, October 2 – 4 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 6 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Story time: Is It Rosh Hashanah Yet? by Chris Barach
As summer ends and fall settles in, a family prepares to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. It’s time to pick apples, make cards, light the candles, and eat brisket to ring in the new year!
Wednesday – Friday, October 2 – 4 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 6 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Community Connections
Create collaborative artworks that center on your community and those you care about!
Saturday & Sunday, October 5 – 6 and Tuesday – Thursday, October 8 – 10

Artist Monica Palma: Botanical Bound
Join guest artist Monica Palma for an interactive artmaking workshop informed by her creative practice—spanning painting, performance, and found objects—to design a print using natural flower dyes all while learning about the flowers native to New York City!
Sunday, October 6 | 11:00 am – 11:45 am & 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm | Sign-up | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Interactive Storytime: Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell
What good can a splash of color do in a community of gray? As Mira and her neighbors discover, more than you might ever imagine! Maybe Something Beautiful reveals how art can inspire transformation—and how even the smallest artists can accomplish something big.
Saturday & Sunday, October 5 – 6 | 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 7 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Storytime: Harold and the Purple Crayon By Crockett Johnson
One evening Harold decides to go for a walk in the moonlight. Armed only with an oversize purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of wonder and excitement. Full of funny twists and surprises, this charming story shows just how far your imagination can take you.
Tuesday – Thursday October 8 – 10 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 4 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Yom Kippur
Using books provided by PJ Library, learn more about this special Jewish holiday and how it embodies the important values of giving, family, and forgiveness.
Friday & Saturday October 11 – 12

Wooden Tzedakah Box Painting
Discover the significance of Yom Kippur, a day of atonement in the Jewish calendar, while decorating a wooden box to gather donations for families in need.
Friday & Saturday October 11 – 12 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Blow Paint Shofars
Did you know that the Shofar is not just blown on Rosh Hashanah, but also at the end of Yom Kippur? The Shofar, made of a ram’s horn, makes a trumpet-like sound to end the holiday. Join us as we learn about the traditions of Yom Kippur and decorate a Shofar while exploring new painting techniques.
Friday & Saturday October 11 – 12 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Story time: Red Blue and Yellow Yarn: A Tale of Forgiveness by Miriam Kosman
Danny is very different from his grandmother, and she is not sure that she likes him. But when Danny makes a big mistake, Bubbie surprises him and shows him the love and forgiveness that is passed down generation after generation.
Friday, October 11 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 5 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Saturday, October 12 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 5 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day 
Explore ways to support Indigenous rights and health through thoughtful programming in solidarity with Indigenous communities as we acknowledge their strength and contributions.
Sunday & Monday, October 13 – 14

Upcycled Paper Rattles
Did you know that rattles can be found in almost every Indigenous tribe? They can be heard in personal, ceremonial, and celebratory music! Use different materials to create a rattle and learn about customs and traditions of Indigenous people.
Sunday & Monday, October 13 – 14 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Hands Tell Stories Paintings
Celebrate storytelling traditions by joining us at the PlayWorks™ Mural Wall for sensory storytelling through finger painting!
Sunday & Monday, October 13 – 14 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Kind Companions 
Create your own playful puppets and enjoy a singalong with an unexpected musical duo: Princess Backpack (a magical talking backpack!) and her companion, Benjamin!
Tuesday – Saturday, October 15 – 19

