While there will be plenty of mom-friendly activities in Balboa Park this week, one is starting to become a Mother’s Day weekend tradition: May Day at the Marston House. This day-long event, on Saturday, May 7, not only proves it’s never too late to celebrate May Day, but that you’re never too young to enjoy a good old fashioned garden party.

But this isn’t your garden-variety garden party, mind you. Beginning at 10am, May Day at the Marston House will feature festive gardening and nature activities and the making of May Day baskets. There will also be tours of the historic Marston House, one of the finest showcases of the Arts and Crafts style in town.

In addition, the event aims to transport moms and their brood back to an era when the Marston family regularly entertained outdoors by serving complimentary baked goods, tea, and lemonade in the house’s beautiful formal garden—where I understand digging is not permitted.

For an additional fee, beginning at noon, moms and their fully grown pups can also enjoy wine, cheese, and fruit on the terrace and lawn off the main dining room. Live music throughout the day, a fashion show, and a display of plein-air paintings will round out the party atmosphere.

Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under (proceeds benefit preservation of the Marston House gardens). But for all she’s done for you and your litter mates, isn’t it time you threw some treats her way?

There are dog-friendly events in Balboa Park and then there are really dog-friendly events. And this Sunday’s free Bark in the Park concert in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion ranks near the top.

Not only are pooches and their families in attendance treated to howling good animal-themed tunes played on the world’s largest outdoor musical instrument, but adoptable hounds, present and future, benefit as well.

For the fifth year in a row, Dr. Carol Williams, San Diego’s Civic Organist, is throwing all her four-legged friends a big juicy bone by organizing this annual event that supports the efforts of the San Diego Humane Society. She is accompanied on the organ’s new console by special young guest and co-organist Suzy Webster.

In addition to the concert, which begins at 2pm, everyone in my pack is invited to walk their leashed human companions across the Organ Pavilion stage in the traditional parade of pooches. And since everyone will be watching, this is an ideal opportunity to don your favorite threads.

This is also a great time to meet prospective new additions to your family at the San Diego Humane Society’s mobile Pet Boutique, where you can also pick up information and ask questions about adopting pets from shelters. All proceeds from Bark 5 in Balboa Park benefit the San Diego Humane Society.

Art Alive

Speaking of worthy fundraisers, this weekend also marks the 30th anniversary of The San Diego Museum of Art’s Art Alive exhibition. Being named after a flower, I’m quite partial to this annual showcase of over 100 floral interpretations of artworks in the museum’s galleries. And Sunday, May 1, is the final day of this three-day display.

With kids out of school and universities on break, it’s an awful shame ocean water temperatures are still so cold. What to do? What to do?

Well, if you are looking to fill your basket this Easter week, Balboa Park will put you hot on the trail of some of the finest gems (better than eggs) San Diego has to offer. Whether you are hunting for the prettiest spring blooms or a spectacular museum exhibition, here are a few suggestions to get your snouts pointed in the right direction:

Easter Lily Display. Nothing says Easter like a brilliant display of over 300 white Easter lilies, and once again, for the 52nd time to be exact, the Botanical Building is providing a colorful backdrop. In other words: go for the lilies, stay for the orchids.

All that Glitters. Speaking of gems, how about a jewel-encrusted Faberge egg. Or better yet, a Faberge pig? From natural mineral crystals to sparkling jewelry and fine art, this exhibition at the Natural History Museum is filled with enough bright and shiny objects to hold any pup’s attention.

Thomas Gainsborough and the Modern Woman. Consisting of 11 of the British painter’s finest portraits, this remarkable display at the San Diego Museum of Art is the definition of good things come in small packages. But you better catch it soon; it closes on May 1.

Counter Cultures: The Secret Lives of Games. Though searching under shrubs for plastic eggs filled with candy may be the game du jour this weekend, this exhibition at the Museum of Man surveys the entire world history of non-chewable board games and card games.

It’s not surprising that the top dog among all non-holiday festivals in Balboa Park is also the biggest of its kind—anywhere! Of course I’m talking about EarthFair, which in its 22nd year is still the largest free annual environmental fair in the world.

Promising to draw nearly 60,000 visitors, this Sunday’s EarthFair on April 17 will once again feature more than 350 exhibitors, three live music stages, a kid’s activity area, festive parades, an earth-friendly art show, and yummy animal-friendly food.

Whether you want to learn about organic gardening, preserving the environment, reducing pollution, making your home energy efficient, new trends in green technology, healthy living, or alternative medicine, and my favorites, pet adoption and animal protection services, the EarthFair has you covered.

As always, the event kicks off with a Children’s Earth Parade at 10:30am. All species are welcome as participants are invited to dress up as their favorite endangered ones. Though my kind isn’t exactly endangered, as you can tell if you’ve ever cruised by Nate’s Point Dog Park on a weekend afternoon, I always like to show my support for my fellow fury friends who are losing their homes.

Providing additional entertainment throughout the day, the Moon Stage at Park Blvd. and President’s Way will present local contemporary music to get your haunches moving. The Folk Music Stage by the U.N. Building will offer, you guessed it, folk music. And a stage in the children’s area will feature music and storytelling for your entire litter (no pun intended).

For more details on all the activities, getting there, and doing your part to reduce your carbon paw print, visit the San Diego Earthworks website.

The epically dog-friendly event and charity walk, formerly known as Woofstock, makes its annual return to Balboa Park this Saturday, April 9, from 10am to 3pm. Although it’s been renamed Balboa Barks, this “Day of Peace, Love, & Canine Companions” is still the grooviest Barkapalooza around.

Celebrating the human-canine bond, this year’s Balboa Barks will feature many of the same great activities that drew over 3,000 bipedal attendees to last year’s event. These include demonstrations by the amazing Disc Dogs of Southern California and the Ballistic Racers Flyball Team.

Well-behaved leashed pups in attendance will have a chance to show off their own skills on the flyball course and also play in the K9 Agility Playground. After working up an appetite, your canine friend will especially enjoy some of the delectable goodies offered at the many vendor booths (I’ve got my pack’s back).

General admission is only $7 and free to those who register for the 1.3-mile walk, which gets under way at 9am and costs $35 for adults and $75 for families (visit the Balboa Barks website for details). All proceeds benefit the very worthy Canine Companions for Independence, a local charity that provides free assistance dogs to the disabled. Last year’s event raised $40,000, which buys a lot of dog chow for those hard-working service dogs.