Spring is breaking in upon us everywhere! The days are getting noticeably longer, crocuses have broken their silence, the buds on the trees are flaunting their annual splendor and retailers are displaying lawn furniture, grass seed and spring fashions. Here are some of the fun things you and your family can do on Long Island to celebrate this season of new beginnings:

Atlantis Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center

431 East Main Street
Riverhead, NY 11901
631 208-9200
10 am – 5 pm year-round (except Christmas Day)

The Atlantis Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center is a full-scale Aquarium with a brand-new Exhibition Center boasting one of the largest all-living coral reef displays in this hemisphere; a 120,000-gallon shark tank, year-round sea lion shows, numerous touch tanks, and more than 100 exhibits and interactive experiences, including Shark Dive, Penguin Encounter, Pirate Snorkel Adventure, Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat and Sea Lion Kiss. Click here for pricing and tickets.

Grandma Is Back! at Diliberto Vineyard

Diliberto Vineyard & Winery
250 Manor Lane
Jamesport, New York
631 722-3416
02/05/2012 - 05/05/2012
Every Sunday from 1 pm – 3 pm
Admission: $29 per guest, Reservations Required.

Every Sunday through May 5^th, Diliberto Vineyard & Winery is host to a demonstration of the art of preparing a 3-course Sunday dinner that will feature different homemade pasta each week. Every demo which will include an antipasto, pasta, and dessert and each course will be paired with a specially selected Diliberto wine. And of course every Sunday meal is not complete without Opera music in the background whether recorded or live! Surprise guests each week will provide this marvelous entertainment.

The Great South Bay Audubon Society & the Young Naturalists Club Outdoor Activities Sponsored by Brookside County Park

59 Brook Street
Sayville, New York
631 581-1731
02/05/2012 - 06/03/2012
First Sunday of every month from 1pm – 3 pm

The Long Island community and GSBAS Chapter Members are invited to join the Young Naturalists Club as it gathers to focus on learning about nature and stewardship of a natural area. Outdoor activities include creating nature boxes and pinecone feeders, scavenger hunts, hiking surrounding trails, gardening and maintaining bird-feeding stations. Indoor activities include examining birds’ nests and feather displays and special presentations on a wide-range of subjects, including: the Northern Bobwhite Quail, local marine creatures and bird watching.

RSVPs are encouraged but not required.  Please call 631-581-1731 or email: info@gsbas.org.

Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum

2000 Montauk Highway
Montauk, New York
631 668-2544
March 17 – May 6
Weekends Only:  10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Museum Admission: Adults $9/Seniors $8/Children 12 and under $4

The Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum is National Maritime Historic Landmark. Admission price includes museum, gift shop and tower climb as well as a 28 minute video. This is the oldest lighthouse on Long Island, and also the oldest in New York State, completed in 1796 on a spot where the Royal Navy had maintained signal bonfires for its ships during the American Revolution.

There is an $8 fee to park in the Montauk Point State Park parking lot from 8 AM to 4 PM. There is no charge for parking after 4 PM. Monday through Friday there is free parking for Senior Citizens (62 and older) holding a current New York State Driver's License. The NY State parking fee does not include admission to the Montauk Lighthouse property.

Tours of 20 or more are welcomed all year

Email: director@montauklighthouse.com

Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island, Inc.

2011-2012 Seal Walk

150 Idle Hour Boulevard
Oakdale, NY 11769
631 244-3352
April –May 2012

The Seals are back at Cupsogue Beach! Check the CRESLI website for available dates and times and to make a seal walk reservation—they’re filling up Fast!

The Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island, was founded in the summer of 1996 by a group of experts in marine mammal science, environmental sciences, education and conservation. CRESLI was formed for the purposes of conducting research, providing educational experiences and promoting conservation of coastal ecosystems. Research and education are inextricably linked in all CRESLI activities.

Among the many services CRESLI provides are: whale watches, seal walks, marine discovery cruises, bald eagle observation cruises, lectures and presentations on marine mammals, marine ecosystems and environmental issues.

