Weekend Fun for NYC Kids: Day of the Dead, Last Halloween Celebrations, Dan Zanes, Butterfly Conservatory November 1-2

Due to rain on Saturday, some outdoor events may be canceled or rescheduled. Before heading out to an activity, be sure to check on its official website to make sure it's still on. After eating all that candy on Friday night, your kids are going to have quite the sugar rush to burn off this weekend. And there are lots of great ways to do it, including two FREE Day of the Dead festivals and a few late Halloween celebrations, like Greenpoint's annual costume parade and party. (Meanwhile, if you're desperate to get all that excess candy out of the house, consider donating it to a good cause.)

Non-Halloween fun includes concerts by Dan Zanes at Symphony Space and Suzi Shelton at the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, a multimedia take on Sleeping Beauty at Lincoln Center and the opening weekend of the American Museum of Natural History's seasonal Butterfly Conservatory.

All of our best bets for the weekend are below. As always, you can find additional options in our Event Calendar. And if you're looking to plan our your entire month, check out the new edition of our NYC Go List highlighting the absolute best things to do with kids throughout November.

Four Fantastic Fall Photo Spots on the South Shore of Long Island

One of the biggest advantages to living on Long Island is having access to some of the best beaches on the entire East Coast. While those beaches are typically packed with sun-worshippers during the summer, they’re virtually empty in the fall—making them the perfect spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of the shore, as well as snap a few photos of the entire family.

Perhaps best of all, the above locations are free to visit (small fee at Bayard Cutting Arboretum) so there’s no strain on tight budgets and all are among the most relaxing places Long Island has to offer.

For more family-friendly events and activities, be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar.

Recycle Your Jack-o'-Lanterns at Pumpkin Smash Composting Events in NYC

Halloween inevitably ends with way too much candy, which is why we're big fans of donating or repurposing excess treats. But you know what else we have too much of on the holiday? Decorative pumpkins and gourds. Often they sit and rot on windowsills and stoops until they cave in, at which point parents can finally convince their kids to chuck 'em in the trash. But there's a more fun and environmentally friendly way to get rid of your jack-o'-lanterns: Recycle them at Pumpkin Smash, a series of FREE composting events being held throughout the five boroughs this Saturday, November 1.

The Best Music Schools for Westchester Families

Living in such close proximity to New York City makes it easy for Westchester families to enjoy some of the best musical performances in the world. For all of the budding musicians inspired by the great artists of today and of days gone by, Westchester is home to many wonderful music schools and conservatories that help prepare children for a lifetime of music appreciation while teaching them to march to the beat of their own inner drummer (or violinist, or pianist...you get the idea).

We've rounded up premiere music academies and schools for Westchester kids. Whether your infant is just beginning to respond to sounds beyond the "pop" of a bottle warmer or your teen is preparing to apply to college, these music schools offer programs for all ages and musical interests. 

Looking for more class ideas? Check out our growing Westchester Classes Guide and Class Directory.

News: Free Broadway Tix for Kids, Kids' Performing Opportunities in Circus, Ballet & Theater, Micro Museum Closing, New Build-A-Bear in Times Square

Got creative kids? Young dancers, actors, writers and even circus performers are all needed for a variety of upcoming performing opportunities. Plus, Build-A-Bear opens a new location in Times Square, Kids' Night on Broadway tickets go on sale soon, one of our favorite under-the-radar Brooklyn museums sets a closing date and other news of interests to NYC families.

Leftover Halloween Candy? Ways to Use It (Or Lose It) on Long Island

Trick or treating has come to an end and your kids have sorted out their favorite pieces of candy to keep. Now you're  left with a pile of goodies that you'd rather not have in the house. Luckily, there is plenty that you can do to rid yourself of the treats before you find yourself rummaging through them at midnight. And for more Halloween-themed ideas, be sure to check out our Long Island Halloween Guide

This week's Picks: Halloween! It’s not too late to Celebrate October 27 – 31

Halloween is Friday. Are the costumes assembled? Have the pumpkins been carved? Are you heading back to the grocery store for more candy to pass out because you bought yours too early and somebody (okay, I admit it, “Guilty!) ate up half of the candy corn?

The Halloween offerings this month have been amazing. Some are scary; some are cute; many have incredible production values because this is, after all, a movie company town. You’ve probably made all sorts of plans to hit this or that event or even a graveyard, but Halloween is Friday and you haven’t even made it to the pumpkin patch.

Never fear, many of the ongoing activities surrounding All Hallows Eve continue this week. Start with Tim Burton, end with Danny Elfman, and be sure to get a pumpkin already.

What to do With Your Leftover Halloween Candy in Fairfield County (CT)

Call it the November 1st dilemma: Halloween was great, your kids looked adorable in their costumes and went to all that trouble to trick-or-treat, but now you're stuck with 10 pounds of candy. Your instincts tell you to get the stuff out of the house as quickly as possible, since keeping more than a few pieces on hand isn't ideal from a health standpoint, not to mention your future dental bills. Also, if you're anything like me, it's hard to resist the siren call of the Mini Twix. I'm here to tell you that you can actually do some good with all of that candy, right here in Fairfield County!  So don't just toss it out, instead you should check out these great ideas for what to do with all those sweets.

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