As we welcome in October this week, there is so much fall fun for kids of all ages. From fairs and festivals to the launch of the Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns, families can start to celebrate the season in a variety of ways.

Looking to get a jump on Halloween activities? Check out our Halloween Guide. Also, be sure to visit our Long Island Events Calendar often. And if you want events sent directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter

Fall is most decidedly in the air, and we've got some ideas to make the most of it this week. Want to avoid the weekend crowds picking apples or pumpkins? Weekday visits to local orchards and farms are generally less crowded, but check for hours before you go.

It's also the perfect time of year to check out the Native Voices exhibit at the Boston Children's Museum (pictured). My kids especially loved the basket-weaving and native food activities that helped them learn about local tribes.

Finally, when the calendar turns to October, all kinds of haunted happenings crop up, so keep an eye on the full Event Calendar for the scoop!

There is a lot to love about 24th Street Theatre. The team behind this homey little playhouse is passionately devoted to education, to neighborhood outreach, and to a different kind of children's theater. Most of the the shows 24th Street produces are not public events, because the company devotes most of its resources to programming for local schools. But when this team decides to launch a public production, you can count on it being inventive and thought-provoking. 24th Street is not a place to see another Saturday morning Snow White; it's a place for ground-breaking theater that takes kids along for the ride. The last show we saw there, Walking the Tightrope, delighted so many families that Center Theater Group picked it up for an extended run. The company's latest production, Man Covets Bird, may follow the same path.

The calendar flips to October this week, so it's getting down to the wire for apple picking. Expect pumpkin patches to take over throughout the tri-state area later this week. Leaves are also turning, a sure sign that autumn has truly arrived. You can also enjoy some fall culture on the cheap with a pair of awesome theater discounts: 20at20 ($20 tickets for participating Off-Broadway productions) and Off-Broadway Week (two-for-one tickets to participating shows).

Our best bets for Monday, September 28 through Friday, October 2 include a series of hands-on fashion workshops at the Children's Museum of the Arts, a fall storytime, outdoor chess lessons and the New Victory Theater's season opener, Robin Hood. And, if you missed this weekend's Maker Faire, there's a "mini" version of the maker fest happening this fall that we reported on last week.

Of course, you can find lots of other ideas in our jam-packed Event Calendar and Fall Fun Guide.

It's hard to believe that October arrives this week! Fall is a super busy (and super fun) time in New England. There are only so many Saturdays and Sundays to go around so today we're highlighting a few popular weekend outings that also happen to be open during the week, such as the Lyman Orchards Corn Maze and Pumpkintown, a non-scary Halloween experience that will delight particularly younger children. You can find lots of other ideas in our jam-packed Event Calendar and our Halloween and Fall Fun Guide. Enjoy your week!

Food trucks are all the rage and, luckily for us, they are popping up all over Fairfield County. You might have already spied one in a parking lot while running errands or saw a few trucks by your favorite farmer's market. Just because you're out with the kids doesn't mean you can't get in on the game! Kids like things with wheels and you like good food, so there's no reason to settle for the same old stuff when you're eating out. 

There are a lot of great trucks out there, so we've rounded up a few that are sure to be a hit with kids and grown-ups alike. Check it out!

Good news for budding Makers everywhere: A nationwide series of Mini Maker Faires will arrive in NYC this fall. A partnership between Barnes & Noble and Make: Magazine will bring mini workshops that encourage kids to experiment with technology like robotics and 3D printing to city stores November 6-8.

Of course, don't forget that the massive World Maker Faire kicks off on Saturday, September 26, in Queens at the New York Hall of Science. (It's a Mommy Poppins September GoList and top weekend event pick.) 

A weekend workshop is one thing, but Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to make sure NYC kids have access to computer science every day with a new city school initiative. Read on for the scoop on this and other parenting news this week, including Midtown's new food hall and the best ways to navigate city streets during the pope's visit.

Clothing and toy swaps are such a New York City necessity. Buying brand-new clothes and toys every time your tot outgrows something (that often still has the tags on!) just doesn't make sense. It's environmentally unsound, and wastes money and space, something we NYC families already have too little of. Luckily, a number of neighborhood and city groups offer family-friendly swap events where you can trade in gently used children's items for new-to-you finds. It's easy—and painless on your wallet.

We've got the scoop on the top swaps in the city so you can find the right one for your family.