Easter in March snuck up on the Friends of the Walnut West Library this year, too late to hold our annual Egg Hunt last week – but after so many dreary days of rain this week – what better way to spend this Saturday afternoon outside with the kids!

And the Easter bunny has cordially agreed to stick around one more week! (bring your camera)

Note: Due to scheduling conflicts, we’re holding the event in the afternoon this year.

The Egg Hunt for very young children begins at 2 p.m. And at 3:15 p.m. for not quite so little children (to age 10).

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West Philly parents and guardians: here’s a chance for you to exchange unwanted children’s clothes and shoes for more desirable items. The 4th Annual Spring Clothing Swap for Babies and Kids is scheduled for next Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.. The event will again take place on the 4200 block of Regent Square, the side street across from Clark Park on the east side.

Porches on the block will be labeled by size/age. Drop off your clothes on the corresponding porch starting at 9:30 a.m. Please note that only clothing and shoes in good condition (no stains or rips) will be accepted. Accepted sizes are 0-3M through 8Y.

For more information, visit the Facebook Event page or email: clarkparkclothingswap@gmail.com

The annual Easter Egg Hunt organized by Renewal Presbyterian Church and scheduled to take place on March 23 at Clark Park, was cancelled due to persistent rain. But more egg hunts are planned in the neighborhood this and next weekend. Here are some of them. If you know of more community egg hunts, please post them in the comments below.

Easter Sunday, March 31:

St. Mary’s Church, Hamilton Village (3916 Locust Walk)

The annual BYOB (Bring Your Own Basket) egg hunt and potluck coffee hour will take place on Locust Walk right after the 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist. For more details, visit: https://www.stmarysatpenn.org.

Calvary Church (48th and Baltimore)

Calvary Church is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt from 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. outside the 48th St entrance (inside in case of inclement weather). Also, all are invited to Easter Sunday events at the church and at Cedar Park (50th and Baltimore). More info: https://www.allmeansall.org/holy-week.html

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The Green Tambourine, the Cedar Park based music school, is starting a new set of classes for 4-6 year-olds called Introduction to Instruments.

“We offer these for violin, piano and drums,” says The Green Tambourine owner and director Ann Schwartz. “They are weekly 30-minute classes that get kids started playing an instrument. We learn about how to play and take care of our instruments, as well as getting started reading and writing notes.”

“We listen to lots of different styles that use the instrument and explore what makes these styles unique. We also play music games that kids love.”

Classes are held from April-mid June and will culminate with an in-class performance. More info and registration can be found on the Green Tambourine website: https://www.thegreentambourine.com.

Families are welcome to schedule a free trial class and West Philly Local readers can save 10 percent off their first enrollment – click here!

(Photos courtesy of The Green Tambourine)

After a break, a popular recreation program for kids, the Clark Park Youth Soccer League, is returning this spring. The program, run by the Friends of Clark Park, kicks off April 20 in the Clark Park “Bowl” and children in Kindergarten – 5th Grade are welcome to join. Sessions will be held every Saturday morning through June 8.

A pre-K clinic for kids ages 4-5 will also be held this spring with sessions scheduled for every other Saturday.

Registration is open now through April 10.

Registration fee for this program is $20 for one child and $10 for each additional child in the same family. Non-member families are also required to pay a Friends of Clark Park membership fee, starting at $25 for families registering one child. Financial “Soccership” assistance is available.

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Photos by Tony West

One hundred Philadelphia young chess players packed the St. Joseph’s University Athletic Recreation Center at 45th St. and Woodland Ave. this weekend, Jan. 27-28, seeking mates  – lots of them  – but all above board. A chess board, to be precise.

The 16th annual PECO/ASAP Checkmate Violence Chess Marathon drew youths K-12 for two full days of competition and awards. Rated players tested themselves through five long rounds over both days; non-rated players tackled five shorter rounds on Saturday. Coaches and parents from some of ASAP’s 150 chess clubs (one of the largest lineups in the country) came along for pregame prep work but once the tournament began all adults were shooed out.

ASAP presented a STEM Fair featuring organizations throughout Philadelphia that provide after school and summer opportunities in STEM.

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