Peter and the Wolf is the story most kids meet on an orchestra recording, and here it arrives as live theater on a Queens playground, performed by Queens College artists at arm's length. It runs an hour — long enough to hold a five-year-old, short enough to end before the meltdown — and this playground was built to be usable by kids of every ability. If you want to try your kid on a first play, this is the low-stakes way.
What to expect
Make for the playground side of Flushing Meadows Corona Park and look for the performance area; there is no box office and no seat assignment, so families spread out on the ground and the sides fill in as it starts. Expect a short spoken family show rather than a concert, with the playground itself still open around you before and after.
Good to know
- The 7 train to 111 St and a walk into the park is the simplest transit route; local Q buses also stop along Corona Avenue
- The playground was designed to be usable by children with and without disabilities, so paths are flat and stroller- and wheelchair-friendly
- There is no seating — bring a blanket or a low chair if you want your kid off the grass
- Best suited to elementary-age children and younger, and it runs about an hour
- Free with no registration, but arriving a little early gets you a spot near the front
- It is an outdoor Parks program, so check the NYC Parks listing the morning of if the forecast looks bad
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Common questions
Do I need tickets?
No. This is a free NYC Parks program with no ticket and no registration — turn up at the Playground for All Children and find a spot.
Is it suitable for toddlers?
It runs about an hour and is billed as best for kids, so it suits preschool and elementary ages. The playground is right there if a younger child needs to move.
What happens if it rains?
Outdoor Parks performances can be canceled in bad weather. Check the NYC Parks event page the morning of, or call the Parks contact listed there.
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