Check Out Halloween Parades, Walk to Cure Diabetes

Glad you clicked on our Grab & Go Kids Planner!

We've assembled a weekly calendar of kid-friendly activities and new places to try out with children.

Each week, we'll give you the info on the best family activities or events for the week.

You're time-pressed enough, so we're happy to do the research and find the best things to do and places to go, both locally and within reasonable striking distance.

Look for the kids’ planner each Wednesday, and help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips—just add them to the comment  box. We want to hear from you!

Nyack's Famous Halloween Parade
Where/When: Preparation starts at 3 p.m., with the parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. from Memorial Park in Nyack. Watch from Main Street and South Broadway.
Why Go: The Nyack Chamber of Commerce, in its 24th year sponsoring this event, bills it as the largest Halloween parade in Rockland County. There will be a dog costume contest this year and live music from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Riverspace parking lot on Main Street. Rain date is Sunday, Oct. 23. Prizes are also given for the best human costumes.
Cost/Contact: Free to attend. For more information, go to www.nyackchamber.org

JDRF 5K Walk To Cure Diabetes
Where/When: Sunday, Oct. 23; Check in at 9 a.m. and walk starts at 10 at Pfizer
Why Go: More than 3 million Americans live with type 1 diabetes. Come out and support the cause and get some exercise in too. There will be entertainment, games and refreshments. Nearly 6,000 people are expected participate. The walks raise funds to benefit JDRF and the people living with juvenile diabetes.
Cost/Contact: Donations accepted; To Register go to walk.jdrf.org.

SOCASA/SADD 5K Walk/Run
Where/When: Registration at 9 a.m. and the race at 10 p.m. Saturday Oct. 22 at South Orangetown Middle School.
Why go: The race is sponsored by the South Orangetown Community Awareness of Substance Abuse (SOCASA) and Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD). Winners in each gender/age category win medals. Age breakdowns are: Under 14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59,
60-plus. Participants can earn three hours of community sevice.
Cost/Contact: Entry fee is $15. Make checks payable to SOCASA. For more information contact Susan Maher at (845) 680-1675 or by email at smaher@socsd.org or Vickie Shaw at (845) 680-1271 or by email at vshaw@socsd.org

Haunted Birdhouses VII
Where/When: registration began Oct. 15 and the event is 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Nanuet Library.
Why Go: Get into the Halloween mood and create a fun and spooky craft with your child. It’s for school-aged children accompanied by an adult.
Cost/Contact: Free, Nanuet Library

Clarkstown Goblin Parade
When/Where:  Saturday, October 22 at 11 a.m./Congers Community Center, 6 Gilchrest Road, Congers
Why Go: Costume contest for children 10 years old and younger. Pumpkin prizes awarded for the cutest, scariest, most original, best animal, best sports figure and superhero or villain costumes. Enjoy Halloween games, DJ music, refreshments and Bounce Castle for those in costume. The rain date is October 29.
Cost/Contact: Free for Clarkstown residents/845-268-9700 or 845-639-6200.

Clarkstown Sunrise Rotary Fundraising Breakfast
When/Where:  Sunday, October 23 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m./ Clarkstown High School South, 26 Demarest Mill Road, West Nyack
Why Go: The Clarkstown Sunrise Rotary Club Fourth Annual Scholarship Pancake Breakfast benefits Clarkstown High School South's 2012 graduating class.
The Pancake Breakfast is co-sponsored by South High School PTSA and South High School Rotary Interact Club. The all-you-can-eat breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, coffee, juice and more and begins at 8 a.m. and continues through noon. In addition to door prizes and gift baskets for lucky guests, raffle tickets will be available at $1 each. Free parking is available across from the school’s main entrance.
Cost/Contact: $5/Contact Alexandra Duenas, vice president of the Clarkstown Sunrise Rotary Club at 914-552-5628.

Pearl River Clothing and Toy Drive
Where/When: Friday Oct. 21 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 21 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Pearl River High School's Pirate Cove, located near the gym.
Why go: Help raise funds for all six PTA's in the Pearl River School District and show the little ones how they can give to help others. The Pearl River PTAs are working with I Donate Goods, which will sell the items to those in need. Acceptable items are usable and wearable men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, belts, handbags, linens, sheets, blankets, stuffed animals and toys that are intact with all pieces together.
Cost/Contact: Bring something to donate. For more information, contact Evans Park PTA Sherri Preston at spreston12@aol.com or Stacey Maher at irish693@aol.com.

Italian Heritage and Culture Month Concert
When/Where: Friday, October 21, 07:30 pm, 15 Dutch Hill Rd, Orangeburg, NY,
Why Go: Take in cultural music from the Mediterranean
Cost: Free

Edgar Allan Poe Readings & Interpretations
When/Where: Friday, October 21, 8:00 pm, 94 Main St, Nyack, NY,
Why Go: Get in the Halloween mood with some eerie poetry
Cost: $12