Do you like festivals? Well good, because there are a bunch of exciting ones this weekend. Vehicle-obsessed kids can get their fix at two Touch-a-Truck fests and animal lovers can hit the Fleece Festival in Prospect Park. Introduce your kids to all kinds of ethnic eats at the Ninth Avenue Food Festival, show off your moves at the New York Dance Parade and rock out to mom bands at the annual Mamapalooza Extravaganza.

Speaking of music, two kiddie rock heavyweights are playing this weekend: Laurie Berkner and Dan Zanes. Other indoor fun includes screenings of the classic French short The Red Balloon and a free performance by the Paper Bag Players.

All of our best bets for the weekend are below. Remember, there are even more options in our Event Calendar and our Spring Fun Guide.

The Meadowlands, once a punch line to many NJ jokes, is now a beautifully landscaped, wild ecosystem.  This Northern New Jersey destination has enchanted many visitors as an urban oasis. The transformation of the one-time landfill is a history, environmental and health lesson all rolled into one, a perfect balance of city life and wildlife…with a few highways in between. From hiking a short trail to visiting the outlets, exploring the Meadowlands is the perfect day trip for any local family.

We recently brought you a round-up of Long Island Farmers’ Markets sure to inspire even the pickiest eater to eat a crisp, fresh market veggie. The next stop on your kid’s nutritious, culinary adventure is a visit to the actual farms where many of the fruits and veggies sold at the markets are grown. Many of these farms offer families the opportunity to “pick-your-own” fruits and vegetables which is yet another great way to inspire your kids to appreciate the delicious and nutritious fruits and veggies grown right here on Long Island.

While some baby swans are making their NYC debut, a handful of local family businesses are singing their swan songs, including Scribble Press' Upper West Side location, which closes this month. Of course we've got good news, too, including new ways to get to Randall's Island this summer, a cleaned-up Chinatown Fair Arcade and a star-studded Story Pirates comedy benefit—and if none of those put a smile on your face, well, just look at those cute baby swans!

Chelsea is jam-packed with restaurants. Walk down any major avenue and many of its side streets, and you're presented with an overwhelming amount of choices, from bistros to barbecue, diners to doughnuts.

Since Chelsea is a very family-friendly neighborhood, most of the restaurants will accommodate children, especially during the day, but that doesn't mean they're really good for kids. So we continue our series of posts on Chelsea with a roundup of our favorite eateries in the area that are kid-friendly in terms of atmosphere and menus.