This has been a week of transition as our SUMMER OF PLAY begins. Our Mommy Poppins bloggers have been all over the map, dropping off their kids at camp or going camping as a family, and flying off to far-flung destinations like the Caribbean and Europe.

If you're looking at a season-long NYC staycation don't worry—my family is, too. That's why we've been furiously updating all of our popular summer posts like our favorite public pools (which open for the season this Friday) and readers' top 42 outings in and near NYC, along with our list of FREE things to do every day through the end of August, including a bunch of anytime options.

Speaking of FREE summer fun, we kicked off our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE this week with a list of 100 ways to play with kids this season anytime, anywhere. We also launched a great SUMMER OF PLAY giveaway encouraging your family to share your playtime fun on social media to inspire others while simultaneously vying for prizes.

And we have two other giveaways going on this week: Enter to win tickets to this Sunday's Everything Kids Expo at the Aviator Sports and Events Center and like this Facebook post for a chance to win a Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band prize pack, which includes CDs and tickets to see the L.A. kid rockers perform at the Bronx Zoo. Enter ASAP: Both giveaways end this Friday.

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

School's out for the summer, and Mommy Poppins has you covered! Our June Go List features a few fantastic events happening this last weekend in June and we've got even more great ideas below.

Westchester libraries are starting their annual Summer Reading Games to inspire kids to read throughout the summer. This year's theme—Fizz, Boom, READ!—focuses on science. The various libraries' big (FREE!) kickoff events vary throughout the week, with Summer Reading Kickoff Party and Dr. Gravity taking place this weekend. And speaking of fun and FREE library programs, there are two standout events this weekend for both kids and adults: Dan Krugman: Luthier offers an opportunity to learn about guitars from a master craftsman and The Great Library Sleepover unites the community for a ginormous slumber party!

Spend the afternoon at the American Roots Music Festival to enjoy the full span of American musical styles on tap from both well-established and up-and-coming artists. Or head to the annual Fireman's Carnival at Harbor Island Park for classic carnival fun. This is also the last weekend to catch Disney's On The Record at White Plains Performing Arts Center. 

Two art events this weekend--Self-Portrait Silhouette and Family Day: Mandy Greer--The Ecstatic Moment invite visitors to be inspired by an exhibit and then create their own masterpiece.

For summertime fun in and around Westchester, look no further than our Events Calendar, where you'll find oodles of ideas—many of which are FREE. Check back often, as new events are added frequently! Plus, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep current with weekend happenings.

For more details, click through to the event listings below. Also, don't forget to check out the other great weekend events we've captured!

Get down and dirty this weekend at the International Mud Day in Yaphank. Or take in some theater--puppet theater that is--at Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre, where they're putting on Little Red Ridinghood.

At night, watch the sky light up with fireworks at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow or watch a movie under the stars in Long Beach.

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.

It may still be June, but the Fourth of July celebrations begin this weekend with the Independence Day celebration in Christopher Columbus Park and the Braintree Parade and Fireworks. Somerville celebrates with a family fun day. For details about these celebrations and more ideas for honoring our nation's birthday, check out our post about Harborfest and other local 4th of July daytime events. If it's fireworks you're looking for, check out these great spots to take your family. 

The Frog Pond wading pool opens this weekend if you need to cool off your toes. This weekend in theater, find out why the Knight Brothers are wearing holes in their shoes, see a free performance of Die Fledermaus, and catch the last shows of Cirque du Soleil. If you are looking for live music, head over to the Natick Farmer's market for a performance by Rolie Polie Guacamole, go to club Passim for a family show by folk singer Ellis Paul, or head to Medford for Rockin' Family Concert.

Also on Mommy Poppins this week:

• Celeste shares her experience participating in research studies with kids.
• We bring you up-to-date information about (mostly) free summer movies.
• Our Wee Work series gives instructions on making your own puffy paint, pom-pom garlands, and pencil eraser stamp stationery.

If you haven't already, be sure to enter our Summer of Play challenge! To help you get started, we've rounded up a list of 100 Ways to Play. Enjoy your weekend--the calendar is full of events to check out.

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday. You see, there’s no expectation of gifts like Christmas, no huge feast to slave over like Thanksgiving and no overpriced chocolates and flowers like Valentine's Day. Instead, just a balmy summer evening with cookouts, kids running around with sparklers and lots of relaxed time with family and friends. While a backyard shindig for the 4th can be nice, how about packing your bags for a last minute getaway? No need to orchestrate an elaborate vacation - check out these local and easy weekend jaunts that you can enjoy right in our great state. And for the rest of your fab summer, check out our New Jersey Kids Summer Activities Guide.

What’s that you’re doing? Are you… working?!? Stop that! Stop that right now! It’s summer, missy. S-U-have some fun-MER. We at Mommy Poppins take summer frivolity very seriously, and we want to make sure you do the same. Starting now, we declare this to be the Summer of Play. So what are you waiting for? Get out there, make playhouses out of cardboard, count birds and flowers on your street, paint masterpieces with sidewalk chalk, and turn your lawn into a gameboard. Looking for some inspiration? We can get you started with a list of 100 Ways to Play.

Now, play is its own reward, but there’s no reason we can’t sweeten the pot.  Share your summer fun ideas, photos, and tips on social media and we just might return the favor with some fun-makin' gear. Let the hashtags begin!

Whatever the season, your source for weekly activities remains the same: our ever-expanding calendar of events. This weekend alone, we can entice you with birthdays (Kidspace's, faeries' and our country's), ceremonies honoring ancestors and a new library, celebrations of Shakespeare, and sanitation, and open air concerts and movies.

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend...

We're nearly at the last weekend of June, and the Hamptons and the North Fork are featuring numerous family-friendly events from the Start of Summer Carnival to the annual cardboard boat race in Riverhead. Below, we list the ten must-attend events during the weekend of June 28 through June 29.

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.

School is finally out for the summer and you can kick off your season of play with a bunch of awesome activities. In addition to NYC public pools opening on Friday, this weekend brings annual favorites like the ride-filled Astoria Park Festival in Queens, a pair of fishing festivals at West Harlem Piers Park and Central Park's Harlem Meer, and the Soundview Park Summer Festival in the Bronx. Plus, we're psyched for the unveiling of Rockaway!, a display of site-specific installations at the popular Queens beach.

Whatever you do this weekend, make sure you pack plenty of play into your day. To inspire you, we've launched our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE, a season-long initiative encouraging families to spend quality time playing together. Bonus: Share your playful pics on social media and you can win some great prizes.

All of our best bets for this weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. Have fun out there!