Topsfield Fair - Topsfield
Friday 9/28 to Monday 10/8

The Topsfield Fair is the quintessential country fair - traditional agricultual exhibits, big entertainment, rides, games, shopping, and great food. Special events include New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off (Fri, 9/28); Military Day (10/2); Duck Races; and The Flying Wallendas (10/6-10/8). Weekday $11; Children under 8 with adult FREE. Weekends, Holiday & Oct 7 $15; Children under 8 with adult FREE). Parking $10

Smithsonian Museum Day 2012
Saturday 9/29

Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket...for free. Boston-area museums include the MFA, Children's Museum of Easton, Concord Museum, Harvard Art Museums, Harvard Museum of Natural History, and the EcoTarium.

For your free Museum Day Ticket (for two people), visit the Museum Day website. You will receive your ticket via email; print it out and then check which of your favorite museums are participating - or visit a new one! FREE

Boston Harbor Island Regatta - Boston Harbor
Saturday 9/29

Families can take a ferry to Georges Island and watch nearly 100 sailboats as they participate in the annual Boston Harbor Regatta. Race start times are at 10am and 11am. Free to watch; Regular ferry fees apply

Family Music: Toe Jam Puppet Band - Stone Zoo, Stoneham
Saturday 9/29

Children can sing-a-long, dance and jump around during the Stompin’ Rompin’ Family Music Series! Each Saturday in September, a different children's performer entertains. Today: Toe Jam Puppet Band. Free with admission

Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival 2012 - Boston
Saturday 9/29

The festival features three stages with performances from more than 15 artists, vendor booths offering food from all over the world and a Family Park that transforms Carter Playground on Columbus Avenue into a hub of activity including inflatables, face painting, and an instrument petting zoo staffed by Berklee professionals. See the website for the full concert schedule. FREE

The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch Sale - MIT, Cambridge
Saturday 9/29

Visit MIT on Friday evening to preview the complete installation of 1,000 handblown glass pumpkins, created by artists from the MIT Glass Lab. Pumpkin sales are Saturday only, with a rain date on Sunday.

About the Pumpkin Patch: Every week or so, beginning, intermediate, and advanced students work together for a few hours in teams of six or seven to produce pumpkins for the sale. Production for the October event continues steadily throughout the year in order to achieve a goal of 1,000-1,200 pumpkins. Free to look

Fluff Fest - Somerville
Saturday 9/29

Local artists, musicians, theatrical performers, inventors, and humorists pay madcap tribute to the creation of this great American foodstuff on two stages. Fluff games and shenanigans spread the sticky goodness throughout the Union Square. Fest-goers can sample the taste of Fluff from local; moms and dads fluff-inspired cocktails at local watering holes. FREE

Alastair Moock Family Show - Club Passim, Cambridge
Saturday 9/29

Alastair leads kids in sing-and-move-alongs of original and classic American tunes, including songs by Woody Guthrie, Mississippi John Hurt, and Leadbelly. $10

Play Date: Contemporary Art Tool Kit - ICA, Boston
Saturday, 9/29

Visit the ICA Galleries with a tour guide or on your own to see an array of art and ideas from today’s artists, and explore the waterfront neighborhood with Boston by Foot tour guides to gather innovative ideas. Back in the Bank of America Art Lab, work with local artists to create must-have art-making tools to foster artistic investigations. FREE for families: up to two adults per family accompanied by children ages 6–12

Fluff photo: Linda Skuchak