While there’s nothing wrong with your basic pumpkin or witch foam-sticker-and-construction-paper craft, it can be hard to get kids (especially older kids) excited about a project they’ve already done a million times. We last took a look at libraries in Westchester with cool and special programming, and now we’re going to turn our eyes to the rest of the Lower Hudson Valley. Whether it’s music or science, art or zombies, the library programs on this list try to mix things up a bit. And as with the Westchester programs, all of the events here are FREE!

For even more holiday celebration ideas, be sure to take a look at our Event Calendar, which is packed with tons more Halloween happenings. And don’t forget to sign up for our FREE newsletter and follow us on Facebook!  

When I made the move from Manhattan to the New Jersey 'burbs, I craved a small town with a metropolitan feel. South Orange seemed like the perfect spot to make my new home. The tree-lined, gaslight-adorned center of the downtown, known as South Orange Village, is home to both local and retail stores, a variety of family-friendly restaurants, a New Jersey Transit train station and the renowned, state-of-the-art South Orange Performing Arts Center, or SOPAC. South Orange is not only a commuter town, with an easy 30 minute direct ride to New York City, it's also home to Seton Hall University. With a mixture of small town charm and cosmopolitan culture, make South Orange a day trip destination with your family. And while you're in Essex County, check out other small towns, including Nutley and Verona.

I guess you could pretend it’s not Halloween next week. There’s plenty going on this weekend: a great new exhibit opening, a really big consignment sale, walks to raise money for pancreatic cancer research and special needs kids. You can look at birds, and explore cultural venues downtown, and learn about water conservation and trains (both model and big).

Though why you would want to ignore it is beyond me. Candy. Dressing up. Candy just for dressing up. I understand you might want to avoid the scares, but really most of the spooks are of the ha ha kind, not so much bring out the defibrillators. (Though there is some of that.)  And you could always use that old standby “Harvest”  (with "Fall" as a close second) as your excuse for downing fistfuls of sugary goodness. (Candy corn grows in fields, doesn’t it?)

You say po-TAH-to; I say Happy Halloween. Harvest on, my friends.

Keep reading for our most Hallo-harvesty picks for this weekend....

With Halloween almost upon us, Philadelphia families must prepare...buying candy for trick-or-treaters, making costumes (or digging through the dress-ups to convince the kids they want to be a princess or a firefighter again, right?) and decorating the doorstep with mums, pumpkins and cornstalks. Once the fall preparations are complete, turn to our Events Calendar to celebrate the season with the family.

Check out The Philadelphia Zoo or The Brandywine Zoo for their Boo at The Zoo events. Marvel at the skill of local artists as they carve pumpkins for The Great Pumpkin Carve in Chadds Ford or try your hand at carving a Shunken Head at Peace Valley Nature Center. Or, see a kids concert at World Cafe Live Philadelphia or Wilmington.

Keep up with the latest Halloween fun by following us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Continue reading below to find all of our top picks for the weekend.

While my kids like to stay in our own neighborhood on Halloween night, this weekend is the weekend to hit other local trick-or-treating celebrations. Whether it's with LEGO, among zoo animals or at the mall (pictured), there are plenty of family-friendly events to get everyone excited about the holiday.

If you're still decorating the house for Halloween, a pumpkin celebration that includes a pumpkin tower or a pumpkin patch in the city might give you some festive ideas.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Make any day feel special with kid-friendly snack ideas.
• The free Chuze app sounds like a great way to save time and money at the grocery store.
• Take the Halloween celebrations up a notch with thrills and chills at local theme parks. 

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out the full Event Calendar!

Whether you want to be shaking in your boots or pleasantly entertained, there's a spooky(ish) walk that's just right for your family in Albertson (both spooky and not so spooky), Rockville Centre, Smithtown and Westbury.

Be sure to peruse our complete roundup of Fall Fairs and Festivals. And with Halloween fast approaching, you'll also want to check out our Halloween Guide for plenty of fun with the kids.

Don't see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar. And if you don't receive this post in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter. 

The house is decorated, and I think we've finally nailed down the Halloween costumes for this year so we're ready have some serious Halloween adventures this weekend. The Howl-o-Ween Celebration at Beardsley Zoo looks like just the right level of scary for us, but if we're feeling particularly brave we might also wander up to the Haunted Hayrides at Fairview Tree Farm.

If the prospect of next Saturday night's trick or treating is making you apprehensive for the younger ones, there are a bunch of daytime options available this weekend, including a farm, a sports center, and a town green. There are also two fantastic opportunities for overnights this weekend: one at the CT Science Center in Hartford and another at the Mystic Aquarium. Both require advanced registration so act soon to guarantee a spot.

We will continue to update our events calendar with the latest and greatest spooktacular Halloween activities. Make sure that you subscribe to our weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest so that you won't miss out on any fun!

Have a fabulous weekend!

It’s the final weekend before Halloween! Westchester cranks up the fun, so read on for some of our faves.

Two excellent parades are the Tarrytown Annual Halloween Parade and the Nyack Halloween Parade, whether you march or spectate. The former draws a large crowd and culminates in a night-time street party, while the latter is second in size only to the Greenwich Village parade in Manhattan. The younger set will enjoy the abundant offerings at Harvest Moon Festival, as well as fall fun at the Scarecrows and Pumpkins Parade.

Though it’s hard to pass up all the Halloween fun, another highlight is the YoFi Fest - Yonkers Film Festival—a four-day cinematic sensation that includes special activities just for kids all weekend.

But that’s not all! Promising fall family performances take place this weekend, as do two sweet ragamuffin parades. Be sure to consult our Halloween guide for Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and to turn the creepiness up a notch, check out our guide to Cemetery Tours. Believe it or not, there are even more options to choose from on our Event Calendar, so read on!