It is evident from the autumnal activities on our Events Calendar that Thanksgiving is swiftly approaching! A variety of seasonal fun is featured this weekend. Philly families can watch a Thanksgiving movie, run (or walk) in a 5K turkey trot, view the fall foliage by train, or go on a nature walk to find wild turkeys.

However, if your family is looking to start the holiday season early, there are many theater productions to help get you in the spirit of the season. The Media Theatre's Jack Frost Saves Christmas and Upper Darby's Performing Arts Center's The Nutcracker are set to entertain audiences this weekend while Laurie Berkner's Holiday Show gets kids singing and dancing at her concert.

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Can it really be the last weekend before Thanksgiving? That means I'll definitely be hitting the grocery store! Besides a turkey, I'm excited to pick up some ingredients for some holiday recipes my family can make together. We might just need to go to a holiday event, too. Luckily for us, holiday lights start brightening up Faneuil Hall and Edaville USA (pictured) this weekend for a festive time. Other fun events to get families ready for the holidays include everything from an artisan fair to a favorite Christmas play to a menorah workshop.

If you're not ready to celebrate the holidays yet, stop by the Gardner for a special free day or check out the new marine life exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. 

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Besides all the holiday events, we've also got some ways for families to give back this holiday season.
• Our new contributor, Scott, shares the inside scoop on a secret gem for outdoor adventures in Newton. 
• Tree lighting festivities start this weekend and light up Boston through December.

Check out the full Event Calendar for more fun happenings around town. Have a great weekend! And don't forget the turkey!

Let's talk turkey! With Thanksgiving next week, there's plenty of crafting opportunities to enjoy. Participate in Turkey Talk at the Long Island Children's Museum, Turkey/Pumpkin Mommy & Me at As You Wish in Bellmore or drop your children off for a Kids Paint Night at Key to My Art in Amityville.

And with the winter weather still holding off a bit, enjoy a Family Autumn Night Hike at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm. The Holiday Lights Spectacular at Jones Beach also kicks off this weekend.

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Remember that 2015 Connecticut Hiking Challenge you promised the kids you'd complete? The deadline is less than a month away, and with mild weather still upon us, the outdoors are a beautiful place to be. If you'd rather win medals than a medallion, lace up your sneakers and head to the Hot Coco 5K and Kids Fun Run in Cheshire or Run for the Turkeys in New Fairfield. Or, if you'd rather win a turkey, sign up for a free and friendly basketball competition in Bristol.

It’s clear that Thanksgiving is right around the corner from the theme of this weekend’s events for Westchester and Hudson Valley families. Burn off those calories before the big feast at Turkey Run Peekskill, and who needs Macy’s when you can stay local for the Annual Valenti Thanksgiving Day Parade?

In addition to honoring American customs, there's also the chance to partake in international customs at the Diwali Celebration, or you can get a head start on the next holiday at Holiday Wreathmaking. And if entertainment is what your family craves, catch a dazzling performance by Mario the Magician.

These are just a few of our top picks for the weekend. Read on for the rest, and be sure to scan our Event Calendar for many more options to choose from—this weekend and beyond! The list grows daily, so check back often and sign up for our FREE weekly newsletters to stay in the know.

Thanksgiving should be more than just a kickoff to the holiday season. The fourth Thursday in November is a truly American celebration and perhaps the best time to introduce your kids to some of America’s history.

We've rounded up five weekend destinations to get the family into the Thanksgiving spirit by eating, playing or celebrating the way our forefathers did. From the shores of Massachusetts to a Colonial-era city in Virginia, here are some historic ways to experience a traditional Thanksgiving this holiday season.

For many Force-filled Star Wars fans, just mentioning the sci-fi saga sets their hearts racing at lightspeed. And with the seventh movie in the franchise coming out this December, Star Wars fever is more infectious than ever. So it's no surprise that Discovery Times Square is getting in on the intergalactic mania with its brand-new installation, Star Wars and the Power of Costume. After all, it built its reputation with well-timed exhibitions celebrating Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and other pop-culture phenomena.

But while those other properties are aimed at tweens, Star Wars is beloved by all ages, even toddlers. Which begs the question, does this display, featuring more than 70 authentic handmade costumes and props from all the movies, please even preschool Padawans?

As a parent of two small children, I’m always looking for new ways to stimulate their senses through art, music, or other fun activities. They love to sing along to their favorite commercial jingles and TV show theme songs, but it’s also nice to expose them to age-appropriate tunes that are also grown-up toe-tappers. (And really, how many more times can we put the Frozen soundtrack on repeat in the car? “Let It Go” is genuinely a favorite of mine, but seriously.)

Enter Alex and The Kaleidoscope, an enthusiastic kindie band that blends lyrics, rhythm, and vibes that both parents and children can enjoy. Their new album, Get On Board!, is now a staple in our minivan’s CD player, so we can finally retire Elsa…for a little while, at least. Plus, we were lucky enough to see them perform live at the Ardmore Music Theatre, at the venue’s very first children’s show.