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Things To Do for Connecticut Kids and Families April 16-17, 2011: Easter, Earth Day Celebrations and Lots More

4/14/11 - By Mary Beth Lawlor

There's so much for Connecticut families to do this weekend.  There are many Earth Day festivals, nature activities, and even a great weekend long carnival  in Fairfield. You and the kids can also get into the Easter spirit with an old-fashioned Egg Hunt and or visit the Easter Bunny Express Train Ride at Danbury Railway Museum where you can take a ride in a vintage train.

If you're in the mood for family friendly theater then head to Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport for a presentation of Goldie Locks. For art activities your little one can try their hand at painting plein air, in the open air, just like the Lyme Art Colony artists at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme.

 It's Spring! Get out there and take advantage of one of the great nature activities. The  Full Moon Nature Hike at Greenwich Audubon includes a marshmallow roasting campfire. Below you will find the weekend event listings.Click on the title which will take you to the MP CT calendar where you will get all of the juicy details. Enjoy!

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April 16

Earth Day at the SmartLiving Center
Smart Living Center
9:30am - 3:30pm
Come and experience the interactive exhibits, live animal shows, creative children’s educational activities and more at the SmartLiving Center. Children are invited to learn about exciting animals courtesy of the Rainforest Reptiles. Other children’s activities include face-painting, an energy scavenger hunt, “Energy Jeopardy” and “Circuit Relay Race” games. Children (ages 5-15) can also enjoy “Build a Musical Instrument” workshops by Bash the Trash, a hands-on instrument building activity using reused and recycled materials.

Week of the Young Child in Nature
New Canaan Nature Center
 Come celebrate the Week of the Young Child in Nature. From 10:00am - 2:00pm each day, we will have free, themed, do-it-yourself activities available for families with young children ages 2-6 to enjoy outside here at NCNC. Scheduled daily activities found here.

ART EXPLORERS
New Britain Museum of American Art
 ART EXPLORERS (Ages 6 - 8)
Students learn to express their creativity using varied art methods and materials to create personal works of art. New themes will be explored each month with different projects weekly.
Instructor Suzy Jorsey Balay.
Saturdays (except when Museum is closed for a holiday; please check NBMAA Web site or call Museum).
Drop-in students are welcome.
No charge for chaperones who must remain in the building.

Art Start for Preschoolers at the New Britain Museum of American Art
New Britain Museum of American Art
 This program helps caregivers and young children discover art together in the Museum galleries. Listen to stories about art and then explore line, shape and color with Museum educators.
Art Start is led by Margaret Freedman.
Drop-in students are welcome.
No charge for chaperones, who must remain with the class

Earth Day Celebration in Washington Depot
Byran Memorial Town Hall
9:00am - 2:00pm
Join Ranger Dawn at the Ansonia Nature Center for a BACK TO BASICS WORKSHOP. Learn how to decorate eggs for your holiday baskets using vegetable dyes. Find out what beautiful and surprising shades you can create from natural dyes.  Bring some hard-boiled or blown-out white eggs and a carton.

April 17
 
Party for the Planet
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
10:00am - 3:00pm

Join Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo to celebrate the 41st anniversary of Earth Day!  Our Earth Day event is about encouraging local, organic, earth-friendly choices as a way of promoting better health for our planet and ourselves.  Environmentally friendly vendors will be on hand with everything from green cleaning products and recycled fashion accessories to better lawn care for you and wildlife!  We'll have live music performed by The Mudpuppies Saturday at Noon and by The Environmental Hootenanny with Tom Calliman and Ann Shapiro on Sunday at 2 pm. Both performances are at the Peacock Pavilion. Come learn what you can do to make the planet a healthier place for you and your family.

Fun Sundays at the Litchfield Historical Society Museum

Looking for an exciting activity on a Sunday afternoon? Stop by the Historical Society anytime from 1:00 to 4:00 for fun, games, or to learn a new skill. Activities will range from outdoor games to quill pen writing to ice cream making.

 

NATURE WALK: Pond Pandemonium
Hill-Stead Museum
Join in the annual mud-slinging, bug-finding, frog-fancying celebration of spring and Hill-Stead's pond! Help to search the pond, swamp and stream for aquatic creatures of all types. Sloppy fun will be had by all ages. Pre-registration required: please call 860.677.4787 ext 142. $5 members, $8 members-to-be.