Ah, Spring has sprung in the City of Angels. This season always fills me with a sense of anticipation: for the flowers that will bloom, the longer days and sweeter weather, and the hours that will need to be filled while school is on break. Luckily, Mommy Poppins has you covered, whether you're looking for some awesome spring break camps, or for fun activities you can do as a family.

Why is next week different from all other weeks? Well, for one thing, Passover starts on Monday.  We've got some fun ideas for Passover activities including the latest exhibit at the Skirball, which allows visitors to (literally!) walk in the footsteps  of the historical characters in the Exodus tale.  On a journey that long you're gonna need snacks; our Passover Bakery guide will lead you to some of the tastiest unleavened treats in Los Angeles. (As a bonus, did you know that many Passover treats are gluten-free?)

But one hour this weekend is going to be the most different of all. Saturday at 8:30pm is Earth Hour, a world-wide event in which we are encouraged to turn off our lights to draw attention to climate change and our need to protect our planet.  Sounds like a good time to go outside and look at the stars! (Camping, anyone?)

Read on for our favorite picks for this weekend …

Happy spring! Maybe it’s the season, but if your kids love music, this is the weekend for them! From the annual Revels Spring Sing in Watertown to a concert at Barefoot Books in Concord by Rolie Polie Guacamole, from Karen K and the Jitterbugs in Belmont to Debbie and Friends in Arlington, the choices are numerous. Read on for information about these and other weekend events. And be sure to visit our Events Calendar for even more things to do.

We welcome spring with not just music, but with crafts. Tara brings crafting inspiration from around the world (the walnut nests are just too cute!). And speaking of nests, with Easter just around the corner, we have some ideas for filling baskets and eggs without going overboard on the sweets.

Finally, in the March edition of Poppins Parents, our series highlighting local parents who make a difference in the lives of Boston families, we talked to Joy Olaes Suprenant, founder of Catching Joy. Read on to find out her organization, one of her favorite places plus her tips for getting your family involved in volunteerism and giving.

Enjoy!

Santa Claus I get. The toothy fairy, no problem. But an oversized pink bunny who lays eggs? This tradition makes no sense to me. However, with a little digging I've learned that the tradition of the Easter bunny has its roots in centuries old pagan traditions of celebrating spring and renewal. The bottom line? As long as he's bringing chocolate, this bunny is good with me. And with my kids. Happily, there are lots of opportunities in the area, so many so that we have listed even more events occurring in Fairfield County here.

Spring has supposedly started but regardless of the weather, spring break kicks off for NYC public school kids this weekend. So it's time to book a camp or, if you're lucky enough to have the time off, too, begin planning your NYC spring break adventures.

This weekend, you can celebrate the season with the debut of Macy's annual Flower Show and a slew of early Easter egg hunts. Plus Whales: Giants of the Deep opens at the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Children's Museum unveils the interactive Big Adventure installation, Coney Island's Luna Park and Deno's Wonder Wheel open for the season, and the carousels in Prospect Park, Forest Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park start spinning.

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 and make sure you check out our awesome roundup of things to do over spring break in NYC.

My son, at 6 years old, declared his intention to attend MIT after high school, class of 2027.  He lives and breathes science, so most summer camps involving athletic activities don't appeal much to his interests.  Sound familiar?  If your little marine biologist or farmer need a fun camp experience this summer, New London county offers a wide range of camps just for them! Also check out our complete Summer Camps Guide!

I'm glancing out my back door at the snow as I write--Happy First Weekend of Spring! Take heart, NJ, this wacky weather can't last forever. Hopefully this weekend as we hunt for eggs, celebrate Earth Hour, decorate cookies or geocache, the sun will be shining and winter will be a distant memory. Um, hopefully. Read on for our top picks for the weekend of March 23-24 and find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

This weekend is all about Easter egg hunts! Head on over to Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore for the 98.3 KJOY Eggstravaganza where you’ll enjoy a egg hunt, bouncy rides, magician, face painters, team mascot appearances, live entertainment, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and more. At the Long Island Children’s Museum in Garden City, don’t miss the Spring EGGstravaganza. Pump It Up in Great Neck is hosting its Jumpin' Easter Egg Hunt.  At United Skates of America in Seaford enjoy fun off the roller skating rink at its Princess & Superhero Breakfast where you’ll meet your favorite princesses and superheroes! Also on tap: A Pirate & Princess Tea Party at Ballet Long Island in Ronkonkoma, and a Spring Egg Hunt at Safari Adventure in Riverhead.  As always, check out our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family!