With no shortage of arts festivals around Boston this summer, it's hard to choose one to highlight. However, if there's one that families truly must not miss, it's the Outside the Box festival happening this weekend on and near Boston Common. Highlights include family-friendly performances, interactive crafts, and fun educational activities. Best of all, it's free! But even this very same weekend, there are plenty of other great outdoor family parties going on, from the lawn to out in the open.

Summer also means an over-abundance of insects, but this weekend, they're not the kind you want to swat away. Kids get their choice to learn about everything from moths to the world of bugs to creepy crawlies.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Want to get to know Beantown better? We try out the best walking tours for kids and families around Boston.
• If you're planning to take little ones to Nantucket this summer, our roundup of the top 10 things to do with toddlers and preschoolers is a must-read. 
• Thinking about taking the kids to see the new movie about those funny yellow fellows from Despicable Me? Read our parent review of the Minion Movie.

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

Mmm, the smell of smores! Bring back memories of your first camping experience? It's not too late to add a camping trip to your summer fun this year. Long Island has some of the best campsites for you and your family to enjoy the great outdoors, and get in some good beach time to boot. Read on to find out about 5 great campsites right here on Long Island. And be sure to check out our other roundup of LI campsites for more ideas on where to go, as well as our Summer Fun Guide.

I'm bored... two little words every parent dreads to hear during these summer months. Thankfully, our Events Calendar can handle this situation should it arise in your home.

Play under the Tall Trees at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, uncover artifacts at Newlin Grist Mill's Public Archeology Program or catch lighting bugs at Tabora's Firefly Festival. Spend some family time at a Tie Dye Festival, Tree House Festival or Music Festival. With this weekend's line-up, there is no way to be bored!

Be sure to have our boredom-busting weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox each Thursday morning. Now keep reading to discover all the fun that awaits you and your family this weekend.

This weekend promises to be hugely delicious and refreshing: Sunday is National Ice Cream Day! Whether you decide to track down tempting ice cream parlors (we sampled a few for you in Fairfield and New Haven counties), or make your own frozen treats at home, be sure to celebrate the sweet occasion. 

If you find yourself savoring ice cream in the Hartford area, consider ending the night with free music and a movie at The Shoppes of Farmington Valley. You can also enjoy a movie or a concert in Fairfield County, or sign up the kids for a cooking class at Williams Sonoma (various locations). My family is contemplating a guided hike at Ansonia Nature Center, and, of course, finding a local ice cream shoppe. 

Check the Mommy Poppins calendar to see what else is happening this weekend (and beyond!). For the latest and best family-friendly events, subscribe to our weekly newsletters and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Outdoor fun doesn't have to end once the sun sets. Catch a movie on the sand in Long Beach, or at Nickerson Beach. Or join in a Frozen sing-a-long in Massapequa.

If you're on the East End, families can enjoy a puppet show at Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre or a sunset family nature hike in Amagansett.

If you're craving some theater, head to the Long Island Children's Museum for Peter Pan, or Smithtown for Cinderella's Glass Slipper or Oakdale for Cinderella Kids.

Remember, you can find even more options in our jam-packed Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. To receive our posts in your inbox, subscribe to our free newsletters.

This weekend Westchester and Hudson Valley are bursting with family-friendly live music, festivals and performances. The Walk to the Beat Summer Festival features 20 hours of continuous performances; the National Ballet of China’s tour comes to Purchase; The Upright Citizens Brigade will have Yonkers in stitches; and a Jazz Festival comes to Katonah.

But that’s not all! Read on for more details as well as additional options—plus our Event Calendar includes numerous other events you’ll want to review before choosing what to do.

Every June, we pack the kids into the car and head to the Cape, where we hop on the ferry over to Nantucket.  It's a family tradition we hope to keep up for many years to come. Although it is further than Martha's Vineyard, we choose Nantucket because of the wealth of things to do on the island with young children.  Here are some of our favorite spots (including a few secret gems), plus insider tips for getting the most out of your visit.  See you "on island!"

Kids and yoga are a perfect match. Yoga can help them learn physical and mental balance, teach them self-control and awareness, and get them moving—all while having fun doing it. From Center City to Chester County, children of all ages can get excited about the yoga classes available just for them. Check out some of the area’s most popular choices, as well as a few that are off the beaten path. Plus, don’t forget to keep up with our Classes Directory for new locations that might pop up.