Welcome to The Local Rundown Northampton your new dose of family-friendly fun, events, recipes, and real-life parent tips.

The official launch is Friday, August 29, 2025, but you’re in early so you’ll see things first.

See you Friday!

Mark & The Local Rundown Northampton Crew

🎉 Northampton Community College Family Day

🌳 Easy Family Nature Getaways: Housenick Park & Tyler State Park

🎃 Dorney Park’s Tricks & Treats – A Not-Too-Spooky Halloween Adventure

Mark your calendars, because Family Day at NCC’s Bethlehem Campus is happening Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This annual tradition is all about bringing students and their families together for a day filled with activities, food, and plenty of fun.

Expect the campus to feel more like a mini-festival than a college for the day. Families can stroll around and enjoy games, hands-on activities, music, and a chance to connect with other students and their loved ones. It’s also a wonderful way for younger siblings to picture themselves as future Spartans — and for parents to see the community their student is part of.

Beyond the fun, the day is designed to help families feel connected and welcomed. Staff and faculty will be around to answer questions, and it’s a great chance for students to proudly show off their campus to parents, grandparents, and even little cousins.

Family Day is free to attend, and it’s open to all NCC students and their families. For parents, it’s a rare chance to peek into your student’s daily world, while also enjoying a stress-free Saturday together.

Sometimes the best family moments happen when you just grab the kids, pack a snack, and get outside. Northampton County parents are lucky to have two gems within easy reach: Housenick Park and Tyler State Park.

Housenick Park (Bethlehem Township) is a quieter option when you want something simple and close to home. The trails wind along Monocacy Creek, making it a great spot for a stroller walk, bird-watching, or letting little explorers hunt for acorns and leaves. Bonus: it’s usually not crowded, so you’ll feel like you’ve found a secret hideaway.

Tyler State Park offers more of an adventure. With 1,700 acres to explore, you can pick your family’s vibe: hiking trails, playground stops, disc golf, a picnic spread, or even paddleboats. There’s also the Tyler Park Center for the Arts if your crew prefers painting over hiking boots.

Both parks give kids the space to run, breathe, and discover, while parents get a dose of fresh air too.

Whether you want a calm stroll close by or a full-day adventure, these parks deliver. It’s the kind of outing that costs next to nothing but pays off in happy memories.

If your kids love the magic of Halloween but aren’t quite ready for the full-on haunted house scene, Dorney Park’s Tricks & Treats is the perfect fall outing. Starting Saturday, September 14, and running every Saturday and Sunday through October 27, the park transforms into a family-friendly wonderland of costumes, candy, and seasonal fun — all in the daylight hours.

Think pumpkin-themed games, arts and crafts, dance parties, and plenty of photo ops with costumed characters. The best part? This event is designed to be more “adorable” than “terrifying,” so even your littlest ones can join in without worry. Costumes are encouraged (yes, parents too), which makes for extra-fun family photos around the park.

And of course, your admission covers the rides — meaning you can hop on the kiddie coasters, spin around on the carousel, or take a family train ride in between all the Halloween fun.

Tricks & Treats is the kind of outing that feels magical for kids, stress-free for parents, and just the right balance of festive and fun. It’s a chance to savor fall traditions without the jump scares, while still soaking in all the joy of the season.

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Mark