This Week: Water Fun in NYC: Best Playgrounds for Getting Wet, Top Family Boat Rides, 25 Water Games, Water-Filled Day Trips

Water, water, everywhere, all over our Mommy Poppins sites. We updated two super-popular posts in our Water Fun Guide: the best boat rides for NYC families and our list of the top 20 water playgrounds throughout the five boroughs, including the brand-new Lakeside Splash Pad in Prospect Park. Plus we shared 25 water games you can play anywhere, from your local park to your own backyard.

Looking to get wet outside the the city? Our Long Island site has a roundup of the best beach playgrounds in the Hamptons, while Westchester highlighted six destination parks featuring all kinds of water fun like beaches, pools and water slides. And if your family is really up for a full-fledged water-filled adventure, our Travel site recommends the Grand Solmar Land's End Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Warning: Do not click here unless you're prepared to be jealous.

We're smack-dab in the middle of summer break and our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE. What has your family been doing to make the most of the season? Share your playful pics on social media for a chance to win great prizes. Every week, we're giving away a KaBOOM! Go Out and Play Pack and in late August, we'll be awarding one lucky reader with an Ultimate Summer of Play Bash. So submit your fun photos and then click through all of the entries for new play inspiration.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Weekend Fun With Westchester Families: Youth Orchestra, Comedy, Song Circle and More July 19-20

So many performances are worth seeing this weekend, it’s hard to prioritize! Two are by national troupes—the National Youth Orchestra, an ensemble of kids under the auspices of Carnegie Hall, and The National Comedy Theatre, which is sure to provide a good laugh for young audiences. As an adjunct to this month’s Seeger Fest, join in the Song Circle and Potluck Supper in Honor of Pete and Toshi Seeger to pay tribute to the Hudson Valley’s beloved champions. Returning this week for the second of the four-part series is Puppet Shows in the Amphitheater.

There are also great workshops scheduled for Saturday that are both artsy and practical (and adults would love them too!). One is Create Your Own Blog or Website, and the other is Art & Reuse in the Studio, where participants upcycle used materials.

Keeping kids busy in the summer when school is out can be tricky—but not with the Mommy Poppins event calendar! There you'll find daily listings of options throughout the county, many of which are FREE. If you're willing to venture beyond Westchester, we also have editions in NYC, Connecticut, Long Island, and New Jersey.

Read on for our top picks for this weekend, then click through for further details and additional events. Also be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep current with our latest posts, news and events.

Long Island Kids' Activities July 19 & 20: Free Magic Show, Laurie Berkner Concert, Family Fair at CMEE & Live Theater

With summer in full swing, you might find yourself planning your family's days down to the hour. Events and activities abound on Long Island, providing nonstop entertainment for the whole family.

Head north to Lloyd Harbor for a free show, Magic in the Walled Garden, hosted by The Caumsett Foundation. Or head south for some cool tunes at the Great South Bay Music Festival, which will feature a performance from Laurie Berkner on Sunday.

You can also enjoy a live performance of The Wizard of Oz in Garden City, Peter Pan in Smithtown or Alexander and the Terrible, No Good Very Bad Day in Northport.

Don't see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar. And if you don't receive this post in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter.

Mostly Free and Fun Things to do in CT with Kids This Weekend July 19-20: Fireflies, Jazz, Blueberries, and More

What a crazy weather week this has been! Never fear: Mommy Poppins has the inside scoop on the best summer activities to help keep your kids happy whether it's raining, thundering, or just too humid to move. For some indoor fun, older kids will enjoy a visit to the Gilson Cafe and Cinema (ages 12+ are welcome with adults during the week) in Winstead. Just about anytime is the right time for ice cream so check out our guide to the yummiest ice cream shops in Fairfield County (don't miss the Salty Cow!). When you're ready to head back outside, consider blueberry picking or paddleboarding.

For maximum fun, check out 25 Water Activities for Kids, part of our Summer of Play challenge to ditch the schedule and slow down for some good, old-fashioned fun (check out the funlist generator if you need some inspiration).

Have fun out there!

Weekend Fun For Boston Kids: July 19-20

Celebrate cultural diversity this weekend with the Summer Moon Pow-Wow celebrating Native American cultures and the Festival Betences celebrating Latin American cultures.  And take in the local culture at Artbeat in Somerville with live music, craft vendors, and more. Beach goers can marvel at the Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival.  If you are in the mood for some live music, Alastair Moock is playing the Regattabar Kids' Series this week, and Karen K. and the Jitterbugs are doing a Family Jam on Georges Island.

Also on Mommy Poppins this week:

Whatever you do this weekend, don't forget to take photos of you and your family playing together! Share them with us via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and you can win great prizes from KaBoom.

As always, our calendar is full of great events to help you enjoy the weekend.

Fun & Free Things to Do with LA Kids this Weekend: Watermelon, Pirates & Dreamworks Animation July 19 - 20

I know it feels like the summer is just getting started, and I guess in some sense it is. In the "oh my gosh there are so many things I haven't done yet!" sense: totally true.  Have you danced under the stars at the pier?  Have you delighted to Shakespeare by moonlight?  Have you eaten fried everything at the OC Fair or splashed in the water or taken in a concert at the Hollywood Bowl?  Well then, your summer has barely begun.

But in that other sense, the "how many days of summer break remain?' sense, oh boy, we're in trouble. Without actually putting a date on it, I will just say that some of us may be in one-month countdown mode for the dreaded Back to School. So all of you who are thinking "sounds great, I'll get to it later":  there is no later.  It's now or thanks for playing, better luck next summer.

What's a Momma to do? Check out our calendar.  Make note of the super awesome fun times contained therein. (Might I suggest: Piratical, princessical sing-a-longstorylicious entertainers, out-of-this-world family night, free sweet treat, and gabba-rific meet and greet amusements?) Lay out your blanket, break out the sunscreen and let's get this party started!

Keep reading for some of our most summery picks for this weekend ....

Family-Friendly Events on the East End, Hamptons and North Fork, July 18, 19 & 20

Summer in the Hamptons and North Fork is in full swing, with more than a few family-friendly events happening from all over the East End. From fireworks to a sweet corn festival, we've come up with 10 must-attend events during the weekend of July 19-20.

Be sure to check out our Long Island Calendar for more kid-friendly activities, as well as our Hamptons and North Fork Guide. And don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you can receive our roundup of fun things to do delivered directly to your inbox.

Weekend Fun for NYC Kids: Come Out & Play Family Day, New Museum Block Party, Walking with Dinos, SummerStage Kids July 19-20

It's another summer weekend full of fabulous and mostly FREE family fun. Five of our top event picks of the month take place on Saturday or Sunday: the art-filled New Museum Block Party on the Lower East Side, the jazz-themed SummerStage Queens Family Day in Long Island City, Come Out & Play Family Day on Governors Island, the eye-popping Walking with Dinosaurs - the Arena Spectacular at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, and a pair of family shows at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

There's some great culture on tap, too, including a family party at the Whitney's Jeff Koons: A Retrospective, the opening weekend of the Museum of the Moving Image's What’s Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones exhibit, and a pair of music-filled tributes to late songwriter and activist Pete Seeger.

Whatever you do this weekend, be sure to share your family's playful pics on social media for a chance to win great prizes in our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE. You can also click through photos submitted by other readers—some of them are truly inspiring.

All of our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. And if you're craving air conditioning, check out our Indoor Activity Guide for great ways to beat the heat.

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