What's On This Weekend: March 1-3

It may look like winter outside, but evidence of spring is popping up all over Southwest Michigan this weekend. The biggest of them may be the Butterflies Are Blooming exhibit kicking off at the Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, the annual opportunity to breathe in warm, lush greenness and soak up the technicolor beauty of the observatory.

If that's not your speed, there are nature walks, puppet shows, free community concerts, stories, movies, winter fun and so much more. Read on for the full slate of weekend happenings!

FRIDAY

Enjoy hundreds of tropical butterflies fluttering around the lush observatory at the Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids (through April 30)
Kick off the giant celebration of all things LEGO at the Silver Beach Carousel in St Joe (through Sunday)
Catch a free movie -- and a special activity beforehand -- at Woodland Celebration theater each Friday
Drop the kids off at Holland Middle School to play basketball, board games and more while you hit the town
Discover the icy adventures of Elsa and Anna, plus scores of other beloved characters, during Disney on Ice in Grand Rapids (through Sunday)

SATURDAY

Pack your bags for an overnight stay at St Joe's Harbor Inn, with dinner, snacks, swimming and a showing of "Wreck It Ralph 2"
Snuggle up by the fire for nature stories and hot chocolate, then take a walk outdoors courtesy of Ottawa County Parks and Recreation
Listen to the tales from author/illustrator Angela Dominguez's beautiful picture books at the Herrick District Library in Holland
Catch a free family concert to mark the closing of the Elementary School Art Exhibit at the South Haven Center for the Arts
Stroll through downtown St Joseph to see the "Awkward Family Photos" brought to life in the shop windows during March Mannequins
Celebrate the birthday of Dr Seuss with his beloved stories at Barnes & Noble in Holland
Meet a few critters and explore early signs of spring along the trails of Holland's DeGraaf Nature Center
See Latino folk stories performed in a vaudeville theater style during a free performance in Bridgeman
Bring the family out for a day of Winterfest fun in Douglas, with wagon rides, sled dog demos, scavenger hunts, carnival games, a cakewalk and more