I’m not sure I’ve ever been happier to reach Friday. And, tomorrow is the first day of Spring! In the spirit of the season, here are 5 upcoming family-friendly food events in the DC/No.VA area:

1. Sou’Wester in the Mandarin Oriental is hosting an Easter Brunch, featuring ingredients from local farms and pastry chef Amanda Cook’s homemade marshmallow “peeps” (pictured). There will also be an appearance by the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunt on the hotel lawn. April 4, $55 for adults, including one cocktail, and $30 for children under 12 (DC).

2.  Jackson 20 in the renovated Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria will be serving a Grand Buffet Brunch on Easter Sunday, April 4, $50 for adults, $25 for children under 12, and kids under 5 eat free (VA).

3. Dino serves a 4-course Passover menu, seder plate available by request, March 29-April 4, $55 for adults and $25 for kids (DC).

4. Pick up Josh Short’s cherry blossom cupcakes from Buzz in Alexandria — last year they had homemade “peeps” as well, it’s worth a call to see if they’re taking orders for Easter. (VA)

5. If you missed out on tickets to the White House Egg Roll, the Falls Church community Easter Egg Hunt takes place Saturday, April 3, 10:00am in Cherry Hill Park. (VA)

And a bonus #6, a recipe for homemade peeps, courtesy of Restaurant 3 in Clarendon (VA), via Metrocurean.

There are big foodie events in Washington, DC, this weekend, with both the Green Festival and the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show taking place at the Washington Convention Center. Both have kids’ zones, and the Green Festival will offer eco-foodies natural, vegetarian dining and an organic beer garden. The Green Parent, Jenn Savedge, will be speaking Saturday at 2pm and Diane MacEachern, author of Big Green Purse, on Sunday at 5pm. At the Metropolitan show, Lauren DeSantis of Capital Cooking will be demonstrating Thanksgiving appetizers and her new apron line, so look for her at booth #404.

Alexandria Market Report: Del Ray Farmers Market officially ends the first weekend in December, but Smith Meadows, Toigo and Tom the Cheese Guy will be coming through the winter, as long as customers keep showing up. The Old Town Market is year round, and as Tiffany has reported, Bigg Riggs Farm will be bringing their frozen summer produce so you can enjoy it throughout the winter!

Alexandria Dining News: Also in Alexandria, dine for a good cause next Wednesday, November 12, at Indigo Landing, anytime between 5pm and 10pm, to support the Alexandria Community Trust. And I’d like to point out that while Georgetown Cupcakes may have won the hotly-contested Washington Post “Cupcake Wars” taste-off, Alexandria’s Buzz Bakery won the popular vote handily. Buzz currently features seasonal pumpkin, donnybrook chocolate stout, and the moistest caramel apple cake I’ve ever had (pictured), though the caramel frosting is ridiculously sweet.

Support your year-round markets and eat well this weekend!