Performance: Princess Backpack and Benjamin: Carry On Album
Princess Backpack and Benjamin are a Brooklyn-based duo who love to rock, pop, and strum their way through life! Benjamin is a writer for kids shows on Nickelodeon, PBS, and Netflix. Princess Backpack is a magical talking backpack, and Benjamin’s best friend. They’ve performed as far away as Taiwan and as close as the Brooklyn Museum. They are thrilled to celebrate the release of their brand-new album Carry On!
Saturday, October 19 | 11:00 am & 12:00 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Interactive Storytime: Ploof by Ben Clanton
Join us for an imaginative and fun-filled story offering a chance to play! By following cues to say hello, clap, blow, shake, wave, or make a funny face, young listeners will be learning social-emotional skills like empathy, encouragement and kindness through Ploof’s emotional journey — and, along the way, they’ll learn how to be a fantastic friend!
Tuesday – Thursday, October 15 – 17 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 6 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Get Ready for Halloween!
Join us for a magic show with Justin the Magician, create your own magic through potion making, and create a ship for a magical Halloween friend.
Sunday, October 20 and Tuesday – Friday, October 22 – 25

Justin the Magician: Magical Moments and Surprises
Families and kids of all ages can join us for an enchanting Halloween celebration full of spell-bounding wonder. Every show is filled with slapstick-comedy and unexpected magical surprises that make sure to get the whole family involved!
Sunday, October 20 | 11:00 am & 12:00 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Interactive Storytime: Idea Jar by Adam Lehrhaupt
The idea jar is where students keep their ideas—anything from a Viking to a space robot to a giant dragon. These ideas can be combined to make new exciting stories. But watch out when the ideas escape the jar—they might get a little rowdy! Adam Lehrhaupt’s newest picture book is sure to inspire creativity, imagination, and adventure.
Sunday, October 20 & Tuesday October 22 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 8 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Storytime: The Kindness Monster by Little Hippo Books
Kindness makes the world a better place! Encourage kids to see the power of even small acts of kindness in brightening someone’s day by joining us for this delightful story. We’ll follow a lovable little blue monster as he spreads cheer wherever he goes with fun textures to touch and feel on each page!
Wednesday – Friday, October 23 – 25| 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 4 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Silly Spooky Halloween
From jack-o-lanterns to a giant upcycled bridge for Halloween creatures, to dressing up your own dog stuffies, there’s no shortage of fun and frights to be had.
Saturday & Sunday, October 26 – 27 and Tuesday – Thursday, October 29 – 31

Bridges and Bats, and Spiders, Oh My!
Engineers are needed for this eerie project! Help us construct a giant 3D bridge with recycled materials and adorn it with bats, spiders, and other Halloween creatures!
Saturday & Sunday, October 26 – 27 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Interactive Storytime: The (not-so-scary) Book of Monsters by Ian James Dye
This delightful book is brimming with lovable monsters, ranging from big to small. But don’t be fooled – these monsters are quite friendly and charming! Join us during this great read for little ones who like a bit of spookiness without fear!
Saturday & Sunday, October 26 – 27 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 4 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

CMOM’s Halloween Dog Costumes
Inspired by the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade, dress a puppy stuffie (or small stuffed animal) in silly and spooky costumes, then take your furry friend on a stroll to meet new friends at the museum.
Tuesday & Wednesday, October 29 – 30 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Trick-or-Treat Totes
Design vibrant totes inspired by the bright lights of the city using glow in the dark paint and stencils in the shapes of your favorite Halloween creatures!
Tuesday & Wednesday, October 29 – 30 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Storytime: A Parade of Puppies by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Kristi Bridgeman
Calling all dog lovers! Can you guess the puppy breeds with rhyming texts? Join us with this interactive board book meant to keep young listeners engaged and guessing, in celebration of our puppy stuffies we dressed up at CMOM!
Tuesday & Wednesday, October 29 – 30 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 8 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Happy Halloween Festival
Unleash your Halloween spirit from the top of your head down to your toes, or tails! Create your own costume for a puppy stuffie, go on a special scavenger hunt, make a stamped trick-or-treat tote, and culminate in a musical costume human & dog stuffie parade!
Thursday, October 31

CMOM’S Trick or Treat Museum-wide Scavenger Hunt
What kind of silly spooky creatures can you find in our scavenger hunt? Find them all and claim your prize: animal stickers!
Thursday, October 31 | 10:30 am – 4:00 pm | Drop-in | All ages | Museum-wide

