Peter and the Wolf is the piece that teaches a generation of kids which instrument is which — the bird is a flute, the cat a clarinet, the wolf three horns — and hearing it performed live outdoors makes that connection land in a way a recording never does. Queens College artists stage it at the Forest Park Overlook, one of the prettiest and least-crowded performance spots in the borough. If you want a free hour of real culture with young kids, this is a considerably better use of a morning than
What to expect
Performers work in the open at the Overlook with families spread on the grass and benches around them. The piece runs about an hour and is narrated, so no prior familiarity is needed. Forest Park's trails and carousel are nearby if you want to extend the visit.
Good to know
- Take the J or Z to Woodhaven Boulevard, or the Q11/Q21 bus along Woodhaven.
- Bring a blanket — seating at the Overlook is grass and benches.
- The performance is narrated, so kids don't need to know the story in advance.
- Forest Park's carousel and trails are a short walk if you want to make a morning of it.
- Programming is outdoors and weather-dependent.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
Is this a concert or a play?
It's a family theatre production of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, narrated and performed by Queens College artists.
How long does it run?
About an hour, which suits the attention span it's aimed at.
Is it really free?
Yes. It's free NYC Parks programming with no ticket or registration.
More this weekend
