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

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.

Boom in Play Spaces Hits Long Island: Here are Seven New Places to Play with Little Ones

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Mon, 09/29/2025 - 6:47am

Race through the obstacles at Jetetter Kids Club in Lindenhurst without getting caught. Photo by Gina Massaro.

Need a change of scenery from your usual play spot? Long Island is bursting with brand-new indoor play spaces and baby-friendly hangouts that make it easier than ever to entertain your little ones.

Whether you’ve got a crawling cutie or an energetic preschooler, these recently opened spots offer fresh ways to burn energy, spark creativity, and make new friends—without wrecking your living room.

Be sure to peruse our guide to Kids' Sports Center and Fun Zones for even more spots where Long Island kids can run off some steam.

Halloween and More Things To Do on LI with Kids October 2025, from Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Sun, 09/28/2025 - 11:43am

This October, scarecrows will once again line the walkways throughout Stony Brook Village in the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s annual Scarecrow Competition. Photo courtesy WMHO

Halloween is the name of the game in October, which means Long Island is alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and of course trick-or-treating—there are so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

Some of this month's standout options include tiptoeing through a daytime haunted trail in Manorville filled with ghosts, witches, and dinosaurs, exploring the underwater world of Bats, Barnacles, & Broomsticks at the Long Island Aquarium, and stepping into the Halloween House walk-through experience at Broadway Commons Mall for some frightfully fun photo ops and immersive thrills.

Keep reading for our favorite family-friendly things to do on Long Island in October—you’ll want to mark your calendar for these can't-miss events.

Top Free Halloween Events on Long Island 2025: Halloween Parades, Festivals, and More

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 09/26/2025 - 12:08pm

Get your pumpkins, meet Otto the Ghost, and enjoy the fall festivities at Hicks Nurseries. Photo courtesy of Hicks

All month long, Long Island is packed with free and festive Halloween events the whole family can enjoy. So go ahead—let the kids rock that spooky, sparkly, or downright adorable costume over and over. From trick-or-treat trails to pumpkin-packed parties, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate all October!

For more Halloween fun, check out our Long Island Halloween Guide.

Jaime Sumersille

Latest posts by Jaime

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