30 Things to Do with Kids in the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on

Hudson Valley is a year-round family destination for families all over the tristate area, and it's no surprise. It's loaded with natural beauty—parks, lakes, mountains—delicious food, and wonderful art museums, theaters and play spaces. With events timed for nearly every holiday, and enough attractions to suit almost any type of family, the area makes for the perfect family getaway or day trip.

We’ve gathered up our top 30 things to do in the Hudson Valley—destinations that will appeal to natives and visitors alike. (Attention latter group: If you need somewhere to stay while you explore, we’ve got you covered there too.) So read on, make your checklist, and sign up for our newsletters to stay in the know!  

Weekend Fun for CT Kids: Faeries, Apples, and Halloween Events, October 1-2

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on

I know that we need the rain, but with so much outdoor fun scheduled for this weekend in Connecticut—from country fairs to family festivals to pirate invasions—I hope the gray days called for in the latest forecast are wrong. You won't want to miss the opening weekends of the Apple Harvest Festival in Southington or Wee Faerie Village in Old Lyme, which are great fun for adults and kids alike. You also have until Friday to enter our contest to win a family four pack to the perpetually crowd pleasing corn maze at Lyman Orchard by clicking here. 

If, like me, you're already negotiating costumes and candy selections for Halloween, you can set the spooky mood with some haunted activities running the gamut from mildly scary to slightly adventurous to totally terrifying.

We will do our best to keep up with weather cancelations in our frequently updated event calendar, but if the weather is at all questionable, be sure to contact venues directly before heading out for any scheduled outdoor activities. Make sure that you subscribe to our weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest so that you won't miss any of the Halloween fun! 

5 Day Trips Perfect for Fall

Carrie Taylor's picture Submitted by Carrie Taylor on

Now that it is allegedly cooler outside and you can leave your house without fear of overheating, it's the ideal time to visit these nearby spots that could feel pretty miserable during summer. Before the holiday season gets into gear, pack up the car and take the kids to look at gators or see where Texas' favorite ice cream is made. We've rounded up five fun day trips below.

Weekend Fun for LA Kids: Boo at the Zoo, Mark in the Park, Early Spookfests, Oct 1 - 2

Submitted by Toby B on

Here's how I look at it: Halloween activities in the beginning of October are an excellent opportunity to use last year's costume one more time. No one wants to spoil the surprise of the new costume too soon (read: get ice cream and paint all over it). In fact, we may be using our costume from two years ago, since, um, last year's costume has ice cream and paint all over it.  

So, where might one wear an Elsa/ Rey/ Iron Man costume this weekend? How about Boo at the Zoo? How about Knotts Spooky Farm? How about Spooky Science at the Discovery Cube? How about Brick or Treat? Need to get in the pumpkineering spirit? Ghostly, spirited shows await. Need to get your gourd on? Let us patch you through. Not quite ready to admit it's fall? We'll ease you in, one harvested leaf at a time. And in the weeks ahead, you can figure out what costume to get put the finishing touches on the costume you absolutely have already figured out for this year.

Keep reading to learn more about the well-disguised weekend ahead...

Weekend Fun for LI Kids: Storybook Walk, SeaFaire - October 1-2

Jaime Sumersille's picture Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on

Fall is a festive time on Long Island. There's Pumpkinfest at the Cornell farms in Yaphank, the Long Island Fair at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration, a Shinnecock Youth Dance in Quogue and much more. Grab a hoodie and head outside!

Get active this weekend with the great events below. Don't see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar. And if you didn't receive this post in your inbox, sounds like you need to subscribe to our newsletter.

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Trucks, Festivals, Museums Oct 1-2

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on

By October, fall activities have officially taken over the family calendar. Between chauffeuring kids to their games and rearranging plans around the NFL football schedule, Philly parents might feel like there is little time to relax and have fun as a family. Thanks to our weekend's event calendar (and an Eagles Bye Week), there are tons of amazing autumn experiences that can fit into any busy schedule.

