We had a lot of time off from school this week to enjoy some of the cool summer attractions we've been posting about. We made funky music by touching the sculptures in Madison Square Park's interactive art installation Pet Sounds, and spent a lot of time playing at a few of our favorite water playgrounds. Considering many public schools recently cancelled the two final full days of classes, it looks like families will have even more time explore early summer fun. However, if you're a working parent in need of child care and aren't sure what you're going to do, check out our camp sale. Fifteen programs are offering discounts of up to 65% and many are in session that last week of June. Hurry: The deals end this Sunday.

If you're looking to take a day trip, our Connecticut site rounded up summer fairs and festivals in both Fairfield and Hartford Counties, and we've got more of the same on our New Jersey site. Many of the fests take place this weekend, including the famous Rubber Ducky Festival in NJ's Berkeley Heights. Here in NYC, a few free summer culture series kicked off this week, including Celebrate Brooklyn! and SummerStage, which is hosting its first Family Day in Brooklyn this Sunday.

Here's what else we shared this week on our NYC site.

Summertime….a reason to do everything and anything outside! Take advantage of New Jersey’s summer evenings and get out of the house for some culture, whether it be Shakespeare or a get-up-on-your-feet-and-dance musical. Pack a lovely summer picnic and enjoy a play in one of these local parks, outdoor theaters or fairgrounds.

Boston-area families can find plenty of fun and free things to do this weekend. From Big Joe’s Storytelling Show at Barefoot Books in Concord and a performance of Little Red Riding Hood in Newburyport to the Dragon Boat Festival in Cambridge and a Food Truck Festival in Boston, the weekend is filled with festivals and celebrations.

Planning ahead for Father’s Day? We’ve rounded up some fun breakfast spots where dads can be treated to a great meal. And it’s still not too late to make your summer plans; check out part 2 of our last-minute summer camps series.

Read on for more of our weekend picks, and be sure to check our Events Calendar for more ideas.

Step aside, Dance Moms; out of the way, Soccer Moms: it’s time for Science Moms to take center stage. That’s right, this weekend we are blinding you with science*. We've got astrophysics; we've got oceanography; we’ve got paleontology, environmental sciences, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. We’re looking at the science of celebrity (stretching it too far?) and taking you on a train ride, (cause, you know, engineering). We’ve even thrown in a little culture, just to class up the joint.

Sky’s the limit? Ha! Try the edges of our galaxy, or better yet, the very beginnings of our universe. At the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's annual open house, kids can chat with bona fide role models: working scientists. These are the folks who send probes to other planets, who use state-of-the-art technology to peer across the universe. The projects they work on today will inform the textbooks we read tomorrow. And they’re more than happy to talk to your kid about his battery made out of a potato.

If all this science talk has got your head spinning, why not set the rest of your body in motion as well**? Well, not your body exactly, but rather the ones belonging to the prima ballerinas of the renowned Bolshoi Ballet. This weekend the Bolshoi performs the quintessential ballet Swan Lake at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. (Happy now, Dance Moms?)

Keep reading for our utterly scientific list of the most super-fun events this weekend...

Strawberries! This time it's Benner's Farm in East Setauket having the strawberry fair, with sack, spoon, and wheelbarrow races, in addition to strawberries galore. Nunley's Carousel at the Cradle of Aviation Museum is having its centennial celebration also with old-time children's games and midway games and a barbershop quartet. The Suffolk Y JCC is holding "A Passport to Israel" at the Book Revue in Huntington, in which you can effectively travel to various cities of Israel. Check out our calendar for even more events this weekend.

Even though most children have a week or two of school left, the summer fun begins this weekend with lots of festivals and free family events.  It's CT's 8th Annual Open House Day this weekend which means that museums, galleries and parks all over CT are opening their doors for free. Many are doing special events for families all weekend long. The Community Cooperative Nursery School in Rowayton is holding its 50th Anniversary Art Show this weekend featuring over 75 artists. Looks like a great way to add quality local art to your home as well as raise money for a great school. Bring your pooch to the Canine Carnival and Dog Walk at Stepping Stones Museum this weekend. There will be games for families and dogs, face painting, performances and a best dressed contest.

On Saturday June 9, Connecticut is opening its doors to the public for the 8th annual open house. Residents are invited to explore the state’s arts, history and tourism with this exciting event for the whole family. Many of the local spots participating in this open house are offering discounted or free admission, free gifts, special exhibits, and fun activities. While participating sites will be hosted throughout the entire state I have listed here the spots located in Hartford County. The only hard part will be trying to decide which location to visit!

Welcome to another weekend full of free (or cheap) outdoor fun. Enjoy awesome eats and cool activities at Madison Square Park's annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party and the Lower East Side's Egg Rolls & Egg Creams Festival. Or head to Governors Island for the funky interactive arts fest Figment, which we attend every year.

Other highlights include going for a free spin on the Prospect Park Carousel in honor of its centennial, checking out old patrol cars at the New York City Police Museum's Vintage Car Show, cycling in the annual Long Island City Bike Parade and catching the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and other cool kids' acts at SummerStage: Brooklyn Family Day.

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 don't forget, this is your last chance to grab one of our amazing summer camp deals.