Things To Do in Connecticut This Weekend: Oktoberfest, Pumpkins, Firepit Fridays

The harvest has begun, so you can pick your perfect pumpkin. Photo courtesy of Angevine Farm

Pumpkins are ripe for picking and leaves are ready for peeping! Now that fall has officially arrived, the Nutmeg State is ready to play. Here are our top picks for in-person events for Connecticut kids and families this week and beyond, from Firepit Fridays to Oktoberfest at Quassy Park.

Looking for even more seasonal fun? It's high time to go apple picking, get lost in a corn maze, or visit animals and sample cider at a local farm. Just remember to bring your mask and practice social distancing. If more enriching activities are what you're after, our Back-to-School Fair is still going on; catch the last few free demo classes this week, including Atlantic Acting and Coucou French.

As always, keep tabs on our Connecticut events calendar for daily updates on reopenings at favorite spots, and more local and virtual opportunities for family fun.

20+ Ruth Bader Ginsburg Children's Books (+ More Women Leaders)

I Dissent tells the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life in a stunning picture book.

As we continue to honor the remarkable life of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we've compiled a list of our favorite children's books about the great RBG herself and other inspirational women leaders. From board books to teen picks, these tales will empower young people to go after their dreams, fight for equality, and blaze new trails. 

It's never too soon to teach children about the legacy of women like Ginsburg, Maya Angelou, Anne Frank, and many, many more. Whether you're a parent wanting to bolster the homeschool library, a teacher, or just looking for gift ideas for the little one in your life, these children's books are sure to teach and inspire minds of all ages. Complete your feminist library with the noteworthy books below. 

Krispy Kreme Debuts Times Square Mega Shop

Krispy Kreme brings its trademark glazed doughnuts to the crossroads of the world.

The city that never sleeps has a sweet new way to fuel its 24-hour appetite: The long-anticipated Krispy Kreme flagship debuted in Times Square last week. The shop brings with it the hope of a "hot-now" doughnut at any time, day or night, plus stadium-style seating where visitors can (eventually) enjoy a front-row view of the doughnut-making magic.

Read on for all the details on this new family-friendly Times Square attraction.

30 Easy Paper Crafts for Kids

A coat of paint turns a simple plate into a work of art.

If there is one crafting material that you can never have enough of, it’s paper. We always keep a hefty supply of construction paper, card stock, tissue paper, paper plates, and toilet paper rolls in my house. When bedecked with a little glue, some colorful paint, and a few googly eyes, plain paper can be transformed into almost anything, from a fire breathing dragon to a sparkly unicorn. What's more, paper crafts are typically affordable, and are a great way to work on fine motor skills.

From a toilet paper roll monster to a construction paper crown, these 30 paper crafts will keep the whole family happily crafting all year long. Check out our list of 100 arts and crafts projects for more ideas for sparking creativity at home.

Spanish and Chinese Language Immersion Lead the Way at Avenues: The World School

At Avenues, kids spend 50% of their time learning in English and 50% learning in either Spanish or Mandarin Chinese, alternating each day.

There’s no better time to learn a second language than early childhood. And that's exactly why language immersion is front and center from nursery through 5th grade at Avenues: The World School, a popular Manhattan private school with campuses on three different continents.

Read on to find out how Avenues' innovative program—shaped by expert faculty with support from an in-house research and development team—builds bilingualism, global citizenship, and a love of learning from the very start.

Exceptional Explorers Play Space Debuts in Livingston

Visit this safe, fun, brand new play space in Livingston, New Jersey.

Livingston kids can travel the world without leaving their neighborhood, thanks to an innovative new play space that's debuted in northern New Jersey.

The brainchild of two creative cousins, Exceptional Explorers is the area's newest indoor play space. It's a uniquely designed indoor playground where kids from crawlers through elementary-school age can learn about global cultures and geography while sharpening their fine- and gross-motor skills. Area parents can appreciate the venue's attention to cleanliness and remote learning support, plus plans to offer enriching classes, and a new venue to celebrate milestone birthdays. 

Cool In-Person Classes Enrolling New York City Kids For Fall 2020

Join a science pod at Alley Pond. Photo courtesy of Alley Pond

Learning is about more than the three "Rs," and while remote learning plays a key role in the curriculum of many city schools this fall, in-person extracurricular activities can provide much-needed socializing and screen breaks for housebound students. Kids of all ages can burn energy in athletic classes, explore their creativity in art workshops, and expand their science chops in technology classes.

How to Get an Egg into a Bottle: A Science Experiment with a Bit of Magic

Watch as the egg slides into the bottle!

Kids play both scientist and magician in this science experiment by performing the seemingly impossible feat of fitting an egg into a jar!

One of our 64 Easy Experiments for Kids, this eye-popping experiment can be completed by kids of various ages, but it will require adult supervision or a grown-up hand for a couple of the steps. It makes use of common items that you might already have on hand so it's easy to squeeze into a down moment at home with the kids. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to fit an egg into a bottle — a quick way to engage kids in a complete a science lesson.

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