Outdoor activities like maple sugaring and outdoor scavenger hunts are starting to make their way onto our Events Calendar. Does that mean spring is soon to follow? We’re ready! If it still feels too much like winter to plan on outdoor activities, there’s plenty going on this weekend for Boston families indoors, too. Kids can enjoy music with Little Groove, a performance by Riverside Theatre Works, a puppet show with Applause Unlimited. Read on for details of these and other events.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Tara has the scoop on Winter Hikes With Kids in Rhode Island and
• Kristin finds Kid-Friendly Restaurants in South Boston

Finally, we’re pleased to announce the launch of the Mommy Poppins Camp Directory. The Mommy Poppins Boston editors have chosen quality camps in and around Boston to include in the directory, and there are multiple ways to search for the right camp for your child. Read Tara’s tips on how to get the most out of the Directory, and happy camping!

Enjoy the weekend!

It's happening again. One of those weekends when there's just. Too. Much. To. Do. We've got whales, and more whales.  And if whales are too big we've got fish. We've got Mardi Gras, more Mardi Gras, a spectrum-friendly Mardi Gras, and Woofstock. We've got lots and lots of Seuss.

Ernest & Celestine opens this weekend; the French animated tale of mouse/bear friendship is nominated for an Oscar. Which reminds me, the Oscars are this weekend! You know, that event you used to build your weekend around before you had kids? (Or was that just me?)

Of course, if this rain turns out to be as big a deal as they're saying, movies could be a good idea (we've got 'em from dust bunnies to Pirate Fairies). Or a play (White opens this weekend, too). Or a concert. But plenty of the celebrations you can attend this weekend offer great indoor options, too; there's a free Family Arts Festival, a St. David's Day Festival, a celebration of Persian New Year, a celebration of Women's History Month, a celebration of play. Sounds like this weekend, LA is one big celebration of ... celebrating.

And now we celebrate some of our favorite picks for the weekend...

They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb and I, for one, am really looking forward to that sweet lamb. At least now we can see the light at the end of the icy tunnel. This weekend Westchester is full of fun events for families including Family Fun Day at the Tarrytown Music Hall and maple sugaring events at The Nature Place, Muscoot Farm and Teatown Lake Reservation.

Several summer camps will be hosting summer camp open house events this weekend including The Nature Place Day Camp, Camp Armonk, Challenge Camp and Blue Rill Day Camp. 

Young artists will have a chance to showcase their talents in Westchester this weekend with two events. Joe Cavise brings his young dancers to the White Plains Performing Arts Center at the Dance Invitational 2014, featuring ballet, jazz, hip-hop and modern dance numbers. The Young Artists Exhibition showcases the extraordinary talents of budding artists as seniors from member schools participate in every aspect of the exhibition process.

Read on for our top weekend picks. If you see something that piques your interest, click through to the event listing to view full details. Looking for more options? Be sure to check our Event Calendar for more fun happening this weekend and beyond.

Spring is (almost) in the air, but while the temperatures continue to rise and plummet, here are some indoor safe bets for fun. There's plenty of local theater to keep your family engaged and entertained, such as Nobody Loves a Dragon and the timeless tale, The Wizard of Oz in Lindenhurst or Bellmore). Open houses also begin this weekend for several summer camp programs across the island.

Here's a guide for this weekend's happenings across Long Island. Don't see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar. And if you don't already receive this post in your inbox subscribe to our newsletter.

This time of year, the planners, the worriers, and the Type A personalities among us start obsessing about finding the right summer camp for our kids. The bad news is that most of the camp fairs have already come and gone. The good news is that the open houses are just getting started. (To find upcoming camp open houses in Boston, use the keyword search in our Events Calendar.) That’s great, but you might be wondering where to even start. After all, there are hundreds of camps in the Boston area. It has been a long time coming, but we finally have the tool you need: A Camp Directory! The Mommy Poppins Boston editors have chosen quality camps in and around Boston to include in the directory, and there are multiple ways to search for camps your child will love. Keep reading for the answers to your burning questions, like where to find this handy dandy directory, how to use it, and what other camp resources we have to help you on your quest for the right summer camp for your child.

The first weekend of March is packed with family fun including two of our top picks for March: the unveiling of Xu Bing's massive phoenix sculptures at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and a reading by Jim "Harry Potter audio book master" Dale at the 92nd Street Y. St. Patrick's Day celebrations also kick off this weekend with family-friendly parades in Queens and Staten Island, and a creative festival at the Children's Museum of the Arts.

Looking for something sweet? Maple sugaring season continues in the tri-state area with syrup tastings and pancakes breakfast. Here in the city, the third annual Kids Food Festival brings cooking classes and live entertainment to Bryant Park. And you can get a taste of spring at the opening weekend of the New York Botanical Garden's annual Orchid Show.

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 our Winter Fun Guide. And if you're looking to plan ahead, our March NYC Go List highlights the absolute best things to do with kids all month long.