This weekend, it's festivals galore on Long Island, many of which are featured on our September Go List. Check out the East Northport Annual Festival, the Grande Festa Italiana, and the Fiddle And Folk Fest. Theatre Three in Port Jefferson has a spellbinding evening on tap as The Amazing Kreskin hits the stage. In the mood for one last dose of summer fun? Then head out to the East End and check out the Shelter Island Beach Blast. As always, check our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family.

Our Back to School Swagapalooza Giveaway is in full swing. We have some amazing prizes up for grabs. Brand new bikes, a year's supply of school uniforms and vitamins, backpacks, books, gift cards, and school supplies. Pay attention though, as each giveaway ends on a different date. Good luck!

Now that school is back in full swing and kids are adjusting to their new schedules, homework, and teachers, it's also time to search for after school programs. From tutoring centers to educational classes, there are many options available for additional enrichment. Children sharpen their skills while engaging in fun and interactive activities. Read on for our picks for after school classes and activities. For additional suggestions, see our Classes and Activities Guide for Long Island Kids.

Even though school is in full swing for most of us, the weather is still balmy, so why not enjoy just a little more outdoor fun? Check out beautiful butterflies at Pyramid Mountain’s Monarch Festival or learn all about planes and helicopters at the Aviation Museum’s Open Cockpit Day. Or get into the autumn spirit with a day of apple picking and hay rides at Alstede Farms. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

When our children were born, my husband and I diligently opened college savings accounts on their behalf (if you haven’t done, so I recommend checking out the CHET college savings plans).  We realized that we would one day be faced with whopping education bills.  We did not realize, however, that those whopping bills would start coming in PRE-SCHOOL!!!!  Yes, as many of you know, pre-school these days ain’t cheap.  There are, however, options to consider as you debate the merits and expenses of pre-schools in Fairfield County.

In honor of back-to-school season, our news post this week is organized like the big first day. So read on to see what's on the schedule, including how to register for Nickelodeon’s FREE Worldwide Day of Play in Prospect Park, details about a $20 Off-Broadway ticket deal, where to find school enrollment centers for kids still in need of placements, a thrilling Luna Park reward for good grades, a sad goodbye to one of the Central Park Zoo's most beloved residents, and other news that will give you something to chat about with your fellow parents before that first school bell rings.

Back to school shopping is in full swing. There are outlet malls and big box stores, but nothing beats shopping at small, independent shops for unique clothing for kids. We searched for the top local stores that are filled with popular brands and off-beat options. These stores are perfect for little fashionistas who want to go back to school in style. Read on for our top ten picks for clothing stores for kids in the Hamptons and North Fork. Check out our Back to School Guide for more shopping ideas.

It’s that time of year again…back to school! Many families have gotten prepped for the return of the school year with clothes shopping, school supplies and backpack shopping. For many families, the end of the school day signals a time to move onto after school enrichment like art, homework help and robotics. We've rounded up some great options in Hartford County, mainly in Avon and Farmington, here in this post.

The beauty of Labor Day is leaving the labor behind—which is exactly what our NYC editor, Raven, has done this week to celebrate the end of summer. Never fear, though: If you're counting on Mommy Poppins to guide you on your own labor-free way this holiday weekend, there are plenty of us left here to shine a light on all that is fun, festive and/or FREE this week, in easy reach of the city. Not only that, we're kicking off back-to-school season with one heck of a bang: $2,000 worth of fabulous prizes in our Back-to-School Swagapalooza! Awesome prizes include two Schwinn kids' bikes, $150 worth of personalized school supplies from My Chronicle Books, a Disney Junior package, a $50 Target gift card, $250 to spend at Sears Optical and oodles more. You enter for each prize separately, so start clicking!

Care to escape the city for, say, Elizabethan England? It's never too late (or at least not until late September); the New York Renaissance Faire is still going strong in Tuxedo Park, including the holiday Monday. Or spend a few corny hours in Sleepy Hollow for Philipsburg Manor's CORNucopia celebration in Westchester. (Speaking of Westchester, our Westchester site is looking to hire a new Events Editor, in case you know just the person.)

If you're headed for the Hamptons this weekend, there's a Pow Wow worth stopping in on, and our New Jersey team has several suggestions for day trips in the Garden State. If you've got a pooch you don't want to leave at home, bring him along for a special doggie day out at the Ocean Oasis Water Park. Connecticut has fairs and festivals popping up all over this holiday weekend, including a life-affirming Labor Day parade in Newtown.

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