July is full-on summer mode in the city — outdoor performances on the river, Lincoln Center workshops, Bryant Park puppet shows, and just enough library air-conditioning to save the day. Here's my curated list of the best family events this month on the Upper West Side and in Midtown, with lots of free picks and easy weekday options.
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Week 1 & 2
July 8 — Storytime at Lincoln Center — David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center
All ages. FREE.
July 10 — Create-athon: Deep Sea Costume Workshop — Lincoln Center
Ages 10–12. FREE.
July 11 — Storytime with Sue Nichols — Barnes & Noble UWS
All ages. FREE.
July 12 — Bastille Day Celebration — Madison Ave between 59th to 63rd St
All ages. FREE.
July 13 — Make Your Own Imaginary Creature: Needle Felting Workshop — Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library
Ages 8–12. FREE.
July 15 — Puppet Show: The Colors of Frida / Los Colores de Frida — Bryant Park
All ages. FREE.
Week 3 & 4
July 15, 22, 29 — Storytime at Lincoln Center — Lincoln Center
All ages. FREE.
July 16, 23, 30 — Summer on the Hudson: Children's Performance Series — Pier I
Ages 0–7. FREE.
July 16, 30 — Summer Bingo Hour! — Riverside Library
Ages 6–12. FREE.
July 18 — Family Gallery Talks: Lines and Patterns — MoMA
Ages 4–10. FREE.
July 19 — Create-athon: Creature Kickoff by Kid Koala — Lincoln Center
All ages. FREE.
July 21, 28 — StoryTime with Cali Co Cat — Bryant Park
Ages 2–8. FREE.
July 25 — Chinatown Records & Dance with Red Silk Dancers — Lincoln Center
All ages. FREE.
July 28, 29, 30, 31 — Dance Workshops — Lincoln Center
All ages. FREE.
My Top 3 Picks
If you can only squeeze in a handful:
- Bastille Day Celebration on Madison Ave (July 12) — a festive, all-ages Midtown outing with French-inspired art, movement, and street-fair energy.
- Summer on the Hudson: Children's Performance Series at Pier I (July 16, 23, 30) — free riverside morning performances for little kids, with the built-in bonus of a breezy playground-and-picnic day.
- Dance Workshops at Lincoln Center (July 28–31) — a full week of free movement workshops from major dance companies, perfect for kids who want to try ballet, Latin dance, or West African dance.
By Neighborhood
Plan the Rest of Your Month
Every event above is on the full July calendar — plus dozens more I couldn't fit in this roundup. I update it weekly with new pop-ups, story times, and free activities across the Upper West Side and Midtown so you always have something to do with the kids.
Know of an event I missed? Come share it in our WhatsApp group.