And sleepy Toad said to Frog, "Come back again and wake me up at about half past May." Don't be like Toad; embrace April's last showers and May's new flowers. Follow the links below for more information about free and low-cost events around the metro area.

The theme for this year is "Celebrating Education." The goal of the event is to promote a stronger and safer community by coming together, celebrating kids, having fun and interacting with family, friends and neighbors.

Outdoor concert series returns for another summer of stellar music and fun on the lawn

The Oregon Zoo is gearing up for another season of great music, warm weather and fun for all on the sprawling concert lawn. Tickets for the zoo’s 2012 summer concert series, presented by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon with support from U.S. Bank, go on sale April 27.

This Sunday, April 22, marks the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 to raise awareness of the planet's health. Now, millions of people in more than 175 countries participate in Earth Day activities.

The festival is designed to connect, embrace and engage the Latino community and provide an opportunity for families of all ethnicities to celebrate Washington County's diverse cultures, rich with tradition and heritage.

Repositioning a business as a consumer destination can change an entire city, says Jon Schallert, nationally known marketing coach for independent business, retail and service providers. Business and property owners driving the revitalization of the region's downtowns and main streets spent a morning with Schallert as part of Metro's Get Centered! series to learn how to attract customers to their store – and community.

Metro was reconsidering the land use final order after Columbia River Crossing opponents successfully argued that Metro overstepped its bounds in approving the project beyond the urban growth boundary. Their appeals on other matters were rejected by state regulators and the Oregon Supreme Court.

Metro councilors Kathryn Harrington and Carl Hosticka joined city councilors and planning commissioners from Beaverton and Tigard in a joint meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Beaverton Library, to talk about Metro's Climate Smart Communities project and other planning endeavors in Washington County.

Hear birds chirping in western Washington County? They have good reason to celebrate: two Metro natural areas are expanding.

Metro announced Thursday that Scott Cruickshank will serve as the new executive director of the Oregon Convention Center, marking the end of an exhaustive national search and extensive community stakeholder evaluation process.