Earth Day, Passover and Easter, oh my! Talk about something for everyone this weekend.
Warning: Murphy's Law dictates that it must rain whenever the weekend is filled with outdoor fun. As of now, Saturday's supposed to be a washout and Sunday may be as well. So before heading out to an alfresco event, be sure to check its official website for any weather-related updates or cancellations.
Families can commune with nature at the Staten Island Zoo’s annual Earth Fair, celebrate Passover at the Museum at Eldridge Street or attend one (or many) Easter egg hunts around to, including our favorite: the rotten egg hunt at the Bronx Zoo, hosted by cast members from Broadway’s The Addams Family.
Another spectacular annual event, the NYC Easter Bonnet Parade, takes over Fifth Avenue on Sunday. (Click here to see our slide show of colorful photos from 2009.) And if you're looking to fill your little bunny's basket with treats, we've rounded up the best places to buy Easter candy, as well as ideas for what to do with all of those sweets post-holiday...besides eat them.
Other weekend fun includes the wonderfully artsy St. George’s Day Festival on Staten Island (which has an indoor plan in case of rain), Brooklyn Bridge Park's annual Spring Fling (which is rain or shine), featuring kid rocker AudraRox, and the Bronx Zoo's ongoing Animal Tales Extravaganza, starring Spider-Man this weekend. Dinosaur fans should head to the American Museum of Natural History for its brand-new World’s Largest Dinosaurs exhibit. Prefer Porsches to prehistoric creatures? Then hit the New York International Auto Show at the Javits. The Tribeca Film Festival's family programming also kicks off this week, with free outdoor screenings, including The Muppets Take Manhattan on Saturday night. Check the event's website in case of rain!
Below are additional best bets for the weekend, but don't forget to check out the Mommy Poppins Events Calendar, which is filled with storytimes, concerts, stage shows and more. Have a happy holiday, whatever you're celebrating!