CMOM’s Halloween Dog Costumes
Inspired by the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade, dress a puppy stuffie in silly and spooky costumes, then take your furry friend on a stroll to meet new friends at our CMOM Halloween Dog Parade at 4:00 pm!
Thursday, October 31 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Interactive Storytime: Skeletons ARE NOT Spooky! by Duds and Kaine
Ever think about how much skeletons do for us, despite their spooky reputation? Kaine & Duds show the lighter side of skeletons in a charming children’s book filled with delightful illustrations and some big words like phalanges! Join us for a fun-filled and entertaining story time!
Thursday, October 31 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 3 – 7 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

NOVEMBER

Harvesting Happiness: A Celebration Across Cultures
Join us as we explore a tapestry of traditions that celebrate the bountiful harvest, respect for nature and animals, and time together as a family!
Friday – Saturday, November 1 – 30 | Museum-wide

Diwali, A Festival of Lights
Experience rich Indian culture as we journey through different parts of India to experience art and culture while celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights. Presented in partnership with The Culture Tree.
Friday, November 1

Diwali Diya Clay Lamps
Diyas are glittering lamps, believed to bring purity, goodness, good luck, and power. Learn about the significance of Diwali by creating a dazzling Diya lamp out of clay and watch it glow with a tea light!
Friday, November 1 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Rangoli Sand Art
During Diwali, families create Rangolis—colored-sand works of art—on living room floors and courtyards. Explore the culture and design your very own Diwali-inspired sand art to celebrate!
Friday, November 1 | 11:15 am – 12:30 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Performance: Ramlila (Diwali Puppet Show)
Join us for an interactive show telling the story of Prince Rama and the origin story of Diwali. Stick around after the show for a puppet-making workshop inspired by the story!
Friday, November 1 | 2:00 pm – 2:20 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Diya Dance: Performance & Movement Workshop
Experience the dances of Diwali as we showcase Bharatnatyam and Bollywood dance moves followed by a fun-filled dance workshop!
Friday, November 1 | 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Interactive Storytime: Diwali in my New Home by Shachi Kaushik
Priya loves being with family and friends to watch fireworks and celebrate Diwali, but this year Priya and her parents are living in the United States, and no one seems to know about the holiday. Priya misses the traditions in India, but as she strings lights outside and creates rangoli art, she introduces the festival of lights to her neighbors. Even though the celebration is different this year, it’s still Diwali.
Friday, November 1 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 8 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

CMOM’s Día de Muertos Celebration
Celebrate Día de Muertos at CMOM! Join us as we create our Altar de Memorias art installation, make flower crowns, sculpt sugar skulls inspired by Posada, and share memories of our loved ones!
Saturday, November 2 | Museum-wide

Jardín de Memorias: Altar Instalación
Adorned with crafted monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and greenery shrubs, add to our growing installation by creating paper cempasúchiles (marigolds)! Join us as we honor this ancestral tradition while learning about its cultural importance!
Saturday, November 2 | 10:15 am – 12:00 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

José Guadalupe Posada: Sugar Skulls
Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada immortalized the iconic Día de Muertos skeleton character La Catrina in his most famous woodblock print. Join us as we draw inspiration from the late artist to sculpt our own sugar skulls!
Saturday, November 2 | 10:00 am – 11:00 am & 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Sign-up | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor| Makerspace

