We’re feeling the spring fever and we’re working on curing it by making a list of all the great outdoor activities New Jersey has to offer – are ya with us? From a kite festival at the pier and a cherry blossom festival to Earth Day celebrations and a parade including a shaving cream pie smash, you’ll love our list of 30 Free Things to Do in April – most of these are outdoors and ALL are free.
We love sharing your adventures so be sure to tag #NJMOM and @njmom for the chance to be featured!
30 Free Events in NJ This April
1. Free First Thursday
Thursday, April 5, 2018 | 5:00PM to 9:00PM
Who doesn’t love a night at the museum, especially when it’s free? Head to Montclair Art Museum for an after-hours night of culture and fun for the whole family – including a special Draw Along Workshop for all ages to get creative with a clothed model and an open studio just for teens. Food vendors, museum tours, live jazz music from the Silver Fox Songs Quartet, interactive events, and a movement demonstration by New Jersey Performing Arts Center will complete the night.
Montclair Art Museum
3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042
2. Camp Riverbend “Ninja Training” Open House
Saturday, April 7, 2018 | 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Still trying to decide on a summer camp? Or maybe your kid just wants some ninja training? Get the best of both worlds at Camp Riverbend’s open house featuring ninja games, crafts, and cooking demos for kids and parents. You can also take a tour of the camp site and meet with the directors and counselors. This family-owned camp has been serving kids for over two generations and is a #NJMOMapproved summer camp. The event is free, but pre-registration is required by emailing RSVP@campriverbend.com.
Camp Riverbend
116 Hillcrest Rd., Warren, NJ 07059
3. Blacksmith Demonstrations
Sunday, April 8, 2018 | 1:00PM
When you visit Historic Longstreet Farm, a 9-acre historic farm, you will feel transported back to the 1890s. Be sure to stop and watch a blacksmith demonstration. You will see what goes into making tools used both on the farm and in everyday life.
Historic Longstreet Farm
44 Longstreet Rd., Holmdel, NJ 07733
4. Annual Kites at the Pier Festival
Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 9:00AM to 4:00PM
It’s gone with the wind at Pier Village, literally. Head to the annual kite festival featuring expert kite flyers from all areas of the eastern seaboard flying their most incredible creations. Colorful kites of all shapes and sizes – from inflatable flying creatures to traditional kites – will be flying high over the beach between Avenue and McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch. You won’t want to miss the Candy Drop – candy will be parachuted up a kite and then released when the whistle blows – literally a kid’s dream come true. On your marks, get set, go!
Pier Village
50 Chelsea Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740
5. Taunton PTA’s Spring Flea Market & Food Trucks
Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 9:30AM to 2:00PM
Taunton PTA hosts the Flea Market & Food Trucks event in the spring to raise money for PTA projects, such as cultural arts and playground equipment. This is a PTA fundraiser but all are welcome to attend. There will be Touch A Truck, food trucks, children’s activities, and crafts, vendors, and yard sale tables.
Taunton School
41 Taunton Dr., Howell, NJ 07731
6. Holly Forest Walk
Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Some of the oldest holly trees can be found at Sandy Hook. Here, there are nearly 300 acres of holly trees throughout the forests. During this walk, the Littoral Society will take you on a 2-mile hike through a restricted 64-acre maritime forest and see some of the rarest and oldest trees. Be sure to wear waterproof footwear.
Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Parking Lot E
Highlands, NJ 07732
7. Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival
Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 11:00AM to 3:00PM
You don’t have to travel to Washington, D.C. to see these pink beauties. You can enjoy cherry blossoms right here at home at the 42ndAnnual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, held at Branch Brook Park, from April 7-15. The festival attracts over 10,000 visitors a day and is packed with family-friendly fun. Click here to read our kid-friendly festival highlights, including the popular Essex County Family Day on April 14 and Bloomfest! event on April 15.
Branch Brook Park
Lake Street and Park Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104
8. Third Annual Rockin’ For Autism Music Festival
Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 11:00AM to 6:00PM
April is National Autism Awareness month and we love seeing our community come together to support a good cause – plus, who can say no to food trucks and music? This is the 3rd Annual Rockin’ for Autism Festival, which was first created by Mallory Banks, a 15-year old Fanwood, NJ resident, who was inspired by her autistic brother to bring awareness to this disorder. When you’re not listening to the live music or enjoying the food, take your turn on the obstacle course or take a break in the Chill Zone (quiet room). All proceeds from the festival will go towards autism research.
LaGrande Park
200 LaGrande Ave., Fanwood, NJ 07023
9. Ocean City’s Doo Dah Parade
Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 12:00PM
Are you a Pie Face game champion? Then you’ll want to hit up Ocean City’s Doo Dah Parade for a large-scale “Pie-asco” at the finale where everybody is invited (and encouraged!) to smush their friends with shaving-cream pies. The procession features marching bands, floats, a grand marshal, and a brigade of more than 500 basset hounds. The Doo Dah Parade kicks off an uninterrupted season of specials events that stretches throughout the year. All of the fun will begin at Sixth Street and travel to downtown Asbury Avenue, making its way to 12th Street. Once it is on 12th, it will make a turn to the Boardwalk and end on the boardwalk at Fifth Street.
