Swedish Days, a Dragon Boat Race, and More Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend With Kids

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on

Make Music Chicago. Photo by Philamonjaro, courtesy of the event.

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend!

It's pride weekend here in Chicago, and festivals are going on for families to celebrate in Lakeview and Elmhurst. Sports are also taking center stage with a mini golf event in Glen Ellyn, Chicago Fire Soccer taking over Chicago Children's Museum, and a vintage baseball game in Elmhurst. You can also wrap up Juneteenth with one final celebration in Palatine.

We've got a calendar of the best fun things to do in June, plus, cool off from this crazy hot week with the best splash pads and swimming lakes in or near Chicago.

Enjoy this amazing summer weekend in Chicago!

Free Outdoor Movies, Juneteenth Celebrations, and More Things to Do this Weekend in Atlanta with Kids

Elsa Simcik's picture Submitted by Elsa Simcik on

Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Festival celebrates freedom and equality all weekend long. Photos by Stanley L. Coleman, official photographer Juneteenth Georgia

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend! 

Enjoy cooler evening temps in Atlanta with Free Outdoor Summer Movies for Families​ — this weekend features fun outdoor movie events in Milton, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, and Buford. Juneteenth celebrations continue this weekend, including the big Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival, happening in downtown Atlanta. Read on for more details about these and other exciting events happening this weekend in Atlanta!

Pride Celebrations, Roller Skating, and More Fun Things To Do in San Francisco This Weekend

Submitted by Sandra Lee on

Spend the day at a summer festival on beautiful Lake Merritt. Photo courtesy of 5th Annual Lakefest Oakland

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list. ​

This weekend has a ton of free activities to celebrate love! The popular Pride Parade and Celebration in San Francisco is happening this weekend, bringing in the yearly crowds. For a celebration fit for little ones, the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito is hosting its annual Pride Celebration where kids can make rainbow wings and self-portraits. Finally, the San Francisco Botanical Garden is hosting Illustoria Day, a day celebrating children's art and literature. 

Read on for more of our top picks for the weekend, which include movies in the park, birding for families and so much more!  

Outdoor Movies, Boating, Games, Ice Cream, and More Fun Things To Do in Philly this Weekend

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The Lantern Festival in Philadelphia’s Historic District hosts dozens of massive, intricate, handcrafted lanterns such as dragons, tigers, rabbits, and more. Photo by Jeff Fusco for Tianyu

Looking for the best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your must-do list.

Looking for family fun this weekend? Visit the Too Many Games Festival in Oaks or enjoy a free outdoor movie night in Downingtown. Explore the Schuylkill River with free boating at Bartram’s Garden or indulge at the New Castle County Ice Cream Festival in Wilmington. Wrap up the weekend with the Bucks-Mont Pride Festival in Abington or Family Fun Day at Spruce Street Harbor Park.

Don't miss the Haddon Township Pride Parade and events, or the vibrant West Park Arts Fest in Fairmount Park, featuring performances and interactive activities for all ages. Read on for more top weekend picks!

NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep

Jody Mercier's picture Submitted by Jody Mercier on

Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier

In New York City, playgrounds are as much a part of childhood as potty training and the tooth fairy, and having a go-to playground is a real sanity saver for city families. When you live in a tiny apartment, the neighborhood park is your backyard.

While New Yorkers are lucky to have many awesome local playgrounds, some NYC playgrounds are a cut above the rest. These spots offer plenty of space to romp and enough outdoor entertainment to make them worth a schlep on the subway. Without further ado, read on for 21 of New York City's best playgrounds—our NYC playground hall of fame—and find more places to play in our NYC Kids' Guide to Parks and Playgrounds.

Best Lightweight Travel Car Seats and Strollers for Air Travel

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Finding a great travel car seat can make or break a trip with kids.

Finding the best travel car seat can be a life saver when traveling by air with small children. A good travel car seat can help your little one sit safely in their airplane seat and in rental cars or rideshares. Some car seats even turn into strollers, or can be easily snapped into a stroller as part of a travel car seat system.

The best travel car seat for your family depends on your budget, your ability and/or willingness to lug the seat through the airport, and the age and size of your child. You should also consider whether you want a seat that can be used for both everyday and travel, or if you're OK with buying a separate travel car seat.

We've found eight top-rate, FAA-approved travel car seats for infants, toddlers, and young kids. Find even more great travel gear, including the best kids' luggage, in our Best Baby and Kid Gear Guide.

Best Venues for Sweet 16 Birthday Parties in NYC

Submitted by Jordana Drell Herman on

Grab your besties and celebrate a Sweet 16 in NYC at one of these local venues. Photo by Beah S,

What comes to mind when you think of a Sweet 16 birthday party? Black-tie? Formal? Boring??? Not true for Sweet 16 birthday parties in New York City. NYC teens—and their parents!—are a creative bunch. Sure, you can do the dressy party, but New York City teens know how to do it right, with sequin dresses paired with rockin’ sneakers and colorful blazers layered with awesome hoodies.

While we've got plenty of traditional venues where you can host an awesome dance party, our list of the best Sweet 16 birthday party venues in NYC includes a variety of destinations to celebrate this milestone in all kinds of experiential ways. Find more NYC birthday party venues for all ages in our NYC Kids' Guide to Birthday Parties, including our top 15 picks for teen birthday party places.

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