If you are away, have a wonderful time and if you’re home, check out all the fun stuff going on this weekend!
The Bruce Museum is a hidden gem located just up the road from us in nearby Greenwich, CT. After you’ve checked out the museum, head across the street to a super fun playground the kids are sure to love!
On Friday from 2:30-2:45pm, check out the Marine Tank Animal Feeding.
And on Saturday, from 10-5pm, stop by the new exhibition, Wild Reading: Animals in Children’s Book Art.
The museum will be closed on Easter Sunday.
On Saturday at 11am why not check out the children’s What To Do With a Box Storytime Special Event. “If you give a child a box, who knows what will happen next? It may become a library or a boat. It could set the scene for a fairy tale or a wild expedition.”
This weekend at the GNC, don’t miss Teaching Trails on Saturday, March 26th at 11:30. This “Weekend Walk for All Ages” is a “Guided trail experience through our woodland forest. Our specially trained "Trail Ninja" volunteers provide information on trees, plants, wildlife and seasonal changes. Conversation varies each time. An ideal way to get acquainted with our trail system. Program runs approximately 45 minutes. FREE.”
Also on Saturday, at 2pm, come “Meet the Animals- Join us for a fun and informative program that allows you to get up close and hands-on with some of the Nature Center’s live animals. Concludes with feeding birds of prey. Members $5/person, Non-members $8/person.”
Stepping Stones
Stepping Stones museum is an amazing place for the kids. Located about 20 minutes north of Rye Brook, in Norwalk, CT, it’s perfect for the whole family! Check them out here, then head on over for a fun filled day of learning and hands-on activities the kids will adore!
On Saturday, March 26th, from 10:30-12:30pm don’t miss the Egg-straordinary Egg-stravaganza! “Join Benedict the Egg, the egg-ceptional host of all things egg-citing! He will be participating in loads of egg-cellent activities. Egg-streme fun is guaranteed, no egg-ceptions!
- 10:00 am – noon – Join Danny Lyons from the WEBE108 Lyons Den for a live broadcast.
- 10:30 am- 10:40 am – The morning will kick off with Benedict the Egg entering the Courtyard. Fun music will be playing to get everybody egg-cited. A speaker will welcome everybody and announce/introduce Benedict.
- 10:40 am – noon – Egg Roll (every 20 minutes). Children will roll their egg through a series of obstacles to the finish line. Their challenge is to beat Benedict the Egg to the end while staying in their lane. Winners get a sticker or a pencil!
- 11:00 am – 11:45 am – Performance – Aly Sunshine and the band Funkytown Playground take the stage with their interactive musical performance.
- Noon – 12:30 pm – Benedict dances around the Celebration Courtyard. Thank you announcements made to thank those who participated and wish visitors a Happy Passover and a Happy Easter.
- 12:30 pm – Egg-straordinary Egg-stravaganza comes to an end.
Ongoing Activities include a Face painting table, Egg Flipping Station, Egg Tosses, Tic-Tac-Toe, Egg Creation Station and Find the Chick.”
On Saturday, Mutt-i-grees will take place from 10:30-11:15. “ Enjoy a special canine storytime followed by a visit from a shelter dog.” Appropriate for ages 3+.
Stepping Stones will be closed on Sunday for Easter.
There is always SO much going on at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT.
On Saturday and Sunday, March 26th and 27th, don’t miss the Aqua Egg Hunt from 10-5pm. Free with admission. “Find eggs hidden in the Aquarium galleries that will help you solve a puzzle, then turn in your answer for a Gift Shop reward. Plus, as you search, learn about marine animals that lay eggs!”
Did you know there are Shark Dives on most Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. And they are free with Aquarium admission. “Interact with the Maritime Aquarium's dive team among the sand tiger sharks, lemon shark and other creatures of the 110,000-gallon "Ocean Beyond the Sound" exhibit.”
Don’t miss the "Animals Without Passports" exhibit, open now through Jan. 2, 2017.
“The large humpback whale population off Cape Cod supports a popular whale-watching industry. And, for the first time in decades, at least three whales spent the late summer of 2015 in western Long Island Sound.
But humpbacks aren’t in New England waters year-round and their annual international migration is the focus of the special exhibit, “Animals Without Passports."
Displays explore the challenges of humpback whales’ annual 3,000-mile migration between New England and the Caribbean. Learn when and why the whales migrate, and the hazards they face as they cross ocean borders, including poisoning from pollution, becoming entangled in fishing gear and being hit by boats and ships.
The exhibit is installed in the lobby of The Maritime Aquarium’s IMAX® Theater because it is a perfect tie-in to the movie “Humpback Whales,” showing daily through May 26.
