This time of the year the word “fall” gets thrown around quite a bit. School has started, which is the symbolic kick-off for the season, and suddenly everyone is ready to sip pumpkin spice lattes, don fuzzy sweaters, and decorate with fall foliage. That might be true for the rest of the country, but as any Texan can tell you, fall in our neck of the woods is more like Summer 2.0. September weather is very much like August weather which means sweaters, fuzzy or otherwise, won’t see the light of day until mid-October at the earliest.

Yep, this is an in-between time of the year.  But besides being transitional and all in-between-ish, it’s also a great opportunity to take advantage of some downtime with your littles before the calendar spins out of control. Here are a few fall-ish events with a summer-ish feel to help you do just that.

Photo: Joe Yvarra Photography

Celebrate the last gasp of summer with a good old-fashion fireworks display. Load up the kids and head to Lake Grapevine for their Friday Night Fireworks Show. The free weekly 12-minute show runs until Sept. 20 and can be viewed from the parks around Lake Grapevine.

Photo: Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Head to Fort Worth this Saturday for Party on the Porch, a day full of fun at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The Museum will be celebrating its reopening with art, music, and fun. You and the kiddos can hang out, dress up, and get creative in their new interactive space, or try a hands-on activity designed to help you get to know a select work of art. There will also be live music out on the plaza from DJ Ronnie Heart, Abraham Alexander, and Band of Heathens. Best of all, the museum will be open until 9 p.m. so you can take a docent lead tour of the brand new galleries.

Photo: shutterstock.com

Nothing says fall like a big orange moon. Come celebrate the big, full autumn moon at the Japanese-American Society’s Otsukimi, or moon viewing  Saturday evening. The event will be held at Frisco Square which serves as the perfect backdrop for viewing the moon. Highlights of the event include music, Japanese folk tales, haiku, and art activities (including Moon Rabbit Ears art). The Texas Astronomical Society will be also on hand with all sorts of moon activities. And besides the ‘rabbit in the moon,’

Photo: Trinity River Kite Festival

Take advantage of the breezy North Texas sky this Saturday at the Trinity River Kite Festival. Formally known as the Trinity River Wind Festival, this annual outdoor fest has had the bad luck of being rained out a few times in the past. Lucky for us, organizers have given this sweet, unassuming, outdoor event a new home in the fall. The wide-open space along the river makes the perfect backdrop for both kite flying or kite watching. You can bring one of your own kites to fly or watch one of the many spectacular shows or stunt kites. Kids can also take part in a Trinity Skyline Trail walk, meet some animals from Dallas Zoo Outreach, play in the kid’s fun zone, watch kite makers at work, and even make their own kites.

Photo: Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center

Nature lovers looking for a unique way to explore seasonal flora and fauna won’t want to miss the Kayak Eco Tour this Saturday. You and the kiddos (ages 8+) will have the unique opportunity to view birds and other wildlife from the water as you paddle a kayak around Joe Pool Lake. The tour sets out at Loyd Park in Grand Prairie at 10 a.m. and is led by staff from the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. All equipment is provided, including kayaks, paddles, life vests, and binoculars. No kayaking experience is necessary.

For even more kid-friendly events, explore the Kids & Family section of the Art&Seek calendar.