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Not-So-Scary Halloween Events on Long Island for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 10/06/2023 - 6:52am

Follow your guide on the Enchanted Forest Trail at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge and meet whimsical, fun, and educational characters. Photo courtesy of the refuge

Looking for the best Halloween events on Long Island for toddlers and preschoolers? Read on for our top picks.

Halloween can be uber exciting, but also completely overwhelming for little revelers. With that in mind, we've rounded up several Halloween events across Long Island perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. These events promise plenty of fun with very little in the way of fright.

We've got tons more Halloween picks in our Long Island Halloween Guide. Whether you're looking for free events and activities, trunk-or-treats, inspiring pumpkin carving ideas, or a family-friendly Halloween movie, we've got it all. Of course, before you can carve your pumpkin, you're going to need to pluck it from the vine at one of these top-notch Long Island pumpkin patches.

Trunk-or-Treats in New Jersey for Halloween 2023

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 10/06/2023 - 6:50am

Take your trick-or-treaters off the street to hit up one of these family-friendly trunk-or-treats in New Jersey. Photo by Mommy Poppins

For a safer alternative to trick-or-treating, New Jersey kids can collect goodies at family-friendly trunk-or-treats. Instead of wandering door-to-door, young trick-or-treaters can load up their Halloween bags with candy from decorated cars.

These trunk-or-treats—most of which are FREE—take place in parking lots, parks, and on blocked-off streets. They sometimes include parades, costume contests, and other Halloween activities. Another bonus for sugar-crazed kids: Many of these trunk-or-treats take place before Halloween. That means double the loot if you make your plans right!

For more boo-tiful Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Guide for New Jersey Families, which includes our picks for The Best Halloween Events in New Jersey for Families and more.

Best Vacation House Rentals in the Catskills for Families

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Thu, 10/05/2023 - 12:36pm

This Log House in the heart ofthe Hudson Valley is perfect for multiple families, a large family get-together or a birthdaygetaway!

The Catskills have been famous for many things and these unique Catskills vacation rentals make planning a family getaway to the region easier than ever. So, whether you want to explore the history of Borscht Belt comedians, Rip Van Winkle, Woodstock, and Dirty Dancing or enjoy some outdoor recreation in the 700,000 acres of mountains that cover four New York counties, we've found a vacation rental home in the Catskills to fit your family.

Once you've found the perfect Catskills vacation rental for your crew, all that's left to do is decide which of these 25 things to do in the Catskills with kids you'll check off first, including camping, hiking, skiing, river rafting, cave touring, visiting alpaca farms, horseback riding, zip-lining, and more.

Read on for our top vacation rental picks in the Catskills. These properties can sleep a crowd and provide family-friendly perks, like game rooms, bunk beds, and even sledding hills right out the back door. Find more local getaways in our Guide to Day Trips and Local Getaways.

Baby Registry Must-Haves: Your Guide to the Best Tried and Tested Products

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 10/05/2023 - 10:32am

If you only put one chew toy on your registry, it should be Sophie the Giraffe. Photo courtesy of the Vulli Store on Amazon

Putting together a baby registry? We pooled a whole lot of parenting expertise to put together the ultimate baby registry list!

This baby registry must-have list includes everything, from car seats and strollers to mobiles and snot-suckers. We've got recommendations for a range of items that all the moms and dads at Mommy Poppins have really put to the test—and we’ve included a range of price points. We also point out which products you’ll use multiple times a day and which are fun extras. And finally, we’ve got some unique and surprising ideas that you don’t even know you need!

Read on to get the scoop on just which products belong on your baby registry. For more baby recommendations and expert advice, from where to babymoon to all about baby developmental milestones, check out our Baby and Maternity Guide.

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend Things To Do in Connecticut: Pumpkin Trains, Scarecrows, and More!

Submitted by Ally Noel on Wed, 10/04/2023 - 11:00pm

Head to the fair for family fun this Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of the Riverton Fair

Looking for the best things to do this Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in Connecticut? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Whether your town celebrates Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day, there's fun to be had! Connecticut is brimming with autumn activities and Halloween things to do this weekend. This season's last county fair and a walk through the scarecrows for great family activities. There are also chances to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in Mystic and South Windsor.

Don’t miss our full list of fall festivals and fairs in Connecticut. Find the best Halloween events, or visit a drive-thru with pumpkins, lights, and spooky activities.

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend 2023, Things To Do in Boston: Pumpkin People, Berkshire Harvest Festival, and HONK!

Submitted by N Ferreira on Wed, 10/04/2023 - 8:22pm

The fall is getting festive with family fun this Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend 2023 in Boston! Photo courtesy of the Berkshire Harvest Festival

Looking for the best things to do in Boston this Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities in the area to add to your list for this weekend.

It's Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in Boston! There are fun family activities for everyone in and around the city. (You may find the holiday is still called Columbus Day in some communities.) Celebrate indigenous culture with a visit to the MFA or the Reflection Room at the Discovery Museums. Your STEM-loving kids will enjoy Harvard's dinosaur exhibit on National Fossil Day in Cambridge. Young artists will flock to Concord's Art Ramble, while little musicians can explore the HONK! festival in Somerville.

Columbus Day Weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Wed, 10/04/2023 - 7:35am

The Pine Island Pumpkinfest is a Columbus Day tradition. Photo courtesy of Pine Island Chamber of Commerce

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley over the long Columbus Day weekend? We've got tons of family-friendly events to add to your list.

Whether you call the holiday Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day, we're celebrating the day off on Monday, October 9, with tons of fun things to do. The long weekend makes a great jumping-off point for Halloween celebrations, beginning with the G-rated Headless Horseman Haunted Children's Day on Saturday.

Families can enjoy the festivities all weekend, including Monday, at Bear Mountain's Oktoberfest, Wappingers' Carni"fall", and the Eastchester Columbus Day Carnival and Parade. In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, learn about some of the original inhabitants of the Westchester area at a Lenape Indigenous Peoples Day presentation at the historic St. Paul's Church.

We've got tons more seasonal picks on our list of the best Halloween events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and you can find more things to do any day on our Family Activity Calendar.

Free in October: 60 Things To Do in NYC with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Tue, 10/03/2023 - 1:59pm

Brooklyn Bridge Park's Harvest Festival returns for another seasonal celebration. Photo courtesy of the event

October is bubbling over with bushels of free things to do in NYC. In addition to our huge, spooky pile of free Halloween activities, we've found tons of cost-free fun happening in NYC this month, from St. John the Divine's heavenly Blessing of the Animals to Indigneous People Day celebrations, Diwali's big Do in Times Square, Open House New York, and the return of Bryant Park's Winter Village. And then Canstruction starts building anticipation for Thanksgiving!

Read on for 60 free things to do in New York City this October, including events in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Find more top events on our best-of-October list. Of course, our Guide to Fall Activities and New York City Halloween Guide have all the seasonal must-do's.