Family-Friendly Valentine’s Day Events in NYC and Nearby
By Shara Levine
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and love is in the air! There are many family-friendly Valentine’s Day events in NYC and nearby for parents and kids of all ages to enjoy.
From pet photography day to concerts and craft workshops, there are plenty of things to do in the metro area on Valentine’s Day and the days leading up to the holiday.
Browse our list of fun, family-friendly Valentine’s Day events that celebrate the season of love in NYC—including in Staten Island and nearby!
Manhattan
Chelsea Market, 75 9th Ave., Chelsea
Feb. 9-14, Daily, 11 am – 8 pm,
All ages
Free
Stop by the card station and get creative with DIY Valentine’s Day Cards.
Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place, SoHo
Saturday, Feb. 10, 11am – 1pm or 2pm – 4pm
Ages 5-13
$15
Take inspiration from the Times Square Love & Design Competition. This annual competition invites architecture firms to think about how a Valentine sent from the heart of Times Square could express love for everyone.
Look at the various designs for this public piece of art and then families will design and build their own models of 3D Valentines for NYC.
Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center, 80 Catherine St., Downtown Manhattan
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1 – 5 pm
All ages
Free
Celebrate and enjoy the company of friends and family while indulging in music and light refreshments.
Gansevoort Plaza, 38 Gansevoort St., Meatpacking District
Feb. 13-14, Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:30 – 7:30 pm.
All ages
Free
You are invited to enter a whimsical glass house filled with Lindt LINDOR truffles and be gifted a customized poem from a professional speed poet to melt the one you love this Valentine’s season.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd St., Upper West Side
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 10 am – 4 pm
All ages
Included with admission: $16.75
Celebrate Valentine’s Day and create a variety of projects from the heart.
Utah Office of Tourism Pop-Up, 156 Orchard St., Lower East Side
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 12 – 8 pm
All ages
Free
To celebrate the launch of Utah’s In Love. In Utah. nationwide campaign, as well as the state’s renowned bean-to-bar artisanal chocolate scene, Utah will unveil a one-day-only pop-up chocolate shop on the Lower East Side.
The shop will distribute complimentary boxes of chocolates featuring custom-curated treats from Utah’s craft chocolatier, Solstice Chocolate. The pop-up experience will offer fully immersive and quintessentially “Utah” encounters, inviting participants to celebrate being “In Love. In Utah.”
Taste Buds Kitchen, 109 W 27th St., Chelsea
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 11 am
Ages 2-8
$65
Advanced registration required
Bring your little one to make special Valentine’s Sprinkle Donuts!
Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center, 232 W 60th St., Upper West Side
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Ages 5-12
Free
Advanced registration required
Get ready to create stunning masterpieces! Use glow in the dark paint to bring out your creativity on blank canvases.
Bronx
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, 895 Shore Road, City Island
Saturday, Feb. 10, 10 – 11:30 am
All ages
$15
Show your sweetheart that you care with a charming, unique, and handmade Victorian-style Valentine’s Day card! Learn about the history of valentines and the printed “scraps” used to make them in the 19th century while you craft your own original card.
Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, 3225 Reservoir Oval East, Williamsbridge
Sunday, Feb. 11, 12:30 – 2:30 pm
All ages
Free
This fun do-it yourself, Valentines’ arts and crafts program teaches how to create projects for yourself or someone special.
Francis Martin Library, 2150 University Ave., Morris Heights
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 3:30 – 5 pm
All ages
Free
Make Valentine’s day crafts for someone you love while listening to music and creating art.
Edenwald Library, 1255 East 233rd Street, Wakefield
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 4 – 5 pm
Ages 5-12
Free
Create a beautiful night light for Valentine’s Day.
Wave Hill, 4900 Independence Ave., Riverdale
Feb. 17-18, Saturday and Sunday, 10 am – 1 pm
All ages
Free with Admission: $10; $6 Students 18+ & Seniors 65+; $4 Children 6–18
With Valentine’s Day in mind, take a cue from the ways animals protect their families by creating woodland critters. Celebrate the ways we care for each other.
