| Page 1651 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Fun & Free Things To Do With Kids This Weekend In CT: Milford Oyster Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Teddy Bear Fest 8/20-21

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Thu, 08/18/2011 - 8:22am

Here we are, the second to last weekend in August. School days are right around the corner so savor these last days of summer while you can. There's plenty of fun to be had this weekend including one of the largest annual festivals in CT: Annual Milford Oyster Festival. In Hartford the Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival looks like a great cultural event and the Peach Festival at Lyman Orchards gets me craving warm peach pie just thinking about it.

PS Don't miss out on our $50 Give Away at Three Monkeys & Me Children's Boutique and Toy Store. Drawing ends Thursday night.

Here's our list of best bets for the weekend. You can always check for more on our calendar.

Your NJ Weekend August 20-21: Bike Racing, Blues Bands, Metal Making, Modern Dance, and More, Mostly FREE!

Submitted by tsellinger on Thu, 08/18/2011 - 7:00am

If after these last few drippy days, you’re ready to wring out your clothes, dry your shoes, and get on with a great (hopefully) dry family weekend, we’ve got the goods! There’s potatoes to be harvested in Lambertville; Blues to be sung in Morristown; bikes to be raced in North Caldwell; open-air theater to watch in Titusville; and metal to be made at Cooper Gristmill! If you’re looking to just wander in the long-lost sunshine, head to Augusta for a sunflower maze, or Ringwood for a family botanical walk. Any way you go, wish for the sun. We’re right there with you.

Things for Kids and Families to Do on Long Island August 20-21: Fun with Turtles, Fairy Houses and Town Fairs

Submitted by Melanie on Wed, 08/17/2011 - 1:50pm

Fairy houses, turtles and town fairs are just part of the fun we have lined up for you this weekend! Did we forget to mention pony rides? Read on to see where you and your kids can have fun this weekend. Happy Weekend!

Free and Fun Things to Do This Weekend for NYC Kids: Festivals, Global Gardens, Maker Days, FlyNY, Harlem Day August 20-21

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Wed, 08/17/2011 - 12:00pm

These rainy summer days have been a real drag, especially since the back-to-school countdown is on. As of now, it looks like this weekend won't be a washout (like last Sunday, which was awful). So if the weather holds up, we plan to make the most of this second to last weekend of August.

There's plenty of outdoor fun: Explore international vegetables and herbs at the Global Gardens Harvest Celebration, fly a kite at FlyNY, enjoy the last installment of Summer Streets or party uptown at the annual Harlem Day festival.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. All of our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide and our Event Calendar.

Notable News: Sex Ed in NYC Schools, Backpack Buying Tips, Sesame Street and STEM

Submitted by heather on Tue, 08/16/2011 - 9:00am

This week it's all about sex, bags and Sesame Street! (Yes, quite a far cry from sex, drugs and rock and roll.)

As summer draws to a close, we turn our attention back to school. There's so much to do... and even more to buy. We've got info on how to choose the right backpack, the scoop on sex education in NYC public schools and the 411 on a brand-new doctor hotline just for parents.

Fair Thee Well! Annual End-of-Summer New Jersey Fairs and Fests

Submitted by tsellinger on Tue, 08/16/2011 - 7:00am

There’s nothing quite like a day at the fair. Where else can you find carnival games, rides, petting zoos, pig races, 4-H Exhibits, horse shows, haunted houses, and a full array of fried food in one place? Summer’s winding down, but never fear, New Jersey offers a full array of August and Early September fairs and fests, from smaller county shindigs and music fests to full-on state fairs. Take your pick, load up the family, and head out for a day in the sun, before winds blow cool and falling leaves fill the sky!

Carousel Rides in the Boston Area

Submitted by Audrey Trieschman on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 4:21pm

Photo courtesy of the Rose Kennedy Greenway website

And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round, and the painted ponies go up and down... Your children can travel back in time to a simpler day on one of several carousels in the area.

Pennsylvania Dutch Country: 7 Fun Things to Do in Lancaster County with Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 3:00pm

Although Pennsylvania Dutch Country is only 150 miles from New York City, once you arrive you feel like you're worlds (and centuries) away. There are bucolic fields full of corn, alfalfa and tobacco, and Amish farmers on horse-drawn buggies sharing the streets with cars. The area's home to big tourist attractions such as Dutch Wonderland and the Strasburg Railroad, which is why we started visiting a few years ago when my son was in his train phase. But there are also less well-known yet equally cool places to visit, like the Choo Choo Barn, the National Toy Train Museum and the Amish Village.

Pennsylvania Dutch Country is a wonderful summer getaway, and although the season is drawing to a close there's always Labor Day weekend. It's beautiful in fall, too: My family and I visited last year over Columbus Day break and plan on going again this year.

Since we go annually, I could have written a book about the place, but don't worry, I resisted the temptation. Instead, here are our favorite things to do in Pennsylvania Dutch Country as a family, along with suggestions about where to stay.