March list of Easter things to do!

St. Patrick's Day Parade. March 16. 10am - 4pm. The 11th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at NOON & includes fire trucks, classic cars, high school marching band, community organizations, Irish dancers, horses, military equipment and local pageant winners. The parade begins/ends at Blue & Gray Brewing Company (3300 Dill Smith Dr, 22408). Beginning at 11am, there will be Irish songs/dancers. A magician with Christian theme performs after the parade during the fundraiser. There will also be a Shamrock face painter and craft table. Visit historic railroad cars of the Rappahannock Chapter - NRHS on site beginning 10am. Free admission. www.blueandgraybrewingco.com
Irish Dancing. March 16. 11:30am - 2pm. Bring a little luck into your life on St. Patrick's Day! Enjoy traditional Irish Dancing brought to you by the FBC Irish dancers. Location: Spotsy Towne Centre, Center Court. www.fredericksburgballet.com
Easter Egg Craft Fun Day. March 16. 12pm - 6pm. Let your kids create their very own fun designs on Easter egg shapes. We will have face painting and games throughout the day. Pizza and juice Free with admission at 6:30. Please give us a call to reserve for dinner. 540-548-8885. www.wiggleworms.net
The National ShamrockFest. March 16. 1pm - 9pm. Street festival with live music, food, drinks, roving entertainers, craft vendors, an Irish Village, carnival rides & games and much more. The ShamrockFest is the largest Saint Patrick's Day party in the region featuring more than 50 live bands performing on seven stages. Rain or Shine. Location: RFK Stadium, 2400 E. Capitol St. NE Washington, DC. Tickets: $24.99; Children 12 and under are free! www.shamrockfest.com
St. Patrick's Day Celebration. March 17. 12pm - 11:30pm. The 11th Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration will be held at all five Capital Ale House locations. The Fredericksburg location will offer entertainment by Wayne Jordan Noon-11:30pm and Eagle Pipes & Drums. Over the years this event has grown to become one of the biggest and best St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Virginia! This is a 21 and above event. We will have over 10 different Irish & Scottish Ales on tap and at least ten more in the bottle along with a new Irish menu for 2013 that will include traditional Irish fare.
Shamrockin' Party. March 17. 12pm - 6pm. Join us at Wiggle Worms between the hours of 12pm-6pm for a Shamrockin' Party! Be here at 12pm for a Treasure Hunt. There will be treasures hidden all over the Worm! We will be making shamrock pudding, hats and much more. Activities throughout the day! 540-548-8885. www.wiggleworms.net
Eggstravaganza. March 18. 5pm - 6:30pm. Come celebrate the first days of Spring and roll on over to Motts Run Reservoir to learn all about eggs and who lays them. We'll see and touch some giant eggs and some teeny eggs and then get a chance to decorate eggs! Cost: $8. For ages 6 - 12. www.fredericksburgva.gov
Lunch with the Easter Bunny. March 19. 10:30am - 12pm. Hippity, Hoppity, Hippity, Hoppity...the Easter Bunny is coming to town! Join the Easter Bunny and his friends for songs, crafts, food, and fun! Tickets must be purchased in advance; space is limited. For Ages 2-5. Location: Rowser Building, 1739 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Stafford. Cost: $10/($12 non-res) Fee includes activities and lunch for 1 child; parents may buy lunch for $4. www.staffordparks.com
Flashlight Egg Hunt. March 22. 5:30pm. Just for the older ones, 4th through 6th grade. Pre-registration is required and all participants need to bring a flashlight. Cost: $4. Location: Kenmore Memorial Park. www.fredericksburgva.gov
Breakfast w/ the Bunny & Egg Hunt. March 23. 8am - 5pm. Bring the "Little Ones" (ages 2 - 7) and share breakfast with the Easter Bunny and enjoy an Easter egg hunt. Bring your own basket! Location: Marshall Center Building, 8800 Courthouse Rd, Spotsy. Register through Mar 15 at the Parks & Rec Office at Loriella Park. Cost: $10/$20--non-res. One Adult eats free, any additional persons $5. OR, $20 for a Family of 4 County Residents/$30 for a Family of 4 Non-County Resident.
