All Weekend 

McKinley School Carnival (Fairfield County) 
The annual carnival at Fairfield's Jennings Beach offers traditional rides that are suitable for toddlers to adults among many other attractions. Fairfield’s own new restaurant, Chilibomb, will offer hamburgers, hot dogs, and chili. Funnel cakes, fried dough, and fried Oreo’s will all be back this year. Unlimited ride wristbands ($15 Thursday night; $23 Friday night, Saturday day, Saturday night, and Sunday) as well as individual ride tickets will be for sale. Thursday to Sunday.

The Piccadilly Circus (Fairfield County) 
This new show, unveils the best in human agility, strength, and beauty, combined with the finest in animal nobility where man and beast come together in perfect harmony. Agile acrobats, motorcycle madness, comedic clowns and more. Friday and Saturday. $28 adults (1 free child per adult with online coupon)

Stand Against Racism (Hartford County) 
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is partnering with the YWCA to raise awareness that racism still exists in our communities and that it can no longer be ignored or tolerated. All weekend long they'll feature the "Stowe and the Emancipation Proclamation" tour. Learn about Stowe's 1862 meeting with President Lincoln, anti-slavery activities of Stowe's family and associates, and how the Emancipation Proclamation is relevant today. Saturday and Sunday. Free.

Daffodil Festival (New Haven County) 
Amidst the 650,000 blooming daffodils in Hubbard Park, you'll find an arts and crafts sale, the crowning of Little Miss Daffodil, a carnival with Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, a giant slide, pony rides, a miniature train, and a food tent that houses 50 food vendors all from community non-profit agencies, each selling at least one unique food item. Saturday night is capped by a spectacular fireworks display, said to be one of the best in New England. Saturday and Sunday. Free. 

Quassy Opening Weekend (New Haven County) 
Quassy kicks off its 106th season with a $35 carload special. Up to 10 persons in a vehicle receive an all-day ride wristband for only $35, parking included. Offer valid both days with rides open noon to 6 p.m. On Saturday, April 26 Spirit Song, a Christian outreach group, appears on the Carousel Theatre stage. On Sunday, enjoy magic and comedy with Jim & Sandy Sisti. Also, meet and greet with "Clifford The Big Red Dog" both days. Saturday and Sunday.

CircleMint Consignment Sale (Eastern CT) 
CircleMint hosts two children's consignment sales events a year: the spring/summer sale in April is perfect for stocking up on rash guards, shorts, and sun dresses (then come back in September for back-to-school clothes, winter boots, and ski bibs). Both sales offer baby gear, toys, DVDs, shoes, and sports equipment. The best part? CircleMint donates unsold items to local charities. Friday to Sunday. Free. (Kids can head next door--with a grown up--to Stay and Play, an indoor playspace and café. Admission is $9 per child, but CircleMint shoppers will receive 1 discounted admission of $5 during sale days. Pick up a voucher from a CircleMint volunteer while you shop.)

Earth Week Activities

Family Volunteer Project at the Stamford Nature Center (Fairfield County) 
Garlic mustard was introduced in North America in the 1860s as a culinary herb. Today, it is an invasive species in much of Connecticut, including the Stamford Museum & Nature Center where, left unchecked, it has the potential to become the dominant plant in the undergrowth of forests, greatly reducing the diversity of all species. The garlic mustard leaves harvested during this Earth Day activity will be offered to local food banks to help feed the hungry. This family project is open to volunteers ages 11 and older (ages 11 to 14 must be accompanied by an adult.). Pre-registration is required. Saturday.

Byram Beach and Park Clean Up Day (Fairfield County) 
Join the Junior League of Greenwich and the Town of Greenwich for a fun, eventful and productive morning at the Byram Beach and Park on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 9 am to 12 pm. Activities will include planting flowers, painting picnic benches and general clean-up. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Saturday.

Party for the Planet (Fairfield County) 
Join Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo to celebrate the 44th anniversary of Earth Day! This Earth Day event is about encouraging local, organic, earth-friendly choices as a way of promoting better health for our planet and ourselves. Environmentally friendly vendors will be on hand with everything from green cleaning products and recycled fashion accessories to better lawn care for you and wildlife! We'll have a special citizen science corner to learn about online science projects you and your family can participate in. Saturday and Sunday.

Earth Day at Meigs Point Nature Center (New Haven County)
Head over to Hammonasset State Park for children's craft activities and demonstrations, environmental and geology exhibits, nature walks, beach combing and more. Saturday.

