It’s the last blast of April, and before we get all summer focused, we’re enjoying a spring fling with lots of family-friendly things to do all weekend long. Feed adorably fluffy alpacas and a cute keepsake at Alpaca Visit: Feeding & More in Evesham Township, watch the streets of Smithville come to life with colorful characters at the Renaissance Faire in Smithville or have a family fun day with animal friends at Grayrock N Roll Spring Festival in Clinton. If you’re looking for more seasonal things to do, check out everything spring on our bucket list. (Featured Photo Credit: Morning Glori Farmette)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)
Brand Groupies 2nd Annual Fashion Funds the Fight for Cancer Cartel
April 28 at 12 PM
Join in on an afternoon of fun, shopping, and philanthropy. You’ll get the opportunity to come together for an inspiring cause on April 28, where you purchase a ticket to the event, and 100% of ticket sales are donated to Cancer Cartel. Shop through curated designer clothes and accessories while meeting the three inspiring Founders of the Cancer Cartel. You’ll also enjoy a bubbly bar, light bites from The Blonde Shallot, jewelry from designer Christina Caruso, and a live DJ, all while supporting the NJ-based Cancer Warriors in Need.
Cost: $50
32 Mechanic Street Red Bank, NJ 07701
Grayrock N Roll Spring Festival
April 29 at 9 AM
Over 60 vendors, food trucks, face painting, a DJ, and an acapella group will be at this lively festival. Rescue groups with dogs, cats, and kittens up for adoption will be there. There will also be sanctuary horses, goats, pigs, and chickens.
Cost: Admission is Free ($5 parking fee to help us care for and feed the animals)
Grayrock Farm Sanctuary, 85 Grayrock Road, Clinton, NJ 08809
Go Green with Hope
April 29 at 10 AM
The 10th Annual festival with an environment theme has something for every age, including free seedlings, crafts, vendors, free raffles, and a meet and greet with the Antler Ridge Mascot.
Cost: Free
Hope Township School, 20 Johnsonburg Road, Hope, NJ 07844
Howell Farm Fashion Show
April 29 at 10 AM
Step back into the history of American fashion from 1776 to 1976 at Howell Farm. This event will feature models walking down the runway and giving a brief history of the materials, time period, and people who wore their outfits. Antique garments from the farm’s collection will also be displayed in the barn.
70 Woodens Ln, Lambertville, NJ 08530
Rutgers Day
April 29 at 10 AM
Bring the whole family to New Jersey’s State University, where everyone will enjoy exhibits, interactive activities, demonstrations, and performances offered by faculty, staff, and students, along with kids’ activities.
Cost: Free
Busch Campus in Piscataway and the Cook/Douglass Campuses in New Brunswick
Kids Fest 2023
April 29 at 10 AM
Get ready for a fun-filled day all about the kids. This event will take place on Field M of the Manalapan Recreation Center and will feature a performance by the Little Rockers at 11:00 AM. Also, check out the displays of local businesses.
Cost: Free
93 Freehold Rd, Manalapan Township, NJ 07726
Arbor Day Tree ID Hike
April 29 at 10 AM
Celebrate Arbor Day at this family-friendly hike in the Wildflower Forest Preserve. Journey into the 14-acre preserve on a special Arbor Day tree identification hike, great for kids and families.
Cost: Free
Dog Park, 10 Bear Lane Maplewood, NJ 07040
Alpaca Visit: Feeding & More
April 29 at 10:30 AM
Feed the lovable and fluffy alpacas of Morning Glori Farmette and take a tour of the farm. Your kids will enjoy Build a Bailey’s (stuffable alpacas) and other crafts available during this event.
Cost: $5-$25. Purchase one walk ticket ($25) for one person in your group and the tour tickets ($5) for the remaining group members.
Morning Glori Farmette, 131 Navy Lane, Evesham Township, NJ 08053
Brick Fest Live
April 29 -30, times vary
See over a million bricks on display and ready for play at Brick Fest Live. Experience life-sized models, hands-on attractions, a Guinness World-Record Setting Mosaic, special LEGO merchandise, and more.
Cost: $16.99 – $37.99
97 Sunfield Ave, Edison, NJ 08837
Hawthorne Art in the Park
April 29-30
Visit nearly 50 vendors selling their artwork and handcrafted goods. Food vendors, desserts, drink vendors, local musicians, live demonstrations, kids’ activities, and much more will also be there.
