Walk the Destination Dinosaur trail to experience massive, moving dinosaurs like the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, the powerful Triceratops, the fierce Giganotosaurus and more than a dozen other life-size animatronic dinosaurs. Spot them flying overhead, hiding in the foliage and grazing along the dino path. Be sure to make memories with special photo opportunities, get hands-on with our fossil dig pit and enjoy our educational dino show happening daily at 12 and 2 p.m. at Center Stage!

Summer Kids Club is BACK at Walden Galleria, so get ready for a great lineup of events that kids (and parents) will love! Walden Galleria’s Summer Kids Club 2026 will take place every Tuesday from July 7th to August 18th. So, what exactly is Summer Kids Club? It’s a morning filled with FREE activities and events on Tuesdays during the summer for all to enjoy, right here at Walden Galleria!

Explore, see, and experience our Historic Village. We invite you to tour spaces and buildings representing home, civic, social, economic, farm, and religious life throughout the 1800s.

Join us on M&T Third Friday for free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.! Discover Western New York’s rich history in more than a half-dozen exhibits, including “CONTINUUM: A HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY” and “ICONS: THE MAKERS AND MOMENTS OF BUFFALO SPORTS.” And bring the kids for “Junior History Buffs” children’s programming from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free admission day is made possible through the generosity of M&T Bank.

Oatka Festival in LeRoy: July 18 & 19, 2026: Each year the Oatka Festival, held on the banks of the scenic Oatka Creek, starts off with a gala musical parade. Many local churches and organizations provide the food choices and the continuous entertainment is family oriented. Another highlight of the Festival is the arts and crafts show overlooking the scenic Oatka Creek. Festival Site Open 10am-5pm both days. Parade at 11am on Saturday, Car Show at 11am on Sunday, Duck Derby at 5pm on Sunday. Please remember that pets, skateboards and bikes are not allowed on the festival site.

For visitors with sensory sensitivities or anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience, The Waterway of Change Exhibit is offering a Sensory Hour every Sunday from 11am-12pm with limited crowd size, muted audio components and dimmed lighting.

Experience the Buffalo Zoo after hours like never before during Zoomagination: Lantern Festival at the Buffalo Zoo! Beginning July 22 and running through Oct. 4, the Zoo transforms on select evenings into a glowing spectacle featuring more than 40 larger-than-life lantern displays inspired by animals, nature, and global cultures. Stroll through magical illuminated trails, discover interactive exhibits, and indulge in themed food and drinks along the way. Whether you’re planning a family night out or a unique evening with friends, Zoomagination is Buffalo’s most radiant summer tradition.

Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26, 2026, 10:00 am - 4 pm: An expo for the ages! Explore what was brand new, cutting edge, and mind-blowing in America’s first hundred years, who came and went through the Genesee Valley, the shift from craft to commerce, and innovation’s impact on everyday life.

Enjoy a cruise narrated live by our Captain with live instrumental music departing from Fairport 8-miles to Lock E32 in Pittsford, then experience locking up and down approximately 25 feet while our Captain explains the process, next enjoy great live instrumental music AND vocals too as we cruise 8-miles back to Fairport. These special cruises offer the opportunity for LIVE narration by our Captain about canal history/info, sites along our tour route, canal related stories, info about our beloved Colonial Belle and her amazing history, some tales about our family tour boat business that has been operating on the Erie Canal since 1989, answers to your questions & more. These cruise also offer fantastic LIVE MUSIC performed by talented local musicians with a different solo/duo/trio performing each week.

Join the Aquarium of Niagara for our 5th annual Party on the Plaza, a FREE community festival featuring 15+ cultural partners, family-friendly activities, face painting, a DJ, photo booth and more!

Ready to cheer on your favorite team in style?

Join in a sunset fishing experience off the Lake Kirsty fishing pier. Meet at the Education Center for instruction, bait, and fishing rods to borrow for children ages 5-15. Adult supervision required. Advance registration required

Ever wondered what it will take for astronauts to travel to the Moon, Mars and beyond?

It's a LEGO® experience for all age groups! Visitors can build their own limited edition miniature of the museum's 1926 International stake body truck. Creative works by members of the Rochester LEGO Users Group will be on display as well. It's all happening Sunday, August 16, 2026.  Open to ages 8 and older. Reservations are required: www.nymtmuseum.org/truckbuild

These Friday night evenings for all ages offer twilight talks with astronomers, observations of celestial objects from the roof deck (weather permitting), and access to all four floors of the Museum.

Tour of one of the only working 19th-century breweries in the United States. Hear our costumed interpreters talk about harvesting and processing hops. Stop by our historic kitchens to taste 19th-century food with recipes that include ale and learn how families might have used hops medicinally.

Join us for an enchanting workshop where you will delve into the fascinating world of dyes and mordents. Experience the joy of transforming spun wool into a colorful masterpiece, and connect with a time when creativity and resourcefulness flourished. All participants must be age 16+; all participants under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by a paid adult ticketholder.

Join our expert historic gardeners and learn how to identify, collect, and preserve everlasting flowers, seeds, and pods. Then, craft a garland for your home with your items and fall leaves just in time for the harvest season! Ticket includes Museum Admission, so come early to enjoy the Village, Nature Center, and Gallery!

Learn the basics of spinning wool, a timeless skill that New Yorkers have been doing for generations! Guests will get to feel the differences between different breeds of wool, hone their skills using drop spindles. At the end of this hands-on journey, you’ll leave with a drop spindle and several ounces of wool roving to “ply” your new skills as home.

Learn the fundamentals of cheesemaking in one of our 19th-century kitchens! Participants will make a hard cheese and bring home skills that they can use in their own kitchens. All participants must be age 16+; participants under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by a paid adult ticketholder.

Learn about the various stitches and patterns that 19th century quilters used to create works of textile art. Participants will go home with a partially completed project, a hoop, needle, thread, and a guide covering all the stitches learned in class. All participants must be age 14+; all participants under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by a paid adult ticketholder. Tickets for this event will go on sale in July 2026.