Pumpkin Festivals and Jack-O'-Lantern Displays in New England in 2022

Kelley Heyworth's picture Submitted by Kelley Heyworth on

Halloween and New England go together like pumpkin festivals and jack-o'-lantern displays! Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show photo courtesy of the Trustees

Pumpkin festivals and jack-o'-lantern displays are traditional autumn fun in New England. Going to a pumpkin festival or visiting a glowing jack-o'-lantern display is a family-friendly way to get into the spirit of the fall. Whether you stick close to home or make a day or weekend trip out of it, New England is brimming with fall festivals. Kids are particularly enamored with events celebrating the humble pumpkin: the symbol of autumn and Halloween. Here's our list of 2022 pumpkin festivals, displays, and events that are happening in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island in September and October. Read on for our guide to Pumpkin Festivals and Jack-O'-Lantern Displays in Boston, Connecticut, and around New England!

Find your perfect jack-o'-lantern (or two) at these Pumpkin Patches Near Boston and the Best Pumpkin Patches in Connecticut Worth the Drive. Then be inspired by our easy pumpkin carving ideas for some family fun at home! 

Visiting ZavaZone Trampoline Park with Kids: What to Know Before You Go

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ZavaZone's ninja warrior course will challenge kids and adults of varying abilities.

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.

Touchdown! Best Places to Watch College Football in Atlanta with Kids

Submitted by Melanie Preis on

Don't just watch college football in Atlanta, experience it! Take your little sports fans to visit the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of the museum

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)!

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: An Eerily Good Time for 'Spirit'ed Kids

Submitted by Charlotte B on

Catch a glimpse of dastardly villains, ghastly ghouls, and other iconic characters as they float by during Mickey's Boo to You Parade. Photo courtesy of WDW

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!

Accessible Playgrounds in Houston: 14 Places Where All Kids Can Play

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Playgrounds Without Limits photo courtesy of Memorial Park, Facebook

Houston is home to so many diverse and interesting playgrounds and parks that it should come as no surprise that many of these places to play outdoors include accessible playgrounds where children with and without disabilities can play side-by-side. Find an accessible playground in Houston near you, starting with this list.

For more fun places to play in the outdoors, check out our Guide to Playgrounds and Parks in Houston.

Pregnancy and Parenting Classes in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Families

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Take a prenatal class with a partner at Prana Prenatal Yoga. Photo courtesy of the studio

Looking for pregnancy and parenting classes in Westchester and the Hudson Valley? Read on for some of the top options in the area. 

Parenting is not an easy job, and we could all use some help sometimes, whether you are expecting a new baby or going through the difficult teenage years. Thankfully, there are plenty of parenting classes right here in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, from pregnancy and birth classes to positive discipline and special-needs parenting classes. Many of the classes also offer additional support groups for parents to share their experiences and be part of a community.

You can find more parenting classes–and even book a class online–in the Mommy Poppins directory of classes and listings. Check out our Westchester Classes for Kids Guide for classes for kids of all ages. And find more new-parent resources in our Westchester Baby Guide.

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Top Magicians, Magic Shops, and Magic Shows in NYC

Submitted by Diana Kim on

The Brooklyn Magic Shop hosts classes, camps, and private birthday parties with Apolino the Magician. Photo by the author

Kids love all things magic, and parents can find a handful of magicians, magic shows, and magic shops in NYC. At these mystifying destinations, kids can attend magic shows in NYC staged by world-class magicians, plus stock up on all the tricks of the trade, and even enroll in a magic class to learn the craft themselves.

From Abracadabra to The Brooklyn Magic Shop and beyond, read on for the best magic shops in NYC, plus our favorite magic classes and New York City magic shows, then marvel when your kid learns to perform unbelievable sleight of hand tricks that'll leave you amazed. Find more offbeat classes for kids in our New York City Classes for Kids Guide.

Top Swimming Lessons and Classes for Kids and Babies in Westchester

Submitted by Susan Miele on

Swim Tank offers swim lessons at two Westchester locations. Photo courtesy of Swim Tank

Anytime is a good time to teach your child to swim with indoor swimming lessons available throughout Westchester. Whether you’ve got little ones looking to dip a toe in the water or big kids hoping to compete in swim meets or train as a lifeguard, professional swimming classes can establish safety and enhance skills for lifelong enjoyment of the pool and beach

Below, we've rounded up swimming lessons in Westchester, with options ranging from group swim classes and camps to private (or semi-private) swim classes. 

Ready to take the plunge? Read on and book early. We offer many more instructional resources in our Westchester Classes Guide and Kids Class Directory and encourage you to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know!

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