Jaime Sumersille

Jaime Sumersille, a mom of two boys in Bellmore, has been writing for Mommy Poppins for over a decade. She’s always exploring Long Island’s beaches, parks, and new attractions, and loves sharing those experiences on the site. Jaime enjoys adding her family’s perspective to Mommy Poppins’ mission.

Latest posts by Jaime

Veterans Day Weekend 2025 on Long Island: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 11/07/2025 - 9:57am

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Veterans Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

There are plenty of things to do on Long Island with kids this Veterans Day weekend, including kicking off the holiday season at the Jingle Bell Bash and Annual Tree Lighting at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, where you can take pics with Santa and hang out with some live reindeer. Check out our calendar for more things to do on Veterans Day itself, Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

Other top things to do this weekend include enjoying a holiday lights experience at LuminoCity, which returns to Long Island's Eisenhower Park with a new luminescent theme, and getting cozy with some furry farm animals during Patchogue's annual free Walk-Through Zoo.

Of course, it's not too early to start plotting your holiday outings with our list of 25 must-do Christmas and holiday activities on Long Island.

The Nutcracker Ballet and Other 2025 Holiday Shows for Kids on Long Island

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Mon, 11/03/2025 - 7:05am

Eglevsky Ballet presents special performances of the timeless holiday classic "The Nutcracker." Photo courtesy of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts

If your child is nuts about The Nutcracker, you’re in luck–several top-notch dance companies are performing this holiday favorite right here on Long Island. From classic full-length productions to shorter, kid-friendly versions, there’s a performance perfect for every family’s holiday calendar.

Standouts this season include the New York Dance Theatre’s show at Hofstra University and Ballet Long Island’s production, which offers select performances of only Act II. This is ideal for younger audiences who might get a little wiggly in their seats.

And if your family can’t get enough holiday magic, we've highlighted other festive shows lighting up local stages this winter, including Frosty and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Read on for amazing holiday show options for families on Long Island in 2025. And be sure to check out our events calendar and Holiday Guide for more seasonal family fun.

20 Best Things To Do on Long Island with Kids November 2025, from Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 10:16am

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, known for an eclectic blend of acrobats, jugglers, and vaudeville acts, is coming to Stony Brook. Photo courtesy of the circus

November brings plenty of wonderful things to do as Long Island gears up for holidays, from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas.

Holiday light shows illuminate Long Island this November. Cuddle up in the car and roll through the Jones Beach Magic of Lights Show in Wantagh. Or get out and wander Eisenhower Park in East Meadow on foot for the LuminoCity Festival.

Meanwhile, Disney fans can catch Disney on Ice Jump In at the UBS Arena in Elmont. And Sayville Falls is bringing back its walkthrough Holiday Light Show & Winter Garden this winter, where visitors can rent an igloo. And new at the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County's Holiday Light Show and Enchanted Forest, folks can upgrade to a Cozy Bungalow Package.

Read on for our expertly curated list of the best ways to pack your calendar this month on Long Island.

Halloween Weekend 2025 on Long Island: Trick-or-Treat, Parades, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 10:10am

Enjoy a ghostly walk through town during Raynham Hall's Halloween parade and party. Photo courtesy of the Raynham Hall Museum

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

At the WHMO Annual Halloween Festival, costumed kids can join in parades, crafts, and candy-filled games. Or, step back in time for the Halloween Ghost Walk & Party at Raynham Hall Museum, where colonial-era spirits whisper their stories as families enjoy treats and entertainment. For a free, colorful, and cultural festival, don’t miss the Día de los Muertos Family Celebration at the Heckscher Museum of Art, where families can explore art activities, music, and traditions.

Budding scientists can dive into hands-on experiments during a Spooky Science Weekend at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Ghosts and gadgets come together here for fun learning. Then, put an eco-friendly twist on Halloween cleanup at The Great Pumpkin Smash at the Science Museum of Long Island, where kids can safely smash their jack-o’-lanterns while learning about composting and sustainability.

Bookmark our Long Island Kids' Guide to Halloween Fun for more picks to keep your costumed cuties entertained all weekend, and keep this list of top trick-or-treat neighborhoods on Long Island close at hand for Friday night!

Long Island's Most Popular Christmas Events to Book Now Before They Sell Out in 2025

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 10/24/2025 - 9:48am

Eglevsky Ballet’s "The Nutcracker" will delight viewers both young and old. Photo courtesy of the Tilles Center

The time to book the best holiday and Christmas events on Long Island is now! These popular holiday events go on sale early and sell out quickly.

The holiday season is magical, but for parents whose to-do list is longer than Santa's, it can be hard to track when to buy tickets to all the big holiday and Christmas events on Long Island. Set your alarms, mark your calendars (view our Long Island events calendar while you're at it), and prepare those ugly Christmas sweaters for all the festive family outings.

From incredible light walk-throughs to holiday train rides and the dates they go on sale, keep reading for all the Long Island holiday events intel.

Keep the holiday traditions going, or start a new one by bookmarking the must-do Christmas events on Long Island, seeing a Nutcracker ballet or other holiday show, and making more holiday memories with our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Long Island Families.

Go Under the Sea at LICM's New Exhibit, the Museum's First Major Addition in a Decade

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 10/10/2025 - 7:41am

Saltwater Stores is a new, immersive exhibit at the Long Island Children's Museum. Photo by the author

Saltwater Stories: We Need the Sea & the Sea Needs Me is an immersive new exhibit at the Long Island Children’s Museum that celebrates Long Island's connection to the sea through hands-on play, storytelling, and exploration. It's a great choice if you're seeking engaging and educational things to do with kids indoors.

Read on for all the details to plan your visit to the Long Island Children's Museum. For even more activities, check out our guide to Long Island's best family-friendly museums and our Indoor Play Space Guide.

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend 2025 on Long Island: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 10/10/2025 - 7:35am

Saltwater Stories celebrates Long Island's waterfront heritage. Photo by the author

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Indigenous Peoples Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the long weekend.

Dive into Saltwater Stories, the brand-new permanent exhibit at the Long Island Children’s Museum, where little explorers can learn all about our local marine life.

If your crew loves Halloween but not the fright, head to Gateway’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Adventure—it’s big on fun and low on scares. For more Halloween fun, might we suggest giving those costumes a test-run during the Long Beach Parade on Saturday?

Trunk-or-Treats on Long Island for Kids to Collect Candy 2025

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Sun, 10/05/2025 - 5:51am

Take your costumes for a test drive at the family-friendly Trunk-or-Treat at Hauppauge Library. Photo courtesy of the library

Trunk-or-treats offer Long Island kids a safer alternative to trick-or-treating. Instead of wandering door to door, young trick-or-treaters can load up their Halloween bags with candy from decorated cars.

These trunk-or-treats—many of which are FREE—take place in parking lots or parks. They sometimes include parades, costume contests, and other Halloween activities. Another bonus for sugar-crazed kids: Many take place before Halloween. That means double the loot if you plan right!

For more boo-tiful Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Guide for Long Island Families.

Jaime Sumersille

Latest posts by Jaime

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