5 Things: Spring Fling in Washington Park and Derby Day at The Bell House

1. Take the kids out on the Slope. There are two great kids events today in Park Slope: Spring Fling at Washington Park on 5th Ave., bet. 3rd and 4th streets, with a puppet parade, face painting, mask making cakewalk, plant sale and more. Also, don't miss Touch-a-Truck Brooklyn, where kids can not only touch the trucks but can climb all over them, inside and out. The 25 vehicles include fire trucks, an army Humvee and a police car. For mom and dad there will be several gourmet food trucks. P.S. 295, 18th St. bet. 6th and 7th avenues. $5 per person.

2. Do the Derby. If you are planning to join the Southern tradition today, here’s our picks for How To Do Derby Day in Brooklyn. If you want to go big, go to The Bell House in Gowanus, which will host its 16th annual Colonel Boyd’s Derby Party, featuring mint juleps, square dancing, fabulous hats for sale, traditional sing-a-longs, costume contests, and carnivalesque “your face here” cutouts for photos. The races will be broadcast on the large screen in the main entertainment room beginning at 1 p.m. Tickets $10.  

3. Be impressionistic. Target First Saturday takes place tonight with the theme taken from its temporary exhibition of John Singer Sargent Watercolors, with activities ranging from watercolor painting to 10-minute, Sargent-inspired plays, to curator talks. See the full schedule here. 200 Eastern Parkway, 5 to 10 p.m. Free.

4. Impress your friends. Learn how to make your own cheese at LaunchPad’s Mozzarella Making Class. LaunchPad, 721 Franklin Ave. bet. Park and Sterling, 8 p.m. $35, RSVP required at citysuppersbk@gmail.com.

5. See some films. Today there’s also the Women of African Descent Film Festival, hosted by the Brooklyn Chapter of the Links, Inc. in the Spike Lee Screening Room at LIU. A special youth film portion will take place from 10 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Click here for the schedule. Free.