Community Event Programming for Families and Children
Happy Day Play designs quality family and children's programming that draws a crowd and holds it. We do it all through a sought-after Family Life Education lens, which means every session is built to serve how children of all ages actually grow and how families connect. The result is programming that is genuinely fun, credible, and memorable all at once. We have engaged festival crowds of up to 4,000 people and served thousands of children and families across Staten Island, all of New York City, and New Jersey at various festivals, community events, and more.
We offer programming on an hourly basis for small groups and larger crowds of all sizes. We can work independently or easily collaborate with other professionals at your event.
Whatever you’re envisioning, we will work with you to make happen!
Bring Quality Family and Children's Programming to Your Next Event
A Happy Day Play hour gives your event a built-in family draw, a concrete reason for parents to choose your event over staying home. Our sessions are designed to not only be a wonderful time for your guests, but will also be photogenic and shareable, with bubbles, parachutes, and larger-than-life moments that fuel your event's own social and marketing channels and give families a reason to tag you.
That combination of foot traffic, dwell time, and content compounds over time and supports both digital and grassroots marketing in a natural, cost-effective way. Best of all, each family associates the fantastic time they had with your event!
Hiring an Educator and Entertainer in One
An entertainer simply performs for children. A family life educator designs and joins experiences across the lifespan that draw the whole family into shared play, because the goal is connection and developmental value rather than a passive audience. Founder Ms. Kaitlynn is a Family Life Educator who spent a decade who spent a decade leading childhood developmental content for What to Expect, so every activity is grounded in how children grow, whether the child is a baby, a toddler, a preschooler, or a big kid, and in what families need. This is the credibility families and businesses trust.
Do You Provide Free Community Programming?
Investing in our community is part of how we work. This is why once each season (fall, winter, spring, and summer) we run a free class or event open to anyone, no cost and no catch, as part of our Family Life Education framework and efforts to pay it forward in the community. It is something we are very proud of and will never stop doing.
If you're a nonprofit or for profit business with a specific mission centered on helping children or families only and looking to co-host an event with us, you are able to request one of these spots. We accept these types of collaboration inquiries year-round. Email hello@happydayplay.com with the subject line "Free Community Giveback Request" and tell us about your organization / business, your free event collaboration idea and a suggested date range.
A heads-up: with only four giveback slots a year, we put real care into each one. Due to high demand, we read every inquiry and follow up only when there's a good match. We can't take on free work beyond these four slots and are unable to fulfill requests outside of non-profits or for-profits businesses that specifically help children and families.
For any free community requests outside of this, we are unable to accept publicity or barter in place of monetary payment. If there is a specific budget you need to stick to, we are happy to discuss a custom package for you!
Can You Host a Free Class for Our Group?
If your group is a nonprofit or for profit business with a specific mission centered on helping children or families, you can apply for one of four yearly community giveback event spots. We accept these types of collaboration inquiries year-round. Email hello@happydayplay.com with the subject line "Free Community Giveback Request" and tell us about your organization / business, your free event collaboration idea and a suggested date range. We only do four of these a year and only follow-up if there is availability and a good match due to high demand.
If your group does not fall under this criteria or there is no availability, we offer affordable private pop-up play dates in the comfort of your own space or location. A representative of your group books a timeslot with Happy Day Play, collects payment and coordinates on behalf of the group, and Happy Day Play provides the educational fun! For more information, please see our Private Playdate page.
Happy Day Play at JCC Fall Harvest Festival 2025
Happy Day Play marked our second birthday at the JCC’s Fall Harvest Festival with a high-energy celebration for families. Children danced to live ukulele music, joined in stop-and-go freeze dance, twirled ribbons, and gathered for parachute play.
Think Do Say Speech Grand Opening Event
Happy Day Play was honored to be invited to lead a class demonstration at the grand opening of Think Do Say Speech in Staten Island, celebrating the vital role Speech-Language Pathologists play in supporting children and families. Throughout the event, the synergy between developmental play and speech-language expertise was clear. Collaboration with SLPs is essential in supporting children’s communication, regulation, and social connection, and we are proud to partner with professionals who share a commitment to intentional, research-informed programming. It was a privilege to contribute to such a meaningful milestone for Think Do Say Speech and to celebrate the important work being done in our community.
