25 Things to Do This Memorial Day Weekend in Connecticut

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on

At long last we have reached the very precipice of summer: Memorial Day weekend! I have dug the beach chairs out of the garage, taken the grill out for a test run, and I can't wait to plant my feet in the sand and perhaps even in the Sound. There's all kinds of non-beachy fun to be had this weekend too from fairs and carnivals to animal encounters, special concerts, and more.

Whatever your plans, the significance of Memorial Day should not be forgotten. If you're looking for an educational way to honor the men and women who died in service to our nation, our Event Calendar features many kid-friendly parades and ceremonies, including the Revolutionary War Encampment in Wethersfield, the Decoration Day event at Mystic Seaport, or even the screening of Saving Private Ryan in Bridgeport. To keep up with everything going on in CT, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Wishing you the very best Memorial Day weekend!

Memorial Day Weekend Fun for Houston Kids, May 26-28

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on

Memorial Day weekend is here, which means May is officially coming to a close, the school year is ending, and it is finally time to celebrate the start of summer! Since honoring our nation's fallen heroes is the primary focus of this weekend, we found some awesome family-friendly celebrations around the city to attend, such as the amazing annual Memorial Day Celebration in The Woodlands and the Memorial Day Pool Party at Evelyn Rubenstein JCC Aquatics Center. CityCentre is also putting on a weekend-long Summer Tribute Concert Series if you're in the market for some outdoor tunes and Discovery Green is hosting a FUNomenal Family Festival on Saturday. This weekend is packed with some awesome events! 

We also have some summer favorites popping up on Mommy Poppins that are well worth checking out:

As always, we'd love for you to check out our event calendar or our May GoList to find the best things to do this month. You can also submit your own events so we can get YOU a little extra coverage and share them with our amazing readers! 

To have posts like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop for all the best things happening on Mommy Poppins and around Houston. 

Now, let's check out what's happening this holiday weekend: 

Memorial Day Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Horses, History, Fireworks, & Parades

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on

Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. And, boy, does the City of Brotherly Love have some fun in store for Philly families! A horse show and country fair, festivals, patriotic fun, outdoor movies, amazing concerts, two newly certified autism center venues: a zoo and an amusement park to explore, and of course trips down the shore...this summer holiday kickoff is ripe with possibilities.

Start off the weekend by experiencing the excitement of the Devon Horse Show complete with horse competitions, amusement rides, and traditional country fair eats. (Don't forget to buy some Devon fudge.) Then, head to the waterfront to see fireworks and the tall ships sail into Penn's Landing or visit Morris Arboretum for the grand opening of the Garden Railway Display.  While nearby historic Philadelphia, hear the Declaration of Independence read by History Makers, learn stories at the Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches, or watch a military demonstration at Signers' Garden. Carve out some time to remember those serving our country with a parade in Lansdale, Radnor, Kennett, Warminster, Media, or Collegeville.

Keep reading for more ideas on how to spend this extra-long weekend. Enjoy!

Memorial Day Weekend in NYC: Parades, Festivals, Beaches, Cirkus

Drew Kristofik's picture Submitted by Drew Kristofik on

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, is here at last! New York City's big seasonal attractions open on Saturday, like local beaches, Prospect Park's Splash Pad, and the Victorian Gardens in Central Park. If it reaches 80 degrees, the city's destination playground sprinklers might be on, too. Need more water play options? Dynamic H2O, with its 16-foot interactive water table, opens for the summer at the Children's Museum of Manhattan this weekend.

While beaches are open all summer from this weekend on, events like Fleet Week, Governors Island Family Fun Day, Memorial Day in Prospect Park, DanceAfrica, and a passel of parades (the always entertaining Loisaida on Sunday, and Memorial Day marches on Monday in Brooklyn and Queens) are on tap this weekend only. There's also a floating glass museum with live demos parked in Brooklyn Bridge Park through the long weekend, and a rooftop Imagination Playground at the Brooklyn Children's Museum.

This holiday weekend is also the perfect time to visit the FREE Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, the floating food forest known as Swale in Brooklyn, or The Yard, an adventure playground open for the season on Governors Island. By the way, Governors Island is debuting an ice rink this weekend! Yes, really—the synthetic ice rink will be here all season and even offer FREE weekday morning skate sessions.

