Earth Day, which officially falls on April 22, is almost here and our Mommy Poppins Event Calendar is full of celebrations this weekend. Whether families want to gain a deeper respect for nature or make a difference by taking care of Mother Earth, there are activities for all ages.

Search for turtles and toads at Great Valley Nature Center's Pond Pondering & Nature Walk. Learn about the importance of trees at Briar Bush's Earth Fest. Help preserve our precious planet at Schuylkill Canal Park's Earth Day Clean-Up or Norristown Farm Park's Earth Week Habitat Restoration. (Note: Some events are rain or shine while others are not, so please check official websites for weather-related updates.)

After enjoying the great outdoors, consider exploring one of our local cultural institutions. Penn Museum is hosting its World Culture Series: Rome's Birthday event. The Barnes Foundation is offering Family Tour: ArtSee Highlights for its visitors. And the Delaware Children's Museum is featuring Grand Adventures created especially for grandparents and their grandchildren.

New activities are added to our Calendar every day, and you can even submit your own event if you're planning one. Be sure to subscribe to our FREE newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

The spring weather has finally arrived, so head outdoors for some fun in the sun, and to celebrate our planet with various Earth Day festivities across Long Island. For adventure-seeking families, there's harbor-front roller-skating in Port Jefferson, a family night hike in Setauket and woodsy fun in Islip.

Interested in the arts? There's a mommy & me painting session in Bellmore, eco-friendly crafts at the Whaling Museum and various programs at the Nassau County Museum of Art.

Remember, you can find even more options in our jam-packed Event Calendar. And to receive this post in your inbox, subscribe to our free newsletters.

The most exciting holiday of the year for many local history buffs has arrived! Patriots' Day weekend offers multiple chances to catch battle demonstrations, historic ride reenactments and parades. Other fantastic outdoor activities for families include Junior Ranger Day on Georges Island (pictured) and the Swan Boats Opening Day in Boston's Public Garden. Together with the Cambridge Science Festival and the start of April School Vacation Week, our Event Calendar is chock-full of great activities for families.

Shrek the Musical at Wheelock Family Theatre opens this weekend; look for a review from Michelle next week. For older kids, Anne Frank opens in Boston, and the Ethan Rossiter & the Jamberries concert is a great option for the younger set.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Celebrate the planet next week with our list of local Earth Day Activities.
• Kids become gardeners by making these Fairy and Gnome Mason Jar Terrariums.
• Use recycled materials to craft these Earth-friendly Wind Chimes.
• Michelle shares some great venues for Birthday Parties for Kids Who Love Animals.

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out the full Event Calendar!

It's a great weekend for cool kids' culture in NYC. Families can sing along with Broadway greats at Carnegie Hall's Family Concert, marvel at the Little Orchestra Society's lush musical fairy tale Cinderella & the Prince Who Slays the Magic Dragon or watch acclaimed storyteller David Gonzalez's retelling of Sleeping Beauty at Lincoln Center's new kids' series. Plus there are three circuses on tap: the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Cabaret, Séquence 8 and Catch Me.

Other fun includes great outdoor events like the Queens County Farm Museum's annual Children's Carnival and hawk watching on Staten Island.

These are just a few of the awesome things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Spring Fun Guide and our Event Calendar.

Pick-your-own is not just for apples and pumpkins! Westchester and neighboring counties offer many options for getting down in the dirt (or up in the trees) to pick all kinds of fruits and veggies. This can be a great way to show kids where their food comes from--you might even get them to try a new vegetable or two. Plus, it just doesn't get any fresher than when you pick it yourself. It's been a long winter, but the taste of spring is finally here.

Read on for more about our top "picks" in the area. Also be sure to check out our post on strawberry picking farms in lower Hudson Valley.

Trumbull, CT. located in Fairfield County, without question, is a bedroom community.  But that doesn’t mean the only option for residents is to bounce out to neighboring towns for something ’to do’ -- there are plenty of hidden treasures, and several parks for you and your family to enjoy. We've made a list of 25 fun things to do with kids while in Trumbull!

If you're looking to make your child's next party extra special, consider hiring a company or individual to provide fun entertainment that will be sure to put a smile on the face of the birthday boy or girl (and all of the guests). There are a wide variety of entertainers to choose from on Long Island, including characters, magicians, animal handlers and more.

For more inspiration, be sure to check out our LI Party Guide.