On June 19th, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation theoretically freed all the slaves in the Confederate States, federal troops arrived in Texas to enforce the Proclamation and free the slaves of Texas.  Dubbed "Juneteenth," June 19 has been celebrated as Emancipation Day in Texas since 1866 and has since spread to most of the United States, including Massachusetts. Whether you attend one of the special Juneteenth events, plan a visit to one of Boston's African-American museums and historic locations, or spend some time reading books with your family, Juneteenth is a great time for all of us to reflect on what freedom, and its absence, really means.

There are so many fun activities to do during the summer months on Long Island, and many families enjoy a good picnic. Fortunately, there are many beautiful spots to bring some food and drinks, and enjoy time with the kids. Many are also near the water or have a playground on-site. And for more options, be sure to check out 7 Perfect Picnic Places on Long Island.

If you're a fellow NYC public school parent, I know you share my stress this week. Between the half day on Tuesday, the whole day off on Thursday, Monday's upcoming half day and all of the end-of-the-school-year events, we're so busy we need to schedule time to breathe. But the (comparatively) lazy days of summer fun are coming, and there are plenty of memorable experiences to be had in NYC and beyond.

If getting out of town is at the top of your list, our Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut sites all rounded up the best family events this June, and many of them make for great getaways like this weekend's Fol de Rol County Fair in Armonk, NY, the New Jersey Renaissance Faire in Bordentown and the Strawberry Harvest Festival in Chester, NJ. Or how about a trip to the amazing Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, CT or the 42-acre outdoor art installation Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ? And don't forget, we have an entire guide dedicated to the Hamptons and North Fork if that's where you're headed.

Of course you don't need to leave the city to go on an adventure. This weekend brings some of our favorite annual family outings including the Figment arts fest on Governors Island, which feels like a day trip. And a few of NYC's major FREE summer performance festivals kick off this week including SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn! and we highlighted the best bets for kids. Plus Friday is National Doughnut Day, which means FREE treats at participating doughnut shops.

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

It's one of those annoying double standards you deal with as a parent: While fancy dresses seem to beckon from shop windows everywhere, finding a nice and affordable kids' suit feels like going on a scavenger hunt. Just how far do you have to search for boys' formal wear for the next wedding/graduation/holiday/picture day? And how much do you have to pay? At the rate kids grow, they'll probably only wear it once or twice.

Scouring second-hand kids' clothing shops is a good first option (remember, most of these suits were barely used). But if that's not your thing or you can't find a good fit, we came up with a list of NYC stores where you can buy boys' suits without having to take out a second mortgage.

There's no shortage of festivals, art and food in Westchester this weekend. In fact, three of our top picks for June are taking place, including the Fol de Rol County Fair and Festa Italiana. 

The 17th Annual Peekskill Open Studios runs all weekend, offering studio tours, gallery visits, meet-the-artist opportunities and special features that kids will enjoy. If you go on Saturday, you can also check out the Light Painting Photography family art workshop, also in Peekskill.

Looking to enjoy fresh air, get some exercise and support a good cause? Sign up to raise funds for SunriseWALKS, a walk-a-thon whose mission is to continue providing free camp for kids with cancer (and even their siblings!).

Read on for details about the above, as well as other enticing options (many of which are FREE). For more options, peruse our Events Calendar. And if you haven't done so already, sign up for our weekly newsletter--it's FREE! 

There are tons of options for some quality family time this weekend! Benner's Farm in St. James is hosting their annual Strawberry Fair on Saturday, with succulent strawberry dishes and good old fashioned games. Or you can head indoors to see a show in Northport (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) or at the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City (Go, Dog, Go).

For those looking to get in touch with their inner Picasso, there is Family Sundays at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn. The Museum hosts a walk-through exhibition and hands-on activities for the whole gang. The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend, so you can also just enjoy taking a stroll around the grounds.

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.

My birthday’s coming up. Not this weekend but soon, and I want you to be prepared. We’ve already shared cool places to have a party, and that’s great and all, but let’s face it: birthdays are about getting stuff. I’ve cleared out the shelf space for the tie-dyed socks, corn husk dolls, and milk jug piggy banks you are no doubt already hard at work creating. But that’s only going to get you half-way there. I want free stuff. I want ice cream and shrimp and ye old joust, and our list of birthday freebies has ‘em all (but you may need to convince them that I’m 12 or under).

There’s another freebie coming up, and it doesn’t even have to be your birthday! Friday is National Doughnut Day; otherwise known as hand over my Krispy Kreme and no one gets hurt. I'll take mine with sprinkles, please.

And, of course, every weekend is a gift here in sunny So Cal, with events aplenty and many of them free. Highlights this weekend include Club MomMe’s Spring Family Fest, the Pacific Islander Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific, and Make Music Pasadena (where a day’s worth of entertainment can be had for a song).

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

As our school year winds down with the chaos of ballet recitals, baseball games, and swim practices, the weekends become even more important to us as a family, as we look for the activities that we can all enjoy together (next up is definitely a trip to The Adventure Park in Bridgeport)! Okay, who's going to admit that they still haven't signed up for  summer camps yet. I sheepishly raise my hand - so you are in good company. We've rounded up 10 great day camps that still have openings. Get in on the action now!

This week marks the kick off of some of our favorite summer outdoor series, including Movies in the Park at Harbor Point (Stamford), Carload Night at the Pleasant Valley Drive In (New Hartford), as well as concerts at Weed Beach (Darien) and Ballard Park (Ridgefield). Make sure you subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you won't miss a thing!

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Pinterest in order to get updates on events, contests, and free giveaways. Our event calendar is updated constantly with the best activities around the state.

Have a great weekend!