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Weekday Picks: Sea Otters, Paw Patrol Live, Movies, & Pumpkins

Submitted by Kathie Bozanich on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 3:04am

Animals, real and imaginary, headline this first full week of fall. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is celebrating Sea Otter Awareness Week to raise the profile of the adorable and endangered species. After learning about these furry, back-floating creatures and exploring all the facility has to offer, families can check out the tidepools at Cabrillo Beach Coastal Park. The aquarium is open every day but Monday. For more animal fun, Paw Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue—the first-ever live tour featuring the popular rescue dogs from Nickelodeon—comes to Thousand Oaks for two days. Before heading out, take a look at our 25 Things To Do Around Thousand Oaks with Kids for other activities to do while in the area.

Check out some highlights for the week ahead below, and then head over to the Mommy Poppins Event Calendar for more.

Weekday Picks for Boston Kids: Banned Books, Fun Physics, and Giant Pumpkins; Sept 25- 29

Submitted by Kelley Heyworth on Sun, 09/24/2017 - 6:00pm

What would we do without our libraries? For one thing, we wouldn't necessarily know about all the interesting, commemorative months and weeks being celebrated around the country. This week kicks off with a nod to Hispanic Heritage Month with an event to open preschoolers' eyes (and ears) to Spanish music, when Berklee dynamo Naty Hernandez leads a singalong on Boylston. A day later, older kids can take a stand against censorship with a clever craft project for Banned Books Week in the North End.

You wouldn't know it by the balmy temps outside, but some outdoor programs are ending for the season, and a public arts' program on the Greenway closes with a showing of a Tim Burton classic. Physics takes the spotlight with a new program in the south 'burbs, while up north, the Topsfield Fair gets going with our favorite fall spectacle of all: gargantuan pumpkins.

For more interesting activities this week in Boston and beyond, check out our Events Calendar.

Ultimate Halloween Guide for NYC Kids: Parades, Costumes, More

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 09/24/2017 - 4:40pm

For New York City kids, Halloween doesn't just take place on October 31. The entire month is filled with a terrifying number of costume parades, pumpkin festivals, and plenty of FREE Halloween happenings leading up to the big night of trick-or-treating. You think getting your kid to choose a costume is hard? Trying to figure out which celebrations to hit is enough to make you run screaming into the night, which is why we've rounded up the absolute best ways to get into the spirit of the season.

You'll find top picks for Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, and several fun family day trips to the nearby Hudson Valley and New Jersey. As always, we included only our favorite events, and many are FREE or inexpensive. To make sure your brood is truly prepared, we've also included info on where to get children's costumes and professional makeup done in NYC. Booyah!

Top 10 Free Things to Do this Week with Westchester Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 09/24/2017 - 4:00pm

It’s a banner week for Westchester kids; with so many great programs to choose from, we’re expanding our list of top picks—all of which are free!

From free movies to cosmic journeys to seasonal fall fun like making apple crisp, there’s something for every taste and age ahead from Monday through Friday.

Interested in yet more kid activities? Consult our Event Calendar and sign up for our newsletters to get early notification about all the amazing fall programs coming to our county!

Weekday Fun: Dinosaurs After Dark, Shopkins Live, Oktoberfest

Submitted by Laurie R on Sun, 09/24/2017 - 3:55pm

It’s the first full week of fall, and there are lots of reasons to celebrate! Get in the pre-Halloween spirit at Field Station Dinosaurs’ Dinosaurs After Dark, or party German-style at Morey’s Piers' Oktoberfest 2017. The new season brings new museum excitement with Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails Exhibit at Liberty Science Center and The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts' After School experience. Plus, relish the fall weather (if it ever comes!) at great festivals, pumpkin farms, and corn mazes.

Read on for our best children's events the week of September 25–29, and don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar and September GoList for even more early-fall fun.

