Oktoberfest in Chicago: The Best Oktoberfests for Families in Chicago

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on

Dad and son at Oktoberfest. Photo courtesy of St. Benedict's Oktoberfest

Step aside, pumpkin spice latte. It's time to celebrate fall with the original autumn beverage: Oktoberfest beer! And luckily for us Chicagoans, the Bavarian tradition is strong and there are lots of Oktoberfests in Chicago to help you celebrate.

Like the original Oktoberfest, these local festivities have live music, carnival games, and other fun and family-friendly activities, and as a bonus, most are free (minus food and drinks) or super affordable to attend. Look out for Oktoberfests in traditional German neighborhoods and suburbs like Lincoln Square and Schaumburg, and feel free to don the traditional Bavarian garb—you won't be the only one! And of course, don't forget to snag a pretzel or two.

Family-Friendly Fun for Oktoberfest in Orlando

Submitted by Melanie Preis on

Autumn brings family-friendly Oktoberfest celebrations to Orlando.

Celebrate Oktoberfest with the whole fam at kid-friendly Orlando events! Don some lederhosen for the ultimate Oktoberfest fun with the kids. Whether you love Bavarian music, traditional outfits, delicious food, or fun dances, Oktoberfest is a wonderful time for everyone. And of course, mom and dad can enjoy a toppling beer stein during the day's festivities. Take a look at some fun Oktoberfest events in Orlando throughout the month!

NEW Sloomoo Institute Opens in Los Angeles for Kids to Enjoy Slime Fun

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

Embrace the mess! Sloomoo Institute photo by Kylie Williams

The Sloomoo Institute in Los Angeles recently opened for all the gooey, slimy fun. No matter how you feel about slime, your kids likely love it. Even the biggest anti-slimers might have to admit that they like slime, just a little bit, after checking out this new family-friendly attraction for kids in Los Angeles. 

Sloomoo Institute is a welcome relief for parents who have watched their kitchens transform into slime laboratories. At the Sloomoo Institute, kids can squish, stretch, smash, shoot, stand under, stand on, and smell slime without making a mess at home. 

For more interactive entertainment, bookmark these crafts for kids, visit the best children's museums in Los Angeles and Orange County, and discover more fun in our Museum Guide for Kids in Los Angeles and Orange County. 

60 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids

Drew Kristofik's picture Submitted by Drew Kristofik on

Put on your most creative costume, and head to Dumbo for a Halloween March to the Arch. Photo by Hassan Mokaddam

October is bubbling over with bushels of free things to do in NYC. In addition to our huge, spooky pile of free Halloween activities, we've found tons of cost-free fun happening in NYC this month, from St. John the Divine's heavenly Blessing of the Animals to Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, Diwali's big celebration in Times Square, Open House New York, and the return of Bryant Park's Winter Village. Then, Canstruction starts building anticipation for Thanksgiving!

Read on for 60 free things to do in New York City this October, including events in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Find more top events on our best-of-October list. Of course, our Guide to Fall Activities and New York City Kids Halloween Guide have all the seasonal must-do's.

Newly-Renovated Play Area Opens for Babies and Toddlers at Kidspace Children’s Museum

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

The interactive indoor playground is now welcoming crawlers and early walkers to play, climb, explore, and connect. Photo by Kylie Williams

Kidspace Museum in LA welcomes babies and early walkers to its newly renovated play space.

Pasadena’s beloved Kidspace Children’s Museum–my family’s absolute favorite in the Los Angeles area–understands the importance of socializing and play for babies, toddlers, and even their grown-ups. That’s why I jumped at the chance to check out the museum’s newly reopened and freshly renovated Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC).

Filled with brain-building sensory and developmental experiences for babies and toddlers, the interactive indoor playground is now welcoming crawlers and early walkers to play, climb, explore, and connect alongside their parents and caregivers. My 20-month-old couldn’t get enough of the eye-catching rain mobile and the easily-scalable stream climber structure, and I loved that the area was so safe and engaging for little ones that I could actually get in some conversations with other adults.

Read on for everything you need to know about the beautifully reimagined space, and get your Kidspace tickets for a chance to explore the Early Childhood Learning Center.

Coolest Halloween Inflatables and Inflatable Costumes for Kids: Bluey, Hello Kitty, and More

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on

The Bluey can really vamp it up! Photo courtesy of the Gemmy store on Amazon

Halloween inflatables are an awesome invention, whether you're on the lookout for inflatable Halloween costumes for your kids (or yourself!) or inflatable Halloween decorations for the yard. They're huge and eye-catching, but they also fold down to almost nothing, for storage in the non-spooky seasons!

We've gathered the coolest options available to purchase online and have shipped directly to you! Here are our favorite Halloween inflatables, at a variety of price points, that will make trick-or-treaters' eyes pop out of their heads!

For more at-home Halloween fun—from the best kids' Halloween movies to easy pumpkin carving ideas and more—check out our Halloween Activities Guide for Families.

Pages