Saturday and Sunday | 11am–5pm | Free with General Admission
Weekends bring fun activities for the whole family to the South Street Seaport Museum. 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 Museum’s galleries, the tall ship Wavertree, and the lightship Ambrose.
No additional registration needed, these activities are free with your General Admission tickets. Engagement stations may be located indoors in the Seaport Museum galleries at 12 Fulton Street, or on 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.
April 2024: Ecological Explorations
Throughout April, immerse yourself in a variety of hands-on activities at the Seaport Museum that are designed for families and individuals of all ages to learn about some of the facets of physical ecology of the New York City waterfront, spanning from its historical origins to the present day.
Join us at the Seaport Museum to explore the effects of ocean acidification on the shells and exoskeletons of marine life, discover how the Croton Aqueduct revolutionized New Yorkers’ access to fresh water, learn about the role of humble oyster shells in expanding Manhattan’s cityscape, explore the impact of storms on New York’s coastlines, and understand the contributions of the federal Clean Water Act to the preservation of New York Harbor.
This family activity is free with General Admission and will be offered every weekend from April 6–28. No registration required. Stop by anytime from 11am-4:30pm to participate in this timely and enjoyable experience.
Want more ecology activities? Join the Seaport Kids x Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20 for more. Click here to get all the details on the lineup of additional activities hosted by Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents.
May 2024: Maritime Moves: Sailors’ Hornpipe
In the 17th century, dancing became an entrenched tradition among sailors aboard European ships. A notable dance associated with sailors is the hornpipe, often linked with a tune known as the “College” or “Sailors’ Hornpipe.” This dance, favored by sailors, was a solo performance characterized by highly personalized expressions, with each dancer striving to showcase their own virtuosic steps.
Throughout May, the South Street Seaport Museum welcomes families and individuals of all ages to discover and personalize the Sailors’ Hornpipe! With the help of a specially-developed instructional video, participants in this activity will delve into this dance’s history and learn its movements, step by step. Similar to sailors navigating limited dancing space aboard ships, participants will be challenged to perform within a designated area through an engaging game.
This family activity is free with Pay What You Wish General Admission and will be offered every weekend from May 4 through May 26. No registration required. Stop by anytime from 11am–4:30pm to participate in this enjoyable experience.
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.