New Water Slides at LI's Splish Splash Are Sure to Thrill

New water slides Riptide Racer, right, and Bombs Away will delight aquatic thrill seekers at  Splish Splash.

Get wet 'n wild at Long Island's East End waterpark, Splish Splash, this summer with the addition of two new high-speed thrill rides, Riptide Racer and Bombs Away.

Looking for more ways to soak up fun in the sun? Check out these Long Island sprinkler parks, poolswater parks, slides and beaches. As always, our Summer Fun Guide has you covered for more seasonal fun. If you're looking for added inspiration, see our list of 25 must-do activities with kids on Long Island this summer; 50 great things to do on the East End with kids; and our guide to summer day trips in and around Long Island.

On a budget? Take a gander at our list of 50 FREE things to do with kids on Long Island this summer.  

July GoList: Best Things To Do with LA and OC Kids this Month

Summer has crept in under cover of June Gloom, and there are so many ways to enjoy it, in town or on the road. Already free summer concerts are rockin'; free summer movies are rolling, and great beaches are beckoning. Read on for the best of July in LA, Ventura, and Orange County. We'll keep adding to our events calendar daily, of course, and sending our weekly newsletter in time for each weekend, but here's your chance to plan ahead for a dozen July favorites.

25 Things To Do in Laguna Beach with Kids

Take a paddleboard lesson. Photo via Bigstock

Laguna Beach in Orange County is a beach- and art-lovers paradise, a land of scuba diving and gallery exploring. The town was originally created as an artists' colony, known to this day for its many art festivals, but Laguna has plenty of other great amenities and events, too, that make this town a great place for kids and the whole family. Whether you are a local, a daytripper, or just looking for a SoCal staycation to please all ages, heading to Laguna Beach is a great idea!

Free Outdoor Kids Music Concerts in NYC This Summer

The Pop Ups bring summertime music, dancing, and fun to Hudson RiverKids. Photo courtesy of the event

What's better than a spectacular, outdoor, family-friendly, FREE music performance? A whole series of free outdoor concerts for kids! We've already told you about the great concerts in June for NYC kids, and now we're rounding up all the free concerts in July and August, to keep the kids grooving all summer.

There are free concert series for kids in parks, playgrounds, piers and plazas across the five boroughs, so scroll, click, and set reminders with your favorites. With top family bands playing annual series like Madison Square Kids and SummerStage Family Workshops, you're sure to find something the whole family can shake a tail feather to. 

For even more free family fun, see our jam-packed Summer Guide and our roundup of 100 free things to do with kids in NYC this summer.

Bounce Off the Walls at New Launch Trampoline Park in West Nyack

The open space is great for little bouncers.

It seems like yesterday we announced to readers the opening of Rockin’ Jump, the indoor trampoline park, at Ridge Hill. Now there’s a new trampoline kid on the block: Launch Trampoline Park.

Located in Rockland County’s West Nyack, Launch Trampoline Park opened in June 2018 and is gearing up for a Grand Opening event. Bearing much resemblance to Rockin’ Jump, Launch Trampoline Park offers extreme dodgeball, one-on-one basketball, a battle beam, dunk basketball, a warrior ninja course, more than 15,000 square feet of open-jump trampoline space, an arcade with redemption, and a cafe.  Read on for more details about this new facility for Westchester and Hudson Valley kids.

Looking for more places to have fun while burning off energy? Consult our guide to indoor play spaces in Westchester. Also stay abreast of new openings, special events, and more by signing up for our newsletters and following us on Facebook

Great Summer Fairs and Festivals for Long Island Families

Patchogue's Main Street closes down on select days in July and August for Family Fun @ Alive After 5. Photo courtesy of the event

Nothing says summer more than spending time as a family at a fair or festival on Long Island. It's a chance to be outdoors, spend time with the friends and neighbors, and make lasting memories.

Whether your family enjoys an old-fashioned street fair in your neighborhood or ventures nearby to see how other communities celebrate summer, these family-friendly events are sure to leave everyone smiling. Plus, many of these events are FREE to the public. That's why we've rounded up a list of the best fairs and festivals taking place in Nassau and Suffolk counties and on the East End in July and August. 

For more seasonal inspiration, check out our Summer Fun Guide and Events Calendar. And while you're at it, consider one or two of our 25 must-do activities with kids this summer. If you're on a budget, try a few of our 50 FREE things to do with LI kids before school resumes. 

Best July Fairs and Festivals for New Jersey Families

Burlington County Farm Fair brings family fun to Springfield in mid-July. Photo courtesy of the fair

Fairs and festivals and feasts, what fun! It’s nonstop action in NJ this month—read on for our recommendations and choose your favorites. With everything from state and county fairs to music and food festivals—and of course, awesome July 4th celebrations—there’s something happening almost every day in July. Mark your calendar now, and have a blast all month long.

And for more warm-weather action, visit our Summer Fun Guide.

100+ Free Outdoor Family Movies in July for NYC Kids

RiverFlicks for Kids in Hudson River Park is the perfect setting for a picnic and a movie. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

New York City overflows with no-cost outdoor movie screenings each summer, with at least one FREE flick nearly every single evening in a park or garden this July. While a few series aim specifically for children, including RiverFlicks for Kids, most series sandwich their family films in between grown-up ones.

But it takes a LOT of time to sort through all the different calendars to weed out the movies for kids, so we've done the work for you. Behold: More than 100 FREE outdoor movies this July, all rated G, PG, or PG-13, and all organized by date.

So pack your picnic, grab a blanket, and head out to one of our picks for the best family-friendly alfresco flicks this month. Need more options? Check out our 100 Free Things To Do with Kids This Summer in NYC to save both your wallet and your sanity this school break. And keep an eye on our calendar, too!

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