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Free and Fun Things to Do This Weekend with NYC Kids: Children’s Carnival in Queens, Titanic 100th Anniversary, New Kids' Shows

Submitted by Raven Snook on Wed, 04/11/2012 - 4:00pm

Spring kicks into high gear this weekend with the start of festival season and the debut of a few wonderful new family shows. Enjoy kiddie rides, magic and more at the Queens Country Farm Museum's annual Children's Carnival, or check out two kids' theater productions we're really excited about: The Butterfly by Making Books Sing and the New Acting Company's irreverent adaptation of Jack & the Beanstalk.

This weekend also marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and we've found age-appropriate ways kids can learn about the tragedy. In other water-related news, the Parks Department holds its online lottery for free spring swimming lessons this weekend. We've got the scoop on how to vie for a spot for your kid.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional suggestions in our Event Calendar and our Spring Fun Guide.

Tribeca's Beloved Moomah Set to Reopen... Sort Of

Submitted by Raven Snook on Wed, 04/11/2012 - 10:00am

As New Yorkers, we realize that businesses (especially kid-centric ones) are constantly opening and closing. But it really broke our hearts when one of our favorite haunts, Moomah, announced that it was shutting its doors at the end of March.

But it's a woman prerogative to change her mind, and that's just what Tracey Stewart did. Due to public outcry, she's decided to reopen Moomah, albeit in a different form.

Springtime Festivals in Central Connecticut

Submitted by Tania Pesce on Wed, 04/11/2012 - 9:00am

Our winter season was short-lived so the anticipation of Spring may not have been as longed for as in past years but we are still happily welcoming the warmer weather. With Spring and nicer weather comes along many outdoor festivals that include food, music, fun and more!

Sesame Street Live at Palace Theater Family 4 Pack Ticket Giveaway!

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Tue, 04/10/2012 - 8:28pm

If you are a Mommy Poppins CT subscriber you have a great chance to win 4 Tickets to see Sesame Street Live at the Palace Theater in Stamford! Your children will love singing and dancing with Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and all their favorite Sesame Street Live friends! This high-energy musical will transport audiences to far away places as Ernie captains the high seas, Elmo dances to the rhythm of the African rainforest and Bert meets an octopus who has the blues. It's a story of adventure and fun that teaches children they can be anyone, do anything and go anywhere with the power of imagination.

Sewing Classes and Summer Camps Where LA Kids Can Have Sew Much Fun

Submitted by Audrey M on Tue, 04/10/2012 - 5:01pm

Do you have a cool DIYer on your hands? An all-around crafty kid? A tween or teen interested in fashion design? This is the perfect summer to try a sewing or quilting camp. Sewing camps offer kids the opportunity to learn a useful skill, express themselves, and make new friends who keep them in stitches. Not sure your child is ready for a full camp of sewing? All of the sewing centers below also offer kids sewing classes year-round. (Of course, if you don't opt for sewing camp, you really ought to check out the dozens of other summer camps we know about!)

Best NYC Kids’ Shows for Spring 2012: 13 Family Theater Shows

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 04/10/2012 - 12:00pm

As a hardcore theater geek, one of the things I love most about spring is the new crop of shows that blooms every year. And even though there's a lot of action on Broadway right now, there are plenty of smaller, less expensive but just as enjoyable kids' productions playing in New York City.

We've gone through all of the listings and picked out the best shows bowing on NYC stages this season. While a couple are at the New Victory (you can't really do a roundup of quality family theater in this town without mentioning 'em), we're also shining a spotlight on less well known theaters and troupes. From circus feats to fractured fairy tales, pop-rock musicals to page-to-stage adaptations, here are our top 13 kids' shows playing this spring.

NYC Titanic Exhibits and 100th Anniversary Events Appropriate for Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Mon, 04/09/2012 - 5:00pm

Although most adults know the story of the Titanic (especially those of us who lived through Titanic-mania fueled by the 1997 movie), kids aren't familiar with the ship or its history. Many kids find the tragic story fascinating. My seven-year old son became obsessed with the ill-fated steamship last summer after reading a fictionalized account of the tragedy in the Magic Tree House book Tonight on the Titanic. He had so many questions about how this incredible ship could crash and sink on its very first journey that he went to the library to research the true story. He even watched iceberg simulations on the Internet trying to figure it out!

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the RMS Titanic and while there are lots of events commemorating the catastrophe in New York City (the ship was on its way to the Big Apple, after all), we've rounded up age-appropriate ways for kids to learn about the disaster.

Free and Cheap Camps in Fairfield County, CT for kids under 8

Submitted by Katie McKnight on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 5:44pm

[UPDATED 3/31/13]

Trying to find a summer camp for your youngster in Fairfield County? No problem. Trying to find an inexpensive summer camp for your youngster in Fairfield County? Now that’s a bit more of a challenge! Not to worry. We’ve looked high and low and found some great options for summer camps that won’t break the bank.

Often the best bet for reasonably priced day camps are those camps run by individual town’s Parks and Recreations Departments. Wilton, Greenwich and Bridgeport all have town-sponsored programs that are reasonably priced.