Best things to do this spring in Richmond

• Regardless, spring is technically here and after a long winter stuck indoors, the city's ready to embrace warmer weather with our favorite springtime rituals.
• Spring in Richmond means one thing: It's time to get outside.

Here's a handy guide to some of the best ways to take advantage of all that Richmond has to offer.

Can't miss spring events

👒 March 30: Dominion Energy Family Easter at Maymont is the best way to kick-off Easter weekend (and spring) with its kid-friendly activities, dancing Easter egg hunt and more.

🐣 March 31: Easter on Parade has a new organizer this year who said she's committed to delivering Richmond its FREE best bonnet wearing, kid face-painting, dog costume stroll down Monument you never want to miss.

🧜‍♀️ April 5-7: Syren Symposium — a mermaid convention — is having its first ever event in Richmond in April, celebrating mermaids and merfolk with workshops and immersive experiences (you can take an underwater modeling class and get your very own mermaid portrait).

🍻 April 6: Blues and Brews in the Bottom lean into spring with an afternoon of local craft beers and live music, this year from Cody Christian, in 17th Street Market.

🐀 April 6: Spring into the Arts Festival is a brand new free fest from Virginia Rep celebrating the season with crafts, theater games and more.

⚾️ April 9: The Flying Squirrels have their season opener with, of course, fireworks after the game. Look out for the debut of the Squirrels Squad Entertainment Team this year.

🏃🏻‍♀️ April 20: The Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k — the costume-heavy, chill vibes 10k is a Richmond tradition all about cheering on your friends and leisurely brunches after. Oh, and tens of thousands of folks who run and walk it before brunch.

🪴 April 27: Maymont's Herbs Galore, Richmond's favorite plant sale, has everything you need to get your garden ready.

🎸 May 4: Friday Cheers, Richmond's favorite downtown summer concert series, kicks off for the season with Bella White. Catch it every Friday through June on Brown's Island.

🖼 May 4-5: Arts in the Park has been one of the biggest outdoor events in town for more than 50 years, all dedicated to viewing and buying original art from one of hundreds of vendors.

🪅May 4: ¿Qué Pasa? Festival is Richmond's biggest annual celebration of Hispanic culture includes live music, dancing and plenty of food and drink, all day on Brown's Island.

🧗‍♂️ May 17–19: Dominion Energy Riverrock is a full weekend of paddleboarding, trail running, mountain biking, kayaking and dog jumping, plus live music, all on Brown's Island.

🧆 May 17–19: Lebanese Food Festival is the Henrico springtime food fest you don't want to miss. Go for the shawarma and the kabobs. Stay for the baklava and zalabia.

🇬🇷 May 30-June 2: Richmond Greek Festival is possibly the city's biggest food festival, drawing thousands of locals to the near West End for four days of dancing, Greek food and wine and people watching. Opa!

And don't forget the theme parks

Richmond is #blessed with two theme parks within a less than an hour drive that are worth a visit.

Kings Dominion opened on Saturdays and Sundays last week, but it'll be open daily for Spring Break during the first week of April. Regular daily operation begins at the end of May.

• No new coasters are opening at the park this year, but its chaperone policy (guests 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult after 4pm) is still in effect.

Busch Gardens: If you can't wait 'till May for your weekday coaster fix, head over to Williamsburg. Busch Gardens is open daily next week and for most of April. Then it runs Thursdays though Sunday hours until the summer season.

• New this year: Its classic Loch Ness Monster coaster got a refresh last fall and reopens this season with new special effects.