New Yorkers, the weekend weather gods are playing favorites. Saturday, April 18 is forecast to hit around 67°F — the kind of spring day that empties the apartments and fills the parks — while Sunday, April 19 settles back into the mid-50s with an overnight low in the mid-30s. That split means Saturday is your big-move day, and Sunday is your layer-up-and-linger-at-a-garden day.
It’s also Earth Day Weekend across the five boroughs, which means NYC Parks and its partners have stacked the calendar with free, outdoor programming from Randall’s Island to Riverdale. Here are the five moves worth building your weekend around.
1. Rising NYRR Spring Jamboree at Icahn Stadium (Saturday)
If you have kids ages 2–18, this is the Saturday play. The Rising NYRR Spring Jamboree Presented by TCS takes over Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with sprints, a longer distance run, relays, shot put, long jump, and an obstacle course. Registration is free, kids of all abilities are welcome, and every finisher gets a New Balance souvenir while supplies last.
Address: Icahn Stadium, Randall’s Island, New York, NY 10035
Getting there: NYC Ferry Soundview route stops at Randall’s Island on weekends, or take the M35 bus from 125th St/Lexington Ave.
Pro tip: Number pickup runs 7:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. outside the stadium. Arrive at least 60 minutes before your kid’s event.
2. Earth Day Weekend at Wave Hill (Saturday + Sunday)
Wave Hill in Riverdale is the best Sunday call on the list. The cooler weather is ideal for the garden’s guided Earth Day walks, and the public garden sits 350 feet above the Hudson with some of the most underrated views in the city. Expect themed Family Art Projects, seasonal wellness walks, and a theatrical puppet show — DIRT: The Secret Life of Soil by Arms-of-the-Sea Theater — that actually lives up to the billing.
Address: 4900 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY 10471
Getting there: Metro-North Hudson Line to Riverdale, then a short walk. Free shuttle from the 242 St-Van Cortlandt Park 1 train on weekends.
What to bring: Layers. The Hudson bluff catches wind even on warm days, and Sunday’s cool-down will be real up there.
3. Cherry Blossom Peak at Central Park, Prospect Park, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Mid-to-late April is typically prime cherry blossom season across the three big cherry circuits: Central Park’s Reservoir loop and Cherry Hill, Prospect Park’s Cherry Walk near Nelly’s Lawn and the Boathouse, and the signature Cherry Esplanade at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Saturday’s warm weather will draw the biggest crowds at BBG — go early (right at 10 a.m. open) or pivot to Prospect Park’s Cherry Walk, which is free and generally less mobbed.
Pro tip: Brooklyn Botanic Garden typically requires timed-entry tickets during peak bloom. Book online before you go.
4. Woodlawn Family Fun Day (Sunday)
Up in the Bronx, Woodlawn Family Fun Day runs 12:00–4:00 p.m. Sunday with games, crafts, and outdoor activities built around community and nature. Free admission, family-friendly, and a great reason to explore one of the Bronx’s biggest green spaces on a cooler afternoon where an outdoor event with built-in structure beats wandering aimlessly in the wind.
5. MoMA PS1 50th Anniversary Block Party (Saturday)
Not a traditional park, but the courtyard and plaza at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City become an outdoor hangout on Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the museum’s 50th anniversary Block Party. Artists, musicians, local food, and the kind of people-watching you only get when Queens throws a party in the sun.
Address: 22-25 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
Getting there: E, M, 7, or G to Court Sq.
What to Bring This Weekend
- Saturday layers (light): A tee and a light jacket. You’ll shed the jacket by noon.
- Sunday layers (real): Long sleeves, a mid-weight jacket, and something warmer if you’re heading to Riverdale, the Rockaways, or anywhere on the water.
- Water + sunscreen: April sun is sneakier than it feels. UV is already climbing.
- Timed-entry tickets: Book BBG or any ticketed garden before you leave home. Walk-ups get turned away during peak bloom.
Safety Note
Sunday’s overnight low of ~36°F means early-morning hikes and runs will feel like March, not April. If you’re running in the parks Sunday morning, dress for 20°F colder than the daytime high. Hypothermia is rare at those temps but cold-stiff muscles and overuse injuries are not — warm up longer than usual.
The Weekend in One Sentence
Saturday = big outdoor events in warm sun (Jamboree, PS1, cherry blossoms). Sunday = layered, slower, and ideal for a garden or a family fun day. The city is your backyard this weekend — go claim it.

