August might be upon us, but summer in the Hamptons and the North Fork is still in full swing with more than a few family-friendly events happening, from the Sag Harbor Fire Department Carnival to a flea market in Westhampton Beach. We've come up with 9 must-attend events during the weekend of August 8-10.

Be sure to check out our Long Island Calendar for more kid-friendly activities, as well as our Hamptons and North Fork Guide. And don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you can receive our roundup of fun things to do delivered directly to your inbox.

And for those of you staying out on the East End during the week, be sure to check out CMEE's Summer Concert Series every Tuesday this month. Mommy Poppins Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide is a proud sponsor and we'll be on hand each week with a new prize to give away! This Tuesday (8/12) will feature Tim and the Space Cadets, and we're giving away a $200 voucher toward a Manhattan birthday party.

Before we know it, the leaves will be changing colors and school schedules will consume our days. So round up the troops during these warm and carefree weekends in August and have some summer fun! Get outdoors (and maybe get a little dirty!) as you learn about amphibians at Poricy Park’s Frog Fest, roll up your sleeves for some planting and weeding during Garden Time at Liberty State Park or sign up for S’mores Galore campfire and sing-a-long at Tenafly Nature Center. August in Jersey is also brimming with family-friendly festivals like the Peach, Pirate & Princess Festival at Camden Children’s Garden, Butterfly Festival at Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association or Salt Water Day at the Laurence Harbor. Also, you can check out the full list of weekend activities on our Event Calendar and don't miss our Summer of Play Guide with 100s of ideas for a fun, playful, and tech-free summer!

Several times a year I find myself outside on my tiny patio at all odd hours, staring up at the sky in hopes I will catch a glimpse of some spectacular astronomical happening in the skies over Westchester. There are meteor showers, comets, planet alignments, super moons, eclipses, oppositions and conjunctions--not to mention man-made events like shuttle launches and space station pass-overs.

Recently, a friend asked if I knew of any public spaces in the area where the skies are dark enough for stargazing--places that welcome families and amateur astronomers to observe the skies. Happily, there are several places in Westchester and the surrounding area where families can see and learn about the night sky and we've rounded them up for you.

Pack a thermos of hot chocolate, grab some warm blankets and check out these local astronomical viewing sites and activities--one might even say the views are out of this world!

If you live in one of the towns west of Boston and you have a creative kid, you’re in luck. In Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Newton and Concord, I’ve found a veritable cornucopia of art and craft making classes for kids. Environmental arts? Check. Cartooning? Check. Zentangle? (What's that?) Yep, that one too, along with clay work, animation, drawing, painting, glass fusion, and fashion illustration.  

If all this sounds great, but you're looking for classes closer to the city, take a look at my posts highlighting arts and crafts classes in Boston and in Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. 

With its rich farming history, Long Island is home to various animals that help tend to the land and produce food., while others animals are here seeking refuge, being rehabilitated from an injury. And we're lucky enough to view and encounter marine life at a local aquarium.

We've compiled a list of places on the East End of Long Island where you can learn about animals, experience hands-on encounters and even kiss a sea lion! In addition, visit some of these Family Friends Farms on Long Island, and for more ideas on how to spend your time in the area, check out our North Fork and Hamptons Guide as well.

The weeks of warm, lazy days are dwindling and before we know it, September and the start of school will be here. Rather than fret about the impending return of homework and schedules, I decided to come up with a list of both fun AND educational outings my family and I can take part in during these last few weeks of August. We’ll make some memories, get our brains back into learning mode and soak up what’s left of summer. Check out these ten great outings in NJ and for more end of summer fun, don't forget to check out our New Jersey Kids Summer Activities Guide.