Cost: Free
Passaic County Arts Center-Goffle Brook Park, 675 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, NJ 07506
South Bound Brook Food Truck and Musical Festival
April 29 at 11 AM
Food, music, family, and fun with gourmet food trucks and live music. While you check out the vendors, kids will have a ball exploring activities like pony rides, a petting zoo, a knocker ball, inflatables, and face painting.
Cost: bring nonperishable canned or boxed items to help support the food pantry and $5; kids under 5 are free
Memorial Park, 78 Elizabeth St, South Bound Brook, NJ 08880
BaconFest at Laurita Winery
April 29 at 11 AM
It’s an outdoor, fun-filled day of relaxing fun on the grounds of Laurita Winery—pair wine with delicious cuisine available from onsite food trucks. There will also be live musical artists, free parking, a face painter for the kids (1 PM-4 PM), fire pits, and fireworks (Saturday evening).
Cost: Tickets online in advance are $13. Tickets at the gate are $15. Everyone under 21 is free.
85 Archertown Road, New Egypt, NJ 08533
Renaissance Faire
April 29 at 11 AM
Travel back in time and experience the Shire of Smithville (aka Historic Smithville) in the heart of the English Renaissance. Join the players of the New Jersey Renaissance Faire as they bring a host of colorful characters to life. This day full of family fun will include comedy, tragedy, sword fighting, dance, song, knights, jesters, and more.
Cost: Free
Village Green, 615 E Moss Mill Rd, Smithville, NJ 08205
AUCC 5th Annual Festival
April 29 at 12 PM
Experience two days filled with carnival rides, games, a petting zoo, pony rides, entertainment, giveaways, and more at AUCC 5th Annual Festival and Eid Event. Proceeds from the event will help get clean drinking water to areas worldwide.
Cost: $25-$135
AUCC Community Center, 50 Oakdene Avenue Teaneck, NJ 07666
Wool Days/Sheep Shearing
April 29 – 30 at 12 PM
Visit the farm and learn how the farmers use traditional blade shearing practices to remove the fleece from sheep. Gene Sheninger will return with his collies to show their herding skills.
Cost: Free
Historic Longstreet Farm, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel 07733
WBGO Kids Jazz Concert
April 29 at 1 PM
Come out for an afternoon of jazz with specially curated children-themed musical selections handpicked by jazz artists who will introduce your kids to the world of Jazz. This concert will give young listeners the chance to discover the enjoyment of jazz, improvisation, and musical collaboration.
Cost: Free
The Newark Museum of Art, 49 Washington St Newark, NJ 07102
Farmingdale Fairy Faire & Fairy Trail Lighting
April 29 at 1 PM
This magical event will feature a beautifully curated array of metaphysical and fairy theme vendors for all to enjoy. A bubble show will begin at 2:00 PM on Main Street next to Connie’s. There will be kids’ crafts, games, and activities at the community center and a scavenger hunt, ending with The Fairy Trail Lighting at 7 PM. You can bring your family to admire fairy creations made and contributed by artists of all ages, near and far.
Cost: Free
11 Asbury Ave. Farmingdale, NJ 07727
Hawthorne Art in the Park
April 29-30
Visit nearly 50 vendors selling their artwork and handcrafted goods. There will also be food vendors, desserts, drink vendors, local musicians, live demonstrations, kids’ activities, and much more.
Cost: Free
Passaic County Arts Center-Goffle Brook Park, 675 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, NJ 07506
Paramus Food Truck Festival
April 30 at 11 AM
Kick off the season with food, music, and fun. Over 20 Gourmet Food Trucks, music, pony rides, a petting zoo, knocker ball, hatchet tossing, inflatables, face painting, sand art, and vendors with a beer and margarita tent for the adults. Don’t forget your lawn chairs and blankets.
Cost: Please bring a nonperishable canned or boxed item to help support the Paramus Food Pantry, tickets are $5 for admission, and 5 and under are free
Paramus Park Mall, 700 Paramus Park, Paramus, NJ 07652
Puzzle For Autism Tournament
April 29 at 11 AM
Get ready for a fun-filled day of puzzling. You will team up with friends and family for a friendly competition. Teams race to see who can complete a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle the fastest. The proceeds for this event support Autism Organizations.
