Sometimes, there is nothing better than having your whole family over to your home for Thanksgiving dinner.  And sometimes, there is nothing better than shipping your whole family to your sister’s house across town for Thanksgiving dinner!  Let’s face it; peeling, prepping and cooking an entire Thanksgiving meal can be exhausting.  But should you find yourself not chained to your oven over the holidays, you may have some time on your hands.  Lucky you - there are some fabulous CT Thanksgiving traditions in Fairfield County to get out and enjoy with or without your kids!

Are your kids giddily crossing out the days on your wall calendar like mine? She can't wait until Thanksgiving arrives because she loves Macy's big Parade, plus she knows that means the other holidays aren't far behind (we do Christmas and Hanukkah in this house).

Already, our regional sites are posting about the most spectacular holiday houses on Long Island and in New Jersey, along with only-in-the-suburbs seasonal experiences like Santa train rides.

In addition to being excited for next week's festivities, we're psyched about this Saturday's Mommy Poppins Night at the New Victory Theater. We're hosting a special performance of 360 Allstars, a high-octane spectacle featuring BMX bike tricks, battling break-dancers, acrobats, athletes and a live beat boxer. Mommy Poppins readers save 20% on tickets to the 7pm performance on November 22 and enjoy cookie decorating after the show (and get to meet a few of us bloggers since we'll be there with our kids, too).

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

As we reach the final weekend before Thanksgiving, a few provocative events in Westchester are worth noting. Gospel Concert: Giving Thanks is a FREE performance sure to step up gratitude. And, as Thanksgiving is as much about Native Americans as it is pilgrims, The Lenape of Westchester will enlighten attendees about this tribe that used to inhabit our area. Another top pick is Turkey Run Peekskill, which combines both charity and comedy (and even calorie-burning). Also be sure to check out our roundup of other upcoming turkey trots in Westchester. If you’re ready to gear up for Christmas too, there’s the Annual Tree Lighting Celebration at Cross County Shopping Center.

Unrelated to holidays, there are two noteworthy performances taking place this weekend: Lily's Purple Plastic Purse and An Arabian Adventure: A Puppet Show. For a heads-up on upcoming holiday performances in Westchester, check out our roundup of some highlights.

Heading to NYC? Check out our exclusive Mommy Poppins reader event this Saturday night at the New Victory Theater.  Readers get to enjoy a performance of 360 Allstars, a thrilling athletic spectacle, a post-show cookie decorating activity and save 20% on their ticket by using MommyPoppins1 at checkout. 

Read on for more details about these activities and be sure to consult our Event Calendar for daily activities and the abundance of holiday events!

Bundle up and get in the Thanksgiving mood with a Holiday Lights Spectacular at Jones Beach. Or you can hunker down inside at a live showing of Peter Pan or The Snow Queen. For more fun things happening this season, check out our Long Island Holiday Guide.

Heading to NYC?  Check out our exclusive Mommy Poppins reader event next Saturday night at the New Victory Theater.  Readers get to enjoy a performance of 360 Allstars, a thrilling athletic spectacle, a post-show cookie decorating activity and save 20% on their ticket by using MommyPoppins1 at checkout. 

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On this last weekend before Thanksgiving, activities galore can help get your family into the holiday spirit! Josh and the Jamtones jazz out at their Thanksgiving Concert in Newton, and Faneuil Hall brightens up with a day of festivities culminating in the opening of the Blink! light show and Faneuil Hall's tree lighting spectacular. Events to encourage kids to give back to the community include the Fresh Pond Great Gobble Give Back, the Jingle Bell Walk/Run for Arthritis, and the annual Candyland Tournament to benefit Pitching In for Kids.  Other fun options that make the most of the chilly temperatures include the Opening Day of Skating at Boston's Frog Pond and the Dog Sled Fun Run in Milton.

In performances this weekend, some great choices for younger kids are Silly Sally's Bubble Show at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, The Yankee Peddler at the Puppet Showplace Theatre, or Jack and the Beanstalk at the Center for Arts in Natick. Indoor activities for older children include a Family Portraiture workshop in Newton or a Theatre Games Workshop in Arlington.

Also on Mommy Poppins this week:

• Make some space for all that turkey by running (or walking) in one of the local, family-friendly Turkey Trots and Other Holiday Fun Runs.
• Tara offers tips for celebrating an Earth-friendly Christmas without taking all of the fun out of the party.
• Things are getting festive all over town as we round up Holiday Tree Lightings in Boston.
• Get the kids into the holiday spirit by volunteering together and making someone's holiday brighter. 
• Keep the kids busy in the days leading up to Thanksgiving by making Acorn Napkin Rings.

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out the full events events calendar!

Brrrr! The winter chill has arrived. If you're looking for activities to keep the little ones occupied indoors, check out our Thanksgiving Kids Craft: Acorn Napkin Rings, which will entertain them and provide a little personality to your holiday table.

Have you sorted out your Thanksgiving plans? Be sure to peek at at our guide to Thanksgiving Break Activities in Hartford County, which has fabulous suggestions for Turkey Day and beyond, as well as our guides to Turkey Trots and Thanksgiving Day Races and (for after you've worked up an appetite) Where to Buy Local, Farm Fresh Turkeys. If the dinner specialty of your house is reservations, we have some terrific suggestions for a stress-free holiday meal in the form of Thanksgiving Day: Dinner Out Anyone? If you're traveling, don't miss our guide to Great Family Pit Stops Along the Merritt Parkway.

Our Holiday Fun Guide, November CT Go List, and events calendar are up-to-date resources that will help with all your holiday planning for the coming week and beyond. Without further ado, here are our suggestions for maximum fun this weekend! 

When looking for truly unique presents for my family, I skip the big chains and shop locally at some of my favorite independent stores. Lucky for me, many of my go-to gift spots are located right in my home borough of Queens.

Over the past few years, lots of cool, locally owned Queens boutiques have been opening up or expanding. These are the kind of places where you can pick up interesting (and often eco-friendly) toys, clothes, books, gear and other items for children and sometimes adults, too. If you don't have time to stop in, most of these stores have websites so you can buy online while still supporting a community business.