Summertime is jam time, whether your genre of choice is kindie rock, roots, jazz, blues, world, or classical music. Boston neighborhoods and surrounding towns feature lots of popular local musicians in their summer outdoor music series, and some concerts are aimed specifically at kids. With our roundup of summer music series as your guide, you could take your kids to a community concert almost every day this season. Best of all, the performances are all free!
Editor's note: Be sure to check back often through June for updates, as concert dates are still being added and websites updated.

100 days of summer go by fast and parents spend most of their children's summer vacation looking for ways to keep them active, engaged, and entertained. We know you will likely spend time relaxing at the beach, discovering new playgrounds or best selling books, checking out the latest museum exhibits, or lounging by a pool in a backyard or at an amusement park. For all the other moments when children declare that there is nothing to do, here are a few ways to prove them wrong. And even better -- most of the summer activities and events are FREE! Enjoy the sunshine, time with your children, and the savings. 

Strawberry picking is a nice, low-key summer activity to enjoy with the kids, but sometimes you want to kick it up a notch. These Boston-area farms, markets and restaurants are doing exactly that with June festivals featuring hayrides, bouncy houses, live entertainment and fun for kids. There's also plenty of strawberry shortcake to try, plus other delightful treats, too.

So bring your kids and your appetite: It's time to celebrate strawberry season!

We're sorry to hear that Whimsic Alley, the we're-not-supposed-to-say-Harry-Potter style fan store and party space on the Miracle Mile, is closing later this month. That means no more birthday parties, costume balls, and High Teas set in the faux Hogwarts Great Hall, no more SciFi fan weekends, and no more summers spent at "The Camp that Lived." After several years of having this underground Potter fix at our fingertips, Los Angeles is to become a one-Hogwarts town, with Universal's Wizarding World as the only quidditch game in town.

There is, at least, one silver lining.

Kiddie Playland in Williston Park is a bright and cheerful addition to Nassau County’s collection of indoor play spaces for kids. Whether you are looking for open play on a rainy day or are interested in one of the many classes offered, this new spot has it all. Kiddie Playland is an ideal play space for kids ages up to age 6, and there are class offerings for those up to age 10.

When you booked your family’s summer vacation to Cape Cod, you were presumably envisioning sand castles, leisurely strolls for ice cream, and endless afternoons splashing in the waves. But sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. Without a rainy day back up plan, boredom can set in quickly, patience can run short, and your wannabe beach bums will be begging to head back over the bridge. Luckily, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep everyone entertained on the Cape until the sun returns.

If your child is a serious Shopkins aficionado, the lines have probably blurred for you one one season to the next. (Which one are we on now?) But good news: The manufacturer of all things miniature is opening an adorable pop-up experience in New York City to launch season 8—and get your kids worked up for all the tiny new additions to their current collections.

The French-themed Macaron Café is landing in Tribeca June 17-19, but those serious about getting a spot should reserve their FREE tickets now.

It feels like we went from the cold winter weather straight into hot and hazy summer days. I love my central air, but I don’t want to spend my summer indoors. Splashing around in water is one of my favorite ways to stay cool, but that could be a little tricky when you don’t have a pool in your backyard. Thankfully, we don’t have to venture outside of New Haven County for water fun. There are plenty of splash pads, water parks, and pools to help keep us cool this summer.  And if we're feeling like checking out Hartford County there is plenty of splash pad, pool and water park fun there too! Also check out the Mommy Poppins Theme and Water Park Guide.