Central Park is full of kids activities year round! Whether you are visiting New York in January or in July, we at City Tales have a list of our favorite things to do in Central Park with kids for each season!
Winter
Winter in NYC is full of magic. Snow in Central Park means kids can go sledding down Central Park’s rolling hills and snow-shoeing in the wide-open meadows. But the quintessential activity for Central Park in winter is going skating at Wollman Rink(opens in a new tab).
Spring
The most magical place in Central Park during the Spring is Cherry Hill. Cherry Hill is named for the whimsical cherry trees that blossom white and pink during the early spring. The centerpiece of the hill is Cherry Hill Fountain(opens in a new tab), which many mistake for being the fountain from the television show Friends. The Friends fountain(opens in a new tab) was actually built on a sound stage in California. The Cherry Hill Fountain made its debut in 1860 and was once a water trough for horses! You will still see horses on Cherry Hill. In fact, you can pick up a horse and carriage ride there, which creates a memorable Central Park experience for the whole family!
Summer
Kids can take advantage of Central Park’s 21 playgrounds, take a ride on the Central Park Carousel(opens in a new tab), row a boat from the Loeb Boathouse, or try their hand at steering a model sailboat at Conservatory Water(opens in a new tab). Outdoor puppet shows at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre(opens in a new tab) and free Shakespeare in the Park performances at the Delacorte Theatre(opens in a new tab) will delight and amaze young audiences. A visit to the Central Park Zoo(opens in a new tab) will provide close encounters with sea lions, tigers, and bears! Oh my!
Fall
Playing in the colorful fall foliage provides hours of entertainment for kids of all ages. October features a cornucopia of Halloween activities, including the annual costume parade and pumpkin sail! These are usually accompanied by pumpkin carving, spooky arts and crafts, and even seasonal educational nature activities such as “Bats at Belvedere.” This animal encounter program will teach you all about the importance of this nocturnal species!