Welcome to the 2025 Macaroni KID Back-to-School Guide! We're rounding up a listing of programs and activities that are being offered by local businesses and organizations this fall. Be sure to check back often as we are adding programs as we receive it each week. Don't forget to share this guide with your friends and let these businesses know that you read about them in Macaroni KID! When you mention us, it helps reinforce to our sponsors that parents turn to Macaroni KID to help plan their family fun during every season of the year.
Would you like your program to be added to this guide? Email meghanf@macaronikid.com.
For more detailed information about each of the programs, just click on its pink title in the Guide below or visit their web site via the Register Now or Learn More buttons!
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Affinity Esports, Newtown
Through our recreational and educational programs, your children are introduced to the world of esports, full of new and emerging career paths, experiential learning, and highly engaging social activities. Each of these programs has been structured to reinforce critical life skills, such as teamwork, communication, and problem solving. Through their time with us, we will guide your children to build healthy habits and harness their passion with an extreme commitment to balancing wellness, education, mentality, competition, and socialization. Esports have been linked to powerful outcomes, such as improved social and emotional skills, problem solving, future career viability, and academic performance.
- Ages 7-17 at all skill levels
- Social Gaming Club (Wednesdays Aug. 27 - Dec. 17), Minecraft Club (Thursdays or Saturdays Aug. 28 - Dec. 20)
- After-school "Study & Play" Program (Aug. 25 - Dec. 19) Get your homework done and then enjoy socializing while playing games!
- Educational Classes (Sept. 22 - October 21; Nov. 3 - Dec. 9): Minecraft Builders and Gaming Foundations Featuring Fortnite
- Ask about Club Teams, Weekly Youth Game Nights, Birthday Parties and more!
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The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is open Sundays through Friday from 12pm-5pm (closed Tuesdays) and on Saturdays from 10AM-5PM. The Museum is one of the few independent, non-collecting institutions in the country and the only museum in Connecticut solely dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art. Join us this fall for Sensory Saturday on Saturday, August 23 and October 11 from 10:30 to 11:30am, an All Ages Discovery Tour on August 16 and September 20 at 1PM and Story Time for Kids on Saturday, September 20 from 10:30 to 11:30am. Also, visit the Museum for FREE the third Saturday of every month as part of our Third Saturdays program.
- Dates: Special events on August 23, September 20 and October 11
- Save the Date: Community Day - November 15
- All ages
- Free admission on the third Saturday of every month
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Bach to Rock is THE music school for kids, teens and adults of all ages. We start them young with music, rhythm and motion that supports cognitive development, learning and motor skills. We use an innovative approach to music instruction based on the belief that everyone learns faster playing the music they like, whether it’s rock or Bach, the technical foundation is the same. From Bach to Blue Oyster Cult, from Mozart to Mayer, Cash to Clash and Puccini to Perry (Katy or Steve), Bach to Rock (B2R) offers a wide variety of lessons in all music genres for all ages. We teach guitar, bass, drums, vocals, keyboard, brass, strings, ukulele and even a DJ program. As students progress, we take music education a step further by placing kids and teens in bands and providing performance opportunities with gigs in the local community!
- Dates: Ongoing enrollment
- Ages: 5- Adult
- Individual and group lessons available
- Performance opportunities in the community!
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This September 12-13, children, teens and adults are invited to audition for the Nutcracker! This wonderful Danbury tradition has been presented by the Danbury Music Centre for over 50 years. Featuring over 200 dancers, it showcases talented dancers from the greater Danbury area a part of this wonderful holiday tradition -- a fully staged production at Danbury HS with a live symphony orchestra! Also this fall -- Does your child play the violin, viola, cello, or double bass? Danbury Centre Strings provides a strings program that is free for school-aged children! The program is a challenging, exciting, and FUN educational ensemble experience for string players. Children will study standard string repertoire appropriate to their level of playing. They will develop playing technique, listening skills, orchestral technique, and ensemble experience. The Danbury Music Centre, is 501(c)(3), non-profit organization located at 256 Danbury Main Street housed in a beautiful 19th-century building, formerly the public library.
- Nutcracker Auditions will be September 12th & 13th; Performances December 12, 13 & 14. $175 to participate.
- FREE Fall Strings Program for children - Runs September through May!
- Keep an eye out for more classical community music experiences through ensembles and events throughout the year!
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Danceline Bethel is a local dance studio in the heart of Bethel, CT. We offer classes in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater for all ages. We are dedicated to forming well-rounded, knowledgeable, and creative dancers. We offer smaller classes which allows for students to receive individualized time and attention. This creates a more personalized learning environment for each student which better suits their learning needs. Despite our hometown feel, we have the skills, passion, and work ethic to provide training that is comparable to larger dance studios. There is something for everyone this fall at Danceline from ballet, tap and musical theater to jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop!
- Dates: September through January
- Ages: 3-18
- Recital in January for family and friends!
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The museum offers hands-on exhibits and programming to spark imagination in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and math -- great for after-school exploration and enrichment learning. EverWonder also provides field trip style visits for home school groups from Pre-K to 6th grade. The program options work well with various curriculum, particularly those rooted in STEM. This school year, Newtown residents can take advantage of their Early Dismissal program where students ride the bus to EverWonder!
- School Year Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday; Closed Mondays/Tuesdays for Field Trips/Groups.
- Ages: 0-12
- School field trips & outreach programs are booking through spring 2026 now!
- Early Dismissal program available for Newtown students who can ride the bus from school to EverWonder
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Join us for the Flute Song Collection this Fall! We'll get out our instruments and play along to the jazzy original "Blue St. Pat," search the "Pawpaw Patch," and climb aboard the "Train to the City." And those are only three of the twenty-five songs you'll learn, which include Music Together originals and traditional songs. In addition to your weekly classes, your tuition includes recordings and materials for you to use at home, including an illustrated songbook and access to the songs through the Music Together app.
