10 Grandparents Day activities for the whole family

Get the whole family in on a fun back-to-school celebraton on Sunday with CMOM's family-friendly fest. Guests can hear author and educator Steve Metzger drop some knowledge on how to get kids excited for the new schoolyear with tips from his book It's Time for School (2pm), and little ones and their grandparents can also decorate book buddies to look like a school house, bus or box of crayons (10am–1pm). Ages 1.5 to 10 years.

Take your kids and your parents to the best farms and orchards in the tristate area for families to go apple picking this fall. Taste Macintosh, Cortland, Rome Beauty, Red Delicious, Empire, Macoun, Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Jonagold and Golden Delicious apples, and if you're feeling adventurous, make a pie or some applesauce with grandma and grandpa after you've picked your favorite fruits.

Today’s 3-D movies and Blu-rays are great, but don’t you want your kids to experience the cinematic classics of past generations, too? At this Sunday series, Film Forum will screen family-friendly movies and musicals. Embark on an epic adventure with Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (Sept 7).

The American Museum of Natural History's Rose Center for Earth and Space features Space Theater, the perfect place to learn about the universe without running around too much! Get grandma and grandpa in for a Space Show screening to learn about earth and our solar system.

For one day only, the Upper West Side gets a makeover with carnival rides, games, music, square dancing, sideshow acts, a petting zoo and a Greenmarket for families. In the Green Acre environmental corner, young fairgoers get some hands-on schooling in eco-friendly living and animal care. Headlining the mainstage this year are Frets in Fire, PitchBlak Brass Band, Sioux City Kids and The Willies, plus a plaza performance by the NY WILD, The House of Yes & Lady Circus—all hosted by Kyle Petersen the Brooklyn Juggler. All ages.

Sit back, relax and enjoy a beautiful spectacle with Gazillion Bubble Show, a creation of Fan Yang, 16-time Guinness-record holder for blowing the biggest soap bubble. Families will enjoy magic, lighting effects and bubbles—giant bubbles, walls of bubbles, helium bubbles and bubbles within bubbles.

Chances are, your favorite cartoon characters include the iconic creations of animation director and artist, Charles Martin "Chuck" Jones. Discover the origins of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner and more—all brought to life by the creative genius during a successful career that spawned over 300 animated films. See an exhibition dedicated to his lifetime of work at the Museum of the Moving Image.

Grab some candy and a soda and head to The Paley Center for weekly family screenings of timeless cartoons and films, running all summer long! Check out a series of science-themed shorts from Schoolhouse Rock! (Aug 30 & 31, Sept 6 & 7).

Take a trip to Rubin Museum's Family Sundays—a year-round, drop-in program inviting families to create art, explore the galleries on special tours and more. Discover the works of multimedia artist Francesco Clemente, then make your own watercolor wash using Himalayan pigments.

These spectacular parks around the city will have you viewing your neighborhood in a different light. Grab brunch with your family and follow it up with a walk in one of these beautiful NYC parks (believe it or not, Central Park isn't the only scenic stroll).