Saturday and Sunday | 11am–4:30pm | Included in General Admission
Weekends bring fun activities for the whole family to the South Street Seaport Museum. Timely hands-on activities and engagement stations for visitors of all ages provide creative opportunities that illuminate history and life at sea while enhancing your visit to the Seaport Museum galleries, the tall ship Wavertree, and the lightship Ambrose.
Activities and their locations change each month to highlight various aspects of maritime history, New York City’s beginnings as a port city, or the Museum’s collections and offerings. Engagement stations may be located in the Seaport Museum program space at 207 Water Street, the introduction galleries and program space inside Schermerhorn Row at 12 and 14 Fulton Street, or aboard the tall ship Wavertree at Pier 16. Museum staff will be happy to point you in the direction of the weekend’s activity when you check in.
About Registration
You may participate in the monthly family activity at any time from 11am to 4:30pm on the day of your visit. You do not need to select a time slot. Last admission will be 4:30pm.
Due to the various Museum locations in which family activities may take place, please register for the free activity and General Admission to ensure you can explore the exhibitions and historic ships at the Museum.
The Museum aims to make our facilities accessible to all visitors. Due to the historical nature of our ships and Landmarked buildings, access requirements vary for each location. Please see the specific access details on our Accessibility page.
Book your General Admission ticket and your desired activity below.
January 2026: Signal Flag Swags
Throughout the month of January, come let your creativity fly at the Seaport Museum by making your own signal flag swags.
For centuries, flags were the only form of communication between ships at sea, and between ships and the shore. In the 19th century, signaling with special flags developed into a system capable of passing several types of information and relatively elaborate messages. This even became a successful form of communication between crews who didn’t share a common language. Learn more about how sailors communicate using these vibrant flags that feature different patterns, shapes, and colors, while making your own banner that spells out whatever message you like. There will also be opportunities to use your new-found skill by decoding others’ signal flag messages.
This family activity will be offered Saturdays and Sundays from January 3 through February 1. The activity will take place indoors at 14 Fulton Street.
Want to learn more about Maritime Flags? Check out our See the Flying Colors blog post for more information and history about flags and how the Seaport Museum cares for the flags in its collection.
February 2026: Build a Baggywrinkle
Join the Seaport Museum for an all-ages activity where you get to learn about the common ships’ tool known as a baggywrinkle––a soft covering used to protect sails from damage. You’ll get to see a real example from one of the Seaport Museum’s historic ships, and then learn how to make one!
Traditionally, baggywrinkle is made from unraveled ropes, but on weekends throughout February, you can learn to make these important tools from scratch using colorful yarn. This fun craft can make for a unique maritime-inspired Valentine’s Day decoration or you can use whatever color you like!
This family activity will be offered most Saturdays and Sundays from February 14 through March 1; contact the Museum if you want to check on an exact date. The activity will take place indoors at 14 Fulton Street.
March 2026: Her-story in Motion
March is Women’s History Month and the Seaport Museum is celebrating with visitors of all ages by sharing the her-story of notable women from around the South Street Seaport Historic District and inviting you to create your own movable craft inspired by these women. Materials will be available for you to read about the lives of several women and then bring them to life by coloring and assembling your own paper doll.
A few of the women featured in this activity are Emily Roebling, who assumed chief engineering duties for the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge; Kate Walker, the devoted keeper of Robbins Reef Lighthouse for over 30 years; and Maritcha Rémond Lyons, an educator and civil rights activist who testified for her right to education and became the first Black student to graduate from Providence High School, among others!
This family activity will be offered most Saturdays and Sundays from March 7 through March 29; contact the Museum if you want to check on an exact date. The activity will take place indoors at 14 Fulton Street.
April 2026: Lenape Games
Weekends in August offer families the opportunity to come aboard the tall ship Wavertree for a journey into the Greater New York region’s rich past through fun, interactive games! Discover the traditions of the area’s Indigenous people and play the same games that were enjoyed here long before the city we know today.
Family-friendly activities include Selahtinalìtin (sˈɛlɑːtˌɪnɐlˌɪtɪn): a scattering straws game similar to Pick Up Sticks or Jackstraws, and Mamantuhwin (mˈæmɐntˌuːwɪn): a dice-and-bowl game inspired by the whirligig beetle. Experience the excitement of these traditional games and connect with the history of Lenapehoking, the land now known as South Street Seaport.
This family activity will be offered most Saturdays and Sundays from April 4 through April 26; contact the Museum if you want to check on an exact date. The activity will take place indoors at 14 Fulton Street.
South Street Seaport Museum
By subway: Take the A, C, 2, 3, J, Z, 4, or 5 train to Fulton Street.
By bus: Take the M-15 SBS or M-15 to Fulton Street.
By water: The NYC Ferry, and New York Waterway provide service to Pier 11. The Staten Island Ferry provides services to Whitehall Terminal.
Parking: Parking lots can be found at Front and John Streets, as well as 294 Pearl Street.