You can take your ospreys and pinkletinks, your snowdrops, too. Nature is not the only harbinger of spring. Bring on the horses — The Flying Horses.

On Saturday, March 30, at 11 a.m. the nation’s oldest platform carousel opens for its 138th season.

The Harbor View Hotel is hosting a five-day detox retreat from April 8 to 12. The retreat is part of a program offered by Dr. Roni DeLuz, a registered nurse and naturopathic doctor who holds a PhD in Natural Health. The program features special content on Lyme and other chronic diseases. The Lyme Center of Martha’s Vineyard is offering one scholarship for the retreat.

The Martha’s Vineyard Food and Wine Festival fall 2013 festival will take place on Oct. 17 to 20. This year MVFWF is supporting Island Grown Schools.

The festivities begin with Fresh Off the Farm, a special farm-to-table tasting at the agricultural hall in West Tisbury, followed by seminars, food demonstrations and a grand tasting in downtown Edgartown on Mayhew Lane.

Renee Balter will be the featured artist for the month of April at the Vineyard Haven Public Library as part of their Art in the Stacks program.

Have you made plans yet for the April school vacation? The Minnesingers have — they are headed to Croatia to perform five concerts.

Although the March wind still blows cold, spring is beginning to make itself known on the Island. And for those who want to truly embrace spring, on April 29 the Tisbury Travel Club is heading to the Museum of Fine Art in Boston for their salute to spring, also known as the Art in Bloom show.

The arrival of spring means longer days, budding blooms, birdsong and, unfortunately, the unwelcome arrival of deer in the backyard. Deer dig up gardens, eat tulips, and trample plants. They scrape bark off young trees and decimate backyard greenery, all in their quest to find food. Bambi is a beautiful creature, but he can be very detrimental to a garden.

The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard is happy to report that they have only one animal available for adoption. Hazel is a beautiful, elegant and gentle Calico cat who is being vet-checked this week and will be ready to go to a new home by next Friday. She was given up for adoption because of severe allergies in the family. If you are interested in adopting Hazel, visit her at the shelter.

During last Thursday’s IMP rehearsal, there was some hesitation about Hansel. The game was called “Happily Ever After . . . Or Not,” and the improv group of teenage actors were waiting for the narrator, in this case Ashley Girard, to begin the story.

The following is a list of many of the Good Friday and Easter services held around the Island this weekend. Houses of worship will also host sunrise services at a backyard, a Sherriff’s Meadow property and Inkwell Beach. Easter egg hunts abound, pancake breakfasts, too, and the West Tisbury Congregational Church will once again celebrate its Easter service at the Agricultural Hall at 10 a.m. with an Easter egg hunt afterwards. All are welcome.