Happy Halloween! It may be down to the wire, but if the kids don't have costumes, there’s no need to scream - we’ve found some cheap, easy and fast costumes to make yourself. And after the treats, we have a few tricks for making all that Halloween candy disappear. See our Halloween Guide for these and other seasonal favorites.

Our weekend roundup of events includes concerts by Billy Jonas in Arlington, the Charlie Hope Family Show in Cambridge and the Boston International Kids Film Festival in Somerville. Read on for details, and remember, you can find more things to do by checking out our Event Calendar.

Also this week, we’ve rounded up seven places that offer kids’ cooking classes and workshops in and around Boston. Get ready for your kids to get cooking!

Enjoy the extra hour of sleep on Sunday with Daylight Saving Time!

As I write this, Halloween is before us. We're still putting the finishing touches on our costumes and greedily anticipating the bounty of treats that await us. It's the one night of the year when we let our kids take candy from strangers, and might even grab a few pieces for ourselves.

Some weekends might have a hard time living up to such a world-class Thursday, but not November 2-3, 2013, nosirree.  Because this weekend is a holiday in its own right: Dia de los Muertos. Count on us to clue you in to the best celebrations throughout the Southland.

And as if two holidays in close succession weren't enough, this weekend even has a gift that everyone can appreciate: an extra hour of sleep. It’s the end of Daylight Savings Time for 2013, so in the wee hours of  November 3 the clock “falls back” an hour. Make sure to reset your clocks (and it’s a good time to check the batteries in your smoke alarm, as well).

Keep reading for our favorite picks for the upcoming weekend...

Our jack-o-lantern has turned completely moldy but the squirrels didn't seem to mind--they devoured the whole thing! Less clean up for me, though it is a sign that Halloween is here and if you started celebrating early like me, you may be all too ready for the next wave of the holiday season. I know I am! If you're not quite ready to give up the ghosts and ghouls, there are still some Halloween events continuing this weekend like the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze and other events in Historic Hudson Valley. This is also the last weekend to visit the Scarecrow Invasion and Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities at Lyndhurst Castle. November 1 and 2 mark the Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, with many of the same trappings as Halloween and there are two events on Saturday honoring the tradition. 

If your kids are into geology visit the Teatown Lake Reservation for Stories in Stone or Cranberry Lake Preserve for the Quarry Hike. For the animal loving littles, join Westmoreland Sanctuary for Meet the Critters and Bird Banding or take the Owl Prowl night hike at Muscoot Farm.  Saturday also brings tons of reptiles to Westchester at the Reptile Expo.

Have you ever wanted to play a live version of an arcade game? No? Me neither, until I read about Field Frogger being held this Sunday at Ridge Hill.  Anyone over the age of 13 can participate. It should be hysterical whether you are the “Frogger” or just watching from the sidelines. Make sure those phones are charged to capture the ridiculousness on video! Kidville in Mount Kisco is celebrating its Grand Opening all weekend long with concerts by Rockin’ Railroad, open play in the state of the art gym, face painting, balloon artists, and more. 

Read on for top weekend picks. If you see something interesting, click through to the event listing to view full details. Looking for more options? Be sure to check our Event Calendar for more fun happening this weekend and beyond.

Thanks to an inevitable Halloween sugar rush, your kids are going to have a lot of energy to burn off this weekend. Luckily, there are lots of great things to do, including two FREE Day of the Dead festivals, Diwali celebrations at the Asia Society and the Rubin Museum, and even some better-late-than-never Halloween fun, like the New York Hall of Science's big Dead or Alive dance party.

There's also some great kids' culture on tap including cool concerts from Dog on Fleas at Symphony Space and the Rockdoves at the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, plus the opening weekend of the annual Canstruction exhibition.

All of our best bets for the weekend are below. As always, you can find additional options in our Event Calendar. And if you're looking to plan our your entire month, check out the brand-new edition of our NYC Go List, which highlights the absolute best things to do with kids throughout November.

With the hoopla of Halloween almost behind us, it’s time to enjoy some carefree late autumn weekends and (hopefully) get in some quality family time before the hectic rush of the holidays. For some educational fun, check out Gridiron Glory at Liberty Science Center or take in a Stars & Meteors show at Holmdel Park. If you’re ready to get in the Thanksgiving spirit, make a festive Thanksgiving plate at Thompson Park or take part in their Paper Turkey Target Hunt! And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

With so many sponsored events by towns, organizations and shopping centers, I'm starting to wonder if neighborhood trick-or-treating is dying out. If you live in an area where you are unsure if going door-to-door is safe, or the people on your street don't celebrate, there are still many options. 

You'll want to read our guides on Best Places to Trick or Treat in Litchfield County and Southeastern CT. We also provide Halloween Happenings and Parades in Fairfield County and the CT Halloween and Fall Fun Guide.

Once the candy is gone, it is time to think about the next big holiday. Check out our early guide to Turkey Trots and Thanksgiving Day Races. As always, our events calendar is constantly updated with the latest happenings, and here are some suggestions for the first weekend of November.

Because of Hurricane Sandy slamming into the East Coast last October, Halloween 2012 was a literal washout for lots of NYC kids, and worse, a devastating blow to many local families, communities and businesses. So we expect that everyone will want to party all the harder this year. My son is definitely ready to!

There are certainly plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween this Thursday, including kid-friendly parades, ghoulish gatherings, not-so-spooky haunted houses and, of course, neighborhoods that are well known for doling out lots of candy. And here's the best treat of all: Almost all of our Halloween evening picks are FREE or inexpensive. So grab your little ghosts and goblins (or in my case, Steve from Minecraft) and hit the streets for some fearsome fun. The only trick will be figuring out how to fit it all in!

We've got lots of museum news to share, including details about a new temporary location for the Sandy-ravaged New York City Police Museum. Plus, the sad closure of a beloved Washington Heights program; new high-end kids' stores (in case you were afraid there wouldn't be enough places to spend your money this holiday season); a new blog to help parents guide their teens through those prickly years; and training your tot to be a pinball wizard... or a teeny, tiny Terminator.