This week kicks off with Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday so you'll want to check the operating hours of your usual weekday haunts before you set out. Some libraries are offering special holiday programming while others are closed. We have a guide to some of our favorite events honoring Dr. King, including the special day of programming at the Bruce Museum described below.

There are some terrific library events all over the state this week, whether you're interested in Star Wars, a little paper circuitry 411, or  a tea party. For more fun things to do, check out our Event Calendar which we continue to update throughout the week. 

Ah, the good ol' days. Remember roller-skating, ice cream sodas and drive-in theaters? These simple pleasures can still be found all over New Jersey. Relive your childhood while introducing your kids to some new-old activities this summer. We’ve rounded up 25 great ideas to get you started, everything from vintage train rides to living history farms. So put down that smartphone and step back in time. There’s plenty of old-fashioned fun to be had in NJ!

There are many perks to living in New York City, and now we can add to that list getting up close and personal to one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered on Earth.

A 122-foot-long titanosaur, an herbivore from the Cretaceous period, went on display Friday, January 15, on the dinosaur-packed fourth floor of the American Museum of Natural History—and, happily, it really does live up to the hype. It is massive! Preschoolers to teens will love walking around and underneath the life-size skeleton cast. Read on for more details on this must-see new exhibit, including a video showing its construction.

Parties center around food anyway, so why not let the kids cook and bake?! The birthday boy or girl with their posse of sous chefs will get their hands in the mix, cooking up all flavors of fun. Some options are solely for sweet tooths, others provide full-course meals. All of them take the mess off your hands, whether it's held in your home or on site in Fairfield County.  Best of all, this kind of party suits any age -- everyone's gotta eat! For even more fun party ideas check out our Party Guide!

We love checking out NYC's newest and coolest indoor play areas, so we couldn't wait to drop in to the recently opened Giocare Play Spot in South Park Slope, Brooklyn. Catering to infants, toddlers and preschoolers, Giocare offers drop-in play sessions, classes, storytimes and more.

We've got the scoop on Giocare and everything you need to know before you go—just in time for an NYC winter when we're all looking for new boredom-busting play ideas.

An acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM refers to the increased focus on these subjects in school.  Beginning as early as kindergarten, kids are using technology in their classrooms and learning new ways to solve problems.  If your son or daughter enjoys math and science, they would probably love an extracurricular activity that incorporates STEM in fun and creative ways.  Check out some of the great places in central New Jersey that offer classes on robotics, computers and science.  For days when you are home with your budding engineer, check out our list of great toys that teach STEM skills through play.

It’s the middle of January and the nearly snowless winter continues, making some of us a bit unhappy. But not to worry – even without sledding or outdoor ice skating, there’s plenty to cheer us up. This weekend, your family can put on dancing shoes and enjoy Free Dance Classes, or, to keep up with the musical theme, dance in your seat during a reggae children’s musical production of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds.

The historically-minded can enjoy a free visit to the Yale Peabody Museum for its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Legacy of Environmental and Social Justice event. A special theatrical performance, the “Struggle for Freedom: The Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.,” will take place at Silas Bronson Library in Waterbury, and a free showing of "Our Friend Martin", an animated adventure inspired by Dr. King, will entertain children at the Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2016 Celebrations are taking place across the state, so be sure to check our Events Calendar. To keep up with the latest family-friendly events and activities, be sure to also sign up for our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 
 

Newton, bordering Boston to the west, has long enjoyed a reputation as a family-friendly place with its excellent school system and standing as one of the safest U.S. cities to live in. Many of Newton's attractions cater to children, whether plans involve running around the many playgrounds in the city, enjoying the services of the Newton Free Library, or learning to swim at charming Crystal Lake. Below are 25 family fun ideas for Newton residents and visitors alike.