Charming outdoor cafes alongside walkable downtown sidewalks, a diverse mix of shops and businesses, and enough year-round activities to keep all ages busy and entertained, Westfield, New Jersey is known to be a classic town for modern families. As a city that celebrates the arts, music, and fitness, families can find an after-school program, drop-in activity, or outdoor festival that suits their interests and taste. Between cooking classes at Classic Thyme, sports and education at the Westfield Area YMCA, seasonal Downtown Street Fair celebrations, and music programs at The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts, Westfield continues to prove itself as one of New Jersey’s most family-friendly towns.
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Here are Westfield, New Jersey’s Best Activities for Families:
1. Westfield Area YMCA
With the goals of supporting area youth by developing individual health, fitness, and social potential, the YMCA holds deep roots in the Westfield community. There are activities for families and children of all ages at the Y, including Parent/Child and Preschool Aquatics, Tae Kwon Do, Ultimate Frisbee, Dance Academy, Flyers Track Club, and a variety of Sports Leagues. Family Recreation events are hosted throughout the year to provide opportunities for parents and children to spend time together while remaining active – and often for a good cause! Events range from parent/child classes and charity races to Healthy Kids Day and Swim with Santa. Pre-teens and teens alike can enjoy structured get-togethers at 5th Grade Dance Parties and overnight trips and teen nights. The Y goes above and beyond to offer educational programs, as well. Full Day Learning, Half-Day Preschool, Preschool Enrichment, Full Day Kindergarten, Flexible Drop-In Care, and School Age Complement are part of the impressive curriculum that the Westfield YMCA has to offer.
Westfield Area YMCA
220 Clark Street, Westfield, NJ 07090
2. Rialto Theatre
While strolling through downtown Westfield, your eye will almost certainly catch the bright movie theatre marquee of Rialto Theatre, displaying the latest and most popular releases available. This time-honored theatre channels the ever-shrinking sensation of a classic movie-going experience, while featuring the movies that kids and adults want to see, including everything from epic superhero flicks and Pixar animations to anticipated Hollywood comedies, dramas, and action films. With six screens and an extensive concessions area, going to the movies as a family can once again be an intimate experience without the stress and crowds of a multi-plex. Renovations in 2009 made this historic theatre even more suitable for Westfield and surrounding area families, with updated, plush seats and 3D capabilities. First opening its doors in 1922, there’s a reason that Rialto Theatre has remained one of Westfield’s most treasured family destinations.
Rialto Theatre
250 E Broad St, Westfield, NJ 07090
For more information, please call (908) 232-1288.
Children 2 and under are free!
3. Tamaques Park
This 106-acre park is a town favorite, featuring enough amenities to make any nature and fitness lover a happy camper. Kids love to get their energy out on the park’s two different playgrounds, two basketball courts, two handball courts, 8 tennis courts, 6 playing fields, shuffleboard course, and six playing fields. In the winter, the scenic pond transforms into a fully functional ice skating rink. Older children and adults will find great use for the .8 mile jogging and biking path, and together, families can make it a full day at the park by utilizing one of the 18 picnic areas. Westfield’s beautifully wooded landscape makes the city’s nine outdoor parks beloved destinations for residents and tourists throughout the area.
Tamaques Park
641 Willow Grove Rd, Westfield, NJ 07090
4. Downtown Westfield 5K & Pizza Extravaganza
Possibly the greatest combination ever: fitness and pizza! This fun event is one to look forward to every year. Boasting one of the largest non-corporate 5K races in the state, the 2017 race expects 2,400 runners and over 6,000 spectators. Participants are rewarded with pizza at the end of the race (best incentive ever), and DJ entertainment, prizes, and live music tie the whole event together for an afternoon of family-friendly fun.
Downtown Westfield 5K & Pizza Extravaganza
July 26, 2017
5. Kids for Kids: A Mindfulness Movement
Annette Ferrigno, LCSW designed Kids for Kids with the modern challenges that children face in mind. Workshops, small groups, and play therapy are just some of the interactive services provided to help children connect with one another, learn to manage stress, and build mindfulness skills. Full day workshops are filled with fun activities that help children develop their mind, body, and spirit through activities including yoga and meditation, mindful eating, games, chat groups, music, dance, and creative arts. Based out of Westfield, Kids for Kids constantly offers new and improved programs each season, including Child Centered Meditation and Yoga, Parenting Groups, Individual Counseling, and fun day camps. The organization’s team of trained professionals is highly engaged and committed to their shared goal, “that each child will embrace their potential in a positive, fun, and nurturing environment.”
