Outdoor ice skating rinks are great for some fun, unstructured time, but if your budding skater dreams of forward skating, backward skating, stops, edges, crossovers, turns and Mohawks, some formal instruction may be just the thing. Lessons are offered at most of the outdoor rinks featured in our related post, and three skating schools also provide lessons at indoor rinks in the area. We’ve highlighted these skating schools and lesson options below; schedules, registration forms and pricing details can be found on the rink or school websites.

I keep staring at the calendar and wondering, how can it be August already? That old saying that time flies when you're having fun seems to be especially true in summer when the long days (and even nights) are filled with family adventures. (Already this week my kid and I saw Cirque du Soleil: Varekai at Barclays Center, ate at the legendary Brooklyn Junior's and tonight we're off to see Marvel Universe Live! in New Jersey.)

Of course a new month means a bunch of brand-new Go Lists. We've already published roundups of the absolute best things to do with kids throughout August in NYC, Westchester and Connecticut, and the posts for Long Island and New Jersey go up on August 1. If you're hoping to get out of town for a day trip, these exceptional Go List events make for great inspiration. Or just browse our regional sites for destination ideas, like these five great family campgrounds in Westchester, five things to do with kids in Bridgehampton, Long Island and the top trampoline parks in New Jersey. Or, for a multi-day getaway, consider building a trip around the recently opened Legoland Discovery Center in Somerville, Massachusetts.

We're entering the final weeks of our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE and we're gearing up to give away our grand prize: all the fixings your family needs to throw the Ultimate Summer of Play Bash including a $200 gift card for Imagine Toys, a $100 gift card for Big Dot of Happiness, and delicious organic snacks from Ella's Kitchen and Earth's Best. So keep posting playful pics on social media and you may turn out to be our big winner! If you need family playtime inspiration, we have hundreds of ideas in our SUMMER OF PLAY GUIDE.

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

You'll feel like you've traveled the globe (and back in time) after attending the events on tap this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley! For starters, the beloved New York Renaissance Faire returns this weekend and if that's not enough Renaissance fun for you, indulge further at Hip-Hop Shakespeare. Also on the global itinerary are the Native American Heritage Celebration of the Hudson Valley and the Indian Heritage Festival. Another throwback this weekend is a showing of the Marx Brothers’ Duck Soup. 

For an entirely different excursion, the Lighted Boat Parade lights up the night in New Rochelle this weekend and Rye Playland is celebrating International Friendship Day with discounted admission, fireworks and more.

Read on for more details on our top weekend picks--many of which are FREE. Be sure to click through to the event listing for full details. Making plans weeks in advance? Check out our August Go List for our best bets for fun outings happening throughout the month. And remember to check out the myriad of weekday and weekend events we've captured in our event calendar--you'll find there's no shortage of fun things to do this summer in Westchester! 

There is so much cool stuff happening on Long Island this weekend, it might be hard to figure out what to do with the family. Be wowed by carnival rides in Glen Cove or Hicksville, an Italian circus in Westhampton Beach or a reptile show at the Long Island Game Farm. Or Let It Go and meet Anna and Else at a Frozen-themed breakfast in Ronkonkoma! There's plenty to choose from on our events calendar--there is no end to this summer of play.

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Does August really arrive on Friday? How can this be?! There are too many things on my family's summer bucket list that we haven't gotten around to just yet, including fishing at some of these fabulous spots near Hartford, blueberry and peach picking, and the outdoor games that my kids still can't believe I played when I was a little girl.

Are you playing along with our Summer of Play challenge? To get started, check out our Summer of Play Guide for hundreds of fun and easy activities that can be played indoors or outdoors or even while doing chores.

If you're planning ahead for the month, check out our August Go List for don't miss activities throughout Connecticut.

All of our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar.

My husband and I recently attended “Curriculum Night” at our son's elementary school, and we were blown away at the level of coursework being done by these young kids. We even joked that we might need to take some classes if we wanted to help him with his homework. With the introduction of Common Core Standards, students are under intense pressure to excel, and it's not uncommon (no pun intended) for them to need some extra help. Our sponsor JEI Learning Centers in Lynbrook helps students reach their fullest potential with a variety of after-school programs and classes. 

Oh, August. On one hand, you mark the beginning of some of our favorite summer events: The Getty Center and its free Garden Concerts for Kids. The Actors Gang with free Shakespeare in the park made accessible for kids.  (How accessible? Try this year's My Little Pony theme!)

But oh, August. August which used to mean halfway through summer. You now put us in a short countdown for Back-to-School. If you haven't yet, I suggest you check out our round-up of Academic Year Calendars, and try not to weep when you discover your district's first day of instruction. (Spoiler alert: for some it is as early as August 11!)

No matter how much time you have left, there's plenty of fun to be had. County Fairs in Ventura and the OC, festivals for Surfing and Crawfish, a legendary circus, a princess sing-a-long and Hair with an all-star cast (including Kristen "Princess Anna" Bell!). There are still lots of under-the-stars screenings and oodles of outdoor concerts. It ain't over 'til the school bell rings.

Keep reading for our it's-still-summer picks for this weekend ....