It’s April break! Here are 7 things to do with your kids around Greater Boston

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The daffodils are blooming. The Boston Marathon is just days away. And for kids in Massachusetts, April vacation week is officially here.

My suburban Greater Boston neighborhood always feels much busier when school is out — in a good way, though. Kids seem to inject energy into their environments, whether at a community park or in their living rooms.

If you’re looking to redirect some of that daytime energy usually reserved for the classroom, here are seven fun local events happening now through April 25. More than half of these activities take place outdoors, too, so you’ve got a chance to revel in next week’s cool spring weather.

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Kids can get in on the marathon spirit today at Suffolk Downs, where the Marathon Daffodil Project and Revere’s Parks and Recreation department are hosting the fifth annual Marathon Daffodil Dash. The event consists of three 50-yard dash races for kids grades K-8. (The divisions are kindergarten to second grade, third to fifth grade, and sixth to eighth grade.) The fun begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Track at Suffolk Downs. It’s completely free to participate, but you’ll need to register beforehand to secure a racing spot. There will also be a DJ, face painting and food trucks.

Once the races are wrapped, walk over to 10 Suffolk Downs Blvd. to find one of the earliest farmers’ markets of the season. It runs until 2 p.m. and features 30 local vendors.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Franklin Park Zoo isn’t monkeying around when it comes to its April vacation agenda. They’re hosting a slate of events from now through next Saturday focused on the critically endangered western lowland gorilla. Activities differ each day, but there are recurring gorilla-themed scavenger hunts, crafts, games and animal education sessions. They’ll also be accepting donations of small electronics all week as a part of an effort to recycle coltan, a precious mineral used in smartphones that’s mined from gorilla habitats. Regular admission rates apply for spring break ($18.35 for kids ages 2-12 and $22.95 for adults). Children under the age of 2 are free.

10 a.m. to noon 

Monday is not only Marathon Monday; it’s also Patriots Day. To mark the occasion, the Somerville Museum is hosting a Colonial Fair in Foss Park. There will be food trucks, refreshments, a colonial clothing selfie booth, sack races, and historical games like graces and nine-pin bowling. A Paul Revere reenactor is even expected to make an appearance on horseback. This event is free, but it’s suggested to register ahead of time for planning purposes.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Join the Boston Public Library and the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston for an evening of stargazing at the Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Mattapan. You’ll get to spot constellations at Margaret’s Meadow, and you can bring your own telescope, or peer through one provided by the BPL librarians. This event is free and open to all ages, but there is limited space, so be sure to register ahead of time here.

Noon to 4 p.m. 

Head over to the ICA in the Seaport for some indoor fun, especially if there’s rain in the forecast. Visitors can participate in gallery scavenger hunts and hands-on painting activities from Tuesday through Friday. Admission is always free for those under 18, but during vacation week, parents of children in the Boston Public Schools can accompany their kids for free as well, as a part of the Boston Family Days program.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April 24 is Arbor Day, and the Greater Boston Resiliency Initiative and Tree Eastie are inviting locals to learn about tree health in urban ecosystems by taking a walk through Rockie’s Urban Wild, located in Jeffries Point. The observation walk will continue into nearby Piers Park, where attendees will discuss wildlife, plants and seasonal changes in the area. This event is free, just (you guessed it) register ahead of time.

PSA: Wear closed-toed shoes if you plan to tag along.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year’s April break programming at the MFA is themed around the collision of science and art. For example, hands-on art making, like “Physics Meets Art,” encourages participants to consider physical properties like structure and balance to craft kinetic art. All the activities on their weeklong agenda are included with a general admission ticket ($30 for adults and $14 to kids ages 7 to 17).

P.S. — You can close out April break with a personal favorite local celebration of spring: the Sheepshearing Festival at Gore Place in Waltham! The annual event is happening on Saturday, April 25, and will include live music, more than 100 craft and fiber artists, and traditional sheep shearing demonstrations. Ewe can get a glimpse of the fun in this video from 2024.