It’s that time of year when everything’s bursting with color, and with it, a bunch of family-friendly things to do this weekend. Get groovy with food, festivities, and more celebrating the 50th anniversary of the daffies at Daffodil Day at Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit, revel among the pinky blooms with kid activities and live music at Cherry Blossom Festival in Margate, and sample Latin cuisine while watching dance and live music at the Latin Food Festival in Paramus. And with spring here, make sure you don’t miss all the fun festivals happening this season. (featured photo: istock/SolStock)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
Five Star Swim School Paint & Swim
April 12 at 4 PM
Come to the first Paint & Swim event—children will enjoy swimming for one hour with inflatable toys. Afterward, they will paint a 6×6 mini canvas to take home. Snacks and drinks are also provided, and spaces are limited.
Cost: $35 per person and $10 per adult who wants to swim with a child
Five Star Swim School Eatontown, 1 Corbett Way #2, Eatontown, NJ 07724
Scoop on Sloths
April 12 at 5:30 PM
Meet Wally, the two-toed sloth, and learn more about sloths and why they do what they do. Before the program, enjoy a fun after-hours aquarium visit.
Cost: $30 for adults and $20 for children
Jenkinson’s Aquarium, 300 Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Touch A Truck Food Truck Festival
April 13 at 10 AM
Enjoy a day with the fam at this Touch A Truck festival with food trucks, vendors, crafters, and fun games. The little ones will have the chance to get up close with lots of trucks and equipment.
Cost: $5
Manchester Township Elementary School, 101 North Colonial Drive, Manchester, NJ 08759
Stars In My Backyard
April 13 at 1:30 PM
Learn about the sun, moon, weather, and the constellations and planets visible in the current sky. There will also be fun stories, songs, and even a passing rainstorm.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Robert J. Novins Planetarium, Toms River, NJ 08753
Burlington County Book Festival
April 13 at 10 AM
If you have a book lover in the family, stop by this fun event that includes authors, local vendors, fellow book lovers, presenters, and musical performances for the whole family.
Cost: Free
Burlington County Library, 5 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060
Spring Beekeeping and Gardening
April 13 at 10 AM
Learn what makes a healthy hive and meet honeybees, peek inside their hive, and find out what they do for us around the farm and in the gardens.
70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville, NJ 08530
Spring Craft Show
April 13 at 9 AM
Bring your family to this seasonal craft show at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center in Tinton Falls. This event will feature local artists and crafters.
2566 Guam Lane, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Cookstove Demonstration at Historic Longstreet Farm
April 13 at 11 AM
Discover recipes, cooking techniques, and kitchens from the 1890s and taste what’s cooking on the farm.
Historic Longstreet Farm – 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
My First Cooking Class in Hannah’s Kitchen
April 13 at 9:30 AM
Join us in-person or virtually for this hands-on cooking class for ages 4-7 with a parent/guardian/loved one present. In this fun and interactive course, even the pickiest eaters will learn to love their veggies.
Cost: Free
Online OR Rev. Dr. Ronald B. Christian Community Health and Wellness Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, 208 Lyons Ave. Newark, NJ 07112
Taste Testers in Hannah’s Kitchen
April 13 at 11 AM
Join in-person or virtually for this mommy & me style healthy cooking class for ages 2-4 with a parent/grandparent/loved one. For class links and more information, contact Emily Ho, RDN. emily.ho@rwjbh.org. 973-926-7371
Cost: Free
Sponsoring Facility: Children’s Hospital of New Jersey, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group
Sowing Seed Potatoes at Historic Longstreet Farm
April 13-14
Join the staff at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel, as they sow this year’s crop of potatoes.
44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel 07733
Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day and Bloomfest
April 13-14 at 11 AM
It’s a weekend of family-friendly activities in New Jersey’s pinkest park, with Cherry Blossoms in full bloom. Experience Japanese cultural demonstrations, a bouncy house, a rock wall, kids’ activities, live music, a crafter’s marketplace, and food.
Cost: Free
Essex County Branch Brook Park, Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Mill Street Entrance, Belleville + Prudential Concert Grove, Clifton Avenue Entrance, Newark 07104
Red Bank Street Fair and Craft Show
April 14 at 11 AM
Head to Red Bank for a day filled with music, dancing, food, and family fun. Littles will have a ball on the children’s rides and get a chance to play games.
Cost: Free
Downtown Red Bank, NJ 07701
Margate’s Cherry Blossom Festival
April 14 at 12 PM
Head outdoors and soak up the sunshine while you take in the beauty of the cherry blossoms. There will be games, activities, live music, tasty treats, and more.
Cost: Free
Ventnor Avenue, Margate, NJ 08402
Daffodil Day
April 14 at 11 AM
This year, the Reeve’s Reed Arboretum festival theme is Flower Power, celebrating its 50th anniversary of founding in the 1970s. With over 50,000 bulbs in bloom, you won’t want to miss these gorgeous flowers, plus games and crafts, story and history trails, art, music, food, and more.
Cost: $10 per person (non-members), and children 3 and under are free
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901
Latin Food Festival
April 14 at 12 PM
It’s a fun family festival that takes you on a culinary journey featuring the flavors of Latin cuisine. The event will include delicious food, live Latin music, food contests, culinary demonstrations, and fun activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Cost: $6 for everyone over 5. Tickets are $5 in advance(plus a service charge
Westfield Garden State Plaza, 501 Garden State Plaza, Paramus, NJ 07652
Bloomfest
April 14 at 11 AM
It’s a family day in New Jersey’s pinkest park, with Cherry Blossoms in full bloom. Experience Japanese cultural demonstrations, children’s activities, live music, a crafter’s marketplace, and food.
Cost: Free
Essex County Branch Brook Park, Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Mill Street Entrance, Belleville + Prudential Concert Grove, Clifton Avenue Entrance, Newark 07104
ONGOING EVENTS
SatARTdays: Free Kids’ Art Classes
March 16-April 20 at 12 PM
Bring the kids to get free art lessons. This series of six free children’s art classes will occur every Saturday in the spring with a professional artist at the Noyes Arts Garage. These classes will begin on March 16 and run until April 20.
NJ 08401
Fiddler On The Roof
Now-April 21
This beloved story is one that the whole family can enjoy together. Part of the Broadway Series, follow this journey of love, loss, faith, and family as you take in this unforgettable show.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Bubble Bash at Adventure Aquarium
Now-April 28
This bubbly bonanza is the perfect way to spend the day with the kids. There will be endless floating bubbles, demonstrations, and Insta-worthy photo ops.
Cost: General admission
1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103
Five Star Swim School Play and Swim Moms Group
Now-May 30
Moms, Dads, Caregivers, Babies, and Kids are welcome to the Play & Swim Moms Group at Five Star Swim School. A place where parents/caregivers can bring their children to have fun and socialize. Homeschooler groups are welcome. Thursdays – from 9:30 am to 12:00 PM. The pool is open for swimming from 10 am to 11 am, and a lifeguard is always on duty.
Cost: $15 per child and parents/caregivers swim for free
Five Star Swim School, 1 Corbett Way, Eatontown, NJ 07724
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