Wear blue to the Akron Zoo and receive free admission for the day! April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Akron Zoo is partnering with Summit County Children Services to present Wear Blue Day at the Akron Zoo. This initiative helps raise awareness about the importance of child abuse and neglect prevention.

event info on the AKRON ZOO WEBSITE HERE

About The Event

We invite you to the Community Arts Center for a Family FUNday with Claudio Orso to craft your own magical mask! In anticipation of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle, build an upcycled mask that reflects your identity. This workshop is open to people of all ages and all artistic abilities. All materials are provided. Small children must be accompanied by an adult.  

Free; All Ages; No Reservation Required | Gratis; Todas Edades; No Se Requiere Reserva

info from the Cleveland Museum of Art website here

This monthly program welcomes Metroparks naturalists each month at moCa as they facilitate interactive workshops focused on nature-based themes.

Each session features three nature stations inside moCa and outside our front door in Cleveland Metroparks’ Mobile NatureTracks, alongside an immersive artmaking experience led by Wave Space Studio. Observe, reflect, and create while exploring the shared ground between ecological systems, contemporary art, and everyday experience.

The program is connected to the exhibitions currently at moCa Cleveland, with a strong thematic anchor in Ohio Now: State of Nature. Participants are encouraged to consider how artists and naturalists alike use observation, experimentation, and curiosity to understand the world around them.

Developed in partnership with moCa and the Cleveland Metroparks.

Family Fun supported by PNC.

info from the Moca Website. Sign Up HERE

Down the Rabbit Hole (and Into the Bookstore)

The day before Easter, a very special visitor is making a stop at The Wandering Lantern — the White Rabbit in person, ready for photos and hugs.

Schedule

• 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM — Storytime! We'll read some of our favorite bunny stories together.

• 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM — Visit and photo op with the White Rabbit. Bring your camera!

Details

• Free and open to all ages — just drop in!

• No registration required.

• The perfect way to kick off your Easter weekend.

info from The Wandering Lantern Website Here

Event Details

Hop into spring with some extra magic! On April 4th, the Easter Bunny will be stopping by Eton Chagrin Boulevard from 10am-1pm to spread some seasonal cheer. Come dressed in your Easter best for FREE self-serve photos with the Easter Bunny and create lasting memories with the whole family.

A huge thank you to our presenting sponsor, Circle K for helping us put on this event!

Date
Sat, April 4th

Hours
10am-1pm

Location
The Atrium Lounge
Eton Chagrin Boulevard
28601 Chagrin Blvd
Woodmere, OH 44122

info from the Eton Chagrin Website here

FREE IN-STORE KIDS WORKSHOPS

Saturday, April 4th build will be a Farm Planter

9 a.m. the First Saturday of Every Month. While Supplies Last. registration required at some locations

info from the Home Depot Website. Register here

Family BINGO Night
6:30pm-8:00pm

Free Admission
No reservation required

info from the Sibling Revelry Website here

Storytime: Miss Maple’s Seeds

Flowers are a wonderful thing! Join us for a story about caring for and growing seeds into the many magnificent things they can become. Afterwards, we will start our own seed plantings to take home. Recommended for ages 5 years & over w/ adult.

info from the Cleveland Metroparks Event Page

Little Explorers: Signs of Spring at the North Chagrin Nature Center

​​Join a naturalist for an indoor and outdoor adventure as we search for the first signs of spring. This hands-on program invites explorers to utilize their senses and discover the magic of the changing seasons. ​ recommended for ages 3-5 with an adult

info from the Cleveland Metroparks Event Calendar

In honor of Children's Book Day, we're doing something special: select books priced at just 10 cents for one day only!

Come browse our shelves and take home a new favorite story for a dime. No registration required — just stop in during store hours on Thursday, April 2nd.

Details

• 10¢ books — select titles throughout the store

• No registration required — just come in!

• One day only — Thursday, April 2nd

This is a wonderful chance to stock up on books, discover something new, or grab a great read for a friend. We hope to see you!

Follow the light, find the wonder

info from The Wandering Lantern Website HERE

About The Event 

Open Studio days provide free, drop-in art-making sessions designed for the whole family, encouraging creativity and bonding through hands-on activities.

March 2026 Theme: Picture This!

Get ready to capture the fun during this photography adventure! Inspired by the imaginative work of Ann Hamilton, families will zoom in on creativity as they experiment and discover how technology and storytelling come together through hands-on photo activities.  

info from the Cleveland Museum of Art Website here

Nocturnal Wildlife

​​Meet a live owl, bat, and flying squirrel as we learn about the incredible lives of our nocturnal animal neighbors. ​ 

info from the Cleveland Metroparks Website Here

free, fun event at Rocket Arena March 28, 2026 from noon to 3 p.m.! Healthy Kids Day brings hundreds of families and their parents together at Rocket Arena for games, fun activities and, for our basketball fans, some skills and drills on the practice court! There will be kids’ fitness classes, dancing, sports skills clinics, arts and crafts and other enrichment activities.

