Welcome to November! Time for cozy sweaters, frolicking in crunchy leaves, and roasting marshmallows in outdoor fire pits. If you enjoy the increasingly longer evenings and relish in cuddling with good stories, you will enjoy scouring the book sales happening this weekend at libraries in Ansonia, Southbury, and Farmington (it's never too early to stock up for snowy days!).

November is National American Heritage Month, so consider a visit to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, which is hosting the Honoring the Veterans Powwow on Saturday and closing for the season at the end of the month. You might also enjoy visiting The Institute for American Indian Studies where older children can learn how to build a fire using only what nature provides. 

Fall fun continues for Westchester and Hudson Valley families this weekend, with a diverse assortment of activities to choose from.

Leave the electronics behind in exchange for adventure and male bonding at Clearpool Father-Son Weekend. Fans of the Disney classic Fantasia can celebrate its 75^th birthday with a new restoration, while STEM fans can get their fill of robotics, Lego architecture and more at the FREE Mini Maker Faire. The Special Needs Expo offers a FREE overview of resources for both kids and adults, and you can cheer on those who’ve fought for our freedom at the Veterans Day Parade.

These are just a few of our top picks for the weekend; the rest can be found below, and there are even more fun and enriching opportunities on our Event Calendar. Consult our November GoList to plan ahead, and sign up for our FREE weekly newsletters to stay current with all our great findings!

"Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks." —Dr. Seuss

Black Friday shopping is an annual tradition for many families, but what if big-box stores and deep discounts aren't your thing? With Small Business Saturday and the holiday gift-giving season approaching, it’s a great time to consider supporting our local, independent retailers.

Enter the privately owned bookstores in the area. Philly families love to visit their local libraries to borrow books and take advantage of the resources they offer. However, sometimes we just want to bring a book home to keep or give as a gift. In these cases, it's tough to beat the personal touch and charm of an independently owned bookstore. Knowledgeable, small shop owners are usually the most helpful with book suggestions for all levels of readers. They can also foster a love of reading among children though other book-related activities such as story times, meet the author events and book clubs. Some stores even have buyback programs where kids can trade in used books for a discount on new ones.

The shops on our list are either dedicated to children’s books or have large kids’ sections that offer programs tailored to the young ones. 

The Little Orchestra Society has for decades made classical music accessible to New York City kids, but this year it debuts a retooled four-concert series, LOS Kids, aimed exclusively at ages 3-7. When the 2015-2016 season kicks off November 7, it'll feature productions chock-full of robust visuals, dynamic storytelling, video technology and the works of four famous composers, including Mozart.

Reduced ticket prices and enhanced subscription options might make this NYC cultural institution even more appealing to parents. 

Here’s to another crazy and fun Halloween come and gone! Now’s the time to kick back and relax with family and friends and enjoy the last few weeks of autumn weather before old man winter takes over. Get your fill of fresh fall air during an Apple Cidering demo at Great Swamp, the Rock, Gem & Mineral Show at Trailside Nature Center or a Weekend Family Walk at the beautiful Pyramid Mountain. Other fun November happenings include a performance of Beauty and the Beast Jr. by the West Hudson Arts Theater Company and the big Touch-a-Truck event at Deer Path Park. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar.

Turkey Day is coming—and we all know what that means! More appetizers, main courses, side dishes and desserts served up in one meal than most people are normally able to cook in a week.

No knife skills skills? No time? No kitchen? No problem! Westchester is full of shops and restaurants ready, willing and waiting to put that turkey dinner (or vegetarian alternative!) together for you. Pick up or delivery, precooked or just prepared, this list has something for every level of commitment.

And if you're already thinking about how to stay active this time of year, check out our post on turkey trots and fun runs happening throughout Westchester. And don't forget our November GoList for more fun events happening all month long! 

When it comes to holiday gift giving, each year I scratch my head over why our list seems longer than ever. True, there are the legions of coaches and teachers and babysitters and buddies who've gotten us through the year and smoothed out so many bumps along the way. But because I don't have Oprah's gift buying power -- no one on my list should expect a car --  and because there are only so many trays of holiday cookies I can face baking,  I turn to my default gift resource:  holiday craft fairs.  Fairfield County has a treasure trove of them. (Also check out our Holiday Guide.) Holiday craft fairs are where I love to find one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items, that are useful and decorative, as well as homemade specialty foods and treats that easily eclipse anything I can make. Oh, and another bonus of shopping at holiday craft fairs? Lots of jolly holiday spirit.

Sure as autumn leaves change color, baseball season quickly becomes football season on Long Island. Armchair quarterbacks eager to watch the big game with their kids have plenty of options across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, including play centers, family-friendly sports pubs and even the stadium itself. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites where you can watch all the action and still keep an eye on the kids.

And for more ways to have fun with the whole family, be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar.