Weekend Events for Kids on Long Island, August 7-9th: Celebrate LI Lighthouses, Chinese Boat Festival, and Sandcastle Contest

Submitted by Anonymous on

All of a sudden it seems like Summer is starting to wind down-but wait! This weekend, Long Island offers some of the best ways to get out and enjoy Summer Days, celebrations, and, of course, our beaches! Check out some of our recommendations for things to do with your kids this weekend on the Island-

National Lighthouse Day - Did you know that Friday is National Lighthouse Day? Well, no where can one celebrate lighthouses like we can on Long Island. And at the Fire Island Lighthouse at Robert Moses Beach, there is a special celebration planned. Actress and storyteller Vivian Farrell will present her book  "Robert's Tall Friend: A Story of the Fire Island Lighthouse" to an audience of children an their families at the lighthouse, and afterwards you can enjoy a tour of the famous lighthouse for a reduced rate of just $5. It isn't everyday that you can take your kids to the place they can read about in a book, right? And, depending on what show you catch, there should be plenty of time to play on the beach afterward. 

Fire Island Lighthouse

11am and 3pm

Friday, August 7

East of Field 5 

Robert Moses State Park

  

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York - Another boat race? Not quite-this weekend long festival is a celebration of culture and ethnic tradition. A regatta of sorts, the festival includes traditional Chinese boat races, but also has plenty of other exciting activities, like Lion dancers, dragon dancing, and king fu performances. And, brought especially for kids, a balloon twister and face painter will be on hand as well. Originated in a cool historical tale, dragon boat races are fun and exciting to watch, and the events surrounding the race make the festival a perfect family outing. Check out the website for an event schedule and more info!

Flushing Meadows State Park

9am-5pm

Saturday, August 8-Sunday August 9

 

Smith Point County Park Sandcastle Contest - The weather for Saturday could be questionable, but with the sunshine back in the forecast for Sunday, you might want to hit the beach. A trip to Fire Island and hitting a cool Sandcastle contest sounds great to us, and might be the perfect way to end the weekend. Smith Point County Park is one of the greatest beaches on Fire Island, and, as a mom, I might think it is because the lifeguards there are some of the best in the country. But it is really beautiful and it offers alot of great amenities as well. This Sunday, they are holding the Annual Sandcastle Building Contest at 9am on the beach. It is really fun and it draws lots of talent and creativity. If you can, stay all day and stop in at The Beach Hut for dinner. There's great grown up food, but the kids will love their basket menu. PS-They sponser the sandcastle contest and depending on your schedule they offer great breakfast as well. 

Smith Point County Park

9am

Sunday, August 9

Shirley, Fire Island

 

 

10 Things To Do With Kids in Montauk, NY

Anna Fader's picture Submitted by Anna Fader on

[UPDATED: September 11, 2012]

If you're heading to the beaches of Long Island, there's a great new site to check out. KidMontauk.com gives parents the inside skinny in everything you need to know to have a blast on and off the beach in Montauk, NY. Heather D'Agostino, the site's founder, offered to fill us in on her Top Ten Things to Do with Kids in Montauk. Thanks, Heather!

Take Our Reader Survey and Bend Us to Your Will

Anna Fader's picture Submitted by Anna Fader on

About a month ago we relaunched this site with lots of new updates, a new look and features (all of which are summarized here). While resting on our laurels has been fun, we're itching to a) find out what people think of all the changes and b) start working on the next set of improvements.

We've put together a really short reader survey to get your input. This is your chance to tell us what you think of the site and how you think it could be better. We're all ears and would love to hear your complaints, brilliant ideas, whims and fetishes...we'll even take praise.

Best of all, if you answer the survey you get entered to win one of the 10 dinner parties for 10 we're giving away thanks to Susie's Supper Club.

The survey will take you less than five minutes. I hope you'll take the time to give us your input. Click here to take the survey. Thanks!

Oh, PS. We added one new feature today. Now on our Area Guides (the Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, etc tabs) you'll find recommendations and reviews for kid-friendly restaurants in that area thanks to TimeOut Kids. Hope that makes planning your day that much easier.

PPS. That's all there is in this post, don't click on the "read more" which shows up there automatically.

RoboFun: Robot-Making and Computer Camps and Classes for Little Smarties

Anna Fader's picture Submitted by Anna Fader on

Some kids love summer because it means day camp and sports and running around all day. But for other kids, even the thought of that makes them break out into a cold sweat, which in turn makes parents panic about what to do with kids all summer when they are not "typical" camp kids.

I happen to have a boy who is completely disinterested in a regular day camp and I can only imagine the torture (for both of us) that would follow if I signed him up for such a program. Instead we tried RoboFun, which offers after-school classes, summer camps and school break camps that teach kids robotics, animation and video game design.

Weekend Events for NYC Kids July 31 - Aug 2: Free Plays, Movies, Dance Festivals, Animal Discoveries, Storytellings and More

charlotte's picture Submitted by charlotte on

Is it August already? We may say this every year, but this year it really feels like the summer is just passing us by. If you haven't already, start (or continue!) taking advantage of all the free, fun and only-in-NYC unique activities that are going on in all of the five boroughs, every day. And with a free performance of Willy Wonka, African and Caribbean dance, an evolutionary adventure and animal discoveries, this weekend is as good as any to get out there and start exploring.

Get Locavore at U-Pick Farms in New Jersey

Submitted by Desiree on

They don't call it The Garden State for nothing. New Jersey is a great place to go to pick your own summer fruit and veggies. Whether it is strawberries, peaches, or peas, you can find plenty of u-pick farms in New Jersey.  Picking your own produce is great thing to do, especially with kids. Not only does it help you eat locally with farm fresh produce, but it's important for kids to learn about where their food comes from and make that connection with the farm. Plus it's lots of fun.

The NJ picking season starts end of May for strawberries with other berries and peaches coming in season end of June through end of July and apples, pumpkins and other vegetables available through the Fall.  Here are some of our favorite farms close to New York City for picking your own fruits and vegetables. Click through to each u-pick farm to find out what they have ripe for u-pick now, plus hours and directions, but also call ahead before you go to make sure they aren't picked out.

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