Cedar Grove High School, 90 Rugby Road Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
Cost: $30 – $60
2nd Annual Central NJ Empanada Festival
April 30 at 11 AM
Spend the day enjoying lots of family fun, including a bungee trampoline, bounce house, air-soft shooting gallery, face painter, henna tattoo, and sand art. Your ticket will include a 90-min professional wrestling show from UWA Elite Wrestling.
Cost: $6.50 for 6 years and up. Tickets are $8 at the door, and all children 5 and under are free.
Brunswick Square Mall, 1034 Millstone River Road, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844
Florham Park PBA 5K & Food Truck Fest
April 30 at 11 AM
Experience two great events in one—a 5K charity race and a lively festival come together for a perfect day of family fun. The 5K starts at 10 AM, followed by the food and music fest. This event will feature 12+ food vendors, live music from Naughty Humphry and Grand Theft Audio NJ, craft vendors, and activities for kids and adults.
Cost: Food and music fest-only admission will be $6 for everyone Over 5 years old. Tickets are $5 in advance (plus a service charge.
Campus Dr, Florham Park, NJ 07932
Wild Earth Fest
April 30 at 11 AM
Explore your wild side at this outdoor family event in the Watchung Reservation. Enjoy live animals, kids’ activities, nature education, food, music, and more.
Cost: $5. Ages 6 and under are free.
Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Rd, Mountainside, NJ 07092
Climb Time
April 30 at 12 PM
Your kids can experience the thrill of rock climbing as they make their way to the top of a 25′ portable climbing wall. Participants must be 8 years or older AND 42″ or taller to climb.
Cost: Free
Turkey Swamp Park, 200 Georgia Rd, Freehold Township, NJ 07728
United For Impact Food Truck
April 30 at 12 PM
Make an impact at this lively festival, which benefits the United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Try delicious treats from the food trucks, listen to live music, spend time shopping with vendors, and more.
Cost: Free. Suggested $5 per person donation to help advance United Way’s Mission.
West Main Street in Downtown Freehold, NJ 07728
Ongoing Events
Holland Ridge U-Pick Tulips 2023
Now – April 29
With 8 million tulips in bloom at Holland Ridge Farm, there are plenty of ways to celebrate spring. Snip colorful tulips at $1 a stem to create your own bouquets, and load your Instagram feed with snaps that include their unique floral props, like a giant flower wall and floral throne. There will be over 30 food trucks, rescue animals, a petting zoo, hayrides, and a Dutch gift shop. And new this year, you can take a horse and carriage ride through the tulips.
Cost: $15 per person, ages 3 and up.
Holland Ridge Farms, 86 Rues Road Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
Butterfly House Spring Pop-Up at Liberty Science Center
Now – April 30
Experience Liberty Science Center’s springtime pop-up adventure, the Butterfly House. Bring your family out to feel the magic of hundreds of painted lady and monarch butterflies fluttering around, feeding on plants and nectar, and landing on your shoulder or finger. You can also navigate your way through the Hedge Maze and join in on other family fun activities. The Butterfly House is included in your LSC general admission ticket.
Cost: $29.99 for adults, $24.99 for children, and $26.99 for seniors.
Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Hidden Gems Exhibit
Now – May 8
Journey into a fascinating world of rock structures that underscore the wonder of nature. Enjoy freestanding sculptures inspired by rock structures created with multiple parts of cast, assembled, and carved resin.
Cost: Free
Kean University, 1003 Morris Ave Building 2, Union, NJ 07083
Healthy Kids Running Series Spring 2023
Now – May 14
Get up and go! This five-week running program is for kids in Pre-K through 8th grade. Your kid will compete each week for a chance to earn points. At the end of the series, kids who accumulate the most points in their respective distances are awarded trophies. All participants will receive a medal on Week 5.
Cost: $45
LoBiondo Park, 678 Morton Ave, Bridgeton, NJ US 08302
Become an NJMOM Insider! For all the best things to do with your family around New Jersey, sign up for our weekly newsletter delivered right to your inbox each week, and don’t forget to tag your photos #NJMOM and @njmom for a chance to be featured on our social media.
