April 24 weekly planner: 10 top LI events

Long Island Marathon

WHEN | WHERE Friday-Sunday, May 1, begins on and around Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale, with finish line at Eisenhower Park

INFO 516-986-5537, thelimarathon.com

ADMISSION Free for spectators; $28-$75 for runners (late registration at expo, in person)

There's more to the Long Island Marathon than a 26.2-mile race. The annual affair kicks off Friday with a health and fitness expo at the Mitchel Athletic Complex and a carb-loading pasta dinner for runners and their families. Festivities continue Saturday with several shorter runs for kids and adults. At 8 a.m. Sunday, the gun goes off for the marathon, half-marathon and 10k races. At the finish line, runners reunite with family and friends at a party from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eisenhower Park.

Arbor Day

Give a tree a hug -- and climb it, too. Planting Fields' weekend-long tribute to trees includes planting clinics, seedling giveaways, live music and hands-on entertainment for kids, including climbing a tree.

WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 1, Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay. Rain or shine.

INFO 516-922-8600, plantingfields.org

ADMISSION $15 per vehicle

And they're off!

Belmont Park reopens for the spring horseracing season with post time at 1 p.m. Friday at the track in Elmont. A weekend-long celebration continues Saturday with live music in the backyard from noon to 4 p.m. and a host of family-friendly activities next Sunday, May 1.

WHEN | WHERE Gates open 11:30 a.m., 2150 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont

INFO 516-488-6000, nyra.com

ADMISSION $3 grandstand, $5 clubhouse

Earthstock

Earth Day celebrations continue all week at Stony Brook University. Campus-wide activities are free and open to the public. They include a solar-cooking demonstration (1-5 p.m. Tuesday), lectures and an 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. festival Friday with live music by Peat Moss and the Fertilizers, a farmers' market and other entertainment.

WHEN | WHERE Monday-Friday, Stony Brook University

INFO 631-632-7320, stonybrook.edu/earthstock

ADMISSION Free

Candace Bushnell

Meet the bestselling author and "Sex and the City" creator as she discusses and signs her latest novel, "Summer and the City." It's the sequel to "The Carrie Diaries," which tells the story of Carrie Bradshaw's high school years.

WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. Tuesday, Barnes & Noble, Carle Place. Wristbands distributed starting at 3 p.m.

INFO 516-741-9850, barnesandnoble.com

ADMISSION Free

A Taste of Freeport

Take a culinary tour of South Shore restaurants -- many from the Nautical Mile -- at the Taste of Freeport, which features unlimited tastings of chef-prepared goodies such as crabcakes and lobster brioche rolls.

WHEN | WHERE 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday,

Freeport Rec Center, 130 E. Merrick Rd.

INFO 516-378-1111, freeportpride.org

ADMISSION $35, $30 in advance

Dar Williams

Singer-songwriter Dar Williams rose from the coffeehouse circuit to the national spotlight -- she performs an acoustic show with Shawn Mullins.

WHEN | WHERE 8 p.m. Friday, YMCA Boulton Center, Bay Shore

INFO 866-811-4111, boulton

center.org

ADMISSION $45

'The Last Lions'

Set in the wetlands of Botswana's Okavango Delta, the National Geographic film tells the true story of an extraordinary lioness battling the elements to protect her young cubs. It screens for three days only.

WHEN | WHERE 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1 and 4 p.m. next Sunday, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center

INFO 631-288-1500, whbpac.org

ADMISSION $10, students $7

Royal wedding fever

You don't have to cross the pond to celebrate Kate and Will's wedding. On Friday, The Garden City Hotel is hosting an early morning viewing party, complete with a full English breakfast as the nuptials are broadcast on three flat-screen TVs. From 3 to 5 p.m., a "Royal Wedding Tea" includes scones, cakes, tea sandwiches and truffles. Reservations required.

WHEN | WHERE 6 a.m. Friday, breakfast and wedding; 3-5 p.m. Friday and 2-5 p.m. Saturday, tea service; Rein at the Garden City Hotel

ADMISSION $22 breakfast, $44 tea

INFO 516-747-3000, gardencityhotel.com

Atlantis Explorer cruise

Join a naturalist for an ecological trip down the Peconic River to Flanders Bay. The boat will dock on an island and visitors will learn about the environment and life on Long Island's waterways.

WHEN | WHERE Noon and 2 p.m. Sunday; boat leaves from behind Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead

ADMISSION $19, $17 ages 3-17, $5 ages 2 and younger

INFO 631-208-9200, atlantismarineworld.com