Labor Day Weekend 2024 in Chicago: Festivals, Fireworks, and More Things to Do With Kids

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on

Hanging out with friends! Photo courtesy of Last Fling in Naperville

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this Labor Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Labor Day Weekend 2024 in Chicago is a sweet, last taste of summer. There are many things to do this weekend in Chicago, like listen to music in Hyde Park, Highwood, and Navy Pier, or burn off the calories from the Labor Day barbecue in Elmhurst by biking the drive. This is a good weekend to blow the kids' bedtime with the final summer fireworks show on the lake or head out to a more distant suburb for a variety of end-of-summer, start-of-fall celebrations in Naperville, Buffalo Grove, Melrose Park, and Schaumburg.

You can use the long weekend for a staycation that includes one of our favorite tours of Chicago or get in one last trip to Galena. Then get ready for fall: Apple picking season is already underway at orchards around Chicago, and our event calendar is filling up with fall fun. Have a great holiday weekend!

37 Fun and Free Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids September 2024

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

Take to the water during Port Monmouth's Wind & Sea Festival. Photo courtesy of the Monmouth County Park System

Our roundup of FREE September events and activities in New Jersey is the perfect remedy for end-of-summer blues.

September is off to a promising start with local neighborhood fairs throughout the state, like Bridgewater Community Day Featuring Touch-a-Truck.

As summer transitions to fall, get in the autumn spirit at admission-free seasonal events, including Bergen County Fall Harvest Festival and Harvest Home Festival.

For more free and low-cost fun, check out our Event Calendar. 

Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2024-2025

Jody Mercier's picture Submitted by Jody Mercier on

The 2024-2025 NYC public school calendar is out, and students return to school on Thursday, September 5.

If you've got a child in public school, you live by the public school calendar. Many local NYC preschools follow the NYC public school schedule, too. We're just over a week away from the first day of school in NYC, so we're re-sharing the New York City Department of Education's calendar for the 2024-2025 school year below. You'll want to bookmark it now for reference, and keep it handy to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.

Once again, there will be no snow days. Plan on logging your kiddos on for a day of remote learning whenever buildings are closed for snow or other emergencies.

These are all of the dates you can count on your kiddos being out of school during the 2024-2025 school year.

Epic Indoor Water Park Opens at Great Wolf Lodge’s New Houston Area Location

Submitted by Elizabeth R on

The new Great Wolf Lodge in Webster features a 92,000-square-foot water park.

Houston, we have a new indoor waterpark! Yes, Great Wolf Lodge–the oh-so-popular year-round family destination–just opened a brand new location 35 minutes southeast of Houston in Webster, Texas. The expansive resort has toddler play pools, high-thrill water slides for teens, and lots of other fun activities under one roof, making it an easy vacation spot the whole family can enjoy.

My kids and I had been counting the days until Great Wolf Lodge Houston’s grand opening, so I was thrilled to be one of the first families to book an overnight stay and experience all the fun. Read on for my first hand review of the attractions and amenities, plus helpful tips for planning your trip and ways to save.

Best NYC Birthday Party Entertainers Who Bring the Party to You

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on

Gary the Great keeps kids engaged with a magical birthday party performance. Photo courtesy of the magician

Planning a child's birthday party can be overwhelming but these birthday party entertainers make it a little easier. Whether you rent out a party room or throw a shindig in a park, these birthday party entertainers come to you in New York City.

These birthday party performers bring the fun—literally—from face painting to puppet shows, princesses to magicians, spa services to sports. These birthday party entertainers in NYC ensure your child's next milestone is truly memorable. Find more tips for planning your perfect party in our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC.

Feast & Fettle Meal Delivery Transforms Busy Weeknights—Here’s a Free Membership

Submitted by Kate Andrews on

Feast & Fettle understands what parents need and has created a service that delivers fresh meals made entirely from real ingredients.

Feast & Fettle is a fully-prepared meal delivery service that’s all about bringing fresh locally-prepared dishes made with real ingredients to families across the Westchester area and beyond.

If you've ever tried a meal delivery service, you may have found that the convenience it promises often falls short for families and the quality of the prepared dishes rarely measures up to a homemade meal. Feast & Fettle understands what parents actually need and has created a service that personally-delivers fresh meals made entirely from real ingredients to homes across Westchester, New Jersey, and New England–never frozen and never shipped. There’s no subscription required, you can customize your menu to fit various diets and appetites, and there are always options for kids.

Our family tried it out and, after a week of Feast & Fettle meal delivery service, I’m happy to say the locally-prepared entrees and side dishes did not disappoint. Plus, the easy-to-use service earned me and my husband back time in the day that we really didn’t think existed between our busy schedules and having two young kids.

Read on to learn more about what made Feast & Fettle stand out and get a FREE one-year membership when you place your first order.

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