Easter Bunny Breakfast. March 23. 9:30am - 10:45am. Ages 2 - 5, Hop on over to enjoy a rabbit story and create a bunny craft. Enjoy your breakfast, and even a special visit from the Easter bunny! Cost: $5. Location: Dorothy Hart Community Ctr, Canal St, 22401. www.fredericksburgva.gov
Eggsplosion. March 23. 11am - 3pm. Join the excitement in this fun-filled day to celebrate spring. Children ages 10 and under will enjoy a day of activities including an egg hunt. Cost: $8 or $10 at the Gate. Price includes all activities (food not included). No charge for adults. Rain Date: 3/24. Location: Curtis Park. www.staffordparks.com
Easter Egg Hunt. March 23. 11:30am. Say Hi to the Easter Bunny and don't forget to bring your own basket. Everyone finds an egg! For children 3rd grade and younger. Free! Location: Kenmore Park, F'burg. Raindate: March 30. www.fredericksburgva.gov
Belmont's Beeping Easter Egg Hunt. March 23. 12pm - 3pm. Belmont's Beeping Easter Egg Hunt, for visually impaired or blind students and their families will include an audible egg hunt, crafts, refreshments and tactile tours of the museum. Free! Location: Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont; 224 Washington St., Falmouth. 540-654-1851.
1st Annual Dog Easter Egg Hunt. March 23. 1:30pm - 2:45pm. The Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation Department is sponsoring the 1st Annual Dog Easter Egg Hunt at Kenmore Memorial Park. Cost: $5 allows up to 2 dogs to join in the fun! Half of the registration proceeds goes directly to the Fredericksburg SPCA. www.fburgspca.org
Splash into Spring Pool Party. March 23. 6:15pm - 8:15pm. Let's welcome back Spring at Woodlands Pool! Join us for egg races, games, and fun! Cost: $10/Child w/ accompanying adult. Deadline to register: March 15. www.staffordparks.com
Opening Ceremony-National Cherry Blossom Festival. March 23. 5pm - 6:30pm. Each year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC and heralds spring across the country. Ticket holders will be entertained with outstanding performances, as the Opening Ceremony tells the story of how the gift of trees has evolved into today's National Cherry Blossom Festival. Tickets are FREE! Each person, regardless of age, including infants and toddlers, must have a ticket to enter the venue. Location: Warner Theater, 513 13th St, D.C. www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
Spring Forward Festival. March 24. 1pm - 4pm. Spring Forward Festival, featuring springtime crafts, games and an egg hunt. Location: UMW, Brompton. Free! 540-654-1802.
Preschool Egg Hunt. March 25. 11am. Join the Easter bunny for a hunt just for little ones! Don't forget to bring a basket! For ages 5 and under only! You must pre-register for this event! Hunt will be held indoors in case of rain. Cost: $3. Location: Rowser Bldg, 1739 Jeff Davis Hwy, Stafford. www.staffordparks.com
Easter Crafts. March 27. 5pm. Come celebrate Easter by having your child create some 'eggciting' Easter crafts. Ages 3 - 5: 5pm - 5:45pm; Ages 6-10: 6pm - 6:45pm. Cost: $8/$10-non res. Location: Rowser Bldg, 1739 Jeff Davis Hwy, 22554, Room A. www.staffordparks.com
Easter Egg Decorating. March 27. 7pm - 7:45pm. Have you ever noticed all the neat ways to decorate Easter eggs, but you only knew one way to do it? Join the fun and make a mess at our place learning some old and new ways to dye your eggs. Bring one or two dozen boiled eggs that are at room temperature. Ages 3-12; Ages 7 & under must be accompanied by an adult. Location: Rowser Bldg, 1739 Jeff Davis Hwy, 22554, Room A. Cost: $5 ($6 non-res). www.staffordparks.com
Easter Bunny Alphabet Soup Special. March 29. 11am - 11:30am. Hop over for bunny tales, songs and rhymes. Ages 2-5 with a caregiver. Daycares welcome. Salem Church Library. www.librarypoint.org
Late Night Easter Party. March 29. 6:30pm - 10pm. Spring is in the air! Join us at Wiggle Worms in the Spotsy Towne Centre for some Easter fun! We will be making Easter crafts, playing games (pin the tail on the bunny, etc) and watching a movie. Pizza, juice and snack will be served at 6:30. Kids can wear their favorite Easter PJ's. Cost: $20 and $15 for siblings. Call now to reserve your spot: 540-548-8885. www.wiggleworms.net
5K Rabbit Run, 1 Mile Hop & 1/4 Mile Bunny Chase. March 30. 8am. Bring the whole family out for a fun morning of running/walking and hunting for eggs! There is a race for all ages, whether you want to get a PR for your 5K, or the mile for students, or have your little ones chase our rabbit for a 1/4 mile and then join the hunt for Easter Eggs, fun is guaranteed! Register online at www.racetimingunlimited.com. At the Spotsylvania Courthouse Village. For info call Megan McCormack at the Young Life office, 540-318-5324 or via email younglivesfburg@gmail.com
Dominion Family Easter @ Maymont. March 30. 10am - 3pm. Enjoy one of Richmond's favorite Easter traditions with egg hunts, magic shows, Storytelling under the Bunny Tree with Pam Bomboy, a tree elevator and zipline with Riverside Outfitters and other fun-filled activities. Location: 2201 Shields Lake Dr, Richmond. www.maymont.org
Easter Egg Hunt @ Stratford Hall. March 30. 11am - 2pm. Plan to join the hunt! Stratford Hall's annual Easter Egg Hunt will again be sponsored by Northern Neck Lodge #32 of the Fraternal Order of Police. The hunt will begin at 11am SHARP so plan to arrive early. Kids will need to bring a basket or other container to hunt with. Over 3,000 eggs will be "hidden" on the Oval in front of the Great House! During the "egg tabulations," the Fraternal Order of Police will provide a hot dog lunch. No rain date. Free! Location: 483 Great House Rd, Montross, 22520. www.stratfordhall.org/event/easter-egg-hunt.
