Things To Do With The Kids, Through November 3: BAMboo!, Halloween Dance Party, And Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin
Looking for something to do with the whole family this week? There are a lot of great kid-friendly events coming up in Brooklyn, and we’ve selected some of our favorites. See the full details below!
For more things to do around Brooklyn, and to add your own upcoming event, check out our calendar.
REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
littleBits Challenge: Hack Your Halloween!
When: Wednesday, October 28, 4pm
Where: Central Library, Youth Wing, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Park Slope
What: Step one: Use littleBits to invent a costume or prank. Step two: Make a scary movie featuring your work. Step three: Upload your project to the Community Project page by Halloween for a chance to win your own littleBits.
How Much: Free!
Bedtime Stories: Halloween!
When: Wednesday, October 28, 6pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library, 380 Washington Avenue
What: Kids up to age 5 will wind down their day with spooky bedtime stories and songs (but, they promise, not too scary!). Wear pajamas, or even come in costume. After the storytime, kids will enjoy a simple Halloween-themed craft.
How Much: Free!
78th Precinct Community Haunted House
When: Wednesday, October 28 – Friday, October 30, 2-9pm
Where: 78th Precinct Station House, 65 6th Avenue, Prospect Heights
What: Stop by the police precinct to grab some treats and get a little scare in the haunted house.
How Much: Free!
Movies @ The Library: “Monsters Inc.”
When: Friday, October 30, 3:30pm
Where: Park Slope Library, 431 6th Avenue
What: Monsters Incorporated is the largest scare factory in the monster world, and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) is one of its top scarers. Sullivan is a huge, intimidating monster with blue fur, large purple spots and horns. His scare assistant, best friend and roommate is Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), a green, opinionated, feisty little one-eyed monster. Visiting from the human world is Boo (Mary Gibbs), a tiny girl who goes where no human has ever gone before.
How Much: Free!
It’s Halloween With Lucy Kalantari!
When: Saturday, October 31, 10:30am
Where: ShapeShifter Lab, 18 Whitwell Place, Gowanus
What: Children’s musician Lucy Kalantari will get the kids dancing — in costume — to songs like “It’s Halloween!” Enjoy Halloween-themed beverages, dive into cauldrons of Goodie Girl Cookies, and design magical masks.
How Much: $10 in advance, $15 at the door, free for children under 2.
Haunted Halloween Carnival
When: Saturday, October 31, 11am-3pm
Where: 1st Street Recreation Center of PS 372, 1st Street & 4th Avenue, Park Slope
What: Look out for crafts, games, and activities, plus performances, visits from kids’ favorite characters, and a costume contest. The first 200 children will receive a Puppetry Arts Gift Bags filled with goodies.
How Much: Free admission.
Story Time: Boo-La-La Witch Spa
When: Saturday, October 31, 11am
Where: Greenlight Bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Fort Greene
What: Illustrator Isabel Roxas and author Samantha Berger will be on hand to read their hilariously silly book, which tackles Halloween and witches without falling into the same old clichés. Then stick around for some fab-BOO Halloween activities!
How Much: Free!
Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest & Fort Greene Park Halloween Festival
When: Saturday, October 31, 12-3pm
Where: Fort Greene Park, DeKalb Avenue & Fort Greene Place
What: Dogs in costume, a horse-drawn hay ride, a pumpkin patch, sack races, stilt-walkers, costume parade, food, face-painting, and more!
How Much: Free!
BAMboo!
When: Saturday, October 31, 2pm
Where: BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene
What: This fun annual block party features family-friendly music, candy giveaways, a bounce house, carnival games, arts and crafts, a costume contest, and more.
How Much: Free!
Family Halloween Dance Party
When: Saturday, October 31 from 3-4pm
Where: Mark Morris Dance Center at 3 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene
What: Mark Morris Dance Group company members Brian Lawson and Stacy Martorana will teach excerpts from the 1970s Party Scene from Act I in Mark Morris’ The Hard Nut in conjunction with MMDG performances at BAM’s Next Wave Festival. All ages and levels are welcome. 1970s costumes encouraged!
How Much: FREE! But RSVP.
Halloween 313
When: Saturday, October 31, 5-9pm
Where: 313 Clinton Avenue, Clinton Hill
What: This annual theatrical extravaganza takes place on the front lawn of a spooky house, and every 30 minutes visitors will be treated (or tricked?) to a show. This year’s production is called Malice in Wonderland!
How Much: Free!
Ditmas Park Parades
When: Saturday, October 31, 5pm & 6pm
Where: Albemarle Road at Argyle Road, Prospect Park South; Glenwood Road at Rugby Road, West Midwood
What: The two Victorian Flatbush annual Halloween parades are a blast — tons of kids and parents, dressed in their best costumes, enjoy snacks, music, trick-or-treating, and a march around the grassy malls in the middle of the roads. The Prospect Park South one attracts a larger crowd, and gets an earlier start, though the West Midwood one is just as fun.
How Much: Free!
Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Parade
When: Saturday, October 31, 6:30pm
Where: Starts at 14th Street and 7th Avenue, Park Slope
What: Walk along with your creepy, crawly, and fantastically costumed neighbors to a party at the conclusion point at the Old Stone House.
