February may only be 28 short days, but there’s plenty to love about the sweetest month. Besides Valentine’s Day, there’s also Chinese New Year, Fat Tuesday, Black History Month, AND President’s Day; which has the bonus as a day off from school for the kiddos. There’s also Groundhog Day which means the weather can be fickle, but it also means the days are getting longer–and warmer with each passing day.

Just like February, this week’s Junior is a mixed bag that celebrates everything we love about the shortest month of the year.

Photo: Bonton Farms

Put on your play clothes and head to Bonton Farms this weekend for Service Saturday. You and the kiddos can get to be farmers for a morning and help out with to-dos like goat milking, plant harvesting, and chicken cooping. The family-friendly event a great opportunity to help this little inner-city farm and pet some baby goats. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and to bring a water bottle.

Photo: Crow Museum of Asian Art

Break out the noisemakers and confetti! Chinese New Year is happening this week! Join the Crow Museum of Asian Art and welcome the Year of the Pig this Saturday afternoon at NorthPark Center. Highlights of this Piggie extravaganza include art activities for the kiddos, lion and dragon dances, kung fu and breakdancing demos, Beijing Opera renditions, music, fortune telling, giveaways, and more.

Photo: Lightwire Theater

Head over to the dark side with Lightwire Theater’s Dino Light show. Okay, the show isn’t dark, as in evil. It’s actually a glow-in-the-dark experience that uses a blend of puppetry, technology and dance to tell the story of a scientist with magic powers who brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. You can see the luminous creatures come to life at the Winspear Opera House Saturday afternoon.

Photo: shutterstock.com

Add a little thrill in your winter chill this Saturday at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark’s first ever Epic Plunge. If you dare, you can take a “polar plunge” into the park’s new 10,000 square-foot outdoor pool. Simple, right? Not so fast. The wave pool temperature is expected to be in the 40-50 degree range. Brrrrr!!!! All entrants will receive a long-sleeved “I Survived the Epic Plunge” t-shirt, hot chocolate, and all-day admission to Epic Waters.

Photo: Allen Parks and Recreation

The Super Bowl is over and March Madness is still a few weeks off, but lovers of a good competition can get their fix at Allen Parks and Recreation’s Annual Duck Derby this Saturday. The participants are rubber duckies, not athletes, but you’ll cheer all the same as they race down the lazy river at Rodenbaugh Natatorium Saturday morning at 10 a.m.  Purchase your “racing duck” at the natatorium, decorate it and then return it for judging by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8.  Awards will be given to the fastest and best-decorated ducks.