| Page 51 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Halloween Weekend 2025 on Long Island: Trick-or-Treat, Parades, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 10:10am

Enjoy a ghostly walk through town during Raynham Hall's Halloween parade and party. Photo courtesy of the Raynham Hall Museum

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

At the WHMO Annual Halloween Festival, costumed kids can join in parades, crafts, and candy-filled games. Or, step back in time for the Halloween Ghost Walk & Party at Raynham Hall Museum, where colonial-era spirits whisper their stories as families enjoy treats and entertainment. For a free, colorful, and cultural festival, don’t miss the Día de los Muertos Family Celebration at the Heckscher Museum of Art, where families can explore art activities, music, and traditions.

Budding scientists can dive into hands-on experiments during a Spooky Science Weekend at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Ghosts and gadgets come together here for fun learning. Then, put an eco-friendly twist on Halloween cleanup at The Great Pumpkin Smash at the Science Museum of Long Island, where kids can safely smash their jack-o’-lanterns while learning about composting and sustainability.

Bookmark our Long Island Kids' Guide to Halloween Fun for more picks to keep your costumed cuties entertained all weekend, and keep this list of top trick-or-treat neighborhoods on Long Island close at hand for Friday night!

Halloween Weekend 2025 in New Jersey: Trick-or-Treat and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 10:10am

New Jersey is decked out for Halloween and there are plenty of great events to check out. Photo courtesy of Cape May

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

It's time to scare up some fun this weekend, which kicks off with Halloween festivities! There are plenty of Halloween activities to choose from on Friday, including Howl-O-Ween at Turtle Back Zoo, which has treat stations peppered throughout the grounds. Hoboken hosts its celebrated Ragamuffin Parade and Costume Contest, with music, floats, and creative costumes.

Celebrations continue over the weekend in honor of Day of the Dead, with activities in Princeton featuring strolling mariachis and skull decorating, and in Jersey City, with Mexican artists, dance groups, and more family fun.

We've got more seasonal treats in our New Jersey Halloween Guide, including our picks for the best places to trick-or-treat in New Jersey.

Halloween Weekend 2025 in NYC: Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Parades, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 10:09am

Dumboween is scarily entertaining, beginning with the annual March to the Arch followed by crafts, costume contests, live music, and trick-or-treating, of course! Photo by Hassan Mokaddam

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Halloween weekend.

We're in full fright mode at last, up to our eyeballs in Halloween activities. Our top picks for Halloween proper include the Jackson Heights Halloween Parade and Brooklyn's free fete, BAMBoo! When you're done parading and partying, you'll need this list of NYC's best trick-or-treat neighborhoods, so you know where to source the goodies!

The fun doesn't end on Friday, though. Day of the Dead delights abound. You can squash your squash on Saturday at Pier 84 or the Astoria Park Pumpkin Smash. Pint-sized theater-goers can see a silly musical version of Snow White at the New Victory Theater, which opens its season this weekend.

12 Meaningful Personalized Clothing Gift Ideas for 2025

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 10/30/2025 - 2:47pm

Kids' artwork is just one way to create perfectly personalized gifts with Vivid Customs. Photo by Jessica Laird

It’s easy to create custom printed or embroidered t-shirts, gear, and other great gift ideas with no minimums and fast free shipping from Vivid Customs.

Now that anyone can (and does) order just about anything they want off the internet, coming up with a truly meaningful gift has gotten harder and harder. But there’s one hack that’ll keep your presents thoughtful and original: Create a personalized gift—and it’s easier and more affordable than you might think.

Based in Houston but serving families across the country, Vivid Customs specializes in custom embroidery and personalized screen printing on shirts, hats, hoodies–you name it! And with no order minimums, an easy-to-use website, plus fast free shipping or in-shop pickup, you can create fun and memorable gifts and gear for just about any occasion.

I gave Vivid Customs a try and, not only did my 6-year-old’s drawing of an axolotl look amazing embroidered on one of their comfy cotton t-shirts, but the design process was simple and customer support made sure the design came out picture perfect.

Read on for some of our favorite custom printed gear and gift ideas for kids, families, teachers, or whoever you need to impress this year, plus answers to some of the most asked questions about Vivid Customs.

Thanksgiving, Pumpkin Destruction Day, and More Holidays & Activities for November 2025

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 10/30/2025 - 12:09pm

Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Photo courtesy of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

November means Thanksgiving! But that’s just one day, there are 30 more days to fill with fall activities, indoor play, turkey-basting November fun.

In addition to Thanksgiving, you can also celebrate Pumpkin Destruction Day, Love Your Freckles Day, Evolution Day, Pickles Day, and more – all this month. Oh, and don’t worry, we’ve also rounded up all the Thanksgiving fun with days set aside for Thanksgiving movies, fall leaf crafts, and kid-friendly pumpkin recipes.

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. For more ideas for Thanksgiving activities, check out our Thanksgiving Activities Guide for Families.

The Best Family Shows of Off-Broadway's New Victory Theater 2025-26 Season

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 10/30/2025 - 10:00am

The New Victory celebrates its 30th birthday with a dazzling lineup that brings the magic of live theater to kids of all ages.

Believe it or not, the New Victory Theater turns 30 this season—and it’s celebrating this major milestone with a particularly magical lineup of shows for families with children of all ages!

If you’ve visited the New Victory Theater before, you know it’s one of New York City’s most dependable destinations for quality family entertainment, serving up the very best shows from around the world at affordable prices. Its 30th birthday season promises another round of can’t-miss productions, including Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE, a dance piece from Tony Award-nominee Camille A. Brown, renowned magician Mario Marchese, a cheeky take on Snow White, breakdance by ILL-Abilities, and not only one but two cirque shows (a New Victory favorite of ours!).

The beauty of the New Victory Theater is that there truly is something for everyone. So get out your calendar and read the full 2025-26 schedule–organized by age–to help your family pick the perfect shows this season.