One of NYC's best known spring events, the Tribeca Film Festival, is set to take over downtown from Wednesday, April 15 through Sunday, April 26, and as always there are lots of awesome FREE activities for families. The main kids' event, the Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair, takes place on Saturday, April 25. While the crowds are huge, there are tons of surprises, cool experiences and great entertainment that make it a must-do.

In addition to the Family Festival Street Fair, there's Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day, plus a series of outdoor "drive-in" movies, an indoor screening of Back to the Future and other family fun—all 100% FREE.

Once the warm weather arrives, many families want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Camping happens to be a wonderful way to enjoy nature, along with some bonding time with the kids. From fishing and swimming, to making s'mores and sleeping under the stars, camping can create memories you'll treasure for years to come (or, at the very least, give you some good stories to tell).

Long Island is home to quite a few prime camping sites, so you don't need to go far to take a family vacation this summer. We've covered many beloved campgrounds in the past (see our roundups of 5 great campgrounds on Long Island and 5 more great campgrounds). But, believe it or not, we've found six more worthy of checking out. Enjoy!

If you are planning a birthday or fun outing for a young artist, the newest trend in creative parties may be for you. Paint-your-own canvas parties are popping up all over the Delaware Valley, in stand-alone studios and as add-ons in pottery workshops, and a few even come to you. In addition to kids' parties and art classes, many studios also host Girls' Night Out events where moms can bring their own wine and snacks, and channel their inner artist.

We've rounded up a list of paint-your-own studios that offer children's birthday parties and, in many cases, camps, classes and drop-in sessions, too. Party hosts are usually allowed to bring their own food, the studio does all the cleanup and guests leave with their own masterpieces!

When you walk into Shady Glen, you feel as if you have stepped back in time to the 1950s. Waitresses wear old-fashioned green dress uniforms with white aprons, and cooks sport pointy paper hats. Kids can slide into booths or spin on the counter stools arranged around a bustling kitchen and soda fountain. This classic burger joint and ice cream shop has been featured on the Travel Channel for its unique cheeseburgers, although it began as a dairy store and scoops are still its main draw. The grub is not fancy, but it is good solid comfort food served in a fun atmosphere. Top it all off with homemade ice cream and this Hartford area classic is a sweet outing to try with kids!

There's been lots of fun to be had this week, as NYC public schools are on spring break through Sunday, April 12. From new museum exhibits to a contemporary circus spectacular, even this rainy weather couldn't keep us down.

The good news: we should finally get some sun this weekend, which is perfect for a day trip (maybe two!) to Essex County's Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, where families can enjoy live performances and other kid-friendly activities, or a Family Senses Night Hike in nearby Long Island that will give new meaning to the term "night owl." Kids can also enjoy a day of farming and hanging with the chickens, goats and pigs at Common Ground in Connecticut. Also on tap: Nyack's SpringFest, complete with carnival rides, games and over 300 vendors.

If you're starting to think about summer vacation plans, our Travel site has all the details for planning a great family trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week: