The annual holiday season fast approaches and everyone is getting busy making preparations for Thanksgiving.  Your family may be eating with relatives or dining alone, but at some point, kids want the turkey to make his grand appearance a lot faster than he usually can. Or the food has all been eaten and you're looking for something to do. Have fun at one of these great events/places on Thanksgiving weekend.

A giant panda has made himself at home at Westchester's Ridge Hill, which is once again teaming up with DreamWorks Animation to take families on an Adventure to Santa. The panda is none other than Po from DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda, and he and his friends are part of a holiday attraction that takes kids on a journey to the North Pole to meet Santa.

This is Adventure to Santa's third year at Ridge Hill, though it's the first year that Po and the Kung Fu Panda gang are making an appearance (the two previous years featured Shrek). I recently made the hour-long journey from my home in New Jersey with my 4.5- and almost-2-year-old boys to check it out. 

We have some important tips to know before you go, especially if you're making the trip from NYC, upstate or New Jersey.

With the weather getting colder, it is getting harder to find outdoor activities in downtown Boston for kids. Luckily, the Rose Kennedy Greenway is continuing its "GreenPLAY" programs into the winter months, giving kids and their families some great excuses to get outside even when it's chilly. 

Whether you're a working parent or a busy stay-at-home mom and are looking for activities for the kids during winter break, there are tons of options across the city. We've rounded up some fun enrichment camps for kids of all ages with focuses ranging from sports to science.

There are so many wonderful opportunities around the holidays for children to consider people less fortunate than themselves by purchasing food and gifts for those in need.  However, it is often more difficult to find places for kids to volunteer their time. In Litchfield County, there are a number of ways for kids to be involved using their physical presence rather than purchased presents.

Retirement communities and nursing homes welcome children and families who wish to volunteer during the holidays.  Families can visit, bring cookies and sing carols room to room.  All that is needed to set up a visit is a call to the volunteer coordinator.  Here is a list of some of the communities that welcome volunteers now and throughout the year. We've also written about opportunities to volunteer in Hartford and Fairfield Counties.

Whether or not your child grows up working for Pixar, stop-motion animation is a fun way for kids to explore their creativity while actively using technology. We've gathered five classes in Westchester that teach kids of all ages how to create short stop-motion animation films.

Looking for more ways to occupy the kiddos? Consult our Classes Guide and check out our Event Calendar. 

Whether your child is lagging in a certain subject or just looking to get a boost, tutoring might be the way to go. The good news is that there are plenty of options available in Northern New Jersey. So sharpen your pencils and get ready to take some notes while you check out our list of local tutors. For more ideas, you can also explore some after-school programs throughout the state. 

As much as we love sledding, skiing, or playing in the snow with our kids, sometimes we just need a day off from slushy, mushy adventures, soggy mittens, and snow pants. Mommy Poppins has researched some great places to have some fun inside during those long winter months, especially with children ages 10 and up. Also check out our Indoor Play Guide for younger kids in Hartford County.

Here are some other suggestions for indoor activities and great places to have winter birthday parties in Hartford County.