Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, so get ready for lots of seasonal celebrations for Westchester families! Our top picks for the week include a Memorial Day Parade and Antique Car Show and two carnivals: the Memorial Day Carnival & Art Tent and the ICS Carnival.

You’ll also find activities for emergency-vehicle enthusiasts, teens seeking jobs, a free film and even a tongue-twister contest! Be sure to click through to our Event Calendar listings for full details as well as lots of other options throughout Westchester and Hudson Valley.

On Monday, we celebrate Memorial Day and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The Decoration Day ceremony at Mystic Seaport is a particularly moving way to mark the occasion, but if you're not nearby, we also have the rundown on Memorial Day events in Litchfield County and across the state. Our other weekday picks feature music, Minecraft, and more.

We only highlight one event per day in this post, but there are many other suggestions in our Event Calendar. For additional activity ideas, check out our CT Beach and Water Fun Guide and our guide to Biking, Hiking, Climbing, and Skateboarding in Fairfield County.

Memorial Day week means the return of warm weather favorites like Madison Square Park's no-cost kids' concert series, which kicks off this Thursday with the Grammy-nominated Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could. Meanwhile, you can also catch a FREE performance by Morgan Taylor aka Gustafer Yellowgold. And starting Wednesday, the World Science Festival takes over Greenwich Village.

Although we only highlight one event per day in this post, you can find plenty of other options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

There's tons of great art to see in New York City, but not a lot you can touch and really interact with. That's why my kids and I were so excited to check out Please Touch the Art, Brooklyn Bridge Park's brand-new public art installation by celebrated Danish artist Jeppe Hein. Not only can you touch these engaging works, but you can also climb up, slide down and get soaked in the expansive 1.3-mile-long outdoor exhibition.

This weekend, Disney rolls out an action-packed sci-fi adventure for older kids that reminds us that there's a whole lot more to the Mouse House than princesses and singing snowmen. Tomorrowland is a glorious thrill ride for tweens, teens, and the adults who take them places. It is not a movie for little ones by any stretch of the imagination—not because of anything inappropriate (the film is rated PG), but because the breakneck pace of both the complicated plot and the relentless threat of peril is likely to leave anyone younger than 10 curled up in a ball begging for explanation. But for older kids? Pure gold. Tomorrowland has all of the action and humor of an Indiana Jones flick, the sci-fi impact of Star Wars or Doctor Who, and the feel-good, inspirational message of vintage Walt Disney—all with some heart-pumping George Clooney charisma and a pair of ass-kicking young girls thrown in. In short, I got to see a film last night that my son and I loved equally. Read on for everything a parent might want to know (no spoilers).

For kids obsessed with Legos, there’s no place more incredible than Legoland. And with the opening of the new Legoland Hotel, the Florida amusement park is even more fun to visit. A destination in itself, the Legoland Hotel is the most kid-centric hotel ever. Besides being just 130 child steps from the park's entrance, the Legoland Hotel offers special experiences Lego-loving kids will not want to miss.

My son and I got a sneak peek of the new hotel right before its grand opening last week. It was amazing to see my kid, Mr. Cool, light up with delight at all the awesomeness on hand. Every detail of the hotel is designed to spark a child’s imagination and inspire play, from the smoke-breathing Lego dragon out front to the over-the-top themed rooms. Plus, hotel guests enjoy exclusive access and experiences. Here’s the inside scoop on the new Legoland Hotel in Florida.

This weekend, Disney rolls out an action-packed sci-fi adventure for older kids that reminds us that there's a whole lot more to the Mouse House than princesses and singing snowmen. Tomorrowland is a glorious thrill ride for tweens, teens, and the adults who drive them places. It is not a movie for little ones by any stretch of the imagination—not because of anything inappropriate (the film is rated PG), but because the breakneck pace of both the complicated plot and the relentless threat of peril is likely to leave anyone younger than 10 curled up in a ball begging for explanation. But for older kids? Pure gold. Tomorrowland has all the action and humor of an Indiana Jones flick, the sci-fi impact of Star Wars or Doctor Who, and the feel-good, inspirational message of vintage Walt Disney—all with some heart-pumping George Clooney charisma and a pair of ass-kicking young girls thrown in. In short, I got to see a film last night that my son and I loved equally. Read on for everything a parent might want to know (no spoilers), and what perks you get if you see it at El Capitan.

Memorial Day is one of the most heartfelt holidays we celebrate in the United States. It's the perfect time to teach our children that it is important to honor those who lost their lives while serving our country. Attending a local Memorial Day parade is an enjoyable and educational way for families to show their support and respect for these fallen heroes. Each year in Litchfield County, my boys race to collect shells that have dropped to the ground from the Memorial Day remembrance shots fired into the sky. Of course, the free ice cream and lemonade are a welcome bonus. So while you enjoy the long weekend, take some time out to remember the brave men and women who fought for us at one of these Litchfield County Memorial Day parades.