Head out to the Connecticut Renaissance Faire for a unique family outing. The Faire opens this weekend and runs through October 27-28th. If you so desire, dress up as a knight or fair maiden and get into the medieval spirit. Feast on turkey legs while watching armored knights jousting on horseback. The best part is that you can WIN FREE TICKETS right here. If you've never been to a Renaissance Faire - here's the scoop:

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire recreates a medieval English village at festival time, and their guests of honor are none other than King Arthur and Queen Guinevere themselves. Meet the royal couple, sing and dance along to period music, check out a variety of handmade wares in the medieval marketplace, test your skill as a warrior at the Hitting & Stabbing Emporium or in a safe and friendly contest of arms.

There are some movies that really don't need sequels, but in LA even epic traffic jams get the sequel treatment. Yes, we're headed for another weekend without the 405. To call Carmageddon a weekend blockbuster would be to use the term unforgivably literally, and yet we are about to be subjected to Carmageddon II, Return to Mulholland Bridge. Thinking of running away to go camping for the weekend or to hide at a resort? You may be wise to do so. But if you're planning on staying in town, there are a few things you should know about this weekend's closure of the 405 (aka the busiest highway in America).

The Upper East Side is super family-friendly, so it's no surprise that many of its restaurants are accustomed to accommodating kids. But while you may salivate at the thought of a seven-course tasting menu that costs half your weekly paycheck, chances are the only dish your children will really appreciate is dessert.

So why not just get right to it? Whether you are looking for a spot for a special treat or a sweet place for a birthday party, these five iconic Upper East Side eateries are famous for their sweet snacks and indulgent desserts (although most of them serve lunch and dinner, too, if you're into that sort of thing). In addition to a sugar high, each one also serves up a quintessential New York experience kids will never forget. 

Fall has officially arrived, which means cooler weather, colorful foliage and our seasonal class deals post. We've got awesome discounts on some really popular programs, like 25% off classes at the Central Park, Prospect Park and Queens Zoos, and up to 61% off at Chess NYC. Speaking of classes, we also updated our list of free kids' enrichment programs with info about a new no-cost art class at Upstairs on the Lower East Side. Every time we hear about a new free class, we add it to the post, so it's a good one to bookmark.

Fall also brings Columbus Day, and our Travel site has a wonderful roundup of family travel deals for the holiday weekend and beyond, plus lots of great suggestions for where to go. You don't necessarily need to travel far: Our New Jersey site has a list of 25 fun and mostly free things to do in Hoboken, and we just shared our favorite apple picking places in Eastern Connecticut and Hartford County. You can find posts about apple orchards throughout the tri-state area in our Pick-Your-Own Guide.

We also added a new culture post to our Fall Fun Guide: The best new museum exhibits for kids opening this autumn, including interactive installations at three of NYC's children's museums. Here's what else we covered this week on our NYC site:

When we wrote about our favorite things to do and places to go in Harlem, we skipped the Maysles Cinema. Even though we love this independent theater—which was founded by legendary documentary maker Albert "Grey Gardens" Maysles and shows films from around the world— it never screened movies for kids. But that's about to change.

Beginning Sunday, September 30, Maysles Cinema is debuting a pair of film clubs for kids: a drop-in one for children ages 3 to 7 and their caregivers, and a drop-off semester-long class for ages 7 to 11. For children weaned on Disney and Pixar flicks, these movies should be an eye-opening and mind-broadening experience, akin to the New York International Children's Film Festival or BAMkids Film Fest.

With cooler temperatures upon us, fall is the perfect time to spend quality time enjoying nature and the beauty of our state. 

Apple picking is a rite of fall in New England. Check out our posts on Pick-Your-Own-Apple Orchards in Eastern CT, apple picking with toddlers in Fairfield County, and Apple-Picking Orchards in Hartford County. This year's unpredictable weather has been tough on local apple crops, so get out and support the farmers by visiting them for fruit, donuts, hayrides, animals and more. Fall Fairs and Festivals abound and we've listed some great ones in Hartford County.

Saturday marks the first day of fall, and our weekend roundup offers plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the season, from Revels' RiverSing in Cambridge on Sunday to the first weekend of Trails & Sails on the North Shore; from Captains Courageous Festival in Gloucester on Saturday to Brookline Day on Sunday. Plus, it’s a great time to plan an apple picking adventure, a trip to a corn maze, or a visit to a museum to see one of the new fall exhibits.

With our kids’ team sports season kicking into high gear, Tara delves in to what it means to be a good spectator at your children’s games. Helpful hints! And check out fun ways to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of The Boxcar Children series with Boxcar Children-related activities and happenings in the Boston area and beyond.

Our best bets for the weekend are below, and you can check our Event Calendar for lots of other options. And follow us on Facebook and Twitter for giveaways, updates and tips on family fun.

Enjoy!