Weekend Fun: "Drive-In" Movie, Cinderella, Very Hungry Caterpillar

See The Princess and the Frog on the big screen at Andrus on Hudson on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises

Seasonal fun abounds this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley families, with winter fun and the glimmer of spring on the horizon.

The maple-sugaring season is now in full swing, with numerous harvesting experiences (and a few pancakes) scheduled. Carpe diem! We like that some of these sugaring experiences are FREE. Theatrical highlights include a production of Cinderella told by marionettes and a page-to-stage production of the Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites. Numerous venues are making Leap Day special, including a nature program that focuses on animals that leap. In honor of Black History Month, try a multifaceted way to Celebrate Africa.

Beyond what you see here, there are many more fun and enriching activities to be found on our Event Calendar. Also refer to our hot-off-the-press March GoList for our top picks for the month! 

Leap Year Weekend Things To Do on Long Island with Kids: HarborFrost, Camellia Festival, Irish Family Day

Shrek The Musical Jr. is on stage at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts. Photo by Courtney Braun

Enjoy an extra day in February this Leap Year with a bunch of family-friendly events across Long Island.

HarborFrost, a celebration of winter in Sag Harbor highlights two extreme elements—fire and ice! Featuring live ice carving demonstrations, ice sculptures along Main Street, live music performances, and indoor children’s activities. Spend the day shopping and dining in Sag Harbor and don’t miss the fireworks over the harbor! 

At The Camellia Festival at the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, families can enjoy crafts in Coe Hall and a magic show, as well as live music, guided tours and more.

Children of all ages will enjoy a performance of Irish dance performances during Irish Family Day at the Walt Whitman Birthplace.

Check our March GoList and events calendar for even more weekend inspiration. Our Winter Fun Guide will keep you tuned in through the end of the season.

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40+ Birthday Freebies: Free Meals and Special Deals for NJ Birthday Kids

Birthday kids get a free cookie at Great American Cookie. Photo courtesy of the company

We've all been caught up in birthday party hoopla, whether baking cakes and making party-themed treats or spending big bucks to rent a party place. But for those years when a low-key celebration is in order, birthday freebies are a great perk. From BOGO ice cream and pancakes to free bowling and arcade game tokens, coupons and discounts are yours for the taking when you register for kids' clubs or customer loyalty programs at New Jersey restaurants and stores.

Read on for our A-to-Z list of birthday discounts, treats, and deals. If you're planning a party, don't miss our NJ Kids' Birthday Party Guide for ideas on party spots, specialty cakes, and at-home party fun. And don't forget that many New Jersey restaurants offer free kids' meals on weekdays, birthday or not! 

Great Arts Camps for NYC Kids to Learn to Paint, Sculpt, Sing and Perform

Buck Rock Camp offers professional-level facilities to train your growing artist.

There's no place better than New York City for kids to learn about art, and what better way for your child to pursue their creative passions than a summer art camp? Many professional artists moonlight as talented teachers, and the demand for art programs has created a wealth of exceptional art classes and arts camps. Whether your child is into visual arts, performing arts, or wants to sample all the arts, we've found After 15 exceptional arts camps, which all excel for different reasons.

We found visual arts camps, performing arts camps, and more creative camps with programs like circus arts. Some arts camps allow kids to sample a little of everything. From summer-long intensives to week-long sampler sessions, no matter their age, if your child is ready to dive into a summer of artistic expression, read on to find the perfect arts camp.

If you need more ideas, check out our Camp Guide and full Directory of Listings for dozens more great camps.

St. Patrick's Day in NYC: Parades and Family-Friendly Events to Celebrate

The big St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of the many things to do in NYC to celebrate the holiday. Photo by Shinya Suzuki via Flickr

Editor's Note: As coronavirus spreads through our community, beware that many organizations are changing plans. Make sure you confirm an event is still on before stepping out!
If your days of celebrating until you're green around the gills on St. Patrick's Day are a distant memory, don't worry: There are plenty of kid-friendly ways to mark St. Patrick's Day in NYC this March. After all, everyone feels a wee bit Irish around the holiday. Best of all? Most of these festivities are FREE.

This year St. Patrick's Day falls on a Tuesday, but you can start celebrating early at popular parades in Sunnyside, Queens, on Sunday, March 1, and in the Rockaways on Saturday, March 7. In addition to St. Patrick's Day processions in all five boroughs, there are family fests, step-dancing performances (and lessons), plus Gaelic workshops and kids flicks.

Here are our favorite ways to celebrate Irish culture and St. Patrick's Day in NYC. Sláinte!

Avid: What to Expect from the New Orlando Airport Hotel

We slept well on Avid's pillow-top mattresses!

Seeking out hotels near the Orlando airport? A brand-new avid hotel, an IHG property focused on express and budget travelers, has just opened around the corner from MCO and offers a FREE shuttle service to the busy Florida airport known for hourslong security lines.

Staying near the Orlando airport has its perks. Whether you're trying to beat the lines, save costs during a family trip to Orlando, or just need a quick stay en route to a cruise, an Orlando airport hotel might work well for you. Read on for what this newcomer to the Orlando hotels scene offers for families—and what it does not. 

The Best Children's Bookstores in NYC

Head to Bank Street Bookstore for some rainy day reading time.

Only a small number of dedicated children's bookstores exist in NYC—Books of Wonder and Bank Street Bookstore, we're looking at you!—but there are several other indie stores with impressive children's sections. Many of these children's bookstores host kid-friendly activities, including read-alouds, author events, and writing workshops.

My kids have a particular weakness for books, possibly because it's the one thing I never deny them—as evidenced by the overflowing bookshelves at home. We love exploring new-to-us, local shops and spending lazy afternoons getting lost in the stacks, so we've rounded up some of our favorite children's bookstores around the city.

Whether you're shopping for a birthday gift or looking for a local storytime, these independent neighborhood bookstores are great bets for NYC families.

Things To Do in NJ This Weekend: Dr. Seuss' Birthday, Leap Day, Carnival

Storytime and activities celebrating Dr. Seuss are being held at various B&N  locations this weekend. Photo courtesy of the store

Leap into a weekend filled with sugar and Seuss. Saturday's Leap Day features activities at both Target and Barnes & Noble in honor of Dr. Seuss' upcoming birthday. Maple sugaring season continues this weekend with Maple Sugaring Demonstrations and Saturday Maple Sugaring.

March kicks off with the first St Patrick's Day parade of the year and a couple of indoor festivities, including Bridgewater Winter Carnival and PJ Library Purim Celebration.

Find even more weekend options in our Winter Guide, including Indoor Swimming Pools for New Jersey Families. And look to our March GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

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