Our NYC Parks and Playgrounds Guide is always a safe bet for staycations, too, as is our Indoor Play Spaces Guide for the possible rain headed our way. Unless... thinking about a last-minute getaway? We've pulled together great family day trips on Long Island, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley, as well as our favorite nearby beaches like Fire Island's Ocean Beach and those down the Jersey Shore. You might also try a day at a nearby amusement park or water park for early summer fun!

Read on for our top picks for Memorial Day weekend events for kids in NYC. Oodles of family fun can also be found in our Event Calendar, Spring Fun Guide, and our fresh-out-of-the-oven Summer Fun Guide.

However you spend the three-day holiday weekend, we hope you have a blast!

Memorial Day Weekend on Long Island: Air Show, Carnivals, Parades

Jaime Sumersille's picture Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on

Marvel at aerial airplane acrobatics as the Bethpage Air Show takes to the skies of Long Island's South Shore this Memorial Day weekend at Jones Beach. Indulge in some fried Oreos and upside-down rides at carnivals in Levittown, East Meadow, and Merrick.

Enjoy a colorful stroll down Riverhead's Main Street during the East End Arts Street Painting Festival.

Teach children the history behind Memorial Day with a poppy-making craft at the Long Island Children's Museum. Of course, there are also plenty of parades marching around Long Island on Monday to salute our fallen veterans.

Hop over to our May GoList to find even more options for this holiday weekend, including boardwalks, beaches and theme and water park fun.

Peruse our Spring Family Fun Guide for the best in seasonal entertainment, including day trip ideas, bountiful botanical gardens, and even biking and hiking trails. Of course, our Event Calendar is loaded with fun, daily happenings for Long Island kids.

20+ Family Fairs and Festivals in New Jersey This June

Submitted by Danielle Halibey on

Sunny weekends are perfect for family-fun festivals, and New Jersey has a variety this June. Whether your crew loves classic carnival games, art, music, or food, this month's festival lineup has something for everyone.

Little swashbucklers will enjoy National Marina Day, music lovers can dance the day away at Garwood Rocks, and Garden State kids can satisfy their sweet tooth at any one of the many farm-style strawberry fests this month. For carnival games and thrills, don't miss the 31st annual State Fair Meadowlands, and make sure to show Dad some love at several street and shore fairs fitting for Father’s Day.

Read on for 23 fairs and festivals happening throughout NJ in June. And be sure to check out our Event Calendar for even more family happenings this month.

Memorial Day Weekend in Westchester: Circus, Playland, Beaches

Submitted by Susan Miele on

For those of you staying in Westchester for Memorial Day weekend, there's no shortage of events worth attending, both here and in the Hudson Valley.

Many towns and villages throughout the county celebrate the occasion with parades and ceremonies. Standouts include the Memorial Day Races & Fair, with fun festivities rounding out the occasion.

The three-day weekend is also a great time for animal encounters, with the Memorial Day Dog Parade & Show leading the pack. A couple of the many seasonal festivals we previously told you about also take place this weekend, and there’s a performance by the The Zerbini Family Circus.

And, while all of the above are annual affairs, this Saturday is the only chance we’ll have to celebrate Playland's 90th Birthday, and loads of perks are planned for the occasion. While there, head next door (or to Croton or New Rochelle), when Westchester beaches open for the season.

So let everyone else deal with the traffic and hassle of heading out of town; there’s plenty to do right here at home! Read on to see all of our top weekend picks, and consult our Event Calendar for even more options.

29 Things To Do with Kids in Culver City

Roberta B's picture Submitted by Roberta B on

By now you've probably already checked a few items off our LA bucket list of 100+ things to do with Angeleno kids before they become Angeleno adults. But some days Mom can't face the 405; sometimes we just need ideas to fill an hour or two without leaving the 'hood. That's the inspiration for our series of neighborhood fun lists; and speaking of fun neighborhoods, how about that Culver City? Once a well kept secret, these days Culver City is a Westside gem in great demand. But with so much going on, a busy parent could miss some of these great activities around Culver City.

Free Kayaking, Canoeing, and Rowboat Options in New York City

Sonia Gonzalez's picture Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on

With all the water surrounding New York City, it's no wonder there are so many sightseeing cruises and fun ferry rides to great kid destinations. For times when you want to be your own captain, there are many seasonal opportunities for NYC families to get out on the water by themselves with kayaking, rowing, and canoeing. Much of the fun kicks off Memorial Day weekend or early summer.

We've rounded up 11 great New York City organizations that offer boating sessions on our wonderful waterways—and they're all FREE. Ahoy!

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