It’s the second week of September, mamas, and it’s time to say goodbye summer, hello fall with this week’s family-friendly activities. Kick-off pumpkin season at Happy Day Farms Fall Harvest Festival in Manalapan, enjoy 15 different food trucks at the Ort Farms Food Truck Fest in Long Valley, or spend a day learning about dinosaurs at The Newark Museum of Art’s Virtual DINO FEST.
featured image via Happy Day Farm
Psst! We love seeing your stay-at-home and socially distanced New Jersey adventures. Be sure to tag your photos with #NJMOM and @njmom for a chance to be featured in our round-up next week.
Van Vleck Autumn Plant Sale
September 11-13, 9AM – 4PM
Ready to decorate your house all things fall? Make sure to visit the Van Vleck House for their first ever annual Autumn Plant Sale. You’ll get to browse a unique selection of beautiful autumn blooms all curated by their Garden Manager, and all Van Vleck House and Garden members get 10% off their purchase. And good to know: Social distancing guidelines will be followed, and every sale will benefit the preservation and maintenance of the gardens.
Free
Van Vleck House & Gardens
21 Van Vleck Street
Montclair
Songs for Seeds Performs
September 11 and 12, 5:30PM – 6:30PM
Bring the littles to see Songs For Seeds, a rousing, three-piece musical band that will host a sing-along event, where each family gets a socially-distanced turf square so you can move and groove safely. Afterward, Mickey Mouse will take the stage for some fun dancing, singing, and picture taking. You can even pre-order food to your square, and bathrooms are available inside.
$60 per turf square
Imagine That Museum
4 Vreeland Rd
Florham Park
Community Day: Virtual DINO FEST with the Newark Museum of Art
September 12, 10AM – 6PM
Calling all dino-lovers— The Newark Museum of Art is hosting a virtual celebration with a full day of dinosaur activities. Get the laptop fired up, and settle down in a comfy spot to watch and participate in events like a live storytime at Field Station: Dinosaurs, a Dino Art session, a virtual tour of the Dinosaur Exhibitions at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and then wrap up the day and shake your tails off during the Dino Party.
Free
Register to watch on Zoom
Fall Harvest Festival at Happy Day Farm
September 12, 10AM – 6PM
There’s no better way to kick off fall this September than at Happy Day Farm. With COVID-19 guidelines in place, you can still enjoy lots of activities—from pumpkin picking at Pumpkinville and a gigantic corn maze to hayrides and donuts— your whole family will have a blast getting into the spirit of fall.
$16 per person (advance ticket purchase is required)
106 Iron Ore Road
Manalapan
Ort Farms Food Truck Fest
September 12, 11AM – 7PM
With 15 different food trucks, a DJ, a cow train ride, corn maze, petting zoo, pick your pumpkins, and more, you’ll have a blast getting into the fall spirit. Bring your lawn chairs and appetites for a day of family fun at Ort Farms–oh, and did we mention the beer and sangria garden?
$5 per person, kids under 5 are free
Ort Farm
25 Barley Road
Long Valley
NJPAC Presents Justin Willman: Magic for Humans
September 12, 7PM – 8PM
Get your popcorn ready for this fantastic live virtual show right in your living room as Justin Willman interacts with you live in real-time, making this a truly unique experience. If you’ve seen Justin Willman’s “Magic for Humans” special on Netflix, your family will love watching him live as he brings this interactive, humorous, and heartfelt show of street magic right into your living room for a fun hour of surprises.
$25 per family
Advance ticket purchase required to watch live on ZOOM
Bell Works Drive-In Theater: The Lego Movie 2
September 12, 8:30PM-10:30PM
Head out to Bell Works to catch the sequel to this family-favorite movie right from your car. And with Bell Works being home to so many excellent restaurants, choose from special menus at Mezza Luna, Corbo & Sons, Jersey Freeze, and more, curated just for the drive-in movie.
$25 per car
Bell Works – Red Lot
101 Crawfords Corner Road
Holmdel
