The little green buds on trees are back and people are starting to flash a little flesh. If you’re wondering how to get “offMetro” to celebrate springtime, take a gander at these 26 activities and events, ranging from cook-offs and rooftop films to tulip festivals, an Earth Day bash, and eco-friendly kites in flight.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Heights | Come springtime, FAD Market will return to the Brooklyn Historical Society with everything from silk-screened totes to handmade toys for kids, and locally-sourced artisanal eats. Check social media for specific dates! Afterwards, enjoy the Historical Society’s exhibits or take a walk through beautiful Brooklyn Heights.
Gowanus | You might not be a chimney sweep, but you will be skimming the rooftops this season with the return of Rooftop Films Summer Series which though centered in Gowanus, stretches to rooftops throughout the boroughs.
Grand Army Plaza | On rainy days, cozy up inside the Brooklyn Public Library for events for the entire family, including themed photography exhibits, old telephone directories, woodcut prints of wild fauna based in Brooklyn, and colorful trading cards.
Queens
Long Island City | It’s amazing what you can do with former landfills these days. At the Socrates Sculpture Park, get a whiff of creativity at its finest when the spring exhibit is unveiled in early May. Now that temperatures are on the up and up, outdoor film screenings and free fitness classes will return.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park | The Queens Theatre is chock full of performances this spring that justify crossing the bridge including the BroadwayWorld and Pinocchio.
Staten Island
Greenbelt | The annual OutdoorFest celebration of all things nature in NYC kicks off with a campout on Staten Island on June 5 and 14 with yoga, trail running, survival skills, a concert in the woods and a bonfire. Hop on the OutdoorFest shuttles from Union Square to head towards a weekend that will make you feel miles away from the hustle bustle.
Richmond | Red and verde chili aficionados can prep their pots and palettes for the annual New York City Chili Cookoff (April 27) sanctioned by the International Chili Society.
Bronx
Take the subway to Wave Hill any weekend this spring for a variety of family-friendly events from “Tree Ring Mandalas” (April 27) to “Garden Highlights Walk” (Every Thursday starting April 18). Bonus: the majority of their events are free after you purchase admission to the grounds ($8/adults, $2/children).
Find the wild side of New York City on this Woodlawn Cemetery Photography & Nature Walk! Bring your camera to capture the architecture, birds, and blooming flowers.
Upstate NY/Westchester
Pocantico Hills | Take the train to the Stone Barns Center on any for guided farm tours. Choose from the morning “Insider Tour” or the early afternoon “Family Tour”.
Albany | To see spring bloom in all its colorful glory, we’d suggest a trip to the state capital’s three-day tulip festival. If that’s not enough for you, there is also a 61-variety Daffodil festival in Connecticut, and Boston will show 400 types of lilacs on Lilac Sunday.
Photo: Courtesy of rmsano
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram