This March, celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday at Read Across America in Whippany, listen to bagpipes at the St. Patrick’s Day Parades in Asbury Park, Woodbridge and Hackettstown (to name a few), or celebrate spring at Kidfest in New Brunswick. BONUS: all of these events are free.
Pssst! We love sharing your adventures around New Jersy. Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
Here are 30 free events around New Jersey this March:
Read Across America
March 1, 3PM – 4:30PM
Oh, the places you’ll go when you watch the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss be lifted from the page in a lively performance at the Morris County Library. Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday by participating in Read Across America with special guests your littles will love.
Morris County Library, 30 East Hanover Ave., Whippany, NJ
West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market’s Indoor Farmer’s Market
March 2 & 16, 10AM – 1PM
Now in its 13th year, the Indoor Farmers Market attracts folks from far and wide around amazing local food and producers. Meander throughout the rooms of the Windsor Athletic Club to find winter produce, pastured meats and poultry, fresh seafood, mushrooms, artisan cheeses, sauces, jams, chocolates, wine and much more. Enjoy food, live music, and good vibes.
Windsor Athletic Club-USAWAC; 99 Clarksville Rd, West Windsor, NJ
Belmar St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 3, 12:30PM – 3:30PM
The Belmar-Lake Como Saint Patrick’s Day Parade has grown into one of the largest parades in New Jersey. Enjoy bands, bagpipers, floats, and marching bands. This is a fun-family friendly event, be sure to wear lots of green and shamrocks.
Ocean Ave, Belmar, NJ
Hunterdon Land Trust’s Winter Farmers’ Market
March 3 & 17, 11AM – 1PM
There’s always time for a farmers market binge! New participants this year include seafood vendor, Local 130 Seafood; Aquasprouts Farm, an aquaponics farm with lettuce and kale; Oak Grove Angus Farms with beef; Picklelicious, who offers an incredible assortment of pickles and olives; and Will’s Amazing Vegan Burgers. They’ll also host a number of returning farmers and vendors including Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Comeback Farm, Sandbrook MeadowFarm, WoodsEdge Farm, Fired Up Flatbread Co., Purely Farm, Fieldstone Coffee Roasters and River Lea House.
111 Mine St, Flemington, NJ
Denville Farmer’s Market
March 3 & 17, 10AM – 1PM
In its tenth year, the market will feature 25+ vendors ranging from artisan products and food vendors to local farms.
Downtown Denville, Bloomfield Ave Parking Lot, Denville, NJ
Extinctions Late Night at the Museum
March 6, 4PM – 8PM
Join the Rutgers Geology Museum for an evolution-themed night and learn about the “Big Five” Extinctions and how they caused Earth’s ecosystems to change over time. Demonstrations, arts and crafts, and educational activities will be set up around the museum for this event.
Rutgers Geology Museum, 85 Somerset St., New Brunswick, NJ
Princeton Farmer’s Market
March 7 & 21, 10AM – 3PM
Join the Princeton Farmers’ Market in the Community Room, located on the first floor of the Princeton Public Library. This market offers a variety of goods including local, organic fruits and vegetables, free-range beef, poultry, pork, eggs, cheese, pickles, honey, baked goods, linens, nut butters, and more.
Princeton Family YMCA, 59 Paul Robeson Place, Princeton, NJ
Cranford Public Library’s 2nd annual Picture Book Palooza
March 9, 10AM – 2PM
Picture book authors and illustrators will be sharing books and crafts at this event, for children ages 4-8 and their families. The event will provide young readers with an opportunity to meet the creators of some truly amazing stories. All participants will receive tickets for a book raffle and books are available for purchase and autographs.
Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ
Metuchen Winter Farmers Market
March 9, 10AM – 2PM
Back by popular demand, last year’s one-time Spring Zing is coming back as a once-a-month Winter Market. Featuring Chickadee Creek Farm, Country Stand Farm and many of your favorite vendors from the summer market, head to Metuchen for your next farmers market trip.
