New Jersey is humming with summer activity this weekend, so choose your fest or ‘stock wisely. Do your festival tastes run more toward a giant sloppy barbecue contest or a much more dignified music and art offering? Are you up for Beachstock or Maplewoodstock? Or maybe you’d rather see T-Bone Stankus' hilarious one-man show or just eat ice cream all day. Choices, choices. That’s what summer is all about.

New York's State Parks have got it going on this weekend. From afternoon shows, to learning about the animals living on Long Island, even some great night activities. Let summer time take over your usual schedule, let the kids stay up late so you can all have fun as a family at a kid's concert, or go out looking for bats. Perhaps they'll even sleep in a bit in the morning. And if you are inspired, make note of our post on free outdoor movies on Long Island, fun for the whole family. Have a great weekend.

If your kids are anything like mine, they are not falling asleep so easily, despite days of swimming and summer activity. Don't fight it, take charge and take advantage of what your summer parks have to offer. Grab a blanket or some chairs, pack the bug spray and some snacks and head to one of these free outdoor movies. You can create some great family memories, enjoy the sunsets and entertainment, and you never know, the kids might even fall asleep in the car on the way home. Here's our summer 2011 list of outdoor movie screenings at a park near you.

One good thing about 3 day weekends is that the following weekend comes that much quicker. The summer celebrations still continue and we've listed tons for you to do this weekend. Maybe a visit to the Beardsley Zoo is in your near future? If so, check out this Fairfield mom's insider tips for your visit. Blueberry pie eating contests, wagon rides and live music are just a few of the activities planned at Berry Fest! at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield this Saturday.  Stop by and learn how honey is taken out of the hive for harvest during the annual Honey Harvest at Greenwich Audubon. Blueberries are ripe and ready for picking so make sure to check out our Pick-your-own Blueberry Farms in CT Guide. Thinking of taking a day trip to Litchfield County (or just looking for ideas of things to do)? Check out our list of 20 family friendly summer day activities.

In Danbury the free weekend concert series continues and it's the last day of the Danbury City Fair on Saturday.  An old-fashioned Independence Day Festival is happening in Enfield all weekend long at the town green complete with parades, concerts and fireworks. On Saturday, Hartford and East Hartford celebrate Independence Day at Riverfest. Live bands, kids' activities and fireworks will mark the celebration.

In Canaan, you can take the family for a railroad ride and then to the carnival all weekend long at Railroad Days. For race car enthusiasts check out American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville. And in New Haven, bring the kids to see a rendition of Peter & the Wolf and Carnival of Animals.

What? We only have a two-day weekend this time? (Holiday weekends really mess us up.) There are so many fantastic and mostly free things to do, you're going to wish you had three days (or more).

The Children's Museum of the Arts celebrates its upcoming move with an outdoor family art festival in its new neighborhood. French culture takes over 60th Street in honor of Bastille Day. SummerStage hosts its annual Family Day in Central Park. The '80s classic The Goonies screens on Roosevelt Island. And of course you can get wet at outdoor pools, local beaches and water playgrounds.

If you can't even bear the thought of being out and about in this heat, there are plenty of places to cool off indoors. Plus you can check out an amazing exhibit, like Curious George: Let’s Get Curious at the Children's Museum of Manhattan or the New York Hall of Science's Circus: Science Under the Big Top, or one-off weekend events like Family Day at the Center for Architecture or Second Sunday at the Queens Museum of Art.

You can find more seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide and additional weekend options in our Mommy Poppins Event Calendar.

Fourth of July festivities may be over but on Thursday, July 14, you can celebrate Independence Day all over again, French-style. Bastille Day is a national holiday in France that commemorates the storming of the eponymous prison, a pivotal moment during the French Revolution.

In Paris, a huge military parade marches down the Champs-Élysées, followed by massive parties and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. Although there won't be any processions or sparklers here in NYC, there are a few fetes. In fact, the Big Apple is home to one of the largest Bastille Day celebrations outside of the City of Lights, right on the Upper East Side.

While many of the activities are aimed at adults (sorry kids, you're not ready for wine yet), les enfants can get a taste of French culture (beyond French fries), and maybe even play a little pétanque. Liberté, égalité, fraternité! Here's how to celebrate Bastille Day in NYC with your family.

If the last thrill you had in your life was finding that your cellphone still worked after going through an accidental laundry cycle, it’s time you headed out on a real thrill ride–the roller coaster.  Haven’t been on one since the days you wore a feather dangle in your hair and acid-washed GUESS jeans on your then-skinny behind?  Well, now’s the time and this is the place! Read on for our list of the top roller coaster rides in the NJ area.  Then grab the kids and buckle up–it’s gonna’ be a great ride!