Submitted by Ally Noel on
This magical mixture of Halloween and bowling is the perfect recipe for a great party game! The spooky take on a classic can be played indoors or outdoors and is a spooktacular activity for children of all ages. After making the pins, let your little ghouls and goblins have a go at them by rolling a pumpkin down the lane.
Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on
Due to rain on Saturday, some outdoor events may be canceled or rescheduled. Before heading out to an activity, be sure to check on its official website to make sure it's still on. After eating all that candy on Friday night, your kids are going to have quite the sugar rush to burn off this weekend. And there are lots of great ways to do it, including two FREE Day of the Dead festivals and a few late Halloween celebrations, like Greenpoint's annual costume parade and party. (Meanwhile, if you're desperate to get all that excess candy out of the house, consider donating it to a good cause.)
Non-Halloween fun includes concerts by Dan Zanes at Symphony Space and Suzi Shelton at the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, a multimedia take on Sleeping Beauty at Lincoln Center and the opening weekend of the American Museum of Natural History's seasonal Butterfly Conservatory.
All of our best bets for the weekend are below. As always, you can find additional options in our Event Calendar. And if you're looking to plan our your entire month, check out the new edition of our NYC Go List highlighting the absolute best things to do with kids throughout November.
Submitted by Jody Mercier on
Halloween inevitably ends with way too much candy, which is why we're big fans of donating or repurposing excess treats. But you know what else we have too much of on the holiday? Decorative pumpkins and gourds. Often they sit and rot on windowsills and stoops until they cave in, at which point parents can finally convince their kids to chuck 'em in the trash. But there's a more fun and environmentally friendly way to get rid of your jack-o'-lanterns: Recycle them at Pumpkin Smash, a series of FREE composting events being held throughout the five boroughs this Saturday, November 1.
Submitted by Michael McEnaney on
One of the biggest advantages to living on Long Island is having access to some of the best beaches on the entire East Coast. While those beaches are typically packed with sun-worshippers during the summer, they’re virtually empty in the fall—making them the perfect spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of the shore, as well as snap a few photos of the entire family.
Perhaps best of all, the above locations are free to visit (small fee at Bayard Cutting Arboretum) so there’s no strain on tight budgets and all are among the most relaxing places Long Island has to offer.
For more family-friendly events and activities, be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar.
Submitted by Tara D on
When we first visited the Culinary Arts Museum in Providence, Rhode Island, we fell madly in love. During the 18 months the museum was closed for inventory, we pined for it to reopen. You may be thinking, “Really? What’s so great about a bunch of old stoves?” OK, there are a few old stoves (which are actually pretty cool), but the museum offers a surprisingly wide variety of exhibits and fun, hands-on activities for families.
When the Culinary Arts Museum reopened this fall, we fell in love all over again. The staff showed us around, pointing out the newest additions to the collections. Thankfully, all of our old favorites are still there too. Read on for highlights, what's new, and tips for getting the most out of your visit to this gem of a museum.
Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on
We've reviewed plenty of hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, the go-to choice for most travelers to the region. But for some families, skipping the hotel and renting a private home might be preferable. A house provides many advantages for families, like more room and amenities that can make travel with children much easier. It's one reason we like home swapping so much.
The one drawback to renting a vacation house can be missing out on some of the services and amenities that you get at a hotel or resort. The family who wants the advantages of a house rental and the luxury service of a resort can find it with a company like Villas by Linda Smith in Jamaica.
Submitted by Christi O'Donnell on
Living in such close proximity to New York City makes it easy for Westchester families to enjoy some of the best musical performances in the world. For all of the budding musicians inspired by the great artists of today and of days gone by, Westchester is home to many wonderful music schools and conservatories that help prepare children for a lifetime of music appreciation while teaching them to march to the beat of their own inner drummer (or violinist, or pianist...you get the idea).
We've rounded up premiere music academies and schools for Westchester kids. Whether your infant is just beginning to respond to sounds beyond the "pop" of a bottle warmer or your teen is preparing to apply to college, these music schools offer programs for all ages and musical interests.
Looking for more class ideas? Check out our growing Westchester Classes Guide and Class Directory.
Submitted by Alina Adams on
Got creative kids? Young dancers, actors, writers and even circus performers are all needed for a variety of upcoming performing opportunities. Plus, Build-A-Bear opens a new location in Times Square, Kids' Night on Broadway tickets go on sale soon, one of our favorite under-the-radar Brooklyn museums sets a closing date and other news of interests to NYC families.
