Halloween is fast approaching, and while you're counting down to the big day and enjoying all the fun haunted happenings around town, why not consider adding a multicultural flair into the mix? Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is technically not a Halloween event; however, it falls right around the same time of year and shares many similar customs and themes.

This Mexican tradition may sound somber and spooky, but it’s actually a joyous time of year, meant to honor family and friends who have passed on. Revelers prepare special foods, don colorful outfits, and create alters adorned with flowers, smiling skulls (calaveras) and candles to celebrate lost loved ones. Festivities include dancing, joyful skeletons (calacas), masks, plenty of candy, skulls made out of sugar, and marigolds, the traditional flor de los muertos (flower of the dead). Day of the Dead is observed on November 1 and 2, but events are already taking place. Read on for ways to celebrate Dia de los Muertos in Westchester. The best part—all events are FREE.

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There comes a time in every parent’s life...when you’re afraid you’re going to lose your mind if you don’t get a break.

At first, the idea of leaving your newborn baby might seem impossibly out of the question. But as parenthood rolls on year after year, getting away becomes essential. A lengthy overseas vacation of your pre-kids years might be out of reach, but a quick overnight? Yesssss!

So when your mini-me is driving you up the wall, you feel the need for quiet to collect a thought or two, or you just want to reconnect with your partner, check out these seven destinations for those in the greater New York City metro area. No need to hop on a plane. These trips are all within a 2½-hour drive of Midtown Manhattan, and several are reachable by public transportation. Many offer R&R perks, including in-house spas.

Find more weekend getaways, including those of the family variety, in our travel section, including Hudson Valley resorts for families.

Where can you find a vintage guitar, the jaw of a shark, and just about every action figure ever made? Elephant's Trunk Country Flea Market in New Milford of course! Tucked in the northwest corner of Connecticut, New Milford is just about as quintessentially New England as it gets, from the town green to the sprawling farmland. Since 1976, they have been the home of Elephant's Trunk Country Flea Market which runs from April to December. What started out small has grown and grown and these days every Sunday is a festival. Before you load up the family and head out, read on for some tips to make your day at Elephant's Trunk the best it can be with little ones in tow. 

Looking for a new take on holiday lights displays this year? Head to Battery Park where The Luminaries once again lights up Brookfield Place in a seasonal art display with a decidedly downtown feel.

A canopy of 650 gorgeous lanterns bathes Brookfield's glass-enclosed, Christmas-spirited Winter Garden in a glow of lights as families and holiday shoppers gather below. Adding an interactive element to the display, kids can control the lights via the installation's multiple Wish Stations—and each interaction equals a donation to the GRAMMY in the Schools music education program.

There’s nothing worse than a rainy Halloween. Especially for kids. Who wants soggy candy and running from house-to-house to avoid the raindrops? Plus, princesses and superheroes don’t need raincoats covering up their cute costumes. I know my kids don’t. From safe trick-or-treating to costume parties, Long Island offers a ton of fun activities and alternatives if the weather turns stormy this year. The best part? These events are fun for kids (and adults) even if the weather stays fair.

When you are looking for something to do with your toddler, there are two priorities: that your child will be allowed to touch things and that you don't have to drive too far to get there.  There is nap time to think about!  Below are twenty-five awesome places to take your little ones before they start Kindergarten.  For further reading, don't forget to check out 120 Things to do with Kids Before They Grow

Deciding where to send your child to preschool isn’t easy, but selecting a specific type of school can really help narrow down your options. We have written about bilingual and language immersion preschools throughout the Boston area, and now we're focusing on Montessori preschools in the city so you can see which one seems like a good fit for your child.

The Montessori method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori about 100 years ago. Most Montessori schools place children in mixed-age classrooms, allow students to self-direct their activities, allow large blocks of uninterrupted time to work, focus on discovery rather than instruction and use specialized materials. There are five preschools in Boston that use the Montessori philosophy to help children learn and grow: