Regardless of what Mother Nature has in store, it's the first official weekend of spring, which means it's time for annual favorites like Macy's Flower Show and the opening weekend of Queens' mini-amusement park Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel.

It's also an amazing weekend for circus lovers with four brand-new big-top spectacles hitting stages in four boroughs: Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna in Queens, Casus Circus' Knee Deep at Manhattan's New Victory Theater, UniverSoul Circus in the Bronx and the Bindlestiff Cavalcade of Youth in Brooklyn's Coney Island. Other highlights include two of our top picks for March: the Chaplin-inspired theater show Charlie's Kid at BAM and VH1's Save the Music Day on the Upper West Side.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar. Before heading out on your adventures, be sure to download our FREE Mommy Poppins Kids on the Go app so you can find the best family destinations wherever you happen to be in NYC.

We finish up our series of posts about Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill with a roundup of the best places for kids to play in the area, both inside and outdoors. While there are lots of small playgrounds and green spaces peppered throughout the neighborhood, Carroll Park is definitely the community hub and hosts FREE family activities throughout the year like its popular kids' summer concert series.

But there are many great places to play indoors, too, including drop-in tot spots like ArtsCetera and Gumbo, an awesome local library, and cool programs for school-age kids like makerspace Pixel Academy and board game mecca The Brooklyn Strategist. Here are the best places for kids to play in BoCoCa.

No matter what you're looking to do, there's something for everyone in Jersey this weekend! If you’ve got a little Dino lover in the house, check out the Dinosaurs Return exhibit at the NJ Children’s Museum or Dinosaur Storytime & Craft at the NJ State Museum. Feel like sitting back and taking in a show? There’s plenty of options for that too! Sing along to The Music Man at NJPAC, laugh along with the family-friendly Junie B. Jones at Papermill Playhouse or for big entertainment, get tickets to see Ringling Bros. LEGENDS at the IZOD Center. And of course, with spring just around the corner, you can get your fill of fresh air at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum’s Discovery Saturday or an End-of-Winter Tree Walk at NJ Botanical Gardens. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

As my daughter’s 6^th birthday approaches, I am scrambling to find an entertaining and unique party location. My house is small, so a home party is not an option (plus the mess and clean up. Ugh!). A party that would involve the 3 F’s, food, favors and fun, seems like the perfect formula for NJ kids and their party-planning moms. How about a make-your-own-craft party? New Jersey has a variety of studios that offer make-and-take crafts for your little Picasso. Aspiring painters, potters, glassmakers, and jewelers can satisfy their creative side. The best part is that the finished masterpiece becomes your built-in favor! Check out some of our favorite New Jersey arts'n'crafts studios. And for even more fab ideas, check out our NJ Kids' Birthday Party Ideas Guide.

If you’re still trying to figure out what to do with the kids during April Vacation Week, take a look at these terrific workshops and camps. They provide fun opportunities for kids who enjoy arts & crafts, writing, theater, and history. If your child is more outdoorsy, check out my first roundup of 2014 April Vacation Week camps, highlighting programs that get kids outdoors and exploring nature. 

NYC kids, prepare to be blinded by science (and art, too) as Brooklyn debuts two STEAM (that's STEM with an A for Art) programs, along with a brand-new Coney Island thrill ride that's sure to get your hearts pounding. Plus, find out where to pick up FREE treats this Thursday in honor of Macaron Day, two of our favorite Queens ice cream spots close, a book swap no kid-lit lover will want to miss, and a notable new children's book by an iconic rock star.