“Animals Without Passports” tells its story by focusing on one whale, a female humpback named Salt who has been studied by researchers for 40 years. Trace Salt’s “family tree” as you also learn how scientists identify and track individual whales.”
Dragons! Real or Myth? Meerkats and Jiggle a Jelly are also among some of the amazing current exhibits at the aquarium.
The aquarium is definitely worth a trip up the Merritt or 95!
Click here to learn more about Maritime.
Clay Arts Center Saturday Drop In Classes
Every Saturday from 2-4pm, drop in and have some fun “experimenting with clay for the first time. Plan a great afternoon with friends, family, or just for you while exploring your inner artist in this fun and messy introduction to clay! Professional ceramic artists guide fun, featured weekly projects - decided by the instructor. Projects take between 1.5- 2 hours. This class includes materials. Fee: $25 adult, $15 children under 12, $5 firing fee (per piece).
SPACE IS LIMITED. Tickets go on sale at the front desk 30 minutes prior to each session. First Come First Served.”
Hudson River Museum
The Hudson River Museum, in Yonkers, boasts an amazing Planetarium, six galleries, and a mansion!
Saturdays & Sundays 12 - 5 pm there’s “a safe space for children to explore, play, and create with their families. The room hosts a large-scale dollhouse, blocks, puppet theater, and books. A Junior Docent is present to answer questions and suggest activities.”
And Saturday and Sundays from 1-4, kids can do fun art projects - Creative activities weekends inspired by the Museum’s collections and exhibitions, led by Junior Docents and art and science professionals. Ages 7+, can be adapted for younger children. “Create a 3-D House from a blueprint. Then, pick a disaster — earthquake, a volcanic eruption, a hurricane, a falling meteorite and transform your structure to show the damage of disaster.”
Saturdays 1-4, fun science projects- “Make a Food Web, a ring of cords that looks like a “dreamcatcher,” and weave in cardboard images of organisms that live in the Hudson River.”
On Sunday check out “LEGO Building Sundays from 1-4- Create a Lego building for Micro City and place it on a giant map of city streets. Meet and work with Brett Berland from Brick U, Nyack on March 6. On March 27 demolish the Micro City with Brett.”
There are planetarium shows Saturdays and Sundays that the whole family can enjoy!
Check out Tycho to the Moon at 12:30 on Saturday and Sunday. “Tycho to the Moon-Kids love Tycho! The dog that doesn’t just howl at the moon—he goes there! See the planetarium’s favorite dog like never before with stunning new fulldome visuals.
Blast off on an amazing ride with Tycho and his young American friends, Ruby and Michael. Learn about night and day, space travel, phases of the Moon, and features of the lunar surface. Take a close-up look at the Sun, see Tycho play in zero gravity, witness Earth from space, and watch meteors shoot across the night sky. Includes the much-loved singalong song “Don’t Touch!” Ages 5+, 24 minutes + Q & A
At 2pm, “The Sky Tonight, gives children 8 and older “a live tour of the heavens as seen from our area with a planetarium educator. Ages 8+ 55 minutes”.”
Finally, at 3:30 pm check out We Are Astronomers- “Discover how astronomers share knowledge and answer our questions about the universe. Narrated by David Tennant, the “Tenth Doctor” in the British sci-fi series Doctor Who. Ages 8+, 25 minutes + Q & A.”
To learn more, click here.
On Saturday from 10am-12pm, come to Michael’s where kids can get into the Easter spirit by creating KIDS CLUB® Easter Tic Tac Toe while you shop! “Kids 3 and up can enjoy a quick project and take home a finished masterpiece. Sign up in store or online, or just drop in. $2 per child, supplies included. Parent or guardian must remain on premises during the event.”
Lakeshore will also be creating a fun craft this Saturday from 11-3pm for kids ages 3 & up. This week’s project is creating a “Cheerful Chick Basket.”
Easter Egg Hunt at Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon isn’t just for pumpkin picking! This weekend, starting today, head up to Harvest Moon for an Easter Egg Hunt and so much more! There will be Baby goats and chicks, bbq, ponyrides, hayrides (weather permitting, bounce house and of course, the Easter Bunny!
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Click Here to Register for Friday March 25th Click Here to Register for Saturday March 26th *We have added a group for 7 and 8 year olds on Friday March 25th at 10:30am. We have also added three new groups for Saturday March 26th: 3 and under at 10:30 am and 12:30pm 4 to 6 year olds at 3:30pm |
The Stamford Nature Center is a wonderful place to visit. There’s a fun playground and animals to see on the grounds. And this weekend is jam packed with fun!
