CircEsteem, Millenium Art Festival, and More Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend With Kids

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International Mud Day Celebration. Photo courtesy of the Forest Preserve of Cook County

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

It's all about the arts when it comes to things to do in Chicago over the weekend! Enjoy performances like CircEsteem in Portage Park and Roseland, Romeo & Juliet at Chicago Women's Park and Garden, and Bitter Jest Music Fest in Highland Park. Or take in some visual arts at Logan Square Art Festival or Millennium Art Festival. Families can also celebrate unique holidays like International Mud Day and Civic Season at events in Chicago this weekend.

Plan for this weekend and beyond with our list of 96 family-friendly summer festivals. And make sure you know where the best fireworks are—we have a handy list for you. Splash pads and spraygrounds are another great way to beat summer boredom, even when it's not the perfect weather for the pool.

Enjoy this amazing summer weekend in Chicago!

Free Concerts, Peach & Sunflower Festival, and More Things to Do this Weekend in Atlanta with Kids

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Visitors to Halcyon enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night, March - October, at the Groovin' on the Green event series. Photo by Tom Tucker

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend! 

Keep cool once the sun goes down with Outdoor Summer Concerts in Atlanta, including fun, free events in Peachtree Corners and Alpharetta. Summer in Georgia means peach picking season, and families can celebrate this weekend at the Peach and Sunflower Festival at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough. For more peachy fun, check out our Guide to Peach Picking and U-Pick Farms Near Atlanta. Read on for more details about these and other exciting events happening this weekend in Atlanta!

Boating, Roller Derby, Fireworks, Ice Cream, and More Fun Things To Do in Philly this Weekend

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Atlantic City puts on an amazing fireworks display this weekend. Photo courtesy of Visit Atlantic City

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

Looking for family fun this weekend? Visit the Too Many Games Festival in Oaks or enjoy a free outdoor movie night in Downingtown. Explore the Schuylkill River with free boating at Bartram’s Garden or indulge at the New Castle County Ice Cream Festival in Wilmington. Wrap up the weekend with the Bucks-Mont Pride Festival in Abington or Family Fun Day at Spruce Street Harbor Park.

Don't miss the Haddon Township Pride Parade and events, or the vibrant West Park Arts Fest in Fairmount Park, featuring performances and interactive activities for all ages. Read on for more top weekend picks!

22 Splash Pads in NYC that Are Perfect for Toddlers and Preschoolers

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The Domino Park splash pad is gentle enough for little kids to enjoy its spray. Photo by Ros Muggeridge

It’s time to get the kids suited up and slathered in sunscreen because it’s summer in the city. While there are plenty of splash pads and spraygrounds in NYC, they can be intimidating to toddlers and preschoolers. That's why we're bringing you this list of the best NYC splash pads and sprinkler parks for little New Yorkers.

If you need more ways to beat the heat, visit our Guide to NYC Beaches, Lakes, and Pools for Families.

35 Water Games for Kids To Play All Summer Long

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A cheap roll of tinfoil, an incline of some sort, and water are all you need for a tinfoil river. Photo by Ally Noel

Water games are an easy way to keep the kids entertained and cool this summer—even in the middle of a heat wave! From a simple water balloon toss to fancier DIY fun like sprinkler Twister, these water games for kids are sure to please all ages. Read on for our favorites—and you can also download this free printable with all 25 top water games for kids.

Need more free and cheap activities for the kids this summer vacation? Our family started a Boredom Busters jar: a painted Mason jar full of ideas to keep them busy (and tired out). Anyone complaining of boredom can open it and pick out an activity. For inspirational ideas for your own jar, check out our ultimate summer bucket list ideas with 100 (mostly) free games and activities for kids or our list of 100 things to do when kids are bored.

Best Summer Fairs and Festivals in New Jersey this July

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The Ocean County Fair has live music, animal acts, rides, and classic fair food. Photo courtesy of the fair

Looking for the best July fairs and festivals for New Jersey families? Here are some great options to add to your list.

Soak up the sun and take in the summery sites at family-friendly summer fairs and festivals throughout New Jersey this month, including the 86th Annual Warren County Farmers’ Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival. Plus, lots of county fairs offer good, old-fashioned fun in July—swing by events in Ocean and Monmouth counties, among others.

Read on for more than 20 great New Jersey fairs and festivals happening in July. 

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks in NYC in 2024: Get All the Details!

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Macy's 4th of July Fireworks return to the Hudson River in 2024, giving audiences on both sides of the river a view of the action. Photo by Kent Miller/courtesy Macy's

Macy's 4th of July fireworks show makes a triumphant return to the skies over the Hudson River for the first time since 2013. An annual unforgettable highlight of the summer, on Thursday, July 4, 2024, the Macy's 4th of July fireworks explode all along Manhattan's West Side for the first time in more than a decade. More than 60,000 shells are set to light up the night sky.

Spectators should be able to see Macy's 4th of July fireworks from many neighborhoods in Midtown Manhattan, plus riverside communities in New Jersey. If you're hoping to watch Macy's 4th of July fireworks live, it's never too early to start planning your viewing strategy. Looking for more FREE summer fireworks displays in NYC? Check out our roundup of where to see fireworks all summer long here, and bookmark our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide for all our top seasonal picks.

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