Kids for Kids: A Mindfulness Movement
6. Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Westfield
The City of Westfield is known for its diverse dining options. This kid-friendly community encourages families to bring their little foodies along for an afternoon or evening downtown. Even the pickiest eaters will leave full and happy after visiting one of these rockin’ restaurants with both classic and contemporary dishes for kids.
Westfield Kid’s Menus Faves:
Mojave Grille: White Cheddar Quesadilla, Linguini with Butter and Parmesan
Ferraro’s: Meatball Parm Sliders, Gluten Free Personal Pizza
Turning Point: S’more’s Waffle, White Cheddar Mac ‘n Cheese
Mulberry House: Tea Time for Kids (includes sandwiches and sweets)
Westfield Diner: Short Stack Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Fried Fish Filet with Potato and Veggies
7. Miller-Cory House Museum
For a historical alternative for a family activity, opt for the educational experience of the Miller-Cory House, a living history museum. Built in 1740 on a 100-acre farm that is now home to downtown Westfield, the farmhouse is now a preserved landmark and a site on the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail. Open on Sundays during the warm seasons, the farm hosts a mixture of programs and events for children and adults alike, such as Welcome Spring Flower Power, The Art of Shoemaking, Annual Sheep to Shawl Festival, A Yankee Doodle Celebration, and Aunt Carrie’s Attic Sale. Families and little ones are encouraged to take a step back in time during a Sunday tour of the museum and grounds, and experience life as it was under Joseph Cory’s original guidelines: gardens with early American plantings, a corncrib, cookhouse, outhouse – all of which date to the 18th century. The Miller-Cory House Museum is a fun, interactive way for children (and parents!) to learn about local history and traditional customs right in their own neighborhood.
Miller-Cory House Museum
614 Mountain Ave, Westfield, NJ 07090
8. The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts
Aspiring musicians and creatives of all ages will find a home at The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts. Whether your little one participates in private piano or vocal lessons, rock star performance groups, or Orchestra Saturdays, this well-rounded arts program features age- and level-appropriate programs for children in all walks of their creative lives. The Music Studio is home to over 35 professional instructors in string instruments, guitar, brass, percussion, piano, accordion, and vocals. If you are looking for a group experience for your children, consider the String Theory Chamber Music Camp or Jazz Bands for an extra challenge. Families with special needs are eligible for Music Connection, a specialized program that introduces children ages six and up to the wonders of music. In addition to music lessons and classes, The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts embraces a variety of other subjects and activities to pass along to the area’s youth, including Fencing Club and Summer Workshops that introduce children to arts and crafts, science, LEGO engineering, reading, outdoor play, and much more.
The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts
152 E Broad St, Westfield, NJ 07090
9. Street Fairs and Festivals
The greater Westfield area attracts thousands of fun-seekers throughout the year for seasonal street fairs and festival celebrations. Food trucks, kids activities, live music, and local business and restaurant sales are some reasons why Westfield is the place to be during these special events that have become tradition for New Jersey families:
May: Westfield Spring Fling Street Fair
June: Garwood Rocks
July & August (Tuesdays): Sweet Sounds Downtown Jazz Festival
September: Annual Westfield FestiFall Street Fair
10. Art Lab
Three-year-olds and high-schoolers alike can find an age-appropriate art class at Art Lab in Westfield. An assorted menu of creative classes ranges from beginner basics and introduction to art to high-level portfolio instruction for teenagers looking to push their own creative boundaries. The tiniest artists, ages three to five years, can learn art in a socially inviting atmosphere, or opt for Mommy and Me Art Making to discover watercolors, collage, clay, paper-mache, pastels, and more, as a family. Older children will benefit from classes including Just Drawing, All 3-D, Teen Drawing and Painting, and Portfolio Class.
Art Lab
500 N Ave E, Westfield, NJ 07090
11. Classic Thyme Cooking School
Cooking schools have become a highly coveted after-school or weekend activity for families in New Jersey. Not only are they fun and hands-on, but the skills children gain from these courses are extremely practical, and can be used throughout their lives. Owner and Executive Chef David Martone is an active member of the Westfield community, serving on several boards and remaining committed to making a positive impact on local palettes! Choose from several Summer Camps, Culinary Team Building programs, Children’s Birthday Parties, and Private Cooking Parties to find the perfect program for your family.
Classic Thyme Cooking School
710 S Ave W, Westfield, NJ 07090
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