Many organizations that provide services of all kinds for children and families will be on-hand to join in the fun and offer educational opportunities for all!

What Families Can Expect

Healthy Kids Day activities may include:

• Active games and sports activities

• Arts, crafts, and creative play

• Health and wellness education

• Family fitness opportunities

• Community partner booths and resources

• Skills & drills on the Cleveland Cav's practice court led by Cav's Academy coaches

Why Healthy Kids Day Matters

Healthy habits are formed early. Healthy Kids Day encourages families to:

• Be physically active together

• Learn about nutrition and overall wellness

• Discover local resources that support healthy living

• Build connections within their community

The YMCA believes that when kids are healthy in spirit, mind, and body, they are better prepared to learn, grow, and succeed.

info from the YMCA Website here

About This Event

Come hang out and hear a couple stories for different ages every Saturday morning!

Two Time Slots

11:00 AM - Early Learners (Ages 0-5)

• Picture books and interactive stories

• Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers

• Engaging read-alouds with songs and movement

• Parent participation encouraged

11:30 AM - Early Readers (Ages 6-10)

• Chapter book excerpts and longer stories

• Books for developing readers

• Discussion and questions encouraged

• Building a love of independent reading

What to Expect

• Weekly Stories: Different books each week

• Cozy Environment: Comfortable seating for families

• Community Building: Meet other book-loving families

• Free Event: No registration required, just drop in!

Details

This is a recurring weekly event — come every Saturday or drop in when you can! No registration necessary, though we always love to see familiar faces return week after week.

info from The Wandering Lantern Website

Children’s Nature Hour

Join Naturalist Foster Brown as we meet monthly for a close-up look at a live animal, related craft, songs, and stories to round out this hour of nature fun and learning. Our featured guest will be an Eastern milksnake.

info from the Cleveland Metroparks Event Page Here

Free Easter Bunny Photos

Celebrate spring at Crocker Park in Westlake, Ohio on Saturday, March 28 with free, self-serve photos with the Easter Bunny presented by Circle K! Bring the whole family, dress in your Easter best, and capture a fun seasonal memory together.

Pets are welcome, too!
Pet-friendly photo hours are available from 10AM–1PM inside Barnes & Noble (2nd Floor), located at 198 Crocker Park Blvd, Westlake, OH.

No reservations required — simply stop by, snap your photos, and enjoy the festivities.

Please note, that while we want to accommodate as many guests as possible, the Easter Bunny does need to hop away to another event, so get in line early to ensure you can get your picture taken! 

info from the Crocker Park Website Here

About The Event

Join Inlet for a creative movement workshop designed especially for children and their families, based on What Do You Do with a Problem?, the New York Times best-selling book by Kobi Yamada. This is a story for anyone, at any age, encouraging readers to look closely at problems and discover the possibilities they can hold. In partnership with the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Community Arts Center, families will step inside the creative world of dance together—no prior movement experience required.

Each session includes:

● A Live Story Reading—Gather together as the story comes to life through expressive storytelling.

● Performance Preview—Watch a short movement excerpt performed by Inlet’s dancers.

● Theme Exploration—Dive into meaningful conversations inspired by the story and dance excerpts.

● Interactive Movement Adventures—Move as a family while learning the foundational exercises and improvisation games Inlet uses to create and explore original choreography.

This workshop invites children and adults alike to stretch their imaginations, connect through movement, and discover the creative tools dancers use to turn stories into motion.

Come ready to listen, watch, move, and create—together.

free and no registration required

info from the Cleveland Museum of Art event pagee here

About The Event

Open Studio days provide free, drop-in art-making sessions designed for the whole family, encouraging creativity and bonding through hands-on activities.

March 2026: Picture This!

Get ready to capture the fun during this photography adventure! Inspired by the imaginative work of Ann Hamilton, families will zoom in on creativity as they experiment and discover how technology and storytelling come together through hands-on photo activities.  

Weekly on Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Free; No Ticket Required

info from the Cleveland Museum of Art Website here

Event Details

 Gooey Mash-Ups and Creature Making

Calling all fans of Crazy Aaron’s putty! Globs of fun are on the way with two different feel-good events that add a dash of science to sensory play. At our first event, kids create custom concoctions and learn how color, light and sparkle interact. At our second event, they’ll make gooey-but-cute creatures from another realm! Swing by our Play & Discover area to get hands-on with featured products. And parents and guardians, be sure to check in when you arrive for a chance to win a $100 Lakeshore e-gift card!

This is a free, walk-in event held at all locations during the hours listed. No reservations needed.

info from the Lakeshore Learning Website here

About This Event

Come hang out and hear a couple stories for different ages every Saturday morning!