Give your stuffed creation as a heartwarming gift, or keep it to remind you of our local woodland friends. At 11:30AM, families can enjoy a storytime program in the Gund Theater; all ages welcome.
Brooklyn
Mill Basin Library, 2385 Ralph Ave., Mill Basin
Friday, Feb. 9, 4 – 5 pm
Ages 6-12
Free
Using paper materials, learn how to create your own pop-up Valentine’s Day Card!
The Old Stone House, 336 3rd St., Park Slope
Sunday, Feb. 11, 11 am – 12 pm
All ages
$37; free for children younger than 13
Celebrate love in the heart of the city that never sleeps with “Love, NYC,” an enchanting Valentine’s Day concert featuring soul-stirring melodies inspired by the romance of New York City.
Dive into the magic of NYC with tunes that dance through iconic landmarks. From soaring skyscrapers to charming parks, our musical adventure celebrates the whimsy and wonder of love in the city.
Walt Whitman Library, 93 St Edwards St., Clinton Hill
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 3 – 3:45 pm
All ages
Free
Join Miss Anna for a fun arts & crafts project in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
Adams Street Library, 9 Adams St., DUMBO
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 4 – 5 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Library the day before Valentine’s Day to get crafty and make a card for someone special!
Queens
Art Strong, 43-67 11th Street, Long Island City
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 10 – 11 am & 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Ages 2-14
$40
Advanced registration required
Get crafty this Valentine’s Day and decorate your own glass vase and make a fresh flower arrangement to take home in it!
Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria
Saturday, Feb. 10, 12:30 pm
All ages
$15; $11 senior and students; $9 ages 3–17
Join MoMI for a special Valentine-themed event celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show predecessor “The Muppets Valentine Show.”
Series curator and President of The Jim Henson Legacy Craig Shemin will be joined by special guests, master puppet designer/builder Rollie Krewson, who worked on the project as an intern, and The Jim Henson Company’s Director of Archives Karen Falk, who will present a show-and-tell featuring rare items from the Henson Archives and Rollie’s personal collection.
Plus, they will pay tribute to some of Kermit and Miss Piggy’s most romantic moments.
Fort Totten Park, Totten Avenue & 15th Road, Fort Totten
Saturday, Feb. 10, 1 – 2:30 pm
All ages
Free
Use nature to create your very own Valentine for someone important to you. Urban Park Rangers will provide crafting materials and help you get creative with your handmade card!
Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2:15 pm & 1 pm.
Ages 3 and older
$5 pre-show workshop; Tickets for show: $15; $8 children
Mr. Hatch leads a colorless, ordered life, until one Valentine’s Day, he receives a candy-filled heart with the note that says “somebody loves you.”
This heart-warming puppet play examines the effect that kindness can have on a dreary existence. Join Mr. Hatch as he searches for his secret admirer and enjoys the biggest surprise of his life!
Voelker Orth Museum, 14919 38th Ave, Murray Hill
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2 pm
Ages 12 and older
$5; $4 for members
With love in the air – create cards that speak your heart for someone special. Instructor Phyllis Ger will have vintage materials and a variety of supplies on hand for you to fashion your creations.
Staten Island
Staten Island Zoo, 614 Broadway, West New Brighton
Saturday, Feb. 10, 11 am – 2 pm
All ages
$6-$10
“I Heart the Zoo” invites guests of all ages to discover the wonders of animal enrichment, learn about the bond between animals and caretakers, and spread love through special Valentine messages to our furry and feathered friends.
Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave., Bull’s Head
Sunday, Feb. 11, 11 am – 12 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers in learning about the courtship habits of local wildlife while taking a scenic stroll on the nature trails of The Greenbelt.
St. George Library Center, 5 Central Ave., Silver Lake
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 3:30 – 5 pm
Ages 5-12
Free
Make a Valentine’s Day Heart Pillow that everyone will be sure to love.