On Saturday, March 26th from 10-noon don’t miss the 12th Annual Heckscher Farm Egg Hunt. “Hunt for eggs on the farm at the 12th Annual Heckscher Farm Egg Hunt. Children ages six and younger can bring their own baskets and search for hundreds of eggs that will be hidden all over Heckscher Farm. Eggs will be distributed throughout the two-hour event. Once eggs have been collected, they can be turned in for a goody bag. Parents and older siblings are welcome to come along in support. The gates of the farm will open at 10 am. Please note only one goody bag will be provided for each child ages six and younger. Members: $5 per family | Non-Members: $5 per family plus gate admission.”
After you have hunted for your eggs on Heckscher Farm, stop in to Heckscher WILD! and the Overbrook Nature Center to celebrate animals that lay eggs. From 10-12:30pm, “discover the special eggs of salamanders, why bird eggs come in different shapes and colors, and meet some of our egg-laying snakes. We'll have ongoing self-guided crafts in Overbrook, live animal visits in Heckscher WILD!, and at noon join us for a live "Egg-laying Animals" class in Overbrook to meet a chicken, snake, and other live animals. Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with gate admission.”
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On Saturday and Sunday check out March WILDness at Heckscher WILD! “Cast your vote in SM&NC's first "basketball style" bracket challenge in Heckscher WILD! All of our animals are awesome, but we know everyone has a favorite. Is yours "Hot Dog" the Tree Frog, "Wallace" the Red-Footed Tortoise, "Thor" the Savannah Monitor, or do you favor another?
Each week will feature a specific group of animals that will compete for your votes to advance in our challenge. The two animals that receive the most votes will battle it out to be the "March WILDness winner" during our Take-A-Hike Week programs.
Votes can be cast in person at Heckscher WILD! or on our Facebook page. One vote per person per day. Stop by weekday afternoons in March (Tues-Fri) at 3 pm for a "meet and greet" with one of the animals featured that week. Voting will be available during our Maple Sugar Festival, too!
Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with gate admission.” |
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Saturday, March 26th from 8:30-10pm come learn all about Animal Tracking! “Muscoot has more than just farm animals. Come on a hike and look for signs of the other animals that call Muscoot home. Suggested donation $5.00.” |
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From 1-3pm on Saturday check out the Vernal Pool Hike. “Take a hike with Naturalist Paul Lewis to the vernal pools at Muscoot. The frogs and salamanders are returning for this magical spring ritual!” And finally, on Sunday, at 1 and 2:30 there’s a special Magic Show! “Enjoy the magic of Spring with two shows from Magician Margret Steele. Be sure to catch her before she disappears.”
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Stone Barns Farm
This weekend why not head outside and enjoy Stone Barns since it is open and entrance to the property is FREE. In addition there is a paid tour you can participate in or check out the free drop-in programming
Weekend activities may include:
11:00 -11:45 am: Family Farm Tour, $10
12:00 - 12:30 pm: Meet the… sheep, sprouts, pigs or other part of the farm-Drop-in, FREE
1:00 - 1:30 pm: Making the Rounds Tour: Greenhouse-Drop-in, FREE
1:30 - 2:00 pm: Meet the… sheep, sprouts, pigs or other part of the farm-Drop-in, FREE
2:30 - 4:00 pm: Insider’s Tour, $20
Tickets for the tours may be purchased online.
There are also Winter Family Farm tours on Saturday and Sunday from 11-11:45. “On this family-friendly tour for ages 4 and up, explore the farm and some of our favorite seasonal highlights. Join us for a walk around the farm to take a closer look at the animals that we’re raising and the vegetables that we’re growing!” Tickets can be bought here.
Other weekend ideas?
The movies are always a fun weekend option. Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice is new to theaters this weekend! It’s rated PG-13 so maybe a little too scary for the younger audience members. Still in theaters, it’s Zootopia! A long awaited movie that was absolutely adorable. I loved it!! It’s out in regular, 3D and 3D Imax format!
Have you checked out Fun Fuzion in New Rochelle yet. Fun Fuzion is Westchester’s only indoor amusement park. There’s bowling, mini golf, billiards, lazer tag, and a fun house with games and rides. There’s also a movie theater next door! Definitely a spot worth visiting!
How about ice skating? Nearby rinks include Playland Ice Casino, no open skate Sunday, Hommocks in Larchmont, (rink closed Sunday) and Dorothy Hammil in Greenwich.
Or maybe the Bronx Zoo?
The New York Botanical Gardens are also a beautiful spot to visit and stroll around. The Orchid Show is on right now!
And Bowlmor bowling alley is a fun option in White Plains!
The beaches in Greenwich are open and free now! It’s a close, easy option that the whole family will love!
Remember, it’s always a good idea to call ahead, especially on a holiday weekend, to ensure a scheduled activity is still running. Email me at ryebrook@hamlethub.com and let me know if we missed any super fun, family friendly events and/or if you would like to advertise with us!
Photo Credit: Kelly Schwark