Ocean City, NJ
10. Point Breeze and the Natural World Exhibit
Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 12:00PM to 4:00PM
Come out for the grand opening of this brand new exhibit at the Bordentown Historical Society. Personal artifacts from Joseph Bonaparte’s collection will be on display including early letters, furniture, the 1808 Spanish Proclamation, and more.
Bordentown Historical Society
302 Fransworth Ave., Bordentown, NJ 08505
11. Red Bank Street Fair
Sunday, April 15, 2018 | 11:00AM to 5:00PM
Get outside and enjoy a lovely spring day in Red Bank strolling around the Red Bank Street Fair. With crafters, food vendors, rides, and shopping, there will be plenty of fun for everyone in the family. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Red Bank Police Benevolent Association. The Street Fair takes place on Broad Street (between Peters Place and Front Street) and on Monmouth Street (between Broad Street & Maple Avenue).
Broad and Monmouth streets
Red Bank, NJ
12. Festival of Lights Holi Events
Sunday, April 15, 2018 | 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Celebrate the arrival of spring in true Hindu style at Middlesex County’s largest outdoor event all year long. The Saraswati Cultural Association of New Jersey has planned three hours of non-stop Holi fun and dancing with DJ Arora. Yummy food, vendors, performances and organic holi colors will be sold at the event.
Grekowski River Park
375 Whitehead Ave., South River, NJ 08882
13. Animal Hours at Huber Woods
Sunday, April 15, 2018 | 2:00PM
Get up close and personal with Huber Woods Park’s snakes, turtles, frogs, and bugs. While the Reptile House is undergoing renovations, this meet and green animal event will be held at the Huber Woods Lodge.
Huber Woods Lodge at Huber Woods
25 Brown’s Dock Rd., Locust, NJ 07760
14. Morristown Annual Spring Clean Up
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 9:00AM to 12:00PM
Go green or go home. Join Morristown Beautiful, Inc. this Earth Day in a community-wide initiative to clean up Morristown’s parks, playgrounds, lots, and roadways. The nonprofit is dedicated to keeping Morristown clean and green through environmental protection, education, and litter abatement programs. Registration (and breakfast treats) begins at 9:00AM at the Morristown Municipal Building. Any age can participate in this spring clean up, the perfect family activity for doing a world of good.
Morristown Municipal Building
200 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
15. Building for the Future
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Enjoy a STEM-focused day of learning and fun at Bright Horizons in Hoboken. You’ll learn techniques about how to incorporate STEM into your kids’ daily life, as well as about the school’s unique “World at Their Fingertips” curriculum. With hands-on activities like The Spaghetti Challenge, STEM Exploration Bags, Ramp Architecture, your kid will love building for the future this day and every day.
Bright Horizons at Sinatra Place
336 Sinatra Dr., Hoboken, NJ 07030
16. Healthy Kids Day
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 11:00AM to 1:00PM
Celebrate health and wellness with the Randolph YMCA in a fun day of heart-pumping, brain-stimulating activities for the whole family. As part of a national initiative, the YMCA will celebrate Healthy Kids Day by bringing together a host of programs that will get you moving from interactive Music Together classes and build your own First Aid kit to educational food topics from a ShopRite nutritionist and police and fire safety demos.
Randolph YMCA
14 Dover Chester Rd., Randolph, NJ 07869
17. Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 11:00AM to 5:00PM
Earth Day is a day to pause, reflect, and celebrate the environment – and Monmouth County Parks System has five amazing events at different locations lined up to help your family appreciate Mother Earth. From discovering cool coastal animals and learning how to become an earth-friendly gardener to naturalist-led walks in the wetlands, you will have a great time showering Mother Earth with respect. Go to their Facebook page to see the full list of locations and activities.
Various locations
Monmouth County Park Systems, NJ
18. Climb Time
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Sky’s the limit – at least on Saturday, April 21 at Big Brook Park where you can climb all the way up the 25-foot portable climbing wall. Come test your skill and see this beautiful park from an aerial view – it’s one of the newest county parks in Monmouth County. For ages 8 and up (with adult) and you must be 42″ or taller to climb.
Big Brook Park
521 County Road 520, Marlboro, NJ 07746
19. Astronomy Day
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 7:00PM to 10:00PM
Spark your little one’s imagination and wonder by gazing at the night sky together. The Astronomical Club of Toms River Area is bringing the telescopes, you bring the kids and your curiosity. There will be plenty of telescopes available for the whole family to take a closer look at the night sky that we all see before saying “Goodnight, moon”.
