Tara D
Tara D
Tara constantly seeks out opportunities for enrichment and exploration with her kids. When she started writing about it as the Boston Community Ambassador for Ziptivity.com, she discovered a passion for sharing her unique finds with parents, helping to make their lives a little easier and a lot more fun. She now writes for Mommy Poppins and is the Boston Site Editor. Her work, which has been highlighted by Huffington Post, can be seen nationally across the Mommy Poppins sites and on Appalachian Mountain Club's Kids Outdoors blog.
You can also follow Tara on Google+.
Latest posts by Tara
WaterFire just might be the greatest thing that’s ever happened to Providence, Rhode Island. In the 23 years since the first bonfires were lit on the rivers in Providence, the brilliant and moving art installation has helped to transform the city into a vibrant, family-friendly destination.
Part community festival and part art exhibition—complete with bonfires juxtaposed with water, music, arts and crafts vendors, boat rides, and live performances—WaterFire is held on various evenings from late April through early November. And spectators will tell you: It's an event not to be missed. But just like other wonderful, very popular events such as First Night Boston, getting the inside scoop on WaterFire can mean the difference between having a magical evening with the family and a really long night. Here are 25 things to look for and to know before you go—with wisdom learned (sometimes the hard way) from my family’s experience and from the very knowledgeable team at WaterFire.
For me, a drive-in movie theater evokes memories of playing catch with family and friends on a warm summer night, then settling in to watch movies on the big screen until the kids fell asleep. Those were distant memories until I took my own family to the Mendon Twin Drive-in. The experience was exactly as I had remembered it, and we now try to make it to the drive-in at least once each summer.
Read on for everything you need to know about a family night at the drive-in, including five drive-in theaters near the Boston area and five tips for enjoying your experience to the fullest.
You know it's summertime in Boston when kids are running through fountains and splashing in shallow pools of water on the Greenway and Boston Common. There's plenty of water fun to be had in neighborhoods all around the city, and we've rounded up some of our favorite spots. Most locations are open on weekends after Memorial Day, and then daily from the end of June through Labor Day. Bonus: they're all free!
July makes a grand entrance with Independence Day celebrations in and around Boston, including daytime July 4th festivities and fireworks filling the night sky. The family fun keeps going all month with lots of events and activities, and below are our top 10 picks.
Of course, we have plenty more ideas for enjoying summer sun and fun with your kids: free summer movies, free summer concerts, and great beaches. We'll keep adding to our calendar daily and sending our weekly newsletter in time for each weekend, but here's your chance to look ahead for these July favorites and get them on your calendar. In fact, if you click through to the full listings, you can automatically add them to your personal calendar. Easy peasy.
If you’re looking for a fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is a classic choice. Heading over to the Esplanade in the morning to stake out a spot, enjoying a picnic and the outdoors all afternoon, then in the evening hearing the 1812 overture as fireworks explode in the sky is a Boston tradition families have been enjoying for decades.
But if the sounds and crowds on the Esplanade seem a bit overwhelming, there are plenty of other great options. Lots of towns around Boston put on their own 4th of July displays that are just right for families with young children. Read on for some wonderful local celebrations with fireworks and festive Independence Day activities happening June 24th through July 4th.
Summertime is jam time, whether your genre of choice is kindie rock, roots, jazz, blues, world, or classical music. Boston neighborhoods and surrounding towns feature lots of popular local musicians in their summer outdoor music series, and some concerts are aimed specifically at kids. With our roundup of summer music series as your guide, you could take your kids to a community concert almost every day this season. Best of all, the performances are all free!
Editor's note: Be sure to check back often through June for updates, as concert dates are still being added and websites updated.
Strawberry picking is a nice, low-key summer activity to enjoy with the kids, but sometimes you want to kick it up a notch. These Boston-area farms, markets and restaurants are doing exactly that with June festivals featuring hayrides, bouncy houses, live entertainment and fun for kids. There's also plenty of strawberry shortcake to try, plus other delightful treats, too.
So bring your kids and your appetite: It's time to celebrate strawberry season!
When you're not attending a graduation or crafting keepsakes or special treats for dad, we know you want the lowdown on the best things to do with your kids this month. June brings the start of summer and school vacation, which makes it the perfect time of year to get active, get outdoors, and explore nature. It's also a great time to introduce your kids to Boston's rich cultural scene, with festivals and performances filling our Event Calendar throughout the month.
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