Weekday Picks: Corn Mazes, Apple Festival, and the Beginning of Halloween Fun: September 25- 29

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Sun, 09/24/2017 - 2:46pm

These beautiful warm days throw a wrench into the fall wardrobe plans, but no bother, it won't last long. Now that school is back in session, we're settling into our school routines and with homework and swim practice, there are only so many hours in the day for fun. We've made a plan for the week ahead and hope to see you at some of the following activities, whether on a non-scary pumpkin adventure, finding our way through a corn maze, or checking out a life-sized beaver lodge.

If you've got apple picking on your mind, the weekdays can be a great time to beat the crowds. Check our guide to find the perfect place for your next picking adventure (always double check the picking conditions/hours before heading out).

Be sure to find all things Halloween and Fall in our guide and click over to our frequently updated Event Calendar for even more suggestions. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to be sure you're never out of the loop.

Weekday Events: Open Play, Music, Storytime

Submitted by Felissa Allard on Sun, 09/24/2017 - 1:10pm

The leaves are changing and there’s pumpkin spice everywhere. It must be fall.

This week, there are open-play spots up and down the Island. Our September GoList is the source for more Islandwide fun, including exciting shows, fall festivals, and more. Also, be sure to read up on our Fall Fun Guide, where you can treat yourself to the best apple picking in the area and much more.

A reminder: It's time for our annual Besties balloting, and we want to hear from you. Weigh in on the best of Long Island at our voting page here. Your vote makes you eligible to win one of a number of prizes. See the prizes available here, and vote before it's too late.

Weekday Fun: Animal Mummies, Garden Bats, and Shibori

Submitted by Andy Fenwick on Sun, 09/24/2017 - 10:06am

New York City kids love the cool night skies of early fall, and two events this week take their faces skyward, one to study bats in the East Village and another to seek out stars from The High Line. Also, there's a block party in DUMBO featuring elephants parachuting from the sky.

For more terrestrial fun, you've got animal mummies in Brooklyn, the ancient art of Shibori in Tribeca, and storytelling on Staten Island. Also, see our guide to the best storytimes for babies in Brooklyn.

Our September GoList is almost on its last lap; stay tuned for October while using our Fall Fun Guide and our Event Calendar for all of your autumn planning needs.

Weekday Picks for Philly Kids: Nature, Art, Free Fun September 25-29

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 09/24/2017 - 10:00am

Despite the hot and humid weather, it technically is the first official full week of autumn. As the leaves begin to turn into hues of red, gold, and orange and cooler air blows in (hopefully sooner than later), Philly families can fill these fall days with lots of fun found in our event calendar.

Outdoorsy types can spend time in nature with a day trip to Pumpkinland or an evening visit to the Witches' House by hayride both at Linvilla Orchards. Wander about the grounds of Longwood Gardens and view the Summer of Spectacle as it concludes this week. Head to The Land Conservancy of Southern Chester County where kids can participate in a variety of outdoor activities or stop by Tyler Arboretum for a cooking workshop featuring apples. Those looking for a creative outlet can make arts and crafts at Monkey Fish Toys' free drop-in sessions in Exton or West Chester as well as Chester County Art Association's free Mommy and Me classes or classes for children 4 and older held at Exton Square Mall. Love computers? School-aged children up through teens can visit South Philadelphia Library to participate in its Gaming! event while girls ages 12-14 can design mobile apps at AWeber Communications.

Fill your family calendar with fall fun such as apple and pumpkin picking, corn maze fun, and autumn train rides. For now, continue reading for our top picks for the week.

Westchester's Top Haunted Houses and Halloween Events for Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Sat, 09/23/2017 - 4:00pm

Think you can handle the Creepy Morgue at Playland or survive the Haunt at Rocky Ledge? Whether you’re local or a daytripper, Westchester is a hot spot of exciting and fun (and terrifying!) Halloween happenings for children. We've collected some of the best frights, a couple ideas better suited for the younger ghouls, and a few fun parades in the Lower Hudson Valley.

Keep in mind that the listed age minimums are suggested by the event producers. You know your kid best—what’s no big deal to one grade-schooler could cause nightmares for weeks to another.