#subaruforester
In the 90s my father was in a fender bender on the Henry Hudson Highway. His little car was totalled, but the SUV that rear ended him was completely fine. My dad wanted to be the SUV guy next time, so he went and got a Subaru Forester. We loved our boxy Forester and when it died my stepmother got another one that was exactly the same. So, when I was offered a brand new 2014 Subaru to test drive, I was thrilled to check out the complete makeover of our beloved Foresters. Would I love it even more or would the new fangled Subaru Forester not live up to my loving memories?

This weekend has lots of fun in store with music and cultural festivals, a pop concert, family science fun and Legos! Peekskill hosts their annual Jazz & Blues Festival this weekend and Legoland Discovery Center's Lego Legends of Chima event is going on all weekend. On Saturday, Gate Hill Day Camp opens its doors to give you a taste of their camp experience and Rye Playland continues their concert series with pop band R5. On Sunday, Hudson River Museum hosts their Family Sunday series with Spin, Pop...Boom! science demonstration and the annual Jewish Heritage Festival is happening at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

If you see an event that piques your interest, be sure to click through to our calendar of events for all the details. And remember, our event calendar has info on lots more happening this weekend.

The big news this week (besides the fact that we no longer feel like we're melting) is the announcement of our new series of Mommy Poppins Family Cruises—and we have you to thank for it! Back in June, we hosted an outing in New York Harbor on Manhattan by Sail's Clipper City Tall Ship. Tickets sold out quickly and many readers were disappointed they got shut out. That inspired us to organize four additional fun-filled family cruises, each with a unique theme and enriching kids' activities. Check our post for more info and if a sail piques your interest, book your tickets so you don't miss out this time around.

Summer fun continues to be our primary focus on all of our sites. In NYC, we rounded up restaurants with backyards where kids can play. New Jersey's got a list of natural swimming holes and a post about this weekend's awesome-sounding hot-air balloon festival (both things you can't find in NYC). Our Boston site has a parent review of DreamWorks' new animated flick Turbo, and if you're off to the Hamptons, our Long Island site has lots of great weekend event picks as well as the best places to catch family theater in the area.

Since the big vacation month of August is coming up, be sure to check our Travel site for inspiration. We just posted about the fabulous Fairmont Southhampton family resort in Bermuda. If you can't get there for summer break, there's always the holidays.

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

This week we celebrate the birth of a great son of England. His arrival was most definitely magical, and celebrated across the wizarding world. Harry Potter is one year older, and the folks at Whimsic Alley are throwing him a shindig befitting a prince.

But perhaps you were thinking of another Brit who’s been getting a lot of attention: the Bard of Avon is as fresh as ever 449 years after his birth. The renowned wordsmith has productions going all around town: you can see free Shakespeare in Griffith Park or A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the VA’s Japanese Gardens, there’s even a superhero version of Twelfth Night coming up in Culver City.

But of course I jest. The big news across the pond is the birth of HRH George Alexander Louis, the 8 pound, 6 ounce bundle of royalty. Congrats to the happy family, and welcome to the parenting club. If you ever make it out this way, be sure to check out our events calendar for the inside scoop on what to see and do with your little one in La La Land. (But for now, just try to get some sleep!)

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

There are plenty of fun and free things for families to do in and around Boston during this, the last weekend in July. Circus Smirkus comes to Gore Place in Waltham, and Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys, the Airborne Comedians, and Ben Rudnick & Friends perform at the Summer Arts Festival on Copley Plaza. Newburyport’s Yankee Homecoming Festival kicks off with Old Fashioned Sunday, and Figment Boston brings large-scale art making to the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

For more outdoor fun, why not get the family together for a round or two of mini golf. Family movie night? Read Tara’s review of Turbo and find out if it’s right for your kids. And if you’re headed to the Cape and find yourself facing a rainy day, we’ve found some places to explore that you may have otherwise overlooked.

Our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional things to do in our Events Calendar. And follow us on Twitter or Facebook for more updates and information.

This weekend, celebrate the opening of Extreme Origami at the Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University. In this exhibit, the ancient art of paper folding is elevated to a whole new level. Feeling inspired to belt out a Gene Kelly song, or two? Then head over to the Gateway Playhouse for a production of Singin' In The Rain. Learn about nanotechnology and all things small at Brookhaven National Laboratory through informative discussions and hands-on exploration. Get in touch with nature at The Whaling Museum and Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor. At this soil soiree, grab a magnifying glass and look for critters, along with planting seeds in a decorated pot. Also on tap: Finding The Loch Ness Book Signing at Jungle Bob's Reptile World, and Plaza Theatrical Productions Presents Beauty And The Beast at Long Island Children's Museum. As always, check our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family.

Sandcastles, carnival rides and great kids' concerts are all on the schedule this summer weekend. Head to Rockaway Beach and get creative at the annual sandcastle competition. Soak up some cool outdoor culture at Lincoln Center Out of Doors Family Day, including a FREE concert by Dan Zanes. Hit Staten Island's Greenbelt for the annual Children's Day Extravaganza at the Carousel for All Children. Or gasp at Quidam, the latest Cirque du Soleil extravaganza, which is playing at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

Looking ahead to next weekend, have you booked your tickets to our Mommy Poppins Family Cruise yet? Our inaugural Manhattan by Sail voyage in June was such a success, we just announced four additional New York Harbor sails on the Clipper City Tall Ship featuring enriching kids' activities and stunning views. Our first excursion, Stories and Tales of the Sea with master storyteller Bill Gordh, takes place next Sunday, August 4. Purchase your tickets today so you don't miss out.

All of our best bets for this weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

Between vacation, camp and day trips, summer can burn a hole in the pocket. Not to mention the daunting electricity bill from running the A/C constantly. We have over a month left before school starts, and if you still want to have adventures that won't break the bank, check out Ten Free Family Activities in New Haven County and Free Events and Activities in Southern CT This Summer. 

There are some wonderful free, family hikes this weekend including Giant Adventure at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, Salter's Pond Adventure in Manchester and the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. CT has 618 miles of coastline, and Our CT Beach and Water Guide will simplify that search on where to go.