If you have a Lego lover at home, you won't want to miss Brick Fest Live!, an unofficial Lego fan celebration taking place at Queens' New York Hall of Science this week. This touring Lego experience offers hands-on fun for all ages and skill levels, from casual builders to die-hard fanatics, including a Lego video game arcade, multiple building areas, a racetrack for Lego cars and amazing plastic brick creations, including some that glow in the dark!

My 10-year-old son and I just got back from Brick Fest Live!, and if you've got a Lego-obsessed kid like mine, this is a must-do event. Bonus: It's FREE with regular museum admission!

Nothing sparks my kids' (or my!) curiosity quite like a trip to a museum. Thankfully, Fairfield County, Connecticut is filled with fascinating cultural institutions where my family can learn about science, space, nature and history. But did you know that many of these museums offer fun and enriching children's birthday party packages, too? Here are seven spots where your child can celebrate the big day among dinosaurs, farm animals, trains and even armored tanks!

It's official: the calendar says summer, even if my kids still have one more week of school. Once classes are out, they'll be looking for some fun entertainment, and we've got news of a lot of freebies! From a free museum festival to no-cost swimming lessons, complimentary circus performances and a school's out celebration at Luna Park, there are plenty of activities to banish summer boredom without emptying your pocketbook. And if you've got a wee one in Brooklyn, we have big news about a new public pre-K set to open.

When you think about the East End of Long Island, the first word that comes to mind usually isn't "cheap." So how can parents amuse their kids in the Hamptons and North Fork without inflicting too much pain on their wallets? Believe it or not, there are plenty of creative ways to stretch a dollar in this region. Activities like ferry rides, nature junkets and railroad excursions offer maximum entertainment value at limited expense.

Here are some innovative ideas for super-low-cost family outings on the East End. And for more things to do in the area, check out our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

Festivals, outdoor movies and fireworks—it’s beginning to look a lot like summer! Get into the spirit of the season at outdoor events, including a Somerset Patriots Baseball Game, the annual Italian-American Festival and Fireworks on the Beach. Catch family films under the night sky at Turtle Back’s Zoo-vies and Scotch Plains’ Family Movie Night. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

By now all kids are out of school and summer is in full swing. I’m not saying this Poppins Mommy didn’t plan well, but our Summer Camp Guide is still coming in handy for last-minute adjustments. Better yet, make your own camp with WeeWork projects, local events, and lots of play. Fantastic Mr. Fox screens for free this week at the Brentwood Country Mart—even George Clooney’s voice manages to be handsome, and this is one of my family’s favorite movies. Gather 'round a campfire at the King Gillette Ranch or Franklin Canyon; loiter on the sidewalk for some stargazing in Burbank; and pack a picnic dinner for an evening of free Shakespeare in Griffith Park or a sing-along with Julie Andrews in the Hollywood Hills. Summertime means more action than ever on our Event Calendar!

For most Long Island kids, this is the last week of school, which means summer break is about to begin. But lots of seasonal fun has already started, like the popular Summer Movie Express ($1 flicks!). This week kids can also learn about honeybees, while teens can have some fun on Friday night.

For even more activities going on around LI, be sure to check out our Event Calendar. Spending some time on the East End? Take a look at our Hamptons & North Fork Guide.

With school already out (or almost out) in most local communities, it's the perfect time to enjoy some of those free summer concert series for kids and families we've been raving about here at Mommy Poppins Boston. Music not your thing? Not a problem! The calendar is chock-full of other free and fun family activities like the Free Fun Friday series, which kicks off this week with tons of attractions including the MIT Museum and Tanglewood. Whatever you choose to do, have a great week, and don't forget to check out our full Event Calendar!