Two Time Slots

11:00 AM - Early Learners (Ages 0-5)

• Picture books and interactive stories

• Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers

• Engaging read-alouds with songs and movement

• Parent participation encouraged

11:30 AM - Early Readers (Ages 6-10)

• Chapter book excerpts and longer stories

• Books for developing readers

• Discussion and questions encouraged

• Building a love of independent reading

info from The Wandering Lantern Website here

7th annual Easter Bunny visit at Zuzu Chocolates. Bring a Camera and snap a free photo with the Easter Bunny

more info here

World Water Day at the Watershed Stewardship Center

World Water Day recognizes the importance of clean, resilient water systems around the globe. In Cleveland, the Cuyahoga River and the protection of Lake Erie are deeply rooted in our identity. Join us at the Watershed Stewardship Center to play, explore, and learn all about water! This family-friendly event is perfect for nature lovers of all ages. Celebrate water through hands-on crafts, interactive activities, live animals, and guided hikes that will inspire a deeper appreciation for this vital global resource.

info from the Cleveland Metroparks website here

Apollo’s Fire Family Concert

Apollo’s Fire Family Concert

Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Location: Community Arts Center

Free; All Ages; No Reservation Required | Gratis; Todas Edades; Sin Cita Previa

About The Event

Apollo’s Fire invites you to meet the music and ancient instruments from faraway places, including Jerusalem, Spain, Italy, and Africa! 

We sing songs of friendship and explore how music connects cultures across the globe. 

Arrive early at 10:00 a.m. to participate in a hands-on art-making activity inspired by the themes of the performance, presented in partnership with the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Community Arts Center! The performance begins at 11:00 a.m. 

Following the performance, enjoy Apollo’s Fire’s famous “Instrument Petting Zoo,” when the audience swarms the stage to try the instruments themselves—delightfully noisy! 

info from the Cleveland Museum of Art Event page here

Women Who Print: Screenprinting Workshop

with | con Future Ink Graphics

Friday, March 20, 2026, 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Location: Community Arts Center

Centro de Artes Comunitarias

Free; All Ages; All Experience Levels; Registration Recommended

About The Event

Join us at the Community Arts Center for a free silkscreen collage workshop led by Charley Frances, whose work is featured in FIG’s current exhibition Women Who Print! Participants can make their own mixed-media silkscreen collage, meet local artists, view the exhibition, and create their unique piece!

Please arrive at the start time. Supplies are included. Registration is not required but is recommended

info from the Cleveland Museum of Art Event page here

Weekend Hike to the Eagle's Nest

Join a naturalist for a guided hike to an active bald eagle nest while we look for birds, beavers, and other wildlife that call the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation home. On the way, we will compare observations of animal activity throughout the winter. This hike is offered several times each month when the eagle nest is visible.

Terrain: paved, hills, icy conditions possible, 3 miles

Info from the Cleveland Metroparks Website HERE

Family Bingo Donut Day

Families with Children Age 4 to Grade 5

Bring the generations together to play bingo, have a treat and win prizes! Drop-in. Donuts, water and coffee provided. Click "Add to Calendar" to receive a reminder message. 

more info can be found on the library website here

Story Walk

Read a book with a naturalist about how maple syrup is made, starting from the tree and ending at the breakfast table. Afterwards, take a short hike to look for some tapped trees.
Registration required. Register children only.

more info and registration here

Saint Patrick's Day Party with the Real PopFusion - Presented by Aqua Tots Swim School

  Mar 12, 2026

  5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Join us on Thursday, March 12th from 5-7pm for a Saint Patrick's Day Party with the Real PopFusion -- Presented by Aqua Tots Swim School! This FREE family-friendly celebration will be filled with music, games, and prizes. Located in Cinemark Court in front of Foot Locker.

info from the SouthPark Mall Event Page HERE

MAPLE SUGARING
Feb. 28-Mar. 1 and Mar. 7-8, 2026
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Sugar Shack open house)
12:00-2:30 p.m. (Guided hikes/programs)
Carlisle Visitor Center
12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange, OH 44050
Free | No registration required

February is when the ideal conditions for the running of maple sap typically begins. This year, we will be tapping the Carlisle maple trees on February 12 and converting that sap to syrup in our beautiful Sugar Shack--which opened 25 years ago!

Drop by between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm to watch the process, learn about the equipment, and sample some of our home-made maple syrup. There will also be naturalist-led hikes leaving from the Sugar Shack every 30 minutes between 12:30 and 2:30 pm. These hikes will follow the paved Children’s Nature Discovery Trail and includes a stop at one of our sap-collecting sites (known as a “Sugar bush”).

EVENT INFO

Play Days at the CMA are free opportunities for families to be creative and curious and connect through art together. Events include music, storybook readings, games, and art making for the whole family. Each event has a theme that relates to an exhibition, artist, or artworks in the CMA’s collection.

Get ready to capture the fun during this photography adventure! Inspired by the imaginative work of Ann Hamilton, families can zoom in on creativity as they snap, experiment, and discover how technology and storytelling come together through hands-on activities. 

Featured artists and activities:

Create your own movie image with Robert Banks

Explore photographic processes with Kate Shannon

Step inside our life-sized Camera Obscura

Play with music, games and more!

Free; No Ticket Required

info from the Cleveland Museum of Art Website here