Submitted by Tara D on
July makes a grand entrance with Independence Day celebrations in and around Boston, including daytime July 4th festivities and fireworks filling the night sky. The family fun keeps going all month with lots of events and activities, and below are our top 10 picks.
Submitted by Michelle Vames on
This summer, Westchester families can take a spin on Playland Park's brand-new ride—the park's first new addition in more than a decade. Described as part roller coaster and part spinning ride, the new amusement park attraction is expected to be ready to roll in July, according to Park officials.
Submitted by Li Starr on
You've either seen the imposing Victorian mansion on Franklin Avenue or you've heard about it—Hollywood's Magic Castle, perhaps LA's best insider secret and one of the many places you might want to take your kid in Hollywood. But discovering the Castle is just the beginning. It's invitation-only—so how do you get in?
Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on
Pride month comes to a rollicking close this weekend with kid-friendly fun in celebration of all Chicago families. Navy Pier hosts a free, day-long family Pride festival this Saturday with storytimes, performances, a marching band, and fireworks. Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble stores around Chicagoland are also hosting special Pride storytimes with crafts and activities, and there's a family Pride fair at Gallagher Way on Sunday where kids and parents can celebrate before the big parade.
Sesame Street rolls into town on Saturday with a huge, free party (tickets are already sold out, but if you're one of the lucky ones going, shake Oscar's hand for me). Other big family fests and fairs this weekend include the Logan Square Art Festival, a Renaissance Faire Family Day, a circus festival at Maxwell Street Market, and the Juneteenth Family Celebration.
If you're a fan of rolling out a picnic blanket and enjoying some music alfresco while the kids run around in the grass, there are outdoor concerts happening at the Brookfield Zoo, the Grant Park Music Festival, and at family concerts out in Park Ridge, Naperville, and Wheaton. Harry Potter fans won't want to miss the magic of hearing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform the score from The Prisoner of Azkaban (the best film in the series, IMHO), or seeing the first Harry Potter film on the big screen at Thalia Hall.
Chicago SummerDance and Family Yoga this weekend offer plenty of ways to get up and get moving, too. But if your playlist has been taken over by a certain sharp-toothed aquatic family, the Baby Shark Dance Party this weekend is your best bet.
For more kid-friendly summer fun, bookmark our ever-growing list of 50+ FREE Things to Do With Kids in Chicago This Summer, and our jam-packed event calendar.
Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on
As much as the kids might beg, not every summer day can be a pool day. That's why water playgrounds with jets, misters, and refreshing splash pads are essential to summer survival in NYC. Kids (and their grown-ups) can frolic in sprinklers and spray showers, many with nifty features like footbridges, geysers, and themed settings. We've told you about some of our favorite playgrounds with water features citywide, but the Bronx deserves a shout-out all its own. Read on for details on nine of our favorite splash pads in NYC's northernmost borough.
Find more water fun in our Beaches, Pools, Water Parks Guide, or cool NYC activities in our Summer Fun Guide.
Submitted by Elyse Andrews on
Summer is the season for road trips with kids, and we’re lucky because New England is full of so many fun spots to visit that are only a few hours away by car. One family favorite is Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. From bustling Meredith, NH on the west side of the lake to quaint Wolfeboro, NH on the eastern edge, there’s plenty of water sports, casual restaurants, and natural beauty that make for a great family vacation. Here are 25 of the best ways to enjoy everything on and surrounding this sparkly blue, 72-acre lake affectionately known as "Lake Winni."
Submitted by Sara F on
When the sticky NYC summer heat sets in, kids need fun things to do to keep cool (bonus points if the kiddos also get a chance to burn off some energy). There’s no better solution than water playgrounds—get cool in the water, dry off to hit the other playground equipment, rinse and repeat. All afternoon.
And best of all, hitting a water playground is a FREE summer activity you can do every day. We’ve rounded up the best water features and playgrounds around Brooklyn so that you and the little ones can try a new place to spray and play every day of the week.
It's a long summer! Find more ways to keep cool with our NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks Guide, which includes splash pads in other boroughs too!
Submitted by Katie Nave on
A New York City day with a preschooler is likely to be full of adventure and excitement, but those short attention spans can be downright exhausting. Thankfully, the borough of Brooklyn is filled with non-stop kid fun, even for the most rambunctious little ones.
Of course, there's no shortage of fantastic zoos and gardens, museums, and playgrounds for spending a day out and about in the city, but we've developed five parent-tested, Brooklyn-based itineraries that are perfectly tailored to the younger crowd.
