I love when creativity meshes with doing good, and this weekend the Life is good Festival will feature an impressive lineup of musical talent in Canton as a fundraiser to help kids in need. In addition to a steady stream of musical performances (which includes a dedicated kids stage), families can enjoy games, activities, crafts, and food. Meanwhile, how cool is this? The kind folks at Life is good are offering one of you awesome readers a Life is good Festival package*! Here's how to enter to win:

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Bethan!
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Rules:

Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com (with "Life is good Festival" in the subject) to enter to win.

One entry permitted per person; local entrants welcome to enter.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Wednesday, September 21, 2011.

*One lucky winner (drawn using Random.org) will receive a Life is good Festival package including a family four pack of tickets (2 adults/2 children) to the Life is good Festival on Sunday, September 25, 2011, a copy of the new Laurie Berkner DVD, and a case of Chobani Champions Greek yogurt for kids.. Sweet!

I hope you're all enjoying the fall weather and finding your rhythm with back to school routines and such. Among other things, this weekend was notable in that Violet had her first nibble of solid food -- it was both lovely that Laurel fed Violet her first non-mama snack and I also couldn't help but feel a little weepy about it all! Anyway, I'm wishing you all a wonderful Monday; here are some fun event ideas for this week, engaging for those who love music, textiles, star gazing, nature, food, museums, and local celebrations.

Image credit: vitasamb2001 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I know I shouldn't be so typically New England and obsess about weather, but 60s for this weekend -- welcome, fall! It'll be the perfect weather to enjoy any (or all, if you're feeling crazy ambitious) of these 17 fun weekend picks:

1. Rock it, South Boston.

2. It's been a looooong time since I've seen a movie in a theatre. This film festival could rectify that situation.
3. Artistry in the South End abounds.

4. Love, peace, and soul at the Oak Street Fair.

5. I love that this landscape watercolor workshop series is open to kids 9 and up.

6. The apples have arrived.

7. Laurel and I had so much fun building a fairy house the other week; head northward for fairy house building inspiration.

8. Fall fun in Quincy.

9. The weather will be utterly perfect for ponies, agile dogs, and other farm fun.

10. C'mon, a dog parade? How cute is that?

11. I loved the block parties my street held when I was a kid. Gloucester will be hosting a big block party this weekend.

12. Show your Arlington pride.

13. Oh to have an endless summer.

14. Apparently, Peabody = international mecca!

15. Assembly Square makes a bid for cool new hub in Somerville.

16. I dated a Serb back in the day. He would totally dig this.

17. A celebration of Greek culture north of town.

Image credit: South Boston Street Festival

Musical theatre always brings high school drama club memories flooding back, so I was feeling happily nostalgic when I learned that the Boston Opera House is showing South Pacific (my senior year musical production!) from September 27 - October 2. If your kids dig musical theatre or you're looking for a fun outing with a loved one, hop on over for tickets. And how cool is this? The kind folks at Broadway Across America are offering one of you awesome readers a 4-pack of tickets to South Pacific*! Here's how to enter to win:

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Mary Ann!
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Rules:

Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com (with "South Pacific" in the subject) to enter to win.

One entry permitted per person; local entrants welcome to enter.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Sunday, September 18, 2011.

*One lucky winner (drawn using Random.org) will receive a 4-pack of tickets to South Pacific for the Tuesday, September 27, 2011 7pm show. Sweet!

I know I'm not the only one who is super excited about a respite from the rain. The forecast looks beautiful -- perfect for enjoying any or all of these 15 (!) weekend picks that caught my eye:

1. Art buffet = awesome.

2. I hope they have weaving demos again at the Boston Arts Festival -- it was Laurel's favorite activity last year.

3. How can you not love a grand costume parade?
4. My elementary school friend Melanie was so generous -- she always shared her (crazy delicious) lamejun with me. If I knew where she was, I'd buy her treats from this Armenian festival.

5. Celebrate local and indie organic design,
baby Bollywood style.

6. I kind of freaked out a little seeing my former GBYSO conductor Joel Bard on the roster for the Newton Cultural Center festivities. Such a nice guy!

7. I find windmills kind of magical, do you?

8. I love perusing artisan wares.

9. I'm totally down with a concert that references a character named Schmutzinberry.

10. For those on the South shore, enjoy this music, theatre, and dance family festival.

11. And if you're in the Winchester area, check out this musicfest.

12. I have a feeling Laurel would really dig the costumes at the Melrose Victorian Fair.

13. Agricultural goodness abounds at the Franklin County and Sterling fairs.

14. Want to enjoy a grown up music venue family style? Alastair Moock and friends will play from Moock's new family friendly album at Club Passim.

15. We've found our last two sitters through Care.com. If you need childcare, they're hosting a Care Fair at the Museum of Science.

Image credit: Peabody Essex Museum

Today, Jennifer recommends a visit to Barefoot Books for more than books:

Given the variable nature of New England weather (cue today's monsoon...), it's always good to have some indoor activity ideas in your back pocket. My kids and I recently enjoyed a lovely afternoon at the Barefoot Books pottery studio in Concord. Our mission was to try out their newish paint-your-own pottery studio (it was added to the store's offerings this past spring), and oh, did we have a grand ol' time.
If you haven't been to the store before, it's a whimsical experience for sure. From the minute you approach the brightly-colored building with patio seating outside (hello perfect snack time venue), you know you're in a kid-centric place. Even the bathroom is crazy cool. We browsed the books for a bit and checked out the story time area and main art room before heading to the back pottery studio. We chose to paint a small castle (my 6 year old daughter) and a toucan (my 8 year old son). I even decided to join in the fun and painted a travel mug as a gift for my dad -- you're never too old to give the gift of hand-painted pottery, right? They offer dozens of items to paint and a beautiful palette of colors; pieces are ready for pick up about a week after your visit and the store calls you to let you know when your items are ready.

I thought our outing would be about an hour, max, but with the lovely and relaxing atmosphere (did I mention the cool music and wonderfully friendly staff?) we ended up staying 2 hours. After we finished painting, my daughter drew a few pictures at the big table in the art room while I looked over their impressively packed events calendar. We'll be heading back soon!

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend! We've been busy with family travel and social engagements over the past several weeks, hence my spottiness here the last few weekends, but I'm hoping to get back on track now that the school year is upon us. I'm wishing all of you with school aged kiddos a super smooth transition back to school! Meanwhile, enjoy my top event picks this week, which include fun ideas for those who adore acrobatic spectacle, origami, fashion, craft, and cultural celebrations.

Image credit: Boston Arts Festival

I truly still cannot wrap my head around the fact that it's September and Labor Day weekend is upon us. Yesterday I posted some happy summer images over at my personal blog and will continue to gaze at them through the fall (and, gulp, winter). Meanwhile, here are 7 fun picks for you -- have a fantastic holiday weekend!

1. Laurel has become obsessed with glass treasures. I think she'd love this family-friendly glassblowing event.

2. Labor Day festivities commence tomorrow in Newburyport.
3. Enjoy the sand between your toes at the last Surfside Live! event of the season.

4. For the schooner obsessed.

5. For the Renaissance obsessed.

6. It's going to be a craftastic weekend in Topsfield.

7. Yay for free jazz on Spectacle Island.

Image credit: Diablo Glass School

On Monday, enjoy family friendly activities in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the: Boston Children’s Museum, Discovery Museums in Acton, Children’s Museum in Easton, and Old Sturbridge Village. Also, the Boston Children’s Chorus will perform a tribute concert at Jordan Hall, and the Museum of Fine Arts is offering free general admission.