Build your very own fire truck at the local Home Depot, then, visit real trucks and tractors at Winterthur. Embrace the fall season by making a scarecrow or painting a pumpkin at Morris Arboretum's Fall Festival or learning about 18th century trades at Newlin Grist Mill's Fall Harvest Festival. Discover a local museum; both The Barnes Foundation and the Brandywine River Museum offer free Sunday admission this weekend and Penn Museum hosts its Gallery Romp featuring the theme, Ancient Rome.

To search our event calendar for activities close to home, be sure to check off your county. Narrow the search even further by miles from home and age group. Have a fantastic fall weekend!

Weekend Fun for Boston Kids: Hackathons, Apple Days, Spooky Fun, October 1-2

Kip Wilson Rechea's picture Submitted by Kip Wilson Rechea on

Now that October is here, there is no denying fall is officially upon us (I will admit that I tried to deny its arrival throughout September). But of course, here in New England, fall does at least offer a host of fun-filled events, including those celebrating apples (pictured) and pumpkins. On top of that, the Halloween season is most definitely gearing up as well, with spooky activities ranging from the Midnight Zoo to a Brick or Treat both of which are starting up now and continuing on weekends throughout the month.

For those of you who'd rather continue to deny fall's arrival, take the older kids to a Minecraft hackathon or get older girls coding at HUBweek's Girl Hackathon. Finally, who doesn't love a free concert? With both MusiConnects and Middlesex Band concerts to choose from, you have your pick of opportunities to take in some tunes with the kids.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

Speaking of trips, you can win one just for helping us pick our Besties. How do you like them apples?

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out the full events calendar!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Halloween Fun, Apple and Garlic Festivals

Submitted by Susan Miele on

With October comes the start of the Halloween season, and all the associated festivals, spectacles, parades and haunted houses throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley. We’ve populated our Event Calendar with many of these festivities (as well as a variety of non-Halloween events for when you crave diversity), so take a peek and plan ahead. Stay tuned, because much more is coming!

The Rivertowns, strongly associated with Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” go all out for Halloween, with month-long events that start this weekend like The Great Jack O Lantern Blaze (which is already sold out for this weekend) and The Legend Behind the 'Legend', as well as haunted happenings for older kids like Scared by the Sound.

For some non-Halloween happenings, fall festivals continue with the return of Warwick Applefest and the more pungent Hudson Valley Garlic Festival, to name just a couple of the diverse options that await. Also consult our guide for the best places to go apple picking.

Read on for our top weekend picks, but be sure to also check our Event Calendar for more family fun this weekend and beyond!

Weekend Fun: Blessing of the Animals, Kids Theater, Halloween

Sonia Gonzalez's picture Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on

A long weekend is on the horizon for NYC kids. If you're planning to skip town, we've got lots of day trip and weekend getaway ideas to consider. If you're staying close to home, this weekend is packed with annual favorites like the Chili Pepper Festival in Brooklyn, Honey Weekend in the Bronx, and Blessing of the Animals and Feast of Saint Francis in Morningside Heights.

Hoping to catch a show this weekend? Consider Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea at the New Victory Theater, Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities by Cirque du Soleil on Randall's Island, or Pete the Cat in Queens.

And if you're already in the Halloween spirit, head to opening weekend of Boo at the Zoo, join in a Ragamuffin Parade, or get up close and personal with Creepy Creatures of Halloween.

Read on for our top weekend picks. For even more options, check out our NYC Staycation post and, as always, remember to peruse our Event Calendar.

It's Fall Y'all: October Festival Fun in the Bayou City

Submitted by Frances Broussa... on

There’s no better way to usher in the harvest season than with a fall festival. With over tons of events happening in the Houston area over the next few months, the opportunities for enjoying cooler temperatures (okay, that may be a bit ambitious for October) and good, old-fashioned family fun are endless. Here’s our roundup of fairs and festivals taking place this autumn. 

Pages

Subscribe to Front page feed