How Much: Free!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27
Explore and Create: Arts and Crafts
When: Tuesday, October 27 at 3:30pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Come in and create a new craft project! Ages 6-12 yrs.
Teen Tech Time
When: Tuesday, October 27 at 4pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Come play video games and board games. Hang out, try out some games you haven’t played before, and meet new friends while you’re at it! Wii games and board games. No registration or experience necessary.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28
Reading Is Fundamental
When: Wednesday, October 28 at 2:30pm
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Earn free books by joining RIF and checking out books with library card. Ages 6-18.
Kids Concert Series: Hopalong Andrew
When: Wednesday, October 28 at 3:30pm
Where: DSK Brooklyn at 710 Fulton Street
What: Music for the whole family!
How much: Free
Game On!
When: Wednesday, October 28 at 4pm
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Play games and have fun with others. All ages.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
Babies and Books RIF
When: Thursday, October 29 at 11am
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Enjoy stories, songs and play. Ages Birth to 18 months. Get free books with the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program.
Sing With Me
When: Every Thursday from 11am-12:30pm
Where: Ingersoll Community Center at 177 Myrtle Avenue
What: Sing, dance, laugh, and make music with your little one. Ages four months to four years.
Stutengarten Brooklyn
When: Thursday, October 29 from 2:30-5pm
Where: Die Stammkneipe/ Der Schwarze Kölner at 710 Fulton Street
What: Tuesdays & Thursdays playgroup! Parents and/or caregivers can bring their babies (infants and toddlers) for play and socializing.
How much: $10 includes food and drink
Reading Is Fundamental
When: Thursday, October 29 at 3:30pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Kids and teens can earn FREE books by borrowing and returning books with their library card.
Make Your Own Zine
When: Thursday, October 29 from 4-5pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Learn to make your own zine at the library! What’s a zine, you ask? A zine is a handmade magazine, comic, or mini-book about anything you’re interested in: favorite bands, personal stories, collections, lists, recipes, interviews, and imaginary stories. You can write and draw, work alone or collaborate with a friend, and make copies to share with people you know! We’ll provide the supplies and make the copies — all you need to bring is your own creativity!
Halloween Ghost Stories Party
When: Thursday, October 29 at 7:30pm
Where: Greenlight Bookstore at 686 Fulton Street
What: Ghostly reveals the evolution of the ghost story genre with tales going back to the eighteenth century and into the modern era, ranging across styles from Gothic Horror to Victorian to the New Weird. Collected and introduced by Audrey Niffenegger (bestselling author of The Time Traveler’s Wifeand Her Fearful Symmetry) and including her own fabulous original illustrations, this is a unique and haunting anthology of some of the best ghost stories of all time. Niffenegger hosts a Halloween reading from the anthology at Greenlight, with appearances by writers included in the collection. Guests are invited to come in Halloween costumes, and the authors will also serve as judges for a costume contest with prizes! Halloween refreshments will be served for a hauntingly festive evening.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
Toddler Time
When: Friday, October 30 at 10:15am
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Stories, songs, fingerplays, puppets, and fun for toddlers and caregivers!
Ready, Set, Kindergarten!
When: Friday, October 30 at 11am
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: For children ages 3-5 and their caregivers. In this special six session series, families enjoy stories & activities designed to encourage the development of early learning practices. Exploring literacy, science, & math through music, stories, and more.
Babies and Books
When: Friday, October 30 at 11:15am
Where: Clinton Hill LIbrary at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Storytime is for babies, too! Come sing, play, hear stories, and meet with other parents and caregivers.
Family Movie: It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
When: Friday, October 30 at 3:30pm
Where: Clinton Hill LIbrary at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Join us for a screening of this fall family classic! Who can resist Linus’s quest to find the most sincere pumpkin patch of all? After the movie, we will break out the Legos and Duplos for our regular Friday afternoon program.
Build with LEGOS and DUPLOS
When: Friday, October 30 at 4pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Come help us think up new things to build – towers, house, cities, vehicles, monsters? Collaborate with your friends and get creative. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers will also have their own play area at the library with DUPLO blocks galore!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31
HALLOWEEN
See listings above.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Preschool Storytime
When: Monday, November 2 at 10:30am
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: A read-aloud for preschool-aged kids. Groups and classes are welcome to attend (please contact the children’s librarian, Emily Heath, at 718-398-8713 to let us know ahead of time that you will be bringing a group, if possible.
Homework Help
When: Monday, October 26 at 3pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Get homework help for children in grades k-8.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Baby Breakfast
When: Tuesday, November 3 from 10am-12pm
Where: Habana Outpost at 757 Fulton Street
What: The courtyard is transformed into an into a toddler wonderland complete with toys, a water table and supervised art projects geared towards children 4 and under. Come meet your neighbors and watch your kids make new friends.
How much: Free, rain or shine.
Story Play First RIF
When: Tuesday, November 3at 11am
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Hear stories, sing songs and play with other children. Ages 0-5
Read To Me
When: Tuesday, November 3 at 3:30pm
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Kids ages 8-12 practice reading aloud. Vocabulary, comprehension, pronunciation and annunciation are emphasized.