If your budding thespians or tiny dancers want to continue (or discover!) their stage presence through the summer, you'll be happy to know that a variety of summer camps in the Hartford area are geared toward performing arts. These venues provide a great way to channel creative energy and spend the summer doing what children enjoy. Check out this list of camps with a fine arts focus, including drama, dance, theater, and music.

It may seem like you've seen all there is to see this holiday season — decorated Christmas trees, holiday lights, gingerbread houses, and enchanting displays — but don't hang up your Santa hat just yet. Head on down to the South Shore with your kids and catch a glimpse of some really unique and beautiful Christmas decorations. 

What’s 122-feet long, weighs as much as 10 African elephants and is totally vegetarian? A Titanosaur, of course! Dino-lovers rejoice as the American Museum of Natural History (known for its amazing must-see exhibits including The Secret World Inside You and Life at the Limits) gears up to introduce this gargantuan dinosaur in a brand-new exhibit. The massive new dinosaur cast will be unveiled in January, settling in for a three-year stay on the museum’s dinosaur floor. We've gathered some fun facts about this newly discovered dinosaur group, as well as details on the upcoming exhibit and even a very cool digital rendering of this giant find.

This post is sponsored by Voilà Chocolat, but the opinions are solely of the author.

'Tis the season for over-the-top sweets, special treats and incredible holiday outings. Voilà Chocolat combines all three in one fun activity that is sure to make lasting memories.

At this Upper West Side confectionery, adults and kids can have a blast making their own high-end chocolates to take home and eat or give away as gifts. My family and I enjoyed a spectacularly sweet afternoon recently making truffles and chocolate lollipops. It was an over-the-top success that will be a highlight of our holiday memories this year.

It's hard not to be sentimental as we pull our Christmas decorations out of their boxes. A little light up village that mesmerized our kids, earring-like decorations that belonged to Grandma and handmade pine cone creations remind us of holidays past. More Christmas decorations from another time, the Victorian era, are on view in the annual holiday exhibit at Norwalk's Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum  running through January 3. [For more holiday displays visit our Holiday Guide.]

Congratulations, folks; we're almost there. We've spent weeks preparing, planning, shopping, making our lists and checking them twice, posing for holiday pictures, and sending missives to our entire address book, and our hard work is about to pay off. The holidays are upon us. This weekend offers one last shot to complete any unfinished business: buy a tree, meet the big guy, maybe string a few lights around the house.

Or, you could just look at other people's lights. (Soooooo much easier.)  Might we suggest some of LA's finest Christmas Light Displays (and, if you're willing to hop on the freeway, More Christmas Light Displays outside of Los Angeles). There's no better time than the present to catch a Nutcracker performance. And while sometimes you may feel like a nut, there are other times you don't, so we've offered up some alternatives as well.

Whatever you're celebrating this weekend, keep reading for some of our favorite picks...

What is your favorite part of the holiday season? Decorating the perfect Christmas tree? Driving around to see holiday lights? Running in a Christmas Themed 5K or planning a day trip over Winter Break? No matter what makes this season special for you, our Events Calendar can help find details on the best of the best around the Philadelphia area.

Eat Breakfast with the Trains or spend Christmas with the Dolls at Brandywine River Museum. Take a train ride on Colebrookdale Railroad. Or, enjoy a holiday show such as Upper Darby Performing Arts Center's Shooting Star Holiday Show, Act II Playhouse' Murray the Elf, or Arden Theatre's Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates.

To keep up with the latest holiday event news, be sure to follow Mommy Poppins Philly on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. And, be sure to enjoy your favorite things this season.