25th Anniversary Earth Fair (Hartford County) 
The Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury hosts their 25th Earth Fair, a family oriented, environmentally educational day with a wide variety of displays, activities, demonstrations, booths, entertainment and of course, food! Some highlights planned for Earth Fair 2014 are: a live Birds of Prey demonstration, a performance of selected scenes from The Jungle Book by the Peter Pan Players and our traditional Maypole Dance. Saturday.

Riverfront Earth Day (Hartford County) 
The Interreligious Eco-Justice Network and the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry of the Archdiocese of Hartford invite you to attend the second Riverfront Earth Day. Following an Interfaith Prayer Service at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church in Hartford at 12:45 attendees will march to the Riverfront Mortensen Plaza to kick off Riverfront’s spring season. Enjoy live entertainment featuring Caribbean music performed by the Hartt Steel Band. Other festival highlights include food, educational displays, and inspirational speakers. Sunday.

Saturday, April 26

105th Annual Connecticut Sheep, Wool, and Fiber Festival (Tolland County) 
This one-of-a-kind event offers the chance to meet alpacas, angoras, shetland sheep. There will be a kid's corner, sheep dog trials, sheep shearing, wool felt exhibits, knitting instructions, music and all sorts of fun! Free admission ($5 parking fee).

Town of Berlin Spring Hiking Series (Hartford County) 
This second trek in the spring hike series will begin at the Sunny Border Nursery off of Route 17 (Chamberlain Highway) for a hike in Berlin's Blue Hills Conservation Area. From the buds on the trees and early-blooming wildflowers to rugged rock exposures, there will be plenty to study along this section of the Metacomet Trail. The route will include some steep terrain, ridgeline views, and streams. Recommended for agile ramblers 8 age and older. Free, but pre-registration is recommended. 

Westport Mini Maker Faire (Fairfield County)
here will be fun, interesting (and educational) activities for everyone including a Nerdy Derby where you can build your own race car, Caine's Arcade where kids can build arcade games out of cardboard boxes, and the Geek Your Fashion show where you can let your inner fashion designer run wild. Free.  

Ballard Park Kids Festival (Hartford County) 
Kids Festival 2014 will feature activities for all ages including face painting, crafts, air-brush tattoos, a tie-dye station, carnival games, and live animal presentations. There will also be an inflatable area featuring a bounce house, and obstacle course, and a tall slide. Admission is free, but wristbands or tickets are required for the inflatable area ($10 wristband for unlimited turns or $1 ticket for 1 turn).

Midnight in Marrakech (Litchfield County)
Enjoy a lovely evening full of fantastic auction items at this annual Washington Montessori School fundraiser. Drinks and dinner included in the $75 ticket price.

Sunday, April 27

Danbury Kids Expo (Fairfield County) 
The 4th Annual Danbury Kids Expo is for children of all ages, parents, grandparents, and prospective parents. Our annual event will be held at the Danbury Sports Dome from 11-4 pm. Kids and adults are entertained and informed throughout the day with a diverse schedule of shows, entertainment, hands on activities and educational displays, magic shows, face paintings, interactive dance demonstrations, and more! $10 for adults; $7 for kids (a portion of the admission fees will go to The American Cancer Society).

Little Poland Festival in New Britain (Hartford County) 
New Britain has the largest Polish population of any city in Connecticut with many residents considering the city's Broad Street community as its heart. Affectionately referred to as "Little Poland", the vibrant neighborhood has been home to an exceedingly large number of Polish businesses and families since 1890. On Sunday, it comes alive with this family friendly festival that features leaping folk dancers, paczki eating contests, carnival rides, live music, costumed characters, arts & crafts, and just a fun way to celebrate the great things New Britain has to offer. Free.

41st Annual New Haven Cherry Blossom Festival (New Haven County) 
This celebration of spring commemorates the planting of 72 Yoshino Japanese Cherry Blossom trees in 1973 by the New Haven Historic Commission in collaboration with the New Haven Parks Department and residents of the neighborhood. The Festival has grown from a modest event with a local band entertaining a handful of neighbors under lighted trees to a major New Haven event that draws well over 7,000 visitors. Free.

For more ideas, don't forget to check our events calendar often! To get the most out of the site, be sure to follow us on Facebook (make sure Mommy Poppins CT shows up on your feed by including us in your "interests list." To put a page on your "interests list," hover over the "Like" button and you'll see a pull-down menu that offers an "add to your interests lists" choice).