Charleston Library, 225 Bricktown Way, Woodrow
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 10 am – 11:30 am
Ages 1-4
Free
Celebrate all things hearts and love at this Be My Sweetie Soiree! Enjoy a story time, craft, dance party and treats with your little sweetie!
West New Brighton Library, 975 Castleton Ave., West New Brighton
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 4 – 5 pm.
Ages 5-10
Free
Have fun with Ms. Cherryl as she shares a Cinderella like story time for Valentine’s Day followed by a fun craft.
Long Island
The Children’s Museum of the East End, 376 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Tpke, Bridgehampton
Thursday, Feb. 8, 11 am – 12:30 pm
Ages 0-18 months
Free
Advanced registration required
You and your little valentine can sing songs, dance, play games, create a special craft…and enjoy light refreshments. And don’t forget to stop by the “kissing booth” for a picture to remember the special day!
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor
Feb. 10-14, Daily, 10 am – 5 pm
All ages
$5-$7
Enjoy a free Valentine’s Day craft for kids with admission.
United Skates of America, 1276 Hicksville Rd., Seaford
Sunday, Feb. 11, 12 – 2 pm
All ages
$15 admission; $7 skate rental; $6 non skating adult
Advanced registration required
Get ready for a mischievous and fun-filled celebration on Valentine’s Day. Come out for a day of laughter, surprises, and roller skating. The Grinch himself will be making an appearance, spreading his unique brand of holiday cheer.
Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Dr, Smithtown
Sunday, Feb. 11, 1 – 3 pm
All ages
$15 child; $5 adult
Come out for an afternoon of close encounters with wildlife. Meet some of Sweetbriar’s cute and loveable animals, play an animal matching game in honor of Valentine’s Day, and create a craft to remember the day.
Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City
Sunday, Feb. 11, 1 – 3 pm
Ages 3 and older
Included with admission: $17
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making a lovely heart necklace.
The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Avenue, Huntington
Feb. 15-18, Thursday-Sunday, 12 – 5 pm
All ages
Free with admission: $5 suggested donation; free for children younger than 13 and members
Fall in love with a work of art and place a heart in front of your favorite work of art for all to see!
John J. Byrne Community Center, 800 Jerusalem Ave, Uniondale
Friday, Feb. 16, 6 – 9 pm
All ages
$5-$10
Be prepared for a night filled with love, joy, and memorable moments with a pizza extravaganza, delightful desserts and refreshing drinks, family-friendly games and Valentine’s Day crafts, music & dancing, and fun & surprises.
Wear your favorite shades of pink, red, or hearts to add a touch of Valentine’s spirit!
Rockland/Bergen
Creative Arts Workshop, 171 Main St. Nyack
Friday, Feb. 9, 6 – 8:30 pm
Ages 4-11
$50
Kids will meet and greet with open arts and play, make valentines to take home, enjoy a creative movement and dance party, have pizza, fruit, and house hibiscus fruit punch. End the evening with the Disney classic: “Phineas and Ferb”.
Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack
Feb. 10-11, Saturday and Sunday, 12 – 2 pm.
All ages
Free
Visit the LEGO Store to build a sweet Valentine’s Day heart and take it home.
Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack
Saturday, Feb. 10, 3 – 6 pm
All ages
Free
Swing by Claire’s for a heartwarming scavenger hunt and free face painting!
Lorrimer Sanctuary, 790 Ewing Ave., Franklin Lakes
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 10 – 11 am
All ages
Free
Whether you’re a bird enthusiast or just looking for a unique Valentine’s Day activity, this bird walk is for you! Immerse yourself in the serene surroundings and discover the fascinating world of birds.
Bond Vet – Paramus, 89 W Spring Valley Ave., Maywood
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1 – 3 pm
All ages
Free
Bring your furry friends to celebrate Valentine’s Day with photos featuring a Valentine’s backdrop, treats for pups and humans, free swag, and more!
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