Autumn is a special time in our fine state, especially in scenic Litchfield County, where tourists flock each leaf season. Forbes.Com noted Litchfield Hills as a "Top Ten Must Visit Fall Foliage Destination." If you would like to check it out for the first time or a repeat trip, you'll want to read our post on  Scenic Fall Family Activities in Litchfield County. Rosh Hashanah is next week and many schools will be closed. Here are some things to do and places to go in Fairfield County to celebrate.

Fall and Halloween activities are endless in CT and we help you sift through them with several articles including Halloween Train Rides in CT, Pumpkin Picking with Kids in Hartford County , Pumpkins, Hay Rides and Fall Fun in Fairfield County, Fall Fairs and Festivals in Hartford County and Corn Mazes with Kids in Fairfield County. 

Nothing tastes quite like a freshly picked apple. Confused where to go? Consult our Apple Picking Guide or Best Pick-Your-Own for Toddlers in Fairfield County for plenty of ideas.   

Our events calendar is always updated with the latest happenings, and here are suggestions for this weekend!

We have some beautiful weather forecasted for this weekend as we say goodbye to summer and hello to fall. You can take advantage of the warmth at the Trails and Sails festival in Salem, the Stony Brook Fall Fair, or the Metro Fest in Framingham. Celebrate the autumn equinox with the Revels River Sing in Cambridge. The end of summer also brings Swan Boat season to a close.

If you are looking enrichment opportunities, Firefly Kids Yoga Studio and Fashion Focus have open houses this weekend.  Parents of older children with disabilities can explore options for transitioning from school to work at the Statewide Transition Conference.

If your children have always wanted to explore African Drumming, this is their weekend! Catch a performance by the Crocodile River Collective, then attend an African Drum Workshop. Or explore drum rhythms a the Discovery Museums with Dooni Dooni: Little by Little (and since the Discovery Museums are having a Pay as You Will Admission Week, it is a great time to visit).

Also on Mommy Poppins this Week:

• Celebrate the arrival of autumn in Boston with this list of 20 fun things to do with kids this fall.
• Kristin gives a candid review of Dora & Diego and Happy Feet, two 4D movies playing at the Museum of Science.
• Get details on a new indoor play space for tots in Quincy.

Please see our calendar for more festivals, performances, and other activities. Whatever you choose, enjoy your weekend. And remember to nominate a local kid for our Kids Who Really Rock contest!

If you're reading this, it means we made it through the last heat wave (and without the benefit of a fancy name like Heat-maggedon or Hotpocalypse, either!).  Lucky us, because this weekend is really too good to miss. It's got lords & ladies, XBox One, trucks for touching, spiders, The Sound of Music, coastal cleanup, Minnie & Mickey, and Thais, Swedes, Koreans, Greeks, Latinos, and  lobsters getting all festive. For starters.

In case you're wondering how you're going to power through all these fair skies and good times, never fear: this weekend even comes complete with its own refreshments: BOGO coffee, free coffee, and, if you're willing to show your pirate side, free donuts!

Yup, this weekend it's smooth sailing. Next week, on the other hand... I'm not sure which of these is going to scare you more: a) the heat is coming back or b) we are in countdown mode for Halloween. Aaaaand they run away screaming.

Keep reading for our hottest (oops) picks for this weekend....

When I received a flyer in the mail for the grand opening of Toddler Town at the Marina Bay Sports Complex, I practically jumped for joy.  As the days grow colder I can't help but think about the indoor house itch we all tend to get with young kids.  There are plenty of museums in Boston and lots of great indoor play spaces outside of Boston to the west, but there wasn't much available to us south of Boston.  Until now. The Bay's massive indoor turf field in Quincy has been turned into the king of all jungle gyms, complete with a snack bar, infant play area, and even Disney tunes bumping!  That's my kind of turf. Below are some highlights and tips to maximize your play time at the Bay. 

We hope you're good at making decisions because Saturday and Sunday are jam-packed with incredible options, including seven of our top picks of the month. It really seems unfair that the Queens County Farm Museum's County Fair, the Brooklyn Book Festival, NY Hall of Sci's World Maker Faire and the Museum of the Moving Image's film-themed New York On Location all take place this weekend... and that's not all. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' Sesame Street exhibit and the New York Botanical Garden's Haunted Pumpkin Garden installation debut this weekend as well (but at least they're around for a while in case you want to check them out at a later date).

Are you looking for an exceptional preschool for your child? Then you won't want to miss HRP Mamas Lower Manhattan Early Education Fair on Saturday. Mommy Poppins is proud to be sponsoring this event where you can meet preschool directors from some of Downtown Manhattan's most prestigious programs. It's 100% FREE but advance registration is required.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Fall Fun Guide.

If you’ve already been to the GRAMMY Museum, you may think you’ve seen it. The great thing about this museum, though, (aside from a lot of awesome music) is the fact that most of the exhibits are constantly rotating, so it's a new experience each time you visit. Last year the museum celebrated all things Ringo, for example. This year, there are multiple new and temporary displays that are worth checking out, some offering up a little patriotism and others plenty of nostalgia.

As a mom of two young boys, I’m always on the lookout for fun and interesting classes that will not only keep them occupied and entertained, but also help them learn something. And now that my older son is in kindergarten full-time, I need to find something to do with my younger boy, who is really missing his big brother during the day.

There’s certainly no shortage of places on Long Island offering different types of programs and workshops, so it takes something truly unique to catch my interest. Full disclosure here: I also wouldn’t mind if I could find the class fun, too. After all, these programs aren’t cheap, so I don’t want to spend the hour bored out of my mind. Luckily for me, just when I started my search, info about our sponsor bubble came across my desk. When I took a look at its selection of workshops and classes, I knew I had to check it out.

The humidity has dropped, high temps are just reaching the low 70s and the official start of fall is around the corner. Enjoy this sweet spot of the year before it gets too chilly with an outdoor activity: pick some juicy ripe apples during Fall Family Fun Days at Alstede Farms, sample schnitzel and listen to authentic German music at the Crystal Springs Oktoberfest or take the kiddos out to a minor league ballgame at TD Bank Ball Park.  For more fresh air fun, check out the NJ Storytelling Festival at the beautiful Grounds for Sculpture or take a Migration Walk at Stony Brook-Millstone Reserve. And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.