Pirate Park Family Pirate Day 2025
Happy Day Play made its Pirate Park debut at Family Pirate Day 2025 with a larger-than-life interactive class that transformed the park into a full-scale adventure on the high seas. Children arrived ready to embrace their inner pirates, donning eye patches and stepping straight into imaginative role play. Families “set sail” together using a parachute as rolling ocean waves, enjoyed lively music time alongside a giant whale, and bravely walked the plank past a waiting shark. The adventure continued with a beach clean-up mission and hands-on garden care in the sensory garden, weaving environmental awareness into the day’s pirate-themed fun.
Gabby’s Dollhouse The Movie: Family Fun Event with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Happy Day Play brought the magic of Gabby’s Dollhouse The Movie to life with a vibrant, hands-on celebration for families. Children were thrilled to meet Gabby herself during a special meet and greet, creating memorable photo moments and character interactions. The fun continued with a DJ Catnip-inspired dance party that had little ones moving to the music, along with bubble-filled play inspired by MerCat. Creativity took center stage as children designed their own take-home Baby Box craft, channeling Gabby’s signature surprise element. Families also gathered for “I Love a Rainbow” parachute time, bringing color, movement, and collaborative play to the celebration.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch: Family Fun Event with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Happy Day Play brought island energy to life at our Lilo & Stitch celebration, creating a tropical-inspired experience for families to enjoy together. The event featured a special visit from Stitch himself, delighting children with an unforgettable character moment. Families joined a lively Disney dance and bubble party complete with hula dancing and festive limbo, bringing movement and music to the heart of the celebration. Taking advantage of the beautiful outdoor setting, children created scratch art mini surfboards to take home, adding a creative keepsake to the day’s adventure.
Disney’s Snow White: Family Fun Event with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Happy Day Play brought a storybook celebration to life with our enchanting Disney’s Snow White event. Families were delighted by a special visit from Snow White herself, creating a memorable opportunity for little ones to meet a beloved princess up close. The celebration continued with a lively Disney dance and bubble party, filling the room with music, movement, and sparkling fun. Children decorated their own “magic mirror” craft inspired by the classic tale, adding a creative touch to the fairytale experience. The event concluded with themed Disney movie trivia and prizes, bringing families together for laughter, connection, and a touch of royal charm.
Minecraft Movie: Family Fun Event with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Happy Day Play transformed movie day into a hands-on Minecraft adventure with our interactive arts and crafts event celebrating the Minecraft Movie. Young moviegoers stepped into the blocky world by selecting their own character masks, from creepers and beyond, before designing and building their own Minecraft-inspired creations such as swords and axes. The experience encouraged creativity, imagination, and collaborative play as children brought their favorite characters to life. The event wrapped with themed movie trivia and exciting prizes, turning a day at the cinema into an engaging, build-your-own adventure families won’t forget.
SONIC 3: Family Fun Event with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Happy Day Play brought high-speed excitement to Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island with our Sonic 3 celebration. Families stepped into Sonic’s world with DIY character-inspired crafts and an action-packed obstacle course set right in the bar area, challenging participants to move fast and think even faster. Children raced through interactive challenges, tested their knowledge with themed trivia, and celebrated every victory together. The event transformed movie day into an energetic, hands-on experience that captured the spirit of Sonic while bringing families together through play, movement, and friendly competition.
Happy Day Play Class Demo at Healthy Path Foundation Fall Festival 2024
Happy Day Play was honored to be invited back to Healthy Path Foundation’s Fall Fest 2024, continuing our partnership in bringing family-centered wellness programming to the community. This year, our activities were thoughtfully designed around the Foundation’s 10 Healthy Habits, transforming core health concepts into interactive, hands-on experiences families could enjoy together.
Hoopla Family Wellness Event Hosted by Happy Day Play
Happy Day Play partnered with Hoopla Family Wellness, the family wellness app featured on Netflix, to bring interactive, research-informed family programming to the NYC area. This free community event transformed the app’s wellness principles into hands-on experiences families could engage with together.
The event featured a variety of wellness-inspired stations rooted in Hoopla’s app content, encouraging movement, mindfulness, creativity, and connection. Families rotated through interactive activities designed to support emotional well-being and quality time, turning digital tools into real-world experiences.
