Family Calendar
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

ART
ABSTRACT AFTERNOON
A tour of the Whitney for children ages 7 to 11 focuses on the abstract art in the museum’s permanent collection. Saturday, 2-3:30 p.m., Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Ave. at 75th Street, 212-570-7745, free with museum admission, $12 general, $9.50 seniors and students, free for members, NYC public school students, and children under 12, registration recommended.
CITY SIGHTS
The creator of “See the City: The Journey of Manhattan Unfurled” (Knopf), Matteo Pericoli,presents a children’s program during the New Yorker Festival. Mr. Pericoli, a New Yorker contributor, assists children in drawing the Manhattan skyline en plein air, with easels and other provided supplies.The first session is for children between ages 5 and 10, and the second session is open to all children 5 and older. Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m., meeting place disclosed at registration, 877-847-8693, $25.
BOOKS
BUMP IN THE NIGHT
John Irving reads from his children’s book “A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound” (Bantam Doubleday Dell).The story, which was originally embedded in Mr. Irving’s adult novel “A Widow for One Year” (Modern Library), tells of a young boy woken in the middle of night by a spooky sound. Wednesday, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Union Square, 33 E. 17th St. at Broadway, 212-253-0810, free.
NOVEL NOISES
A party celebrates the publication of George O’Connor’s “Kapow!” (Simon & Schuster) and Nick Bruel’s “Boing!” (Roaring Brook). Both authors, who are staff members of Books of Wonder, read from and sign copies of their children’s books at the reception. Thursday, 5-7 p.m., Books of Wonder, 16 W. 18th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-989-3270, free.
CRAFTS
ANIMAL MASKS
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine celebrates the annual Blessing of the Animals. Author Francis Ward Weller reads her book “The Day the Animals Came” (Philomel), and then children ages 4 and older create festive animal-inspired masks. Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, 212-932-7347, $5 for each child with an adult.
FESTIVALS
CZECH IT OUT
The Czech Center celebrates Czech Independence Day with an outdoor festival that includes live music, gymnastics performances, children’s storytelling, folk dancing, and Czech food. Saturday, 1-7 p.m., 83rd Street between Madison and Park avenues, 212-288-0830, free.
MEDIEVAL TIMES
The Medieval Festival transforms the area surrounding the Cloisters into a market village with knights in armor, jugglers, jesters, musicians, magicians, storytellers, and puppeteers. Artisans including blacksmiths, manuscript illuminators, potters, and wood carvers showcase their crafts. The fair concludes with a jousting event between knights on horseback. Attendees are welcome to dress in historical costumes. Sunday, noon-6 p.m., Fort Tryon Park, Margaret Corbin Circle and Fort Washington Avenue, free.
FILM
WUDD’S UP?
The Reel Moms film series hosts a live performance by the Wudds, a collection of 1093 1594 1261 1604musical characters based on the children’s book “What’s a Wudd?” A screening of a first-release film (yet to be announced) follows. Children of all ages are welcome at all Reel Moms screenings. Saturday, 10-10:45 a.m. performance, film to follow, Loews 34th Street, 316 W. 34th St., between Eighth and Ninth avenues, free with admission to film, $8.99 general, free for children under 2. See www.enjoytheshow.com/reelmoms for more information.
MUSIC
DANCE AND DOUBLE DUTCH
A family music festival features performances by Tom Chapin, Dar Williams, the Double Dutch Divas, and others. The rollicking afternoon ends with a community dance. Sunday, noon-5 p.m. performances, 5-6:30 p.m. dancing, Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park, Battery Park City, 212-267-9700, free.
POETRY
WILD VERSES
Poet’s House sponsors a morning of wildlife-themed poetry at Central Park’s Wildlife Theater. Saturday, 11 a.m., Central Park Zoo, 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, 212-431-7920, free.
TOUR
VILLAGE VIEWS
An architectural scavenger hunt for families with children between ages 7 and 12 examines the row houses of Greenwich Village. Architectural educator Jane Cowan leads the “Row House Romp” walking tour, which ends with children having the chance to create a small model of a house that doubles as a piggy bank. The event is sponsored by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon, 212-475-9585 ext. 32 for meeting place and reservations, $20 each parent and child pair, $15 members.
MUSEUMS
ROCKET REOPENS
Forty years after the Atlas and Titan rockets arrived on the grounds of what was then the 1964 World’s Fair, the New York Hall of Science reopens its Rocket Park. Rocket Park chronicles the history of rocket development and the evolution of the American space program. The exhibition includes an Atlas rocket and original Mercury 1 capsule used for an unmanned, nonspace testing mission in May of 1960.The park launches in a private bash on Thursday and opens to the public the next day. Opens Friday, New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., between Roosevelt Avenue and Long Island Expressway, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, 718-699-0005, $9 general, $6 seniors and children, $2.50 children ages 2-4, free for members and for all Fridays 2-5 p.m. See www.nyhallsci.org for more information.