charlotte's blog

Halloween isn't just about candy. This weekend you can take Halloween on from every angle with Fall and Harvest festivals, at a pumpkin festival, in a historic mansion, a green halloween, glamrock and even from the point of view of bats. But that's not all, the Greenpoint/Williamsburg Halloween Parade is this weekend, plus the non-scary kids version of Nightmare: Vampires Haunted House is this weekend only. Yes, Halloween is eerily upon us, but have no fear—we’ve got you covered! From last minute DIY costume ideas, to healthier options for treats, there’s tons of great stuff in our Halloween Fun Guide.

Yup, Halloween Events and Fall Harvest Festivals are taking over the city. Our event calendar is packed full of them and so is this weekend. Of course, the weather may not be playing nice so you maybe looking for some indoor activities. See them all in the calendar, but here are our selects for festivals, plus some other cool events you'll like (we've noted any festivals that will be going on rain or shine):

This weekend is also Diwali, find out about the events for kids to celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights.

This extra-long weekend is even more packed out than usual, with Columbus Day events, harvest and fall events, OpenHouse NewYork events galore. The smallest and tallest members of the family (and even the furry ones, too) can all find something fabulous to do over these three days, and if you’re (unfortunately) not off Monday, there’s plenty going on to make up for that. Grab your favorite hats and boots--especially if you're heading to the last weekend for Governors Island this season--and round up the troops for a fall-tacular weekend.

Colors are changing, and those warmer jackets are making their way out of the closets—true signs that Fall is in full swing. If you’re looking to bob for apples (or pick ‘em), play in pumpkin patches or feast on the harvest, you’ve got plenty of options. But there’s also a slew of cultural events happening this weekend, like the Tibetan, Norwegian, Korean, and Diwali festivals, and Halloween events are going on already, too. If you are looking for a little mini-adventure, the “outer boroughs” are also jam-packed with events from the traditional fall fare to soap box derbies. So whatever you wind up doing, get out there and enjoy the crisp air (and leaves)!

Last week we let you in on the best museum memberships for families, and now we're exploring more of New York City's great institutions--gardens and zoos. Learn about membership options, what perks and extras are offered, and everything else you need to know to figure out if it's worth it for you and your family. 

There’s plenty of events happening this weekend, but the big cheese is Smithsonian’s Museum Day. This Saturday, participating New York (and country-wide) museums will open their doors for you to enjoy them free of charge. Lots of your favorites are participating in every boro, like the Intrepid, Noguchi, CMOM and the Rubin, and a whole bunch of those I’ve-been-meaning-to-visit’s like the Skyscraper Museum, Museum of Tibetan Art and the New Museum. If you’re not willing to deal with the crowds (or if you find yourself in love with a particular one) check out our post on museum family memberships, and read on to see what else is cooking this weekend—from finding cheap goods, to free performances and off-the-beaten-path street fairs.

This weekend there are way to many great events to list here so make sure to check our events calendar for even more cool stuff.

You want to take the kids to every cultural institution in this city, but those family-of-four trips to the MoMA and CMOM are starting to add up. You wonder if you should get a membership, if it’s worth it, or if you should just brave the crowds and go during the free times. We did the leg work for you and created a list of the top museums in New York City that offer family memberships, what perks you get and what you need to know to figure out if it's worth it for your family.

Insiders Tip: A bunch of these museums offer free weekly programs along with admission, plus other special events, so a membership gets you in to lots of free, wonderful children's programming.

If the chill in the air doesn’t give it away, the abundance of apples, pumpkins, corn and hay sure does: Fall is here. Though we’ve said goodbye to the beach, there’s even more to do outside this season, like playing in pumpkin patches right here in New York City, enjoying fall foods at all the street fairs and festivals, learning how to play chess (OK, not a typical outdoor activity), biking, readings, and celebrating various cultures. Get a taste (literally!) of all that this weekend offers at events like the Irish Fair, San Gennaro feast, Native American Festival, Queens County Fair, Tasty Harvest, Tour de Parc and even more.

Summer may be over, but the events are not slowing down at all. In fact, it’s almost as if everyone waited for summer vacation to end and planned all these absurdly cool (and mostly free) events for this weekend. From celebrating Henry Hudson’s 400^th anniversary, to county fairs, book festivals, motorcycle shows, films, and more fun on Governor’s Island (and you thought GI was done for the season…) there’s almost too much to do to fit it all into one weekend. Ease everyone's transition back-to-school by picking your favorite events and then heading out—there’s no time to waste!  
 

Don't forget we have more weekend activities in our event calendar and separate round-ups for Long Island and New Jersey on those pages. Or sign up to get our new Long Island and New Jersey newsletters.

New York City offers a wide range of theater opportunities for kids from shows specially tailored to preschoolers to highly sophisticated shows for kids that even adults will dig. Many of your favorite places, like the New Victory Theater and Brooklyn Center of the Performing Arts, along with classical institutions like the American Ballet Theater, offer subscriptions making getting a little culture exceptionally affordable. Not only do subscriptions cost less per show, they give you access to the best seats in the house and make you eligible for other special offerings and discounts. Some subscriptions start in September, while others don't pick up until November, so be sure to check these out soon, so you aren't late or find them sold out.

2009-2010 season subscription information for family-friendly and kid-friendly theater productions: