Who's ready to spook down the house? If your family loves Halloween, it's time to show the neighbors - all over your lawn, balcony, front steps, or whatever bits of outdoor space you command. We've got a few ideas for Halloween decorations that don't involve a shopping spree at a Halloween store; in fact most of the ideas below are made entirely out of things you're likely to have at home already (and may even be looking to recycle). The best part is a spooky decorating frenzy makes for quality family time - turning a happy home into a haunted one. (Looking for even more ideas? Our Boston site has some way-cool DIY Halloween decorations, too!)

It may feel like summer but we know it's fall thanks to a slew of autumn- and Halloween-themed fests like the annual Oktoberfest Pumpkin Patch and Crafts Fair in Sunnyside Gardens Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's spicy Chile Pepper Festival, Bay Ridge's costumed-filled Ragamuffin Parade and opening weekend of the Bronx Zoo's Boo at the Zoo.

It's a fabulous weekend for cool kids' culture, too. Our new partner, the New Victory Theater, kicks off its season with a low-tech adaptation of Peter Pan, the Story Pirates crack kids up at Symphony Space and the BRIC Arts celebrates the grand opening of its new Fort Greene home with an art-filled block party.

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. And if you like to plan ahead, check out our brand-new October NYC Go List, which highlights the absolute best things to do with kids all month long.

October is a fantastic month in Connecticut, especially if you have kids. The activities are endless, and Mommy Poppins CT is your best resource. Our October Go List, Guide to Apple Picking and CT Halloween and Fall Fun Guide will help you make autumn a memorable season.

Most of our suggestions are free and inexpensive. However, if you aren't careful, this month can put a real strain on the budget. The National Retail Federation estimates Americans will spend $6.9 billion on Halloween, second only to Christmas spending. Decor, costumes, candy, and activities can be costly, so read our post on Halloween Costume Swaps for Kids; Where to Find Free, New-to-you Costumes to save some cash.

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

This is the perfect time of year for an evening prowl. The air is cool and crisp, autumn leaves crunch underfoot, the sun sets early, and the moon shines brighter than any other month. Long Island offers a variety of seasonal woodland walks for families to enjoy. Some of our favorite nature centers and botanical gardens offer both spooky and not-so-spooky options. Read on for more details and also check out our Halloween Guide.

October is here and you know what that means – time to pick out pumpkins and Halloween costumes! Get in the autumn spirit at Heaven Hill Farm’s Great Pumpkin Festival or Harvest Fest at the NJ State Botanical Gardens. If you’re looking for a little non-pumpkin action, bring the family  to the WBGO Kids Jazz Concert or check out birds of prey at Palisades Interstate Park’s Hawks over the Hudson. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

Expert baby wearers and new parents alike will find something to celebrate during International Baby Wearing week October 7-13.  Intended to raise awareness about baby wearing, the week will include free, fun activities, plus opportunities to try different types of baby carriers.

UPDATE: Our iPhone app is no longer active, but our site is optimized for use on mobile and has maps to find locations near you. You can add it to your home screen too by dragging the URL to your phone. 

Finally, after months of work and lots of reader support, the Mommy Poppins app is now available for download! We're very excited to share it with you and look forward to hearing what you think, too.

We created this app to help families find the best places for kids to learn, create, shop, eat and play indoors and out while on the go in NYC and beyond. You'll find the same curated content that we offer on our site, all tried and tested by local moms so you're in the know before you go.

A very heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated and spread the word about our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign that helped ensure that the app could be offered for FREE.

Here are 5 things we hope you'll love about the Mommy Poppins app. Or just go ahead and download it now for FREE in the iTunes app store and decide for yourself what your favorite features are.

It's a truly mixed bag of news this week, including cool new stuff—a tot lot in Central Park, oversize Jenga and Connect Four in Hudson Square, a drop-in craft spot/mini-spa for kids in Bed-Stuy, a children' ticket deal for Annie on Broadway—alongside scarier news like the financial woes of the Village Halloween Parade, local casualties of the federal government shutdown and higher-priced public school lunches. Plus: A new entrepreneur program for kids, a facelift for the Children's Museum of the Arts, the retirement of an animation great and more.