Family Happenings this Weekend: March 23 to March 25

With this early spring, everyone is ready to get outside to enjoy the lovely weather. Here are some ideas to think about for your weekend:

I am heading out the Piccadilly Circus in Danbury tonight. The circus will be in town this entire weekend. For an hour before and after each show, they will have a special kids' area set up with a bouncy house, free petting zoo, and pony rides, and face painting.

My experience is that, with the exception of the free petting zoo, most of these activities will involve an outlay of cash. If you plan on indulging, bring cash. If not, explain to the kids before you go and then arrive shortly before show time, though this comes with the risk of parking issues, I think the parking garage right next door will help.

There is also usually an intermission (though I have never attended Piccadilly Circus myself to be sure), where they set up some of the activities again, a nice explanation before you go may help the kids to not get their hopes up.

Buy your tickets on-line by 10 a.m. on show day to enjoy a special "Buy one get one free" adult ticket and free general admission for kids (up to two for each adult). That means a family of four kids and two adults can attend for under $50, including fees.

Register now if you would like to take part in the No Child Left Inside's Spring Sprint.

Spring Sprint is the opening event of the Great Park Pursuit. Visit various parks around the state, follow clues and learn about new places while enjoying Connecticut's state parks and getting out as a family. That's not the only reason to head out. If you meet all of the challenges, you can earn the chance to win some prizes.

S.M.A.R.T. (Southbury and Middlebury Acting Responsibly Together) is partnering with Newtown Parent Connection to offer a parenting workshop by author Bonnie Harris entitled "When Your Kids Push Your Buttons".

There will be free child care and children's activities for 3- to 11-year-olds while parents attend the workshop from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, March 24. The workshop takes place at the .

The Brass Mill Center in Waterbury is hosting a free Kids Fest tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be face painting, crafts, music, and other activities for the kids. The Easter Bunny will be making a special appearance from 11 a.m. to noon.

You can meet Billy Steers and Tractor Mac at tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and purchase a book for him to sign. There will also be petting zoo animals from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. and the Easter Bunny will be hopping by.

The Palace Danbury is hosting a Grease Sing-a-long on Saturday evening. For $18 at the door ($15 in advance), relive one of your favorites with your teens.

Wake up Sunday and enjoy hot pancakes and sausage made by someone else at the Oxford Center Firehouse pancake breakfast fundraiser. Choose between plain and blueberry pancakes and enjoy OJ, sausages, and coffee.

After a nice, hot breakfast, check out the wonders of soap and water at BubbleMania in Newtown. There are two shows at 1 and 3 p.m. at the Newtown Middle School. You can buy tickets at the door and a special family four pack for $30. I've seen the BubbleMania guy entertain before and he is enjoyable and can make a bubble the size of a person.

Have a great weekend and you only need to be bored if you choose to be.

I am the editor and publisher of Macaroni Kid. Highlighted events in this Patch.com blog are at editorial discretion, though some events may be hosted by paid advertisers of Macaroni Kid, all opinions expressed in this blog are my own.