Mostly Free and Fun Things to do in CT with Kids This Weekend: June 8-9: CT Open House, Tom Sawyer, and Strawberry Picking

Last weekend's warm weather might have made us believe that summer was already here, but this weekend's forecast poses a few more planning challenges. Never fear! We have a whole roster of activities to keep kids of all ages occupied--whether indoors or out.

Looking for a fun night out for your kids and yourself? Check out our guide to childcare providers offering Parents' Night Out in Fairfield County (in particular the Easton Community Center, which is hosting Parents' Night Out on Friday, June 7th from 6:30-10.)

Fun & Free Things to Do with LA Kids this Weekend: Getty Fest, Paddleboard Races & Free Donuts! June 8 - 9

Summertime, and the living is easy! (Said no parent ever). Most of the school districts in the Los Angeles area either are on break or will be before you know it. That leaves you with a lot of hours to fill. Oh no, who can you turn to for help?! Where will you find a hand-picked guide to berry picking? Will a guide to easy beaches just wash ashore? Is someone trumpeting about the coolest outdoor summer concerts series across the Southland?  Seriously. Let me know when you find out because I have no idea.*

If your thoughts turn to travel in the summer months, be sure to pay a visit to one of our sister sites. They can fill you in on the Mommy Poppinest events and activities in their necks of the woods.  (I'm totes jealous of the Dan Zanes concert I saw listed on Mommy Poppins New York, and thinking I might just have to board a plane and a ferry to sample the Nantucket fun Mommy Poppins Boston writes about.) You'll  probably want to check out each of the Mommy Poppins city sites, especially now that there are seven of us and... oops.  Did I just let the cat out of the bag? Well, you were going to find out sooner or later...

...Mommy Poppins has a new addition! Our new addition is a new edition, Mommy Poppins Westchester (the one in New York, not the home of LAX). It launched this week, and we couldn't be prouder! Why not pop on over and take a peek? We think you'll agree it's the most precious site ever, (or maybe we just think so because we haven't slept in a week). Naw.  It's a cutie!

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for the weekend ....

Fun and Free Things to Do with Kids in Boston: World Ocean Day, Dragon Boat Festival and More, June 8-9

Boston-area families can find plenty of fun and free things to do this weekend. From World Oceans Day in Boston to Fresh Pond Day in Cambridge, from the Dragon Boat Festival in Cambridge to the Arts Festival in Salem, the weekend is filled with festivals and celebrations. And local farms are gearing up for strawberry season; read about pick-your-own farms and upcoming festivals to celebrate. We also have recommendations for pizza and ice cream near Drumlin Farm (has Kristin’s post inspired you to go?), the Boston Public Library, Blue Hills Reservation and more.

Still figuring out what to do this summer? How about getting free stuff and getting the kids to keep reading all summer - Tara shares this winning combination. Plus, guest blogger Nantucket Bucket shares its Summer Nantucket Bucket List - 15 kid-tested, parent-approved activities that are some of the Island’s top must-do experiences and sure to be the highlight of any Nantucket vacation.

Read on for more of our weekend picks, and be sure to check our Events Calendar for more ideas.

Enjoy!

Long Island Kids' Activities June 8 & 9: Greek Village Festival, 39th Annual LI Bavarian Heritage Festival, Pinkalicious

This weekend, head on over to the Greek Village Festival at the Church of the Holy Resurrection in Brookville, where you'll enjoy Greek food, vendors, and more.  The 39th Annual LI Bavarian Heritage Festival is taking place at Plattduetsche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square, where you'll feast on German style food, listen to live music, see Bavarian folk dancing, and enjoy rides, games, and more.  At the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City, Plaza Theatrical Presents Pinkalicious, the story of a girl who indulges in way too many pink cupcakes and develops a case of Pinkititis!  Learn how flowers develop their scents and partake in a blindfolded test to identify plants by smell at the Kids & Family Program: Making Sense Of Scents at Old Westbury Gardens in Old Westbury.  Also on tap: National Geographic Little Explorers Oceans World Day at Pottery Barn Kids, Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, and The Real Story Of Little Red Riding Hood at CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale.  As always, check out our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family!  Also check out our articles on Farmers' Markets on Long Island: Fresh Local Food for Your Family and Great Long Island Beaches for Families Post-Sandy.

Fun Father’s Day Family Getaway Deals: Mystic, Ft Lauderdale, Bahamas, NYC and More

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and discount getaways are still available if you want to plan a quick family getaway to celebrate Dad. Summer vacation has already started in many parts of the country, so it is also prime time to start planning a family holiday.  There are deals to Mystic Aquarium, Bretton Woods in New Hampshire, Doral Arrowwood in Westchester County, Myrtle Beach, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Texas Hill Country. California families might want to consider a beach weekend in cute Cambria, and globetrotters can think about venturing to Cuba.  Sun-seekers should be pleased with deals that will have you relaxing in the Bahamas and family-friendly Marriott Resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Free and Fun Things to Do This Weekend for Westchester Kids: Festivals, Fairs, Nature Exhibits June 8-9

Summer is definitely in the air and there's plenty to do this weekend in Westchester. Glen Island is a beautiful place to spend a day and Hudson River Museum has a new exhibit, Federico Uribe: Fantasy River. There's also several outdoor festivals and fairs, nature outings and animal encounters happening this weekend. Indoors you'll find several great library events, museum exhibits and a grand opening of a new learning center in New Rochelle. Read on for the scoop on what to do and where to go this weekend!

Free & Fun Things to Do this Weekend with NYC Kids: Figment Festival, Egg Rolls & Egg Creams, Big Apple BBQ, Dan Zanes June 8-9

Another weekend with threats of heavy rain! If it does pour, some of our outdoor event picks may be canceled, rescheduled or move inside. We're doing our best to keep this post updated, but if it does rain on Saturday or Sunday, be sure to check the events' official websites (or better yet, their Twitter feeds or Facebook pages) to find out if anything has changed. Four of our top family event picks for June take place this weekend and we're trying to figure out if we can hit them all because we can't seem to choose! There's Madison Square Park's tasty annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, the interactive arts festival Figment on Governors Island, the Egg Rolls & Egg Creams Festival on the Lower East Side and a FREE concert by kid rockers Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell in Battery Park.

But wait—there's more! Other weekend highlights include the Long Island City Bike Parade and Celebrate Brooklyn!'s annual Ezra Jack Keats Family Concert . Oh how we wish we were better at making decisions. And if you're one of our many readers who live in Westchester County, we've got some big news for you: There's now a Mommy Poppins Westchester where you can read about the best things to do in Southern Westchester, Northern Westchester and the Hudson Valley, although we hope you'll keep reading us, too, in case you'd like to take a trip into NYC.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. As always, you can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

Introducing Mommy Poppins Westchester and Hudson Valley!

After a long time talking about it (and readers begging for it), Mommy Poppins is proud to announce the birth of our Westchester site. Now you can find out about the best things to do, see and experience with kids in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley in posts written by local moms, as well as browse our carefully curated Westchester Event Calendar. You can also sign up for our Westchester newsletter to stay on top of all the great things going on in the region.

Pages