Welcome to The Nassau Dad Drop, the free weekly guide to Nassau County family life - written by a dad who got tired of missing stuff.
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🧔🏽♂️ Dad Thoughts: Be The Safe Space
In the below clip, Dr. Gabor Maté is interviewing Hasan Minhaj about childhood bullying. In the conversation, Hasan reveals he didn’t speak to his parents about being bullied.
Dr. Maté: If your kids were bullied and they did not talk to you about it, how would you explain that? Hasan: On some level I have not created a channel for them to talk to me. Or they don’t trust me. Dr. Maté: What’s it like for a kid not to feel trust and safe with the parents? Hasan: It must be terrifying.
There's a lot we have to get right as parents. Food, sleep, school, screen time, manners, the million small decisions every day. But this is the one that matters most - being their safe space.
And it's harder than it sounds because you're supposed to be the enforcer AND the confidant. It’s a fine line between the two and I don't have it fully figured out yet. But I know if I get this one right, a lot of other stuff can go wrong and they’ll be okay.
⏰ ON THE CLOCK
USPS First-Class Mail - Ship Mother's Day cards and gifts by May 1 for May 9 arrival (Mother’s Day is May 10th!)
I Love My Park Day - Registration deadline for most Nassau sites, Sat May 2
LI Marathon 10K + Kids Fun Run - Registration closes morning-of, Sat May 2
🚗 FAMILY FUN FIELD TRIPS
Dad-approved outings.
This Weekend → Branches in Bloom: Arbor Day Spring Festival 🌳 Planting Fields' Arbor Day festival at peak magnolia and cherry bloom - Kids Tree Climb with Wonderland Tree Care, Long Island Garden Railway display, jugglers, magicians, plant sales, face painting, food trucks. Rain or shine.
📅 Sat Apr 25 & Sun Apr 26 | 11 AM - 4 PM
🔗 plantingfields.org
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical 🚌 Mo Willems' picture-book hit with singing, mischief, and buckets of audience participation at the Long Island Children's Museum Theater. Weekday shows fill with school groups - book ahead.
📅 Wed Apr 29, Thu Apr 30, Fri May 1 | 10:15 AM & 12 PM
🔗 licm.org
LI Marathon Health & Fitness Expo 🏃 Family-friendly expo at Eisenhower Park with vendor sampling, kids' zone, exercise demos, live music, and food trucks.
📅 Fri May 1 | 3-7:30 PM and Sat May 2 | 9:30 AM - 5 PM
🔗 runlongislandmarathon.com
Long Island Fairy Festival 🧚 The big one. Fairy House Walk, Queen of the Celestial Fairies meet-and-greet, aerialists, mermaids, bubble shows, Maypole, fairy mail, and a Magical Marketplace across 216 acres of preserve. Best for ages 3-10. Sells out.
📅 Sat May 2 | 10 AM - 4 PM (rain date Sun May 3)
🔗 sandspointpreserveconservancy.org
Seaford Spring Fling 🎡 80+ craft artisans, a Food Truck Rumble, and a Kids FunZone with inflatable slides, bouncers, obstacle course, and rock wall at the Seaford Train Station. 📅 Sat May 2 | 10 AM - 4 PM
🔗 events.longisland.com
✏️ PENCIL IT IN
Future you will be glad you read this.
Hicksville Carnival @ Broadway Commons 🎢 Classic Dreamland midway carnival - rides, games, fair food. Free admission, ride wristbands available.
📅 May 7 - 17
🔗 dreamlandamusements.com
Cradle-Con 🦸 Pop culture con at Cradle of Aviation. 2026 theme: Celebrating GI Joe. Cosplay, 60+ free-play arcade cabinets, vendors, kids' activities.
📅 Sat May 16 & Sun May 17 | 10 AM - 5 PM
🔗 cradleofaviation.org
Bethpage Spring Street Fair 🎪 75+ vendors, food trucks, bounce houses, live music on Broadway between Benkert and Washington.
📅 Sun May 17 | 10 AM - 5 PM
🔗 nassaucountyfairs.com
📚 NO COVER CHARGE
Libraries are a little light on special kid events next week - here’s what’s worth flagging:
PLAINVIEW-OLD BETHPAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY | poblib.org
Echoes of the Eagles - 🎸 Family-friendly Eagles tribute performance. NOW SOLD OUT! (call for more info)
📅 Sun, Apr 26
LEVITTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY | levittownpl.org
StoryWalk: "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth 🦥 Outdoor self-guided walk, open all day. All ages. The main library is under roof construction - this is one outdoor bright spot.
📅 Daily, all day
🔥 Worth the Scroll
The good stuff buried in the feed.
The Mighty Robot series by Dav Pilkey 📕 Niam is all-in on Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot - a chapter book series about a second-grade mouse and his giant flying robot fighting off aliens, mad scientists, and one very angry jumping jackrabbit. Short chapters, huge comic-style illustrations, perfect bridge from picture books to real reading.
🔗 pilkey.com
Aden + Anais Essentials Cotton Swaddles 👶🏼 We purchased these when Niam was a newborn and are now reusing them (of course!) for Nora. These “ready to go” swaddles are a godsend making swaddling easy - especially if you have a headstrong babies like mine.
🔗 babylist.com
Two Things:
Forward this to Nassau County parents you think would appreciate it.
Hit reply and tell me anything - what you liked, what you want more of, what I missed. I read every single reply.
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See you next Thursday,
Akash