Selden Spring Craft & Gift Fair

Presented by Middle Country Athletic Booster Club
Newfield High School
145 Marshall Drive
Selden, New York
631-846-1459
April 21, 2012
10 am – 5 pm
Admission: Free

The Middle Country Athletic Booster Club is sponsoring a craft & gift fair at Newfield High School, which will feature over 75 vendors displaying a variety of handcrafted items, including jewelry, woodcrafts, personalized gifts, soft sculpture and floral design. There will also be a wide variety of gift items including ladies’ accessories, home décor, gift baskets and more. Refreshments available. 

21^st Annual Merrick Spring Festival

Presented by Nassau County Craft Shows
Long Island Railroad Parking Lot
1 Broadcast Plaza
Merrick, New York
April 28 & 29, 2012
10 am – 6 pm

One of Nassau County’s premier craft fairs! Enjoy a unique, fun-filled day with family and friends browsing and shopping for handmade crafts, artwork and unusual gifts (prices range from $5 to $500). Service companies and not-for-profit organizations will also be on hand. Rides and food will be available all weekend! Merchandise vendors wanted.

Click here for more information.

 

7^th Annual Spring Car Show Fundraiser

Presented by St. Patrick School
St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church of Smithtown
280 East Main Street
Smithtown, New York
631-588-2696
Sunday, April 15, 2012
9 am – 4 pm
Admission: Adults: $5/Children: Free

The St. Patrick’s Annual Spring Car Show Fundraiser promises to be a day of fun for the whole family. Cars, trucks, motorcycles with “special blessing” on all vehicles. All car clubs and private owners are welcome. Vendor space is available. Rain date: April 22, 2012.

St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church car show:

Helen’s Walk 2012

Presented by the Helen Keller National Center
Sands Point Preserve
127 Middleneck Road
Port Washington, New York
516-944-8900
April 29, 2012
Check-in and Registration: 8 – 9 am
Official Start: 9:15 am (till noon)

The students, staff and volunteers of the Helen Keller National Center invite you to join them in "Helen’s Walk" is a 5k/3.1 mile journey through beautiful Sands Point to help raise funds for the programs and services that benefit people who live without sight and sound. Average walking time: one hour. Yoga stretch with OM Sweet OM at 8:30 am. WPLJ’s Party Mobile will be on hand. Hot coffee served before the walk and refreshments will follow at the Helen Keller National Center.

Registration form and a suggested donation of $20 will enable you to participate in the Walk.

Click here to register.

Sweetbriar Nature Center

62 Eckernkamp Drive
Smithtown, New York
631-979-6344
Preserve Open 8:30 am – 4:30 pm every day
Butterfly Vivarium Open 10 am – 4pm daily (In Season) Fee: $3/Seniors & Children $2
General Admission Fee: Free (Donations Accepted)

Sweetbriar Nature Center is a private not-for-profit corporation that exists to provide natural science education services for Long Islanders of all ages and encourages respect and appreciation for the unique wildlife and ecosystems found on Long Island. Sweetbriar is situated on 54 acres of varied garden, woodland, field and wetland habitats on the Nissequogue River and is best known for its butterfly house, which features 20 to 30 species of butterflies. The Center also has an interpretive rain forest exhibit that includes iguana, a ref-tail boa constrictor and parrots. Enclosed in glass cases are Madagascar hissing cockroaches, walking sticks and a Chilean rose hair tarantula. Visitors can also see reptiles, including leopard geckos, Western tiger salamanders and a ball python.

Sweetbriar Presents

Wildlife Baby Shower

Sunday, April 15
1pm – 3:30pm
Admission: $5/person for members and scouts; $6/person all others

Sweetbriar welcomes families and scouting groups to celebrate Mother Earth and all her wildlife babies.  Support Sweetbriar as it gets ready for the spring and summer season when it cares for many orphaned and injured animals. Meet some of Sweetbriar’s success stories and see how a baby squirrel and baby bird is cared for. Take a nature walk to find signs of animal homes where baby animals are being raised, and make a fun craft.