Flower Crowns
Flowers adorn altars and crown heads during Día de Muertos. Create flower crowns inspired by this tradition for your own cabeza!
Saturday, November 2 | 11:15 am – 12:30 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Cara Calaca: Sugar Skull Face Painting
Celebrate Día de Muertos with a sugar skull face painting activity as we learn about the cultural significance of each color used on your face!
Saturday, November 2 | 1:45 pm – 2:30 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Performance: Grupo Tolteca Chichimeca
Join Grupo Tolteca Chichimeca for an interactive performance and movement workshop in honor of CMOM‘s Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) cultural celebration! Founded with the intention to preserve and maintain Mesoamerican traditions, Grupo Tolteca Chichimeca derives its name from Tolteca and Chichimeca cultures, along with Conchero traditions.
Saturday, November 2 | 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm & 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Interactive Storytime: The Day of the Dead /El Día de los Muertos by Bob Barner
Join us for a lyrical story time about two children as they celebrate their ancestors through offerings and festivities!
Saturday, November 2 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 5 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Election Day
Tuesday, November 5

Badge of Honor: Celebrating Women’s Right to Vote
Celebrate over 100 years of women’s right to vote and explore the history behind the pioneering women who made voting possible! Draw inspiration from our exhibit Right to Vote to create a button badge that speaks out for women and their right to vote.
Tuesday, November 5 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Cast Your Vote!
It’s never too early to practice voting! Cast votes for your favorite ice cream flavors and make an ice cream cone sculpture using cloud dough!
Tuesday, November 5 | 11:15 am – 12:30 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Interactive Storytime: This Little Voter (Little Bee Books) by Ann Bonnie
Cast your ballots and celebrate voting in this election day-themed twist on the classic nursery rhyme “This Little Piggy”!
Tuesday, November 5 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Wonder Wellness Week
Harvest wellness from within and promote positive self-esteem and the importance of sleep at CMOM! Make a pillow pal to cuddle as you recharge and paint a positive affirmation mirror or create a lullaby with Carnegie Hall’s The Lullaby Project!
Sunday, November 3 and Wednesday – Sunday, November 6 – 10

Collaborative Sensory Wall!
Explore tactile, visual, and auditory input to discover your sensory preferences as we make our own upcycled sensory wall!
Sunday, November 3 and Wednesday – Friday, November 6 – 8 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Blooming with Confidence Sensory Science
Join us for a sensory activity exploring liquid flow through narrow spaces (capillary action) with magic blooming paper flowers! Watch as water is absorbed by the paper, causing the petals to open up— a fascinating scientific phenomenon!
Sunday, November 3 | 11:15 am – 12:30 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Wednesday – Friday, November 6 – 8 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project
Parents and caregivers, work with the Lullaby Project’s professional artists to write and sing an original collective lullaby for your babies and toddlers!
Saturday, November 9 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Sign-up | Ages 3 & younger (Parent Caregiver and siblings welcome) | 3rd Floor | Discovery Classroom

Pillow Pals
Learn why rest is so important to mental and physical health and create your own pillow pal for your next nap, or a mini one for your stuffed animal!
Saturday & Sunday, November 9 – 10 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Sensory Starry Night Bottles
Add a sensory bottle that reflects the nighttime sky to your nighttime routine! Inspired by the colors and patterns of Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night, your bottle will shimmer, sparkle, and swirl.
Saturday & Sunday, November 9 – 10 | 11:15 am – 12:30 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Storytime: Marvelous Me by Lisa Bullard
Meet Alex, a one-of-a-kind individual with a contagious laugh, warm hugs, and a fascinating perspective on the world. Just like everyone else, Alex has both similarities and differences with others!
Wednesday – Friday, November 6 – 9 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 4| 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Interactive Storytime: Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue
Join us for a delightful tale of an imaginative young girl who doesn’t want to go to sleep and the equally imaginative parents who adore her!
Saturday & Sunday, November 9 – 10 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 4 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Veterans Day
Monday, November 11

Ribbons and Pins for Veterans Day
Yellow is commonly seen as a symbol of hope and support for our troops. Explore a variety of yellow mixed-media materials and textures to create a wearable adornment in honor of Veterans Day!
Monday, November 11 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Celebrating Indigenous Heritage Month
Discover the beauty and depth of Indigenous brilliance as we celebrate artists who blend contemporary aesthetics with imagery and techniques rooted in tradition.
Tuesday – Sunday, November 12 – 17 and Tuesday – Sunday, November 19 – 24