Robert J. Novins Planetarium
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
20. 28th Annual Earth Day Festival
Sunday, April 22, 2018 | 10:00AM to 4:00PM
Get outside and do some tree hugging – head to the 28th Annual Earth Day Festival in Egg Harbor for a day of educational activities and workshops to teach the kids about Earth and the significance behind this national holiday. There will be plenty of local vendors, food, and a tour of the facilities at ACUA.
Atlantic County Utilities Authority
6700 Delilah Rd., Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
21. 5th Annual Historic Downtown Somerville Arts & Crafts Festival
Sunday, April 22, 2018 | 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Check out the works of local artists in downtown Somerville. Over 70 juried arts and crafts vendors will be at this event showing off jewelry, decorative plates, beach decor, baby clothes, soy candles, and much more. Not only will you have fun shopping, but the kids will enjoy making art in the Kids Craft Corner. And there will be food trucks – need we say more?
Downtown Somerville, NJ
22. 7th Annual Earth Day Festival
Sunday, April 22, 2018 | 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Over 150 local vendors will set up shop in Beechwood Park for families to come out and have a good time. There will be demonstrations all day with reptiles, birds, bees, butterflies and more. Enjoy getting up close and personal with nature’s best friends, then enjoy some live music and grub from the food trucks.
Beechwood Park
380 Hillsdale Ave., Hillsdale, NJ 07642
23. Family Game Night
Friday, April 27, 2018 | 6:00PM to 9:00PM
Make it a wholesome Friday night with your family playing board games. Head to The Station Coffee for a low-key atmosphere, peruse their pile of games (we’re partial to Connect Four) and grab a cup of hot chocolate or coffee to fuel the night.
The Station Coffee
10 East Chestnut Ave., Merchantville, NJ 08109
24. Earth Day Family Fun Bike Ride
Saturday, April 28, 2018 | 8:30AM to 10:00AM
Your family can ride either two or nine miles from the Croft Farm, around the Barclay Farm area, and go back to the farm. Following the bike ride will be a festival all about Earth Day. Riders must be 8 years old or older; helmets required. Free bike valet parking at the Earth Festival 10:00AM to 2:00PM.
Croft Farms Art Center
100 Bortons Mill Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
25. Cattus Island Nature Fest
Saturday, April 28, 2018 | 10:00AM to 4:00PM
Come and explore the beauty of Cattus Island County Park, a 530-acre natural facility located on Barnegat Bay. Cattus Island Nature Fest is the perfect time to do it – take a nature walk on the park’s eight miles of trails, kayak, learn about live animals, check out a children’s program, and much more. There will also local vendors, live music and plenty of food options.
Cattus Island County Park
1170 Cattus Island Blvd., Toms River, NJ 08753
26. Earth Day Festival
Saturday, April 28, 2018 | 11:00AM to 4:00PM
Celebrate Mother Earth right here at home with your community. Make nature crafts, play games and participate in recreational activities like hiking and canoeing that all pay homage to our planet. There will be demonstrations and information relating to nature specific to the area.
Essex County Environmental Center
621 Eagle Rock Ave., Roseland, NJ, 07068
27. Fourth Annual Touch-A-Truck
Saturday, April 28, 2018 | 11:00AM to 4:00PM
Take a look and explore all the different vehicles that will be available to see. Touch the cars, climb inside and learn about each type of vehicle from police cars and fire trucks to earth movers and dump trucks, among others. There will also be face painting, bounce houses, clowns, local craft and food vendors for the whole family to enjoy.
Manahawkin Lake Park
86 North Main St., Manahawkin, NJ 08050
28. Wool Days
Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29, 2018 | 12:00PM
Baa, baa, a black sheep, have you any wool? At the Historic Longstreet Farm, you will see firsthand how to shear sheep as farmers prepare them for the upcoming summer months – but not before the farm’s collies herd the sheep to the pen. After the sheep are sheared, there will be plenty of weaving and spinning activities to show how wool was used in Colonial American daily life. There will also be wagon rides – count us in!
Historic Longstreet Farm
44 Longstreet Rd., Holmdel, NJ 07733
29. Maywood Springtime Street Fair
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Who else loves block parties? Go to the semi-annual Maywood Springtime Street Fair – there will be tons of delicious food from local establishments including BBQ chicken and ribs, clams, shrimp and seafood galore, and Italian ice! With over 100 exhibitors selling crafts and collectibles, live music, dance and karate performances, you won’t want to miss out on this giant town block party.
Downtown Maywood
West Pleasant Avenue, Maywood, NJ 07607
30. Pink Moon Beach Fire
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 7:00PM to 10:00PM
DYK: According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Algonquin Indians and American colonists called the April full moon the “Pink Moon” because this full moon heralded the appearance of the moss pink – one of the first spring flowers? We didn’t either! Head to the Alpine Boat Basin for an extraordinary night featuring a giant riverside fire on one of the oldest bathing beaches on the Hudson. BYOB marshmallows, guitars, and bonfire dancing optional – actually, it’s encouraged. For detailed directions, please visit here.
Alpine Boat Basin
Palisades Interstate Park, Alpine, NJ