- Dates: Classes begin week of September 15th on Mondays and Thursdays
- Ages: 0-5
- Location: Outdoors at Brookfield Town Hall
- Tuition includes a CD and Songbook, access to the Music Together app and Family Music Zone
- Macaroni KID readers save $40 on Fall Classes, including siblings! Just mention Macaroni KID in the comments on the registration form!
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The Regional YMCA has lots of programs for the entire family this fall season including expanded Youth Sports & Fitness Programs for all ages and quality before and after school care. This fall kids can join Youth Basketball (ages 4-9), Teen Volleyball (grades 7-9), Tae Kwon Do (ages 5-10; 11+), Fit Club (ages 10-14), Thrive Tribe (girls ages 10-14) and Big 4 Fundamentals (13+). Whether its gaining the confidence that comes with learning a new sport, building the positive relationships that lead to good sportsmanship and teamwork, or learning new skills, participating in sports at the Y is about building the whole athlete, inside and out. See the 2025 fall program guide here for more information!
- Fall 1 Session runs Sept. 2 - Oct. 26; Fall 2 Session Oct. 27 - Dec. 21
- Explore other YMCA program favorites like Aquatics, Health & Wellness, Kids Night Out (Fri), Middle School Madness (Sat) and More!
- All Ages (Children, Teens & Adults)
- Child Care Program available at YMCA Children's Center in Bethel
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Ridgefield Academy/Landmark Preschool
Ridgefield Academy/Landmark Preschool is a private co-ed day school educating students in Preschool - Grade 8. The Ridgefield Academy community celebrates childhood, pursues excellence, and cultivates kindness. An intellectually inspiring educational program fosters joyful learning and mutual respect. Each student is empowered to rise to their authentic self, preparing confident graduates who shape their future with ingenuity and integrity. With the right balance of challenge, individual attention, and support, students emerge from their RA/LP academic journey with the knowledge and confidence to achieve success in high school and beyond.
- Dates: Ongoing enrollment
- K - Grade 5 Open House: Saturday, October 18th from 9:30-11:30
- Ages: PK - Grade 8
- A broad-based, challenging curriculum enhanced by a wide variety of extracurricular activities in athletics, the arts, and community service.
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Rising Starr Horse Rescue saves, rehabilitates, retrains and rehomes abandoned, neglected or abused horses and educate about at-risk horses and the importance of protecting them. By giving America's horses a second chance at life we give the community the chance to experience the love, patience and compassion horses have for humans. Our Fall Riding Program lessons include ring work, occasional trail riding, ground horsemanship, medical and barn lessons. We have found from experience that students progress further and have more fun in small group lessons with peers although private lessons are also available. New students will receive a free 30-minute evaluation for placement in a class. Lessons run rain or shine. If we cannot ride due to cold, wind, or extenuating weather conditions, unmounted instruction will be given indoors. Come visit us and experience horse ownership and friendship!
- Dates: September 6, 2025 - December 14, 2025 (Due 8/5, Barn Closed 9/27 to 10/5, 2025); December 15, 2025 - March 19, 2025 (Due 10/15, Barn Closed 12/22 to 1/2/2026); March 21, 2026 - June 11, 2026 (Due 2/15); Closed Fridays during the school year.
- Ages 6+; Group and Private lesson options available
- No experience necessary
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The Southport School is an independent day school for grades 2-8 that provides a “more than” school experience to students with language-based learning differences, like dyslexia and attention issues by providing a nurturing environment that embraces each student's unique potential. Through our specialized curriculum and world class faculty trained in research and evidence based learning, we empower students to become independent, lifelong learners who thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Our students are smart, creative, joyful, resilient, and BRAVE! We encourage each student’s individuality and celebrate their differences as strengths. Recognizing their power to develop the tools to succeed in and out of the classroom reignites their love of learning and creates confident bold thinkers, lifelong learners, and leaders equipped with resilience and optimism.
Our campus, located in the heart of Southport, CT, creates transformative learning experiences for 125 students in grades 2-8 from neighboring Connecticut and New York communities.
To inquire or schedule a campus tour, please email admissions@southportschool.org
- Dates: Now enrolling for the 2025-2026 school year!
- Ages: Grades 2-8 with language-based differences
- Specialized curriculum and world-class faculty
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Can you see learning happen? We think so. Visit our campus and you will see students personally invested in their education and teachers creating meaningful interactions that empower students to think critically and communicate effectively. As students work to gain understanding in the classroom, we work to help them understand themselves and how they learn. This approach to developing the whole child yields graduates with strong learning and thinking skills as well as confident communicators who go on to successful careers in college and beyond. Set on a pristine country hillside in Danbury, Wooster's campus encompasses over 100 acres. We welcome the opportunity to have you visit Wooster to see for yourself that ours is a unique and wonderful learning community.
- Dates: Ongoing enrollment
- Ages: Grades 5-12
- Schedule a Tour
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE AT OUR LOCAL PARK & RECREATION DEPARTMENTS:
Danbury Youth Sports, Bethel, Ridgefield, Redding, Newtown, New Fairfield, Brookfield, New Milford
List your business here and reach thousands of local parents! Email meghanf@macaronikid.com for Back-to-School Guide pricing information.
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Macaroni Kid Greater Danbury is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in our local area specifically: Danbury, Bethel, Ridgefield, Brookfield, Redding, Newtown, Sandy Hook, New Fairfield, New Milford, Sherman and Bridgewater, CT. We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week, and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, event and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more.
