Piñatas are undeniably fun, no matter what you're celebrating. But buying one at a store can get expensive, and making one out of papier-mâché can be time-consuming (plus it's a recipe for a Pinterest fail). But we can tell you how to make a piñata out of materials you may already have at home—paper bag and tissue paper.

Whether you're planning a birthday party (these make great party activities for kids to take home as a non-traditional goody bag), a Halloween bash, or just a random weekend activity, paper bag piñatas are a great bang for your buck. We made ours in about an hour, and filled them with our favorite candy. My kids added googly eyes and sequins; your decorations are limited only by your imagination!

For more crafty fun, check out our list of 100 awesome art projects for kids and more crafting fun on our Guide to Boredom Busters for Kids.

For parents, the spookiest part of Halloween might just be searching for the perfect look for their kids, but these Halloween costume stores in NYC make the chore a little easier. If you're looking for unique-to-NYC Halloween costume stores, look no further. These dedicated, year-round costume shops have tons of accessories to pair with the perfect costume.

Once you've nailed the look at these Halloween costume stores in NYC, be sure to bookmark our New York City Halloween Guide to find all top Halloween events and FREE Halloween activities in NYC for kids. After all, a Halloween costume can cost a pretty penny, so you'll want to get as much mileage out of it this Halloween season as you can! Of course, we know all the best spots for trick-or-treating in NYC for the main event, too.

A good New Jersey arcade can offer family-friendly diversions for all ages. Mom and dad can wax nostalgic over their youth, while kids can school the old folks on newer technology. At these indoor fun spots, kids and their parents can enjoy vintage attractions like skeeball, Donkey Kong, Asteroids, Space Invaders, Ms. Pac-Man, air hockey, and pinball—plus check out new games, updates of old faves, and even virtual reality adventures.

We've rounded up a few of the best arcades in New Jersey, from Game Vault in Morristown to the Silverball Museum Arcade in Asbury Park, where you can have fun and lose track of time together.

Check out our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for New Jersey Kids for more great entertainment ideas. 

A bar or bat mitzvah is a special time and a special ceremony for Jewish teens ages 12 or 13, and there are lots of great venues and event spaces for bat and bar mitzvahs in Chicago. From hotels to city lofts and gaming spaces, these bar mitzvah venues in Chicago are sure to pack the fun for friends and family. For more great party resources, check out our Kids' Party Places in Chicago Guide and our Guide to Special Occasions. 

When people think about having fun in Philadelphia, more times than not they picture Center City! As a former Northeast Philly kid and now Northeast Philly mom, I know first-hand that there's just as much fun to be had in Northeast Philly's awesome neighborhoods. Take a look at my family's favorite places to explore and things to do in Northeast Philly, from play spaces my boys love to spots where mom or dad can find some peace while the kids play.

When the weather isn't great and your kids just need to burn some energy, a trampoline park is the perfect indoor activity. Luckily, there are plenty of fun trampoline parks near DC where kids can bounce, jump, and climb their wiggles away.

My family recently had a chance to visit ZavaZone Trampoline Park at the Potomac Mills shopping center in Woodbridge, Virginia (there are also locations in Sterling, Virginia, and Rockville, Maryland). All three of my kids—11-year-old twin boys and an 8-year-old girl—had a blast. They had so much fun, in fact, that we added more time after our hour of play was over!

Everyone from kindergartners to teens to adults can find fun things to do at ZavaZone. Here's what to expect when visiting ZavaZone Trampoline Park with kids. For more indoor family fun near DC, check out our Guide to Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces for Kids in DC.

Living in Atlanta during the fall means two things: sweater weather and college football. And as fun as sweaters are, it's really all about the rivalries and drama of college football in the South. Sports-loving kids choose their favorite college football teams at a young age, usually based on mom and dad's alma maters, hometowns, Pop Warner youth football names, and more. And the best way to root their beloved teams on is by taking kids to watch college football at the fun Atlanta restaurants and venues. It's also great prep for 2025, when Atlanta hosts the College Football National Championship!

Whether you're a Bulldog, (purple and gold) Tiger, Gator, (orange and blue) Tiger, Yellow Jacket, (orange) Tiger, Rebel, or just like screaming, "Roll Tide," there are some fun places to watch college football in Atlanta with kids. So let your tiny fans slather on the team face paint, wear their favorite jerseys, and holler with their adult counterparts during college football season! And on that note, go Dawgs (sorry, we had to root for the home team)!

My family and I visited Disney’s Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. As a Central Florida native, I've been to Disney many times but never visited for a special party event, so I was excited to experience this for the first time! For those who don’t know, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a separate ticketed event that takes place select nights, starting in mid-August and running through Halloween. Many guests go all out in costume for this special event, which features enchanting shows, character meet-and-greets, a themed parade, Halloween fireworks, and of course, trick-or-treating!