You don't need a passport to take your kids around the globe this year. Just head to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park! Queens Theatre kicks off its new season in October, and the lineup is a celebration of everything that makes our borough special: music, dance, storytelling, and traditions from nearly every corner of the world.

Best of all for families on a budget, tickets start at under $30. You can browse the full calendar and grab seats now at www.queenstheatre.org/events.

Just for Kids

Little ones are well taken care of this season. The Rock and Roll Playhouse returns with several concerts designed for young audiences (think dancing in the aisles, not sitting still). Dino fans won't want to miss Lightwire Dino-Light, a glow-in-the-dark adventure where dinosaurs come to life through dazzling light-up puppetry.

Then in January, "The Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical" lands on the Claire Shulman Theater stage in honor of Lunar New Year. This original, family-friendly show follows the very first female Monkey King on her quest to protect her tribe, complete with rock and classical music and martial arts-inspired choreography. It's a great pick for school-age kids who love action and a strong heroine.

Celebrate Together

The season is packed with holiday and heritage celebrations you can enjoy as a family, including Día de los Muertos, Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, Dominican Independence Day, St. Patrick's Day, Mother's Day, and the Cherry Blossom Festival. A few standouts:

• Calpulli Mexican Dance Company's Día de Muertos is a colorful, meaningful way to introduce kids to this beautiful tradition.
• San Jose Taiko brings the thunder of Japanese ensemble drumming, mixed with jazz, Afro-Cuban, and rock rhythms. Kids tend to love feeling those drums!
• Darrah Carr Dance marks St. Patrick's Day with Irish-inspired performances.

For the Grown-Ups (Book That Sitter!)

Parents deserve a night out too. The lineup includes a Celia Cruz tribute by Xiomara Laugart, Colombian twin vocal duo Las Áñez, the one-and-only Charo, and illusionist Vitaly's evening of magic. Jazz lovers can look forward to an expanded series featuring Allan Harris, Tammy McCann's salute to the great women of jazz, and Jumaane Smith's New Orleans-flavored show. There's even a Valentine's Day special with Uptown Royalty, Liza and Willie.

Free Ways to Get Involved

Looking for no-cost culture? The theater's New Play Development program, now in its 25th year, offers free public readings by up-and-coming playwrights, and this season the stories center on Queens. Audiences can stick around for talkbacks with the artists. The B-Side Series also offers free open-stage programming where community members of all ages and abilities can jump in and share their own creativity. Titan Theatre Company also returns this fall with Thornton Wilder's classic "Our Town."

Welcoming Every Family

Queens Theatre continues to make accessibility a priority. Select performances include ASL interpretation, audio description, open captioning, and touch tours. Relaxed and sensory-friendly performances feature softer sound and lighting, quiet spaces, and plenty of flexibility to move around or make noise, a wonderful option for kids with sensory needs or little ones who can't sit still just yet.

Plan Your Visit

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Queens Theatre is located at 14 United Nations Ave. S in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, or X, or sign up for their newsletter at QueensTheatre.org to stay in the loop as more shows are added.