With so many fantastic family programs occurring this time of year in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, we at Mommy Poppins have been extra busy culling it all together for our readers. In addition to several fall festivals this weekend (Garlic Festival, anyone?), there’s an eclectic assortment of one-of-a-kind happenings.

The arts are alive in Westchester, with a performance by Yo-Yo Ma and the chance to hop aboard the “Culture Trolley,” which wends its way to more than 30 venues across two towns at Arts Fest. Kids can get hands-on at the Printing Press Children's Program or at Touch-A-Truck (which also includes a helicopter). Wee ones can delight in mingling with fairies and elves at Legends & Lore of the Little People. 

This weekend offers a bonanza of entertaining and enriching events (not to mention apple picking), so you’ll definitely want to visit our Events Calendar to see the extensive fun beyond our top picks below. Enjoy!

Connecticut is a perfect place to celebrate fall: the warm days, the crisp nights, and the slowly turning leaves. We have so many picturesque spots to enjoy the season while building scarecrows or getting lost in corn mazes, or even learning about beekeeping and local honey.

We have tracked down some of our favorite fall fairs in Hartford and Fairfield, and we're constantly updating our CT Halloween and Fall Fun Guide with the latest and greatest scary (and not so scary) adventures. Make sure that you subscribe to our weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest so that you won't miss any of the Halloween fun! 

Have a great weekend!

Recently my eight-year old daughter was invited to a laser tag party. I was admittedly apprehensive at first -- my little girl, battling with lasers? But she wanted to try it and I’m glad we gave it a shot. If you aren’t aware of how it works, the kids wear packs on their bodies that track if they are struck by a laser beam shot by another kid. Most places have obstacles to hide behind as well as for sneaking up on opponents. Kids work in teams so that they are not alone. Different places have varying themes and special effects. If your child likes high adventure and is looking for a thrill, check out the following places in the Hartford and New Haven areas for his or her next birthday party. For more birthday party ideas, check out our Connecticut Kids' Birthday Party Guide. 

Fall is officially here and you can savor the first weekend of the season with some awesome fresh-air activities: get a head start picking out an orange beauty during Heaven Hill Farm’s Great Pumpkin Festival, sample local eats and let the kids get their faces painted at Hoboken’s annual Fall Arts & Music Festival or test your outdoor knowledge during The Great Nature Quest at Echo Hill Park. And if you need a few more ways to keep the kiddos entertained, check out Open Cockpit Weekend at the Aviation Museum, Insect Insanity at Cora Hartshorn Arboretum or Batman Day Storytime at Watchung Booksellers. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar .

There's nothing like fall in New England. The crisp air ushers in many time-honored traditions -- foliage hikes, apple picking, hay rides to pumpkin patches, and the start of the fall fair and festival season. Connecticut offers some of the best fairs in New England, filled with family fun and activities. Nothing is better than fried dough, midway games, rides, kettle corn, and the sweet stickiness of caramel apples and apple cider. Check out the options below along with our Halloween and Fall Fun Guide; with the variety of fairs offered in greater Hartford, there is something for everyone! 

My daughter, like many other little girls, loves to dress up and pretend to be a Princess. This is probably just the start of many years to come of her wanting to get pampered. Really, what woman doesn't enjoy a day at the spa?! As she gets older I envision many special mom and daughter day trips to the salon getting our nails done together. For the little girl, adolescent or even teen who enjoys getting all dolled up, a spa party with her friends would be a perfect way to celebrate a birthday. There are some great selections in the Hartford County area that cater to just that kind of party! If a spa party in Fairfield County might be more convenient for you we've covered some options there as well. For even more great party ideas check out our Party Guide.

Apples and pumpkins aren't the only things ripe for the tasting on Long Island this fall harvest season. The bucolic North Fork is home to many family-friendly wineries that make for great day trips. Adults can indulge in a variety of fine vintages, while children picnic and frolic in the wide-open fields.

The gorgeous Sparkling Pointe Winery in Southold, Long Island is a particularly sweet destination for NYC families. Though it's less than two hours by car from Midtown Manhattan, it feels worlds away thanks to its grand opulence and wide selection of sparkling wines. And because it's just a short drive away from many other family attractions, including a working lighthouse and pick-your-own apples, you can make a fun day of it with the kids.

The new littleBits electronics maker space in Soho is fast winning over New York's littlest tinkerers and inventors. The homegrown startup's first NYC store lets grade-school kids (and adults) play, invent and build for FREE using its electronic building blocks that snap together via magnets, making it simple for all levels to follow these STEM-inspired lesson plans. Of course, no need to tell the kids you approve of such tech play. Why spoil their fun?

The only problem? It's a pop-up shop, so though you can find littleBits at its West Broadway location through the 2015 holidays, it plans to close up in January. 

Read on for the Mommy Poppins review of NYC's newest maker spot.