Turkey trots and turkey races are a fun activity for Thanksgiving Day morning. Before you sit down to that delicious Thanksgiving meal, take the family out and trot like a turkey! Running is a sport everyone can participate in…it encourages health and fitness, can benefit a charity and doesn’t require great skill or practice. There are many “Turkey Trots” across the state of New Jersey, all of which are family friendly. Check out one close to you and burn some calories before you add more.

There are loads of fairs, festivals, and other fun events happening all over Connecticut this Columbus Day Weekend. Quite a few weekend-only events such as the Pumpkin Patch Train in Naugatuck or the Build-a-Scarecrow Workshop at Sam Bridge Nursery will be open for business on Monday, and if you're interested in celebrating Columbus, you have the option of attending parades on Sunday in New Haven or Stamford (for counterpoint, check out the "Who Discovered Whom" program at the Institute for American Indian Studies on Monday).

To start a Halloween tradition that's not candy-based (or to have an excuse to justify all that candy), check out our round up of Family Fun Runs Around Fairfield County. And, of course, we have plenty of candy, pumpkins, and haunted houses in our carefully curated list of Halloween Happenings and Parades in Fairfield County and Halloween and Fall Fun Guide.

Make sure that you subscribe to our weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest so that you won't miss any of the Halloween fun! Read on for our highlights of events happening this Columbus Day weekend. For even more fun make sure to check out our daily listing of events on the calendar.

As the weather cools down, the hockey season warms up, and LA is lucky to boast a hockey team well acquainted with the joys of bringing home the Stanley Cup. Los Angeles Kings games are packed with excitement and fast-paced action on the ice—a great event for the whole Angeleno family, as long as you know a few things before you go. Here are some tips every parent should know about taking kids to a Kings game at Staples Center—things to look forward to, and things to prepare for.

October might signal the end of the baseball season, but that doesn't mean your lil' slugger needs to put away his glove until spring. There are plenty of places where Long Island kids can practice and perfect their skills while inside, whether it's a homerun swing or catching pop fly's. And for more on sports programs and after-school enrichment, be sure to check out our Long Island Classes Guide.

If you haven’t gotten your fill of fall yet, throw on a cozy sweater and take your pick from one of the awesome autumn events happening in Jersey this weekend. For big festival fun, head to the 12th Annual South Jersey Pumpkin Show in Woodstown, pick your perfect orange beauty and navigate a corn maze at Terhune Orchards Fall Family Fun Weekends or get spooked during the Haunted Halloween event at A.Casola Farms. And if you want to take a break from the Halloween hoopla, sit back and take in a family-friendly performance like Clifford the Big Red Dog Live at the Mayo Performing Arts Center or the Little Star That Could at the Novins Planetarium. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar.

With their Christmas lists ready to give to Santa, your children may be anxiously waiting to finally meet Ole Saint Nick hoping that they made it on his “nice” list this year. While you  can always hit up the usual spot like the mall, there are also many other options to meet the big man in red. In Hartford county, Santa is popping up everywhere. Check out all of these fun ways to spend some time with Santa in your area this season.

They are out there...old, colonial places, historic farmhouses, buildings that have seen a lot: the 'real' haunted houses of Connecticut. No plastic skeletons jumping out of the corner, no fake blood pouring down the wall - just eerie stories about weird noises, strange events and sightings of surreal things. Read on to find out about Connecticut's most famous haunted houses. Several are museums, inns or restaurants today, favored and visited by people as much for their exhibits, comfort and food as for their spooky reputation. Many organize special Halloween events during October to lure their ghosts out of hiding for a special trick and treat for visitors.

This craft is sponsored by Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

Families come in all shapes and sizes. A new picture book, Little Elliot, Big Family, tells the story of a small elephant who finds a family of his own in the big city. We travel with Little Elliot and his friend Mouse through 1940s NYC, visiting favorite landmarks.

This charming tale inspired us to celebrate our own family with a special picture frame craft. This easy project is a picture perfect way to save cherished family memories.