15 Center St, Metuchen, NJ
Lines on the Pines
March 10, 11AM – 4PM
Enjoy a wonderful day at this family-friendly indoor event, meeting Pine Barrens authors, artists, and artisans. The event features over 90 talented Pine Barrens residents who will be on hand to sign their books, display their artwork or craft, play their music and in general, share their love of the Pine Barrens. Kids can enjoy arts and crafts, and seeing live animals from the Pine Barrens.
Stockton University, 101 Vera King Farris Dr., Galloway, NJ
Clifton NJ Comic Book Expo
March 10, 10AM – 4PM
This event features a diverse and extensive selection of comic books for all kinds of comic book lovers and ages. Your favorite comic book characters wear spandex all year long. Comic books from Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Archie, Boom, Valiant, IDW, AfterShock, and more.
Clifton Community Recreation Center; 1232 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ
Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 10, 1PM – 4PM
Over the past 5 years, the Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade has attracted over 10,000 visitors to Asbury Park. The parade features local participation from honored veterans, local Boy & Girl Scout troops, dance school, high school marching bands, bicyclists, animal rescue groups, classic cars, regional pipe and drum groups and first responders. There will be appearances from award-winning mummers, clowns, roller girls, live bands on floats, Asbury Park’s beloved zombies and so much more.
Asbury Park, NJ
Woodbridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 10, 1:30PM
The Woodbridge parade is Central Jersey’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade features more than 80 marching units, including traditional Irish Pipe Bands and Step Dancers, Irish-themed parade floats and displays, marching bands representing all three Woodbridge Township high schools, representatives from Township fire departments, first aid and emergency response squads, and members of the Woodbridge Township education community. It’s an annual event you don’t want to miss.
Woodbridge Town Hall, Woodbridge, NJ
Hackettstown’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 10, 3PM – 5PM
This Irish-American tradition attracts more than 14,000 visitors—making this parade one of the biggest events in Hackettstown. Streets fill with enthusiasm as families, residents and visitors line up along the curb, in store windows and porches to celebrate and witness the festive parade. The parade will kick off at 3:30 pm with Grand Marshal Jim Travis leading numerous participants including Irish dance groups, Irish bands, community groups, bagpipes, drums, Centenary University clubs and groups, animals, Hackettstown and surrounding area fire departments and rescue squads, as well as hometown favorites Junior and Senior Colonial Musketeers and the Hackettstown Community Band. This parade is pet-friendly, with a special pet costume contest sponsored by Doggie Styleashes. Pets will be invited to walk the parade as St. Patrick and Irish Heritage costume contestants after judging.
Main St, Hackettstown, NJ
Howling Woods Wolf Dog Presentation
March 14, 6:30PM
Love dogs? Want to see a wolf-dog up close? The Bradley Beach Library will be hosting Howling Woods Farm and their adorable wolf dogs. Come pet, observe, and learn about these majestic wolf dogs with your whole family.
511 4th Ave, Bradley Beach, NJ
Middletown Comic Book Show
March 16, 10AM – 4PM
This event features comics for all ages including Dollar comic, Investment grade comics, Goldenage to Modern, Toys, games and other miscellaneous items and creators and artists.
Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church St, Middletown, NJ
Wildwood St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and Parade
March 16, 11:30AM – 2PM
A festive parade will begin at noon and proceeds north on Atlantic Avenue to Olde NJ Avenue. Participants include, NWPD Honor Guard, VFW Color Guard, Vietnam Veterans of America, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish Pipe Brigade, Emerald Society, Miss North Wildwood Annika Marks, Anglesea Irish Society, Second Street Irish Society, Sheriff Mounted Patrol, local school bands, and much more. Gather with the Wilwood community.
North Wildwood City Hall, Wildwood, NJ
16th Annual Sussex Co. St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 16, 11:30AM
The parade will feature nearly 100 units including veterans and active members of the Armed Services, Police, Fire and EMS, elected officials, bands, floats, Irish Step Dancers, Community Organizations, local schools, accompanying service and antique vehicles, and a variety of pets. The event features Irish-themed characters and sweets.
