While some of us can't wait for lazy summer days with lots of time to spare, others of us need a calendar brimming full with activities each day. This Litchfield County Summer Events Guide will keep you up to date on fun activities planned for July through the first weekend of September whether you are a full-timer, weekender or just passing through.  So pack up the sunscreen, snacks and water bottles and have yourself a terrific fun filled summer. While you are here, check out the go-to list for 20 Things to Do in Litchfield County This Summer and our CT Summer Fun Guide.

Whether you're shopping for your own mom, helping a friend's kids treat their mom (because, yes, we're that amazing), or dropping a hint in someone else's direction (because YO! We're that amazing!!), these deals we've found might give you a shortcut to some great last minute gifts. Happy Mother's Day from Mommy Poppins!

Imagine a magical wonderland where your child can pretend to be a mythical creature, hunt for hidden messages on the walls, gaze into a magic talking mirror, and throw rainbow confetti into the air just because.

This place doesn’t just exist in your 4-year-old’s dreams. It opened this month on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, on the border of Park Slope and Prospect Heights.

Calling all makers, tinkerers, scientists and families: The third annual Eastern Long Island Mini Maker Faire is scheduled for June 10, 2017, once again in Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson. 

The ELIMMF is part of a larger series of maker fairs held around the world. As with the other festivals, the event is a hands-on celebration of all things STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math), and an exciting and creative way to spend a Saturday. We have what you need to know about this year’s fair, including the best part: Prices have been cut in half.

Looking for more ways to have fun in Suffolk County? Consult our Event Calendar and sign up for our newsletters. And see our Spring Guide for the best in family fun in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Slides? Check. Swings? Check. Two-story pirate ship, zip lines, and enormous climbing structures? Check, check, and check. KidStreet isn't your average playground. 

Located minutes from Bridgewater Commons Mall at the Bridgewater Municipal Complex, this unique spot is one that your family will want to visit again and again. KidStreet is a favorite hangout for my kids, ages 6, 3, and 9 months. It has a fantastic layout with special playground equipment you won’t come across just anywhere, and it's perfect for playdates, with plenty of parent seating areas and fun things to do for kids of all ages—even the big kids. Read on for an inside look at this hidden gem.

Looking for an antidote to the fast-paced, tech-saturated culture our kids are growing up in? One word: fishing. Demanding preparation, patience, and stillness, fishing is a pasttime that might be a challenge for our instant-gratification generation—and that's exactly what's so great about it. Our street backs up to a little pond, and from the time they could capably hold a pole, our kids have tried their luck hooking sunfish and striped bass on free weekend days and evenings. Our catches have been few, but our boys have learned some lessons about treasuring the process over the final product, and the quiet moments contemplating the water have made for some great memories. 

Spring is a great time to introduce kids to fishing, as many local ponds and lakes are often brimming with fish (sometimes stocked by MassWildlife). Here are some family-friendly fishing holes within a short drive of Boston—and some tips for making a day out on the pond or lake a successful one, whether the fish are biting or not.

Queens hosts one of the city’s largest parks, amazing beachfronts and, of course, its own botanical garden. The garden plays host to myriad family festivals and programming for kids year-round. It even offers one of the city's few "forest" or nature-based outdoor preschool programs.

It's a hike to get to if you're not right there in the Flushing neighborhood, though. So is it worth it? We've visited many times and wanted to highlight some of our favorite sights at this top NYC garden when visiting with kids.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at the People's Light in Malvern is a life-affirming, rollicking adventure that both kids and parents will love. Dancing, live music, shadow puppetry, and a much-loved toy rabbit invite kids’ interest, while the superb acting and heart-touching life lessons make the story one the whole family won’t soon forget.