A special highlight included live guitar and vocal performances from a musician featured within the Hoopla Family Wellness app, adding an engaging musical element that brought the platform’s content to life in a meaningful way.
The collaboration reflected a shared commitment to supporting family wellness through accessible, engaging, and thoughtfully designed experiences.
Happy Day Play at JCC Fall Harvest Festival 2024
We were thrilled to be part of the JCC’s Fall Harvest Festival, celebrating alongside an incredible crowd of 4,000 community members! The energy was nonstop, and we loved every minute of connecting, creating, and celebrating together.
Our half-hour outdoor demo was a festival highlight. Taking full advantage of the open air, we launched a four-foot volcano in an explosive STEM showcase set to the fiery beats of “Disco Inferno.” The crowd went wild as science and music came together in the most unforgettable way!
The fun kept bubbling over with our interactive bubble dance party, featuring a giant rubber ducky and a special language moment as we learned the Spanish word for duck — “patito” — with a little help from Ernie and Zoey from Sesame Street. Smiles were everywhere as families sang, danced, and popped bubbles together.
MOANA 2: Family Fun Event with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Happy Day Play brought the spirit of adventure to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema with our Moana 2 celebration, inviting families to journey to an “Island of Fun” before the film began. Children created vibrant sand art inspired by the shores of Motunui, learned hula-inspired movements, and tested their skills in festive limbo. The celebration continued with a Disney bubble dance party, collaborative parachute play, and interactive movie trivia that had families cheering together. It was an immersive, movement-filled experience designed to spark imagination, connection, and excitement before setting sail on Moana’s next adventure.
JCC Purim Carnival 2024
At the JCC of Staten Island’s Purim Carnival on Sunday March 17, 2024, we gathered with both new friends and familiar faces to celebrate this festive occasion and had the opportunity to do a special Happy Day Play class demo!
Purim is marked by lively festivities and acts of kindness. Amidst the festivities, Ms. Kaitlynn and Ms. Nicolette donned butterfly costumes, setting the stage for a learning experience inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Disney Days Demos at JCC of Staten Island Preschool Locations
We all had an enchanting and magical time sharing cherished moments during our Disney Days special class demos with Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 classes at all four JCC of Staten Island preschool locations across the island in November and December 2023. This was followed by an exclusive preschool family play class on Saturday so parents could see all the educational fun that was had!
Mom + Baby Meet Up Demo at Sunny Side Up Birth Co.
Happy Day Play had the honor of being hosted at Sunny Side Up Birthing Co.’s Mom + Baby Meet Up on January 25! What a special morning it was with mothers and their babies up to 12 months old. We laughed, we learned and celebrated the magic of motherhood.
In this nurturing community, we also witnessed everyone embracing the journey of motherhood together, cherishing every moment from those precious newborn cuddles to the joy of watching our little ones grow and discover. Through these shared experiences and supportive connections, we’re reminded of the incredible universal journey that we’re all a part of.
TROLLS BAND TOGETHER: Family Fun Event with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Who would’ve thought that a trip to the movies could include all this extra fun? Well, Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island turned into a Trolls village paradise with a FREE family fun pre-movie event hosted by Happy Day Play. The Trolls extravaganza was a melody of fun, setting the scene for the ultimate movie experience — and all these activities included natural, educationally beneficial touches along the way!
A heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined the party — you truly made it a harmonious blast! Keep your eyes peeled for more family festivities; we’ve got the rhythm and we’re not stopping!
Happy Day Play at SI Parent Day 2023
Happy Day Play had a dedicated break-out session at SI Parent Day 2023, showcasing the essence of family joy and learning through an engaging class demo. Families of all shapes and sizes gathered to experience the magic of Happy Day Play, where laughter met education and curiosity sparked connections. Our class demo was a vibrant exploration, offering a sneak peek into the dynamic world of interactive family activities and some of our class subject areas. We enjoyed meeting families at the demo and afterward when tabling.
Happy Day Play Class Demo at Healthy Path Foundation Fall Festival 2023
Happy Day Play Class Demo at Healthy Path Foundation Fall Festival 2023 in Snug Harbor, Staten Island, NY
Happy Day Play at JCC Fall Harvest Festival 2023
Happy Day Play launch party class demo at JCC Fall Harvest Fest 2023 at JCC Bernikow.