Spring St, Newton, NJ
Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 16, 1PM – 4PM
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Union County at the annual parade with friends and family. Watch the parade, listen to bagpipes, and bring the kiddos to the “Kids Zone.”
Morris Avenue, Union County, NJ
Annual South Amboy Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
March 16, 2PM – 5PM
Another opportunity for you to celebrate your legitimate or illegitimate Irish heritage in New Jersey: in South Amboy. Enjoy the parade, listen to bagpipes, eat fun food, and wear your green.
South Amboy, NJ
Luck of the Draw
March 17, 10AM – 4PM
The Forge Marketplace will host a St. Patrick’s Day event to raise awareness for those in need. Vendors with handcrafted, homemade goods, retailers, crafters, artists, artisans and more will abound. There will be no charge for admission but consider bringing a non-perishable donation for a pet or a person.
The Forge Marketplace, 50 Stangl Rd, Flemington, NJ
Free Cone Day!
March 20, 11:30AM – 11PM
The Dairy Queen of Sayreville will be giving away one free vanilla, chocolate, or swirl cone to honor the first day of spring. We all love ice cream, be sure to stop by for your free cone.
982 Us Highway 9, South Amboy, NJ
Literacy Alive!
March 23, 9AM
Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education at Middlesex County College, is hosting their third annual Literacy Alive!, a program for Kindergarten through 4th grade children and their parents to encourage a love of reading. The children and their parents will attend three workshops during the morning: one by Ms. Lazar; a literacy session conducted by MCC students in the honor society; and a crafts session in which the children will make a project to take home. The workshops are designed to encourage reading, engage in creative literacy activities, and, most importantly, to have fun.
Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ
Kidfest
March 23, 11AM – 3PM
Celebrate spring with Magic 98.3, along with The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, at the 9th Annual Kidfest. It’s a day of free entertainment, game zones, the infamous Magyar Bank Rock Climbing Wall, photo booth, and so much more.
Rutgers College Avenue Gym; 130 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ
Makers Day at Whitesbog
March 23, 11AM – 3PM
This event features sand table cranberry bog building, cranberry bounce machine demos, Lego creations, farm machines and equipment, building cottages and houses, wood toolbox making, yarn-wrapped walking sticks, weaving, kitchen creations, tinker toy building and more. Explore the Cranberry and Blueberry Museum and stop in the General Store for vintage toys, jams and local finds. Learn about the many inventions started on the farm.
Whitesbog Preservation Trust; 120 West Whitesbog Road, Browns Mills, NJ
WheatonArts Hosts the New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s Stages Festival
March 23, 2PM
WheatonArts hosts the New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s Stages Festival with a special production of “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”, presented by Surflight Theatre. A day at the theater is always a good day.
WheatonArts, 1501 Glasstown Road, Millville, NJ
Highlands 17th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 23, 2PM
The Highlands Business Partnership will paint the town green for the 16th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The colorful festivities will highlight Irish culture with nearly 100 marching units including bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, and beautifully decorated floats. Music, food, friends, and family.
Huddy Park, Highlands, NJ
Maple Sugaring Open House at Lusscroft Farm
March 23 & 24, 10AM – 3PM
Bring the family and learn how sap is converted to delicious maple syrup. Live demonstrations of how to tap the trees, collect the sap, and operate the evaporator. Fresh maple syrup will be available for purchase.
50 Neilson Rd, Sussex, NJ
Artwork Trenton’s Art Making Days
March 23 & 31, 12PM – 4PM
Now in its 7th year, Art Making Day is a free two-day event that promotes the ability to educate and connect the entire community through various forms of creative expression. Parents, grandparents, teenagers and children…there is not a soul too old nor too young. Bring your family and make art to hang at the upcoming Art All Night, or just participate in fun art activities.
Artworks Trenton; 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, NJ
Garfield Semiannual Spring Street Fair 2019
March 31, 10AM – 5PM
Don’t miss a fun-filled day along Garfield’s Midland Avenue. Enjoy live music, food trucks and street food vendors, unique shopping, carnival games, plus a Kids Zone packed with tons of fun activities.
500 Midland Ave, Garfield, NJ
Psst! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
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