Easter Weekend w/ Peter Rabbit. March 30, 31. 1pm - 4pm. Peter Rabbit greets visitors and poses for photographs at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Concert on the lawn at Bloemendaal House (Saturday, 2 – 3 p.m.); Easter Brunch in the Tea House by reservation (Sunday). Cost: Included with Garden admission. Location: 1800 Lakeside Ave, Richmond. www.lewisginter.org
The Blossom Kite Festival. March 30. 10:30am - 4:30pm. The third annual Blossom Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival showcases the creativity of kite makers and skill of kite fliers from across the US and other countries through a variety of competitions and demonstrations including the popular Hot Tricks Showdown and the Rokkaku Battle. Bring your own kites or children can make a kite at an activity station (while supplies last) to fly on the Public Field. Location: On the grounds of the Washington Monument, Constitution Ave & 17th Streets, NW Washington, DC. www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
Easter Brunch @ Stratford Hall. March 31. 10am - 1:30pm. Enjoy a delectable Easter brunch with your family at Stratford Hall. The cost is $25 per person for a satisfying buffet, which will include: Plantation Scrambled Eggs; Broccoli, Cheddar & Crab Quiche; Bacon and Sausage Links; Assorted Seasonal Cupcakes; Juice & Coffee Bar and more! Please make your reservations (required) by March 22 by calling 804-493-1966 or by email: lbrooks@stratfordhall.org. Location: 483 Great House Rd, Montross, 22520. www.stratfordhall.org
Easter Monday: Celebrating The African American Family Tradition. April 1. 11am - 4pm. Since 1891, Easter Monday at the National Zoo has been a historic tradition in the African American community. The National Zoo proudly commemorates this family tradition that has grown to include all families in the metro area. Special family activities: Traditional Easter egg hunt, Animal demonstrations, Live entertainment throughout the day, Field and relay-style games with an animal theme, Visits from the Easter Panda. Free and open to the public! Easter Monday will be held rain or shine. www.nationalzoo.si.edu
The Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival. April 6. 1pm - 9pm. The Southwest Waterfront community, home of the cherry blossoms, is the perfect place for you to enjoy more than eight celebratory hours of free music, and family friendly water-related activities, cultural experiences, live entertainment and delicious foods at multiple outdoor venues. Plus, see the spectacular National Cherry Blossoms Fireworks Show on the Washington Channel after the sun goes down! Location: Southwest Waterfront – 600-900 Water Street, SW, D.C. Free! Rain or Shine! www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
23rd Annual Multicultural Fair. April 13. 10am - 5pm. The Multicultural Fair is one of the largest, most anticipated events hosted at the University of Mary Washington. The Multicultural Fair features diverse performances, multicultural vendors, delicious ethnic food, and children's activities. Rain or Shine. Location: UMW's Fredericksburg campus. Free!
Earth Day @ Old Mill Park. April 13. 11am - 3pm. Bring your family, friends, neighbors to Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg and learn what you can do to reduce your impact on the environment while having great family fun! There will be alternative fuel cars, dozens of exhibitors, hands on activities, live music, animals, food vendors, nature hikes and more! Rain Date: April 20. www.fredericksburgva.gov