The Island Today: The top events for kids for the coming week

Grace McQuade

58th Annual Scottish Games

Saturday, Aug. 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

With bagpipes, caber tossing, and highland dancing, the Scottish Games are one of the highlights of the season at Old Westbury Gardens. The Long Island Scottish Clan MacDuff, co-host of the event, always provides lots of entertainment including a grand ceremony to open the games. Special games admissions: $20 adults; $18 over 62; $10 children ages 7 to 17, members and library pass holders; free for children ages 6 and under.

Where: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
Info: 516-333-0048 or oldwestburygardens.org

Long Island Nets Hoop Fest

Saturday, Aug. 25 and Sunday, Aug. 26, 9 a.m.

Lace up your kicks and be one of hundreds of players in the Long Island Nets’ first ever 3×3 Tournament Weekend. Teams of children and adults are computer matched into male and female divisions ages 8 and older and then reviewed by hand and placed in various categories based on performance level, age and height.  Registration is required.

Where: NYCB Live, Home of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale
Info & Registration: nycblive.com or longislandnets.com

2018 Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day

Saturday, Aug. 25, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day powered by Net Generation is the largest single-day, grassroots tennis and entertainment event in the world, with chart-topping music acts and today’s best tennis players coming together to celebrate tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe. The day features a free Grounds Festival that opens at 9:30 a.m., and a ticketed stadium show, with musical performances from CNCO, Echosmith, In Real Life, Kim Petras, AJ Mitchell and more, that kicks off at 12 p.m. 

Where: Grounds Festival at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadow-Corona Park, Flushing; Stadium Show at Arthur Ashe Stadium, 124-02 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing / Info & Tickets: arthurashekidsday.com

Cetacean Celebration

Sunday, Aug. 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Children of all ages and their families can join this end-of-summer celebration of favorite cetaceans where they will see and touch baleen, whale teeth, and other artifacts from the museum’s collection. Visitors can get crafty in a workshop with fun “make and take” whale projects. $12 per child, $5 per adult. No registration required.  

Where: The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 279 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor
Info: 631-367-3418 or cswhalingmuseum.org

Nature Sunday: Beautiful Butterflies

Sunday, Aug. 26, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Children ages 4 and up will learn about the fascinating world of butterflies with an outdoor educator who will lead them on a scientific exploration uncovering the caterpillars and butterflies that make their home within the sensory garden. Kids can stay and make a butterfly craft to take home. Admission is free with an $8 parking fee. Registration is required.

Where: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
Info: 516-922-8678 or plantingfields.org

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