Mary Anne Barkhouse-inspired Wearable Art
Mary Anne Barkhouse is an artist with Kwakiutl heritage who creates jewelry and sculptures. Create your own metallic animal pendant or pin using foil, yarn, and model magic and learn about the significance of animals in Barkhouse’s work.
Tuesday – Friday, November 12 – 15 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Puppets & Stories
The story of Thunderbird is important to many Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest, including the Kwakiutl people. Join us as we learn about the strength and beauty of the animals in these stories while creating our own puppets and making them come alive in CMOM’s puppet theatre!
Tuesday – Friday, November 12 – 15 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Weaving Wonders with Artist Korina Emmerich
One of the most cherished traditions of many Indigenous communities is weaving. Learn basic weaving skills as we create a collaborative contemporary art installation with hanging artworks crafted alongside Brooklyn-based Puyallup artist and designer Korina Emmerich.
Saturday, November 16 | 10:30 am – 11:15 am & 11:30 am – 12:15 pm | Sign-up | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Shaun Peterson Inspired Tessellation
Shaun Peterson is a Coast Salish artist from the Puyallup Tribe who works in wood, glass, metal, and digital media, often with repeating motifs and patterns. Create your own tessellation “stained-glass” using colored cellophane and other mixed-media materials!
Saturday & Sunday, November 16 – 17 | 11:15 am – 12:45 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Sign-up | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Oopik Owl Inspired Toy
The Oopik is a small souvenir owl originally created by Jeannie Snowball and reimagined (and made sillier) by contemporary artists such as Jade Nasogaluak. Create your own plush creature, inspired by the work of Inuit artists and your own imagination!
Tuesday – Sunday, November 12 – 17 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Kenojuak Ashevak Inspired Animal Stamping
Learn about arctic animals as we make artworks using animal stamps and bold colors inspired by the work of trailblazing Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak!
Tuesday – Friday, November 19 – 22 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Story Time: My Arctic 123 by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak
Explore Michael Kusugak’s world of animals and adventure in the Arctic Circle. On each two-page spread, discover counting and creatures and learn who’s predator and who’s prey.
Tuesday – Friday, November 19 – 22 | 10:30 am & 4:00 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Jeffrey Gibson Inspired Geometric Prints
Create a mixed-media print inspired by the intricate designs of Choctaw/Cherokee artist Jeffrey Gibson, whose contemporary work spans prints and paintings with expansive color, beadwork, and large-scale sculptures.
Saturday & Sunday, November 23 – 24 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Kay Walking Stick Inspired Abstract Landscapes
Create a watercolor landscape inspired by the work of Cherokee artist Kay Walking Stick, whose work mixes American landscapes with patterns and symbols based on Southwest Indigenous Tribes’ rugs, pottery, and other mediums.
Saturday & Sunday, November 23 – 24 | 11:15 am – 12:30 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Harvest Art Bash: A Cornucopia of Creativity
Join us for a fun-filled extravaganza filled with pretend food, family, and fantastic creations! Tuesday & Wednesday, November 26 – 27 and Friday & Saturday, November 29 – 30

Art Installation: Gift of Gratitude Collaborative Runner
Let your gratitude soar! Join us in creating a collaborative table runner using fabric, markers, letters and shapes. Write about what you’re grateful for this holiday season or create your own cloth collage!
Tuesday & Wednesday, November 26 – 27 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Performance: Spellbound Theatre’s Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Catbear, a lost toy, experiences all the sights and sounds of the boroughs as they travel through the subways of New York! Join us for a heartwarming show about gratitude, exploration, and the joys of returning home to family. After the show, create your own puppet friend.
Friday & Saturday, November 29 